Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis a rather impressive DLC, expandingElden Ring’s already massive and complex world with an entirely new map to explore. With these new environments have come a number of new weapons, includingweapon types that aren’t inElden Ring’s base game, greatly broadening build potential and keeping combat feeling fresher than ever.
Build experimentation in FromSoftware’s Soulslikes has always been an interesting subject. In a game likeSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there is virtually no build variety, as combat is designed around a single playstyle;Bloodborneoffers a bit more freedom, but the variety is still a bit constrained due to its commitment to fast-paced and aggressive combat.Dark SoulsandElden Ringoffer players the greatest degree of freedom for their builds thanks to their massive selection of different weapons, variable roll speeds/equipment loads, and stats that can be altered to make for radically distinct gameplay experiences. However, these games all have a major roadblock in the way of build crafting, whichShadow of the Erdtreemanages to remove, at least partially.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Makes Upgrading Weapons Much Easier
Why Upgrading Weapons Can Be a Problem in Soulslikes
Like inDark SoulsandBloodborne,upgrading weapons inElden Ringrequires specific materials that can be hard to find. As a weapon’s level increases, so does the rank of its requisite upgrade materials, meaning that raising a weapon to its fullest potential can be a time-consuming endeavor. More importantly, this process means that players are all too often locked in to one or two specific weapons after a certain point in the game.
Elden Ringallows players to purchase upgrade materials after they find Smithing and Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings, but this can take up plenty of time in and of itself, and most players won’t collect all nine Bell Bearings. Also, the highest-level upgrade materials will never be available for purchase, and they are a finite resource, which means that players can only fully upgrade a few weapons per playthrough. Plus, Bell Bearings reset on NG+, making collecting them a significantly tedious process during new runs.
This is disappointing and runs contrary to FromSoftware’s action-RPG design: if players find a cool weaponduring the late-game ofElden RingorDark Souls, it will almost never be beneficial for them to use it over the weapon they have already invested in throughout the game. And if the player has upgraded this primary weapon to a significant degree, they won’t have the materials needed to improve the new, cool weapon they just found. They may have to start a new playthrough just to make the late-game weapon viable.
Shadow of the Erdtree Remedies Weapon Upgrade Woes with More Abundant Materials
To findhigher-level Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones inElden Ring’sbase game, players will usually have to either scour the various mines dotted around the overworld or loot predetermined locations; the chance to get higher-tier Smithing Stones as random drops from enemies oscillates between extremely low and nonexistent. But this description doesn’t quite apply to the setting ofShadow of the Erdtree. It’s not at all uncommon to find high-tier Somber Smithing Stones as random enemy drops in The Land of Shadow, and drop rates for regular Smithing Stones are much higher as well, even with a low Discovery stat.
This change was likely implemented to encourage build experimentation, letting players easily upgradeShadow of the Erdtree’s new weapons, but FromSoftware shouldn’t stop here. More abundant upgrade materials would help all the studio’s action-RPGs, fostering a sense of freedom and flexibility that is sadly lacking during the later hours ofElden Ring,Bloodborne, and theDark Soulsgames. At the very least, upgrade materials shouldn’t be finite, as this discourages branching out from a tried-and-true weapon or build, ultimately punishing players who don’t want to stick to a single weapon.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
