Wondering what you need to start the Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree? The straightforward answer is:
1) Kill Radahn.
2) Kill Mohg.
Easy, right? If you finished the game originally, then you’re all set. But if you started a New Game+ and never finished it, you’ll have to complete these steps again. In this guide, I’ve done it for you so you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’ve found the simplest way to do it and will go through the steps one by one. If you’re looking for a quick answer, here are the necessary steps:
1) Kill Magma Wyrm Makar to reach Altus Plateau.
2) Head to Caelid to fight and kill Radahn.
3) Finish the White Mask Varre quest (online or offline).
4) Head to Mohgwyn Palace to fight and kill Mohg.
Completing these steps will ensure you are ready for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, no matter where you are in the game. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do all of that.
Step 1: Talk to White Mask Varre
The moment you step foot into The Lands Between, you will see Varre at the first Site of Grace you encounter. Talk to him until you exhaust his dialogue.
Step 2: Rest at the Gatefront Site of Grace
The Gatefront Grace is where you meet Melina, who will help you level up and reach the Roundtable Hold for further progress in Varre’s quest, so you need that one.
Step 3: Continue Going North Until You Reach Stormhill Shack Site of Grace
You can’t miss this one, as there are some wolves roaming around it. Just activate the Grace, as it is the guiding point for what’s next.
Step 4: Continue North Passing through the Bridge Until You Reach the Ledge
Continue going north along the road until you reach a bridge with an NPC. Keep going until you see a ledge to the west where you can drop down and continue on your way.
Step 5: Continue Until You Reach Liurnia of the Lakes
Continue along the path until you reach Liurnia of the Lakes and rest at the Site of Grace there.
Step 6: Continue North Through the Lakes
Continue through the lakes until you reach the Fallen Ruins of the Lake Site of Grace, which you need for Varre’s quest. Make sure to rest there.
Step 7: Continue Heading North
Continue heading north until you reach The Ravine. Light up the Site of Grace there and continue through the valley.
Step 8: Go Through The Veiled Village
You will reach the Ravine-Veiled Village. Light up the Site of Grace there and get ready for the run up to the top of the tower.
Go back from the Site of Grace and head up using the ladder to the left. Continue going up and through the green-lit cave. Keep ascending, taking the ladders and elevators along the way, until you reach the spot below with the first wooden stairs you will encounter.
Take the second opening to the left and continue until you reach the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Keep going up all the way. It’s easy to get lost here, but continue ascending until you reach the Outlook Site of Grace. Get ready for a boss fight there.
Step 9: Defeat Magma Wyrm Makar:
Next, you will have to fight Magma Wyrm Makar, which is a fairly easy fight, especially if you are on New Game+. You just need one summon to tank it for you and use whatever ranged attack you prefer to take it down. The area is vast, so you have plenty of room to maneuver. After defeating Makar, head to the elevator to arrive at the Altus Plateau. Just arriving there is enough, but you can light up the Site of Grace there first before leaving.
Step 10: It is Time to Defeat Radahn:
It is time now to head to Redmane Castle in Caelid to fight Radahn. To begin, go back to the Stormhill Shack Site of Grace and head all the way east until you reach the first Site of Grace in Caelid, Rotview Balcony.
From here, head southeast to Redmane Castle. You can take the long main road, but be careful as it’s quite a journey. Once you arrive, and before crossing the bridge, you will find a Site of Grace with a portal next to it. Use the portal to enter the castle.
From there, light up the Site of Grace, go inside, and speak with the announcer. Then head on to fight Radahn. He isn’t really tough if you know what to do. You can summon help inside the arena, and even if you die, kite him and you can summon them again. Killing him is half of what you need to do to access Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree.
Step 11: Finish the White Mask Varre Quest
From here, you will need to finish Varre’s quest to fight Mohg. From a Site of Grace, talk to Melina and ask her to take you to the Roundtable Hold. Once there, talk to the Two Fingers and exhaust their dialogue.
Return to the Fallen Ruins of the Lake Site of Grace and head west to the Rose Church. There, you will find Varre. Talk to him and tell him that you weren’t impressed by the Two Fingers, which will progress the quest. He will then ask you to invade other players’ worlds. You need to do this three times; you don’t need to kill anyone—just invade another world and die, or try to fight them for more fun. If you don’t want to play online, summon NPC fights and win over them once.
Go back to Varre, and he will give you a piece of cloth, asking you to stain it with the blood of a maiden. The easiest way to do this is to kill Irina in the Weeping Peninsula. You will find her just at the beginning of the area after the bridge. Kill her to get the stained item.
Step 12: It is Time to Kill Mohg
Return to Varre, speak to him twice, and you will receive the Pureblood Knight’s Medal. Use it, and you will be warped to Mohgwyn Palace. Light up the Site of Grace there and continue through the set of stairs with an army of enemies. Enter the cave and find your way through it until you reach the Site of Grace before the monsters praying to a priest. Ride the elevator there to find the door to fight Mohg. The Mohg fight is hard, and I recommend that you be at least level 100 in your first playthrough and level 180 in your New Game+ playthrough. Defeating Mohg will grant you all that is needed to start Elden Ring’s DLC. Welcome to Shadow of the Erdtree.
