How to start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in Elden Ring

To start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring, players need to go to Mogh's arena underground and touch the withered arm sticking out of the cocoon. That'll get you to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion - but there's some specific conditions and bosses that you'll need to take down first, and that we'll lay out for you below.

Here's a full breakdown of what you need to do to access Shadow of the Erdtree: 

1. You'll need to beat the Elden Ring Radahn boss fight. The Starscourge is a key boss, so you should have cleared this as part of the core game's story.
2. You'll also need to beat beat Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring. This is an optional boss that's easy to miss. You'll have to complete the Elden Ring Varre questline to reach him as well, if you want to avoid the long, hard way to get to his region.
3. Once Mohg is defeated there will be a large white cocoon with an arm hanging out of it at the opposite end of his arena.
4. Interact with it and choose to "touch the withered arm" which will teleport you to a new area, the Realm of Shadow, to start the Erdtree DLC. 

Once Radahn and Mohg are gone and you touch the cocoon arm you'll be in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion area! You'll see a Site of Grace in front of you marked by a Shadow of the Erdtree Miquella's Cross - a new thing to look for - so grab that and you'll have a permanent fast travel point back to the area without having to go through the arm again.

Getting to the Erdtree stuff isn't something you should really rush though- the DLC is famously tough and while it has it's own leveling system using things called Scadutree Fragments, you really want to be in the best shape you can be before you take on its challenges. To help you get ready here's what to do before Shadow of the Erdtree.

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