While Elden Ring may be one of the more approachable titles on the FromSoftware roster, it is still a challenging experience for many gamers. Aside from the main and field bosses, sometimes even regular mobs can be a task to deal with, and restarting the same area can get annoying.
Thus, FromSoftware introduced the concept of summoning into its games. The same mechanic is present in Elden Ring through the Spirit Calling Bell and Spirit Ashes. Shadow of the Erdtree will bring some new Spirit options and a new way to upgrade their capabilities.
Upgrading Spirit Ashes Will Require Exploration in Shadow of the Erdtree
Using Spirit Ashes is a debatable topic in the Elden Ring community. There’s no shame in doing so, but some players, especially purists, will say that’s not how the game is “meant” to be played. Regardless, they can be a boon for people who want some help but can’t or don’t wish to play online.
There are several Spirit Ashes to collect in Elden Ring, and their usefulness varies. Some are barely of any help, others can be used purely for status effects, and a select few are top-tier. Fully upgrading the best ones, such as the Mimic Tear or Dungeater, can result in the Spirit taking down many bosses on their own while the player watches from a safe distance.
Upgrading these Spirits in Elden Ring required a special item known as a Ghost Gloveworts. The recent Shadow of the Erdtree gameplay showcase revealed that upgrading Spirit Ashes in the DLC will require a different kind of resource.
Much like the Sacdutree Blessing buff being exclusive to the DLC areas, the enhancements made to the Spirit Ashes using the Revered Spirit Ash Blessing will also be applicable only in the Land of Shadow. It has not been stated if the new summons can be used in base game areas, but if they are the same as weapons, then we assume they can be used in the Lands Between.
Elden Ring’s DLC Promises to Revamp the Base Game’s Experience
It’s the biggest expansion FromSoftware has worked on, and the proof is in the file size. Coming in at 16.5 GB, the DLC is larger than even Sekiro, a full-fledged title. Hidetaka Miyazaki has not offered an average playtime but has stated the DLC should be as expansive as Limgrave, the beginning area of the base game.
Rough estimates place the playtime for the DLC between 30 and 40 hours. This would include all the dungeons and collecting most, if not all, of the collectibles. One must also factor in that it is meant for late-game-leveled builds, so there will be a fair amount of dying and restarting.
The expansion is now less than a week from release, and the hype is palpable. Everything FromSoftware has shown so far has been very impressive and has left fans wanting more. It’s gotten to the point where a DLC could become the unofficial Game of the Year!
What are you most looking forward to in the expansion? Let us know in the comments below.
