Shadow of the Erdtree is FromSoftware’s most ambitious expansion yet, and it’s going to change the way we experience Elden Ring in many ways. The team has worked tirelessly to add a plethora of new content, and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year so far.
One aspect revealed earlier on through interviews was the inclusion of an entirely new attack power mechanic. Hidetaka Miyazaki likened this to the attack power mechanic in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but the way to go about accruing this stat is intrinsically linked to how we experience the game.
Miyazaki Will Have Players Scouring the Shadow of the Erdtree’s Map for Power
FromSoftware games have always rewarded those with a mindset to explore, as the most off-beat pathways often result in some of the best discoveries. The team’s level design contributes greatly to fueling this desire, but Miyazaki is taking it a step further with the DLC.
It was previously hinted at a new form of leveling that will be exclusive to DLC areas. This was called attack power, and we had a similar mechanic in Sekiro. The player could increase damage output by progressing the game and taking down bosses. With no need for a grind, players could focus on the story but were also stopped from becoming overpowered.
The attack power in Shadow of the Erdtree will be granted to the player via fragments of the Scadutree. These can be found under the cross markers left by Miquella, along with some lore, but they could also be spread out across the map for the intrepid explorer to stumble upon.
These fragments can then be used at a Site of Grace within the DLC area to redeem a Scadutree Blessing. This Blessing can increase the damage output of the player while increasing their defensive stats. By collecting more fragments, the player can continue to level up, and Miyazaki may have implemented this mechanic to get people to explore the world instead of making a beeline to dungeons.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Believes in Rewarding the Players for Their Efforts
Miyazaki has previously stated that he enjoys creating games where the player feels they have overcome a struggle to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This could be through difficult combat sequences that require quick reflexes or a desire to explore the world and gather every item imaginable in the game.
The DLC is created with the same philosophy, and we can see that not only through the Scadutree fragments but also through the combat. FromSoftware has added eight new weapon categories to the game and also introduced a martial arts combat style that could change the way people have been playing the game till now.
The director of FromSoftware has also stated that there are new enemies within the Land of Shadow, and a few have also been tuned to act and function like Malenia. Being one of the toughest bosses in the base game, it’s going to take quite a few Blessings to make sure the player is ready for those who follow in her footsteps.
What do you think of the new attack power mechanic? Let us know in the comments below!
