Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Has A Serious Loot Problem

Summary

Although the DLC adds plenty of interesting items to the game,Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreestill has a notable problem in regards to its loot. Although it is undoubtedly an incredible experience,Shadow of the Erdtreedoes have some flawsthat can make the game more challenging to work through. However, not every source of frustration in the DLC necessarily raisesthe difficulty ofShadow of the Erdtree.

The Land of Shadow has dozens of new and interesting items to collect, from crafting materials to new types of ammunition, buff-granting greases, and more. Of course, there are also over 100 newweapons to find inShadow of the Erdtree, offering an incredible variety to experiment with; there will undoubtedly be at least one perfect new weapon for anybody to get to grips with, no matter their playstyle. But despite all of the interesting loot available inShadow of the Erdtree, the actual reality faced when exploring the Land of Shadow gives a very different impression of its contents.

Shadow Of the Erdtree Contains Too Many Smithing Stones

Too Much Of A Good Thing

As one plays throughShadow of the Erdtree, one fact quickly becomes extremely clear:the Land of Shadow is packed full ofSmithing Stones. Defeated enemies drop them in their multitudes, and plenty more can be found scattered across the realm as deliberately placed loot. This creates the impression that they are one of, if not the single most common types of loot in the entire DLC, which in turn leads to an unusual form of frustration. As useful as the weapon upgrade materials technically are, it is easy to become tired of finding them inShadow of the Erdtree.

Fundamentally, the problem with finding so manySmithing Stone, despite their utility, is the sheer repetition.Smithing Stones are already relatively easy to findinElden Ring’s base game, especially in comparison to other FromSoftware titles, but the DLC far exceeds even this level of commonality. Not just single Smithing Stones but entire bundles can be found at once, quickly increasing a Tarnished’s collection of the various ranks of Stones. But at the same time, collecting them comes with the ever-present knowledge that this loot is in place of other items, which could be just as, if not more useful.

Of course,it is likely that this abundance is specifically related to the large amount of new weaponsadded in the DLC. With it being so easy to upgradeShadow of the Erdtree’s best new weapons, people are encouraged to try out the new weapons instead of simply continuing to rely on their equipment from the base game. However, it should also be acknowledged that some people will not be so interested in the new weapons, being already familiar and confident in their current build. Furthermore, the DLC’s Smithing Stones are not strictly necessary for weapon upgrades anyway.

Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Upgrade Material Loot Is An Unneeded Inclusion

Players Can Purchase Them At Merchants

Playing throughElden Ring’s base game alone can afford one a comfortable collection of Smithing Stones by the time the DLC is accessible, and the potential size of this collection naturally only grows inElden Ring’s New Game Plus. As a result,Shadow of the Erdtree’s additional bounty can easily become superfluousunless one is dedicated to upgrading each and every weapon in their arsenal. But even then, the DLC’s drops and loot isn’t needed. Instead, theTwin Maiden Husksof the Roundtable Hold can offer a Tarnished unlimited amounts of all but the rarest of all upgrade materials.

By collecting the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings found hidden throughout the Lands Between,the Tarnished can unlock unlimited access to the various tiers of Smithing Stones and other upgrade materials via theTwin Maiden Husks(except for the notably rare final tier materials, such as theAncient Dragon Smithing Stone). This availability carries over into a New Game Plus, making finding each Bell Bearing a worthwhile investment. Moreover,purchasing Smithing Stones from this shop is arguably far more convenient than farming for them,given that random chance is not a factor, making them far quicker to obtain in bulk.

To place this in context, a group of 7Smithing Stone [2]can be found as loot inShadow of the Erdtree’s Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon. This is just over half of the total number (12) needed to raise a weapon from +3 to +6. However, the Twin Maiden Husks will sell a Smithing Stone [2] for 400 runes, meaning that 12 cost 4800. This cost can be covered by killing just a few of even the most basic enemies inShadow of the Erdtree, and higher-ranked Stones are likewise relatively easy to afford.

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Constantly Finding Upgrade Materials Makes Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Loot Less Exciting

Loot Tables Should Be Adjusted

It is also worth noting that for Spirit Ashes,Grave Glovewort [1]are treated similarly in areas where they are available, albeit perhaps to a slightly lesser extent overall. But regardless, the Glovewort Picker’s Bell Bearings once again perfectly cover any and all upgrade needs that the Tarnished may have. As such, the high numbers of upgrade materials inShadow of the Erdtreearguably do not have that much practical value other than consistently reminding people that it is possible to upgrade any new weapons they have.

On the other hand, it must be noted that Shadow of the Erdtree also includes new instances of top-tier upgrade materials likeAncient Dragon Smithing Stone. With only a small number available in any playthrough before beginning a new Journey, this is undoubtedly a valuable inclusion, giving people a much better chance of unlocking the maximum potential of any DLC weapons that they do decide to incorporate into their playstyle.

Shadow of the Erdtreeadds 8 new Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, 6 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, 6 Great Grave Gloveworts, and 3 Great Ghost Gloveworts to the game.

As fun asShadow of the Erdtreeis, its approach to loot can be quite frustrating. The emphasis placed on Smithing Stones and other upgrade materials is simply unnecessary, given their ultimate availability in the base game, and at times this can lead to the sense that the DLC’s loot lacks variety, despite the many new items added inElden Ring’s DLC. Because of this, it would arguably have been better ifElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s loot was balanced more towards new items, rather than those already made plentiful by the base game.