The Land of Shadow is vast, and you will realize that as soon as you step into the Elden Ring: Shadow of The Erdtree DLC. However, the number of main bosses in the DLC is quite low compared to the majority of optional bosses. The sheer number of these bosses can easily overwhelm any player, and it's easy to miss out on some as they are hidden carefully.
Whether you are looking to clear only the main bosses to get to the final boss as quickly as possible, or to collect every Remembrance so you don’t miss out on anything the Land of Shadow has to offer, this progression route will help you out in doing both most efficiently.
Gravesite Plain
The Gravesite Plain is the starting point of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. You will spawn here and will be greeted by a Furnace Golem, which is an optional elite-class enemy. You can also choose to beat the Blackgoal Knight. As you make your way further, you’ll reach theThree-Path Cross Site of Grace, which links the area to Belurat and Castle Ensis.
Divine Beast Dancing Lion
If you head west from the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace, you’ll reach Belurat, the first legacy dungeon of the DLC. At the end of the dungeon, you’ll have to fight against the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a main boss, but will be unable to progress further for now, so it's time to go back.
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight
After clearing Belurat, you’ll have to make your way back to the Thee-Path Cross Site of Grace and head east towards Caste Ensis. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight will be waiting at the end of the area, guarding the entrance to the Scadu Altus Region.
Scadu Altus
The Scadu Altus region can be considered the heart of the Land of Shadow. While the Scadu Altus area itself might not feature any major bosses, it connects to about every other part of the map, making it necessary for you to reach this area as soon as possible.
From here, you’ll be able to head to the Shadow Keep to progress the main story, or continue to explore other regions and questlines.
Shadow Keep
After exploring Scadu Altus, you should head straight to the Shadow Keep area. You’ll find the demigod, Messmer The Impaler here, which is another main boss. Clearing Shadow Keep is also a required step in some NPC questlines.
Golden Hippopotamus
While it doesn’t reward you with a Remembrance, defeating the Golden Hippopotamus is required if you intend to progress the DLC story and clear the Shadow Keep. You’ll find this boss right at the entrance of Shadow Keep.
Messmer The Impaler
One of the most popular bosses in the DLC, Messmer the Impaler resides on the top floor of the Specimen Storeroom area in the Shadow Keep. Defeating Messmer rewards you with a key item, Messmer’s Kindling, as well as provides access to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh region.
If you want to finish the DLC’s story as fast as possible, you can skip the rest of the locations and major bosses to head directly to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh area.
Cerulean Coast
The Cerulean Coast is a beautiful area, which can be accessed directly from the Gravesite Plain region, but it is preferred to do so when you’ve at least cleared the Shadow Keep so you can head to the Stone Coffin Fissure, defeat the boss there, and continue Thollier’s Questline.
Putrescent Knight
Putrescent Knight is a major boss that you’ll encounter in the Stone Coffin Fissure area. The boss is guarding access to St. Trina. After you’ve defeated the Putrescent Knight, you can return to the Scadu Altus region.
Abyssal Woods
After clearing the Stone Coffin Fissure area, you can head back to the Shadow Keep and make your way to the Darklight Catacombs, which will lead you to the Abyssal Woods region.
From the Shadow Keep’s entrance, you’ll have to navigate your way till you reach the Caste Watering Hole Site of Grace. Progressing further in this area will lead you to the Darklight Catacombs. You also have to beat Jori, Elder Inquisitor at the end of the dungeon.
Midra, Lord Of Frenzied Flame
Midra, Lord Of Frenzied Flame, resides in Midra’s Manse in the Abyssal Woods area. The boss has two forms and you’ll have to defeat its human form first to fight its Lord of Frenzied Flame form.
Jagged Peak
After clearing the Abyssal Woods, you should have found the map fragment that reveals the Jagged Peak Region. To get to this area, you’ll have to backtrack to the Castle Front Site of Grace right in front of Castle Ensis and head southeast to reach the Pillar Point Site of Grace, where you’ll also find Igon, The Drake Hunter, nearby.
Jagged Peak Drakes
As you progress through the Foot of the Jagged Peak area to reach the summit, you’ll come across a Jagged Peak Drake. After defeating it and making further progress, you’ll have to fight against theTwin Jagged Peak Drakes that are fighting each other.
