Shadow of the Erdtree does not open from the main menu. Even with the expansion installed, you reach the Realm of Shadow from inside the base game, at a cocoon deep underground in Mohgwyn Palace. Two bosses stand in the way, and one of them sits in an optional area that many first-time players never find. This guide covers the requirements, both routes to Mohgwyn Palace, and what to do once you arrive.
| Required bosses | Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood |
| Entry point | Miquella’s withered arm on the cocoon in Mohg’s arena |
| Site of Grace | Cocoon of the Empyrean (appears after Mohg) |
| Route 1 | Pureblood Knight’s Medal from White Mask Varre |
| Route 2 | Hidden waygate in the Consecrated Snowfield |
| First DLC region | Gravesite Plain |
| Level requirement | None; about level 120 is the common advice |
| Can you go back? | Yes, at any time |
What do you need to start Shadow of the Erdtree?
- The DLC installed on top of the base game.
- Starscourge Radahn defeated at Redmane Castle in Caelid, during the Radahn Festival. Our Radahn boss guide covers the summons and the meteor phase.
- Mohg, Lord of Blood defeated in Mohgwyn Palace. See the Mohg boss guide for Nihil and the Purifying Crystal Tear.
Both kills must be on your current playthrough. If you start New Game+, you have to beat Radahn and Mohg again before the cocoon lets you through.
How to get to Mohgwyn Palace
Mohgwyn Palace is a hidden underground area. There are two ways in.
Route 1: White Mask Varre’s Pureblood Knight’s Medal
- Get a Great Rune and reach the Roundtable Hold. Varre then moves to the Rose Church in Liurnia and gives you a Festering Bloody Finger.
- Invade other players three times with the Festering Bloody Finger. The Recusant Finger does not count. Offline players can instead defeat the invader Magnus the Beast Claw at Writheblood Ruins three times.
- Return to Varre. He gives you the Lord of Blood’s Favor and asks you to soak it in a maiden’s blood.
- The easiest body is at the Church of Inhibition above Frenzied Flame Village. Interact with the corpse there to soak the cloth.
- Give the soaked Favor to Varre, then talk to him again to receive the Pureblood Knight’s Medal.
- Use the medal from your inventory. It takes you straight to Mohgwyn Palace.
This route can drop you in Mohgwyn very early, so expect the enemies there to hit hard if you are underleveled. For every step of the quest, including Varre’s final invasion and his Bouquet, see our White Mask Varre questline walkthrough.
Route 2: The Consecrated Snowfield waygate
If Varre is dead or you skipped his quest, go to the Consecrated Snowfield. You need both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion to get there, as explained in our how to get to the Haligtree guide. A hidden waygate sits north-north-west of the Yelough Anix Tunnel. Step into it and you arrive in Mohgwyn Palace.
How to enter the DLC at Miquella’s cocoon
- Work through Mohgwyn Palace to the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum and defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood.
- Rest at the Cocoon of the Empyrean grace that appears in the arena.
- Walk to the large cocoon at the back of the room. A withered arm hangs out of it.
- Interact with Miquella’s arm and answer “Yes” to the prompt.
- You are taken to the Realm of Shadow and wake in the Gravesite Plain.
What level should you be for Shadow of the Erdtree?
The game has no level gate. The DLC is tuned like the base game’s endgame, so most guides suggest arriving somewhere around level 100 to 150, with 120 the most common answer. Players at level 200 or higher with maxed gear will feel overleveled at first. More important than your level is the Scadutree Blessing, which only exists in the DLC and is covered below.
What to do first in the Realm of Shadow
- Follow the main road north from your arrival point to pick up the Gravesite Plain map. Our map fragment locations list has every DLC map.
- Start collecting Scadutree Fragments. They raise your Scadutree Blessing, which cuts damage taken and raises damage dealt inside the DLC.
- If you use Spirit Ashes, pick up Revered Spirit Ashes too. They power up your summons in the same way.
- Activate the Sites of Grace around the Gravesite Plain, such as Three-Path Cross and Scorched Ruins, so you can warp back easily.
Related: two DLC bosses many players meet early are the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and the Death Knight; our guides cover their weaknesses.
FAQ
Do you have to beat Radahn and Mohg to play the DLC?
Yes. Miquella’s arm only lets you through once both bosses are dead on your current playthrough.
Where is the Shadow of the Erdtree entrance?
In Mohg’s boss arena, the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, at the back of the room. Interact with the withered arm hanging from the cocoon, next to the Cocoon of the Empyrean grace.
Can you go back to the Lands Between after starting the DLC?
Yes. You are never locked in. Travel back through the same spot whenever you want. Your Scadutree Blessing simply has no effect outside the Realm of Shadow.
I killed Varre. Can I still reach Mohgwyn Palace?
Yes. Use the hidden waygate in the Consecrated Snowfield, north-north-west of the Yelough Anix Tunnel.
Source: requirements and routes checked against Fextralife’s Elden Ring wiki plus Den of Geek and GFinity. Recommended levels differ between guides, so we only give the commonly cited range.
Further reading: Shadow of the Erdtree on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.