Here's how Shadow of the Erdtree's new leveling system works

GamesRPGHere’s how Shadow of the Erdtree’s new leveling system worksWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Blue cloaked Elden Ring character holding sword out to the side in front of a mounted knight

The power to take on the new enemies and bosses in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree won’t primarily come from runes. The DLC has its own leveling system that has never existed in aFromSoftwaregame—although it resembles the one in Sekiro a bit.

In addition to normal rune leveling, you’ll find “Scadutree Fragments” in the Land of Shadow that will increase your “Scadutree Blessing” level, scaling your stats up much higher than they would normally. You’ll also find catacombs and dungeons with Revered Spirit Ash Blessings to globally increase the power and defense of Torrent and yourspirit ash summonspast whereGlovewortcan take you in the base game.

You can still level up with runes, but it’ll take a massive amount of them once you push past level 150. And even then, the benefit of each stat point falls off considerably once they’re high enough. Scadutree Fragments are the answer to this problem.

The only catch is that your Scadutree Blessing and Revered Spirit Ash Blessing level disappear when you’re anywhere outside of the DLC area.Your stats will be highlighted in orange to show that they’re enabled and will go back to white when they’re not. I imagine this allows FromSoft to more easily balance the difficulty of the DLC areas without trivializing the base game.

Both of these new leveling systems will be familiar if you’ve played Elden Ring already. Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ash Blessings work just like Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears do in the base game for leveling up your Crimson and Cerulean flasks: You pick them up and upgrade your level at Graces, with the required amount scaling up as you progress.

Where to find Scadutree Fragments

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Scadutree Fragments also showed up in the major dungeons as a reward after a boss or near a significant checkpoint within it. It’s possible mini bosses of some kind could drop them too, but we didn’t find any in the few hours we had with the DLC.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Where to find Revered Spirit Ash Blessings

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The Revered Spirit Ash Blessings, however, were seemingly off of bosses in catacombs and underground dungeons or “gaols” (not to be confused with evergaols). If I had to guess, they will be the reward for doing more of the game’s side content than the dungeons on the critical path through the game.

Shadow of the Erdtree drops on June 20.

TOPICSFromSoftware

TOPICS

PRODUCTSElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeElden Ring

PRODUCTS

More about rpg

A Path of Exile 2 sorceress casting flaming skulls in a hellish landscape

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Double headed wizard man holding arms up looking sad

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

Wordle answers

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

See more latest►

Most Popular

The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)

I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Where to find Scadutree Fragments#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Where to find Revered Spirit Ash Blessings#

Where to find Scadutree Fragments

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Where to find Revered Spirit Ash Blessings