How To Unlock Monk Unarmed Combat In Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree

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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree introduces diverse weapon options tailored to different combat preferences. Among these additions, the unarmed combat system stands out as particularly distinctive, offering players the opportunity to demonstrate pure martial skill without relying on traditional armaments. This guide provides comprehensive instructions for accessing the monk-style fighting techniques in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Unarmed combat represents one of the most technically demanding playstyles available, requiring precise timing and positioning rather than brute force. Unlike conventional weapon builds that depend on equipment scaling, martial arts proficiency rewards player skill and combat awareness directly.

Before attempting to unlock unarmed combat capabilities, you must first overcome a significant story obstacle. The entire process occurs within Scadu Altus, a region that remains inaccessible until you’ve conquered Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, within Castle Ensis. This boss battle serves as the gateway to advanced martial arts training.

The two critical locations you need to memorize are Highroad Cross and Moorth Ruins. Both sites reside within the Scadu Altus territory and become available exclusively after your victory over Rellana. Many players underestimate this requirement and waste time attempting to reach these areas prematurely.

Common Mistake Alert: Attempting to bypass Castle Ensis or using sequence breaks to access Scadu Altus early may cause the unarmed combat questline to fail entirely. Always complete this prerequisite properly to avoid soft-locking the content.

Once you’ve successfully defeated Rellana, proceed directly to the Highroad Cross Site of Grace. At this location, you’ll encounter familiar faces Leda and Hornsent once again. More importantly, you’ll discover a crucial item called the Monk’s Missive, accompanied by the essential “May the Best Win” emote gesture.

The Monk’s Missive contains explicit instructions: “Seek me to the east if you wish to pursue the way of the warrior. When you find me, you will challenge me to a bout. There is no need for words.” This message provides both your objective and the method for initiating the confrontation.

From Highroad Cross, travel directly eastward to reach the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace. This is where your awaited encounter with Dryleaf Dane occurs in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Navigation Tip: The path from Highroad Cross to Moorth Ruins follows a relatively straight eastern route, but beware of environmental hazards and roaming enemies that can interrupt your journey.

As explicitly stated in the Monk’s Missive, you must formally challenge Dryleaf Dane to combat. The instruction “no need for words” specifically indicates using the “May the Best Win” emote. Access your menu and choose this gesture to perform it in Dryleaf Dane’s presence. Executing this action triggers a screen fade to black and commences the decisive battle.

It’s important to recognize that Dryleaf Dane employs exceptionally swift melee attacks despite being completely unarmed. However, the game permits you to engage him while equipped with full armor sets and any preferred weapon. If you’ve acquired substantial high-tier gear already, this confrontation should prove manageable.

Advanced Combat Strategy: Dryleaf Dane’s attack patterns include rapid combos with minimal recovery frames. The most effective counter involves using hyper-armor weapons that can trade hits favorably or employing shield counters to create opening opportunities. His aggression makes parrying particularly rewarding for skilled players.

Common Pitfall: Many players attempt to match his speed with fast weapons, but this often leads to unfavorable trades. Instead, focus on spacing and punishing his recovery animations after longer attack chains.

Upon emerging victorious against Dryleaf Dane, you’ll obtain two significant reward items that transform your combat capabilities.

The primary reward includes the Dryleaf Arts, a specialized martial arts skill set that enables sophisticated unarmed combat maneuvers. Additionally, you receive a Perfume Bottle, which integrates seamlessly with various build archetypes.

Build Optimization: The Dryleaf Arts work exceptionally well with high dexterity and strength builds, scaling effectively with both attributes. For maximum effectiveness, consider pairing these techniques with talismans that enhance fist weapons and unarmed damage.

Time Investment: From starting the quest at Highroad Cross to defeating Dryleaf Dane, most players complete this process within 15-25 minutes, depending on their proficiency with the boss mechanics and navigation efficiency.

These martial arts capabilities open entirely new gameplay dimensions, allowing for creative build combinations that weren’t previously feasible. The flexibility of unarmed combat makes it particularly valuable for players seeking fresh challenges beyond conventional weapon playstyles. For more specialized character development strategies, consult our comprehensive Class Guide to understand how different attributes complement martial arts approaches.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » How To Unlock Monk Unarmed Combat In Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Master Elden Ring's unarmed combat by defeating Dryleaf Dane and unlocking powerful martial arts techniques