More than two years after its release, Elden Ring fans will finally be returning to the Lands Between later this year. Shadow of the Erdtree is a massive expansion for From Software's open-world fantasy-RPG and is set to take place in a whole new area. It also looks to expand on the base game by centering on Miquella, a character who was important in Elden Ring but whose story was left untold by the end.

With a new trailer and interviews providing details about what we can expect, we've finally moved out of the realm of speculation to concrete facts about Shadow of the Erdtree--although, there's still a lot players are guessing at. Here's everything you need to know about Elden Ring's story expansion, from when it releases, to what it will include.

When Will Shadow Of The Erdtree Be Released?

From Software's Shadow of the Erdtree announcement confirmed we'll be getting the DLC release on June 21, 2024.

How Can You Pre-Order Shadow Of The Erdtree?

There are a bunch of options for Shadow of the Erdtree preorders, including a huge Collector's Edition with a bunch of extra stuff included. You can find a number of preorder options on Bandai Namco's website or on the digital store of your platform of choice.

If you just want the expansion and you already own Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree will cost you $40. The Premium Edition goes for $50 and comes with a digital art book and original soundtrack.

You can also get the Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition, which includes both Shadow of the Erdtree and Elden Ring, as well as the Shadow of the Erdtree digital art book and soundtrack, and Elden Ring's digital art book and soundtrack. That package goes for $100 on Steam.

Finally, there's the biggest offering: the Shadow of the Erdtree Collector's Edition for $250. This one is available on Bandai Namco's website and includes the expansion, an 18-inch Messmer statue, a 40-page hardcover art book, as well as a voucher for a digital version of the expansion and its soundtrack.

With all the preorder versions, you'll also get an exclusive in-game gesture.

Watch The Shadow Of The Erdtree Trailer Here

From Software's Shadow of the Erdtree trailer blew open the doors on the DLC. When the trailer was released on February 21, it confirmed fans' theories that the expansion would focus on Miquella, the one demigod empyrean who wasn't a boss players could take on in the base game. The trailer also establishes that Shadow of the Erdtree will take place in a new area that's linked to, but separate from, the Lands Between, and shows off Messmer the Impaler, who appears to be a new demigod and the major boss of this expansion.

Though the trailer doesn't give too many firm details, in addition to Messmer, it shows off what appear to be several new bosses, as well as new weapons, skills, and spells. The trailer also kicked off a whole lot of speculation from the Elden Ring community about what the Shadowlands are like and what its story would bring to the game.

Check out our full breakdown of the trailer.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Platforms

Look for Shadow of the Erdtree on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Story, Setting, And Characters

Details about Shadow of the Erdtree's narrative are a bit thin, but we know a few key tidbits from the trailer and information shared by director Hidetaka Miyazaki in interviews. First and foremost, of the new Shadow of the Erdtree characters we've seen so far, the main focus will be Miquella, or at least, he's a major component of the story. Miquella is one of the demigod children of Queen Marika, and while you probably fought and killed most of those kids in the base game, Miquella wasn't among them. If you made your way to Mohgwyn Palace and defeated Mohg, you would have seen Miquella's arm dangling out of a cocoon. Interacting with the arm is how you'll access the expansion's content.

Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in a new area called the Land of Shadow, which seems like it could be a sort of alternate reality location that's similar to, but different from, the Lands Between, where the rest of Elden Ring takes place. It's a location "obscured by the Erdtree" and "where Marika first set foot," the trailer tells us, and we've also learned that it was the site of some war seemingly waged by Marika, much like the ones she fought against the giants and the mages of Raya Lucaria. Miyazaki says it exists in the same physical space as the Lands Between. We also know that, to get to the Land of Shadow, Miquella is "divesting himself of his flesh, his strength, his lineage. Of all things Golden." Whatever that means.

According to Miyazaki, the location is as big or bigger than Limgrave, the first major open-world area players explore in Elden Ring. He also told Eurogamer the expansion is the biggest the developer has yet made for one of its games.

It appears that the primary antagonist of the expansion is Messmer, referred to in the deluxe edition of Shadow of the Erdtree as "Messmer the Impaler." He's an extremely interesting-looking guy, seemingly wielding the same flame magic as the giants, sporting a little wing, and seen with snakes coiling around him. A lot of these bits of imagery recall the Crucible, the primordial source of life in the Lands Between, and a bunch of different elements from Elden Ring that are in opposition to Queen Marika and the Golden Order, such as the Rykard boss fight and the blasphemous snake people of Mt. Gelmir. We also hear dialogue from Messmer refer to "mother," which seems to suggest that he's another child of Marika. Miyazaki has said that the throne we see Messmer sitting on toward the end of the trailer is meant to show us that he's on the same footing strength-wise as the other demigods players faced in Elden Ring.

There are a lot of other hints and tidbits in the trailer, but nothing concrete just yet.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Gameplay

In addition to offering a huge new area to explore, Shadow of the Erdtree gameplay will expand on a bunch of the core elements of Elden Ring. The trailer shows a lot of new stuff, including new spells and incantations. We also know there will be a host of new weapons and armor for players to gather and equip in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Though, again, the details on all these elements are thin, what we've seen so far hints at some new potential play styles. We know there will be eight new weapon categories in the expansion, with the trailer including throwing weapons, dual shields, and martial arts weapons and attacks, which all seem like they could augment current Elden Ring builds or create all-new ones. There are also some new versions of old weapons, like repeating crossbows, and new skills to go with all those new martial implements.

Expect some new magic to wield, as well. The trailer hints at new faith-based incantations, and there are a couple of hints at spells we've never seen before, although it's not clear exactly how they'll work. The use of a new spell "logo," though, could suggest a bunch of new incantations that are linked together thematically and are from a new source outside the Golden Order, which could mean they do a bunch of new and interesting things.

Having new weapons to wield is only half the story, though--the other half is the enemies you'll use them on. Shadow of the Erdtree will offer 10 new bosses for players to fight, and the trailer hints at all-new enemies, as well. It's tough to guess what's what, but it appears you'll have new Tree Sentinels and Night's Cavalry to deal with, as well as some undead creatures to fight, and eventually, Messmer. Check out these Shadow of the Erdtree screenshots for an idea of what you'll face.

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