Elden Ring has received its first (and likely only) DLC, named Shadow of the Erdtree. With a massive map to explore, challenges to overcome, and lore details to unveil, the DLC lives up to the expectations set by the base game, being an incredible experience from beginning to end.
With how the story unfolds in Shadow of the Erdtree, some players are wondering if the DLC acts as a sequel to the story of the base game. You do need to beat some bosses of the base game in order to enter the DLC, so is it a sequel or is it just a companion piece?
Who Do You Need To Defeat To Enter The DLC?
The entrance of the DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, lies in the boss arena of Mohg, Lord of Blood. As such, you clearly need to defeat Mohg before you can enter the DLC, but he isn’t the only required boss before you are allowed into the Realm of Shadow.
You also need to beat Radahn at his Festival in Caelid, since narratively speaking, he has to be dead for the story of the DLC to unfold. This is what makes players wonder if Shadow of the Erdtree works as a sequel, even though the story of Miquella seems mostly self-contained.
Is Shadow Of The Erdtree A Sequel?
In short, Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t a sequel, since its story happens in parallel to the story of the base game. A few characters talk to the player as if they were still on their quest to become Elden Lord, meaning that no ending has come to pass yet.
No DLC can really be a sequel to the game, since most if not all the endings fundamentally change how the Lands Between works. The Flame of Frenzy ending is one of particular note, since in it, the whole land is set ablaze, with only Melina surviving the flames.
