Elden Ring: Fastest Path to Start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

The wait is over—Elden Ring’s long-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is finally here! With this expansion, the world of Elden Ring just got even more vast and treacherous, offering late-game content packed with challenging bosses, legacy dungeons, powerful new weapons, and rich lore. But before you can dive into this new chapter, you’ll need to overcome some key hurdles in the base game.

To begin the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, you must defeat two crucial bosses—Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood—and then interact with the Withered Arm in the Cocoon at Mohgwyn Palace. For players eager to jump straight into the DLC, especially those starting fresh, we’ve laid out the fastest route to reach these milestones and unlock the DLC.

Fastest Route to Start Shadow of the Erdtree

To get to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC as quickly as possible, follow this streamlined path:

Speak to White-Mask Varré at the First Step Site of Grace.
Receive the Spectral Steed Whistle from Melina at the Gatefront Site of Grace.
Skip Stormveil Castle by taking the bridge path east to Liurnia of the Lakes.
Activate the Fallen Ruins of the Lake Site of Grace for future fast travel.
Head north up the river to reach the Ruin-Strewn Precipice.
Defeat Magma Wyrm Makar at the end of the Precipice.
Rest at the Abandoned Coffin Site of Grace in Altus Plateau.
Fast travel back to Limgrave and head east into Caelid.
Follow the path to Redmane Castle, using the teleporter by the bridge to enter.
Speak to Jerren and then take the lift to Radahn's arena.
Defeat Starscourge Radahn (recommended level: 70-80).
Visit the Roundtable Hold and speak to Enia.
Fast travel to the Fallen Ruins of the Lake and speak to Varré at the Rose Church.
Return to Magma Wyrm Makar's arena, summon and defeat Great Horned Tragoth.
Speak to Varré again at Rose Church.
Go to the Four Belfries in west Liurnia and retrieve the Imbued Sword Key.
Use the Sword Key at the Four Belfries to teleport to the Chapel of Anticipation.
Interact with the dead maiden in the first room, then speak to Varré again.
Receive the Pureblood Knight's Medal from Varré and use it to teleport to Mohgwyn Palace.
Head to the palace and defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood (recommended level: 120).
Reload the area and interact with the Withered Arm in the cocoon on Mohg's throne.

Tips for the Journey

While you can run past most enemies on this path, there are several tough bosses you’ll need to defeat. Magma Wyrm Makar, Starscourge Radahn, Great Horned Tragoth, and especially Mohg, Lord of Blood, can be daunting if you’re under-leveled. It’s advisable to spend some time farming Runes to level up before facing these challenges.

Rune Farming at Mohgwyn Palace

Once you reach Mohgwyn Palace, you’ll have access to one of the best Rune farming spots in the game, even before fighting Mohg. Here’s how to maximize your Rune gains:

Head to the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace in the southeast of the region.
Kill the Albinaurics down the slope—they’re easy prey for quick Runes.
Use a bow to shoot the bird across the gap to the northwest, causing it to fall off the cliff.
Rest at the Site of Grace and repeat as needed.

Each run can net you around 52,739 Runes, and even more if you use items like the Golden Scarab Talisman and Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in Elden Ring without delay. Good luck, Tarnished, and may your journey through the Lands Between continue to be as epic as ever!