Defeating the Twin Jagged Peak Drakes is also required to progress Igon’s quest .
Ancient Dragon Senessax
While making your way to the top of the Jagged Peak, you’ll have to fight against the Ancient Dragon Senessax. The Ancient Dragon is quite similar to its base game counterparts.
Bayle, The Dread
After defeating Ancient Dragon Senessax, you’ll have to make your way to the summit of the Jagged Peak, where Bayle, The Dread, will be waiting for you. Summoning Igon during your fight against Bayle, The Dread is required to finish his quest.
After Defeating Bayle, you can also go and talk to the Dragon Communion Priestess Florissax to end her quest.
You can also reach the Charo’s Hidden Grave area by going south from the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion.
Scadutree Base
To get to the Scadutree Base, go back to the Moorth Ruins in the Scadu Altus region. From there, you can make your way to the Bonny Village and head northeast to reach the Shadow Keep, Church District Area, which will lead you straight to the Scadutree Base.
Scadutree Avatar
After making your way through the Shadow Keep, Church District, you’ll reach the Scadutree Base area, where you’ll find the Scadutree Avatar. Defeating the boss rewards you with its Remembrance and Miquella’s Great Rune, which will be useful in your fight against the final boss of the DLC.
Scaduview
To get to Scaduview and fight against Commander Gaius, you’ll have to progress through the Shadow Keep’s Church District area until you reach the Specimen Storehouse. From there, you’ll end up at the Shadow Keep, Back Gate.
The boss is right there as soon as you go out in the open. Furthermore, you can also reach the Hinterland region from this location by using the ‘O Mother’ Gesture on Marika’s Statue near the Shadow Keep, Back Gate Site of Grace.
Commander Gaius
You’ll fight against Commander Gaius in an open area. This boss has odd hitboxes, and it might evade most of your ranged attacks even when it shouldn’t, so you’ll have to be wary of that. And, after defeating the boss, you’ll receive the Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider.
Cathedral Of Manus Metyr
Now that you have access to the Scaduview region, you can reach the Cathedral of Manus Metyr with ease and then take on Count Ymir’s quest. Ymir’s Quest will take you to the Finger Ruins of Rhia and Hinterland, which is why you’d want to reach this place after you’ve unlocked the Hinterland region.
You can reach the Finger Ruins of Rhia from the Cerulean Coast quite early on, but there’s no point in going there before starting Ymir’s quest.
Metyr, Mother Of Fingers
Metyr, Mother of Fingers can be fought during Count Ymir’s questline. The boss is found at the Finger Ruins of Miyr, under the Cathedral of Manus Metyr.
Defeating Metyr rewards you with its Remembrance, which can be traded for the
Staff of the Great Beyond , or the
Gazing Finger Colossal Weapon.
Ancient Ruins Of Rauh
The area is fairly difficult to navigate, due to the lack of the map fragment, which deceivingly appears to be in the southern part of the area. However, to get the map fragment for this region, you’ll have to access the Rauh Base area first, which can be accessed from a tunnel northeast of the Moorth Ruins in Scadu Altus.
Romina, Saint Of The Bud
Romina is the next main DLC boss after Messmer that you’ll have to fight against. Defeating Romina will grant you access to the last dungeon of the DLC, Enir-Ilim.
Enir-Ilim
After defeating Romina, Saint of the Bud, and using Messmer’s Kindling, you will be teleported to Enir Ilim. Alternatively, you can alsohead to Belurat again, and access this area after heading upstairs from the Divine Beast Dancing Lion’s boss arena.
Needle Knight Leda
Right before your fight against the final boss, you’ll have to face Needle Knight Leda. Leda will be accompanied by her allies, and you will also be fighting this battle with your allies if you’ve done the respective NPCs' questlines.
Radahn, Promised Consort
Radahn, Promised Consort, is the final boss of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. During the second phase of the boss, Miquella will join Radahn, and you’ll have to deal with the powered-up version of the boss. Defeating the boss will give you access to a memory that shows a cutscene of Miquella’s past.
