TL;DR
- Prioritize Scadutree Fragment collection for immediate power scaling against DLC’s enhanced difficulty
- Acquire the Two-Headed Turtle talisman early for significant stamina regeneration advantages
- Farm Scorched Ruins for efficient early-game Rune accumulation before tackling major bosses
- Master enemy avoidance strategies to conserve resources for critical encounters
- Balance exploration with strategic progression to avoid overwhelming enemy encounters
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Navigating the initial expanse of Shadow of the Erdtree presents a formidable challenge, mirroring the base game’s overwhelming scale. FromSoftware deliberately places adventurers within a sprawling landscape filled with ambiguous markers that could signal valuable discoveries or immediate defeat. The conventional approach of following main pathways proves particularly ineffective during early exploration phases, especially considering the substantial difficulty spike presented by the expansion’s inaugural boss encounters.
This progression roadmap directs you toward crucial destinations containing vital equipment, enhancement resources, protective gear, and armaments designed to ease your transitional journey into the Realm of Shadow.
Four conveniently positioned Miquella’s Cross locations dot the Gravesite Plain and territories south of Castle Ensis. Each cross guards a Scadutree Fragment, collectively providing sufficient materials for multiple Scadutree Blessing enhancements. Even achieving two or three upgrade tiers delivers noticeable combat advantages against both standard enemies and boss opponents, making preliminary preparation time exceptionally valuable.
The Church of Consecration demands immediate attention, containing dual fragments positioned at its altar alongside an aggressive hammer knight who can be strategically bypassed through evasion tactics.
Ambitious collectors can pursue additional fragments by progressing midway through Belurat Tower Settlement to defeat the jar-carrying Shade, locating the cross within Castle Ensis’s central section, or confronting the enhanced Ulcerated Tree Spirit in Ellac River. These advanced acquisitions demand greater time investment and present elevated risk profiles that require careful consideration.
The Two-Headed Turtle talisman represents one of Shadow of the Erdtree’s most impactful equipment pieces, maintaining relevance throughout the entire expansion. This upgraded iteration of the original turtle talisman substantially accelerates stamina regeneration rates, dramatically reducing recovery intervals during combat sequences and enabling more aggressive offensive pressure.
Reaching this valuable artifact requires navigating the tunnel adjacent to Ruined Lava Forge, traversing the poison swamp while disregarding hostile creatures that offer minimal Rune rewards. Proceed leftward through the darkened passage into a cavern containing a Site of Grace, which should be activated as a safety measure before exiting and turning right. The leftward path leads toward Cerulean Coast, an important region for later exploration phases.
Follow the waterway northward while continuing to avoid combat encounters. An empowered Ulcerated Tree Spirit emerges from the river depths, but can be strategically bypassed unless you specifically require its associated fragment. Your ultimate objective is the waterfall at the waterway’s northern terminus, where the talisman awaits behind the cascade on a deceased adventurer.
Scorched Ruins typically serve as the initial discovery area when following the primary route through Gravesite Plain, offering exceptional Rune accumulation opportunities. Sluggish, vulnerable Shades populate the ruins, each yielding approximately 700 Runes upon defeat. While this amount appears modest individually, the concentration of numerous Shades throughout the ruins and along the southern roadway creates highly efficient farming conditions.



Action Checklist
- Collect all four Miquella’s Cross Scadutree Fragments
- Secure Two-Headed Turtle talisman via Ruined Lava Forge route
- Farm Scorched Ruins for 10,000+ Runes
- Activate all Sites of Grace along primary navigation routes
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Where To Go First In Shadow Of The Erdtree – Elden Ring DLC Essential early-game locations and strategies to master Elden Ring's challenging expansion content
