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The Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, was one of the most anticipated gaming experiences this year. This ad was underwhelmed as players faced a higher difficulty than they expected. But like other FromSoftware games, there are ways to smooth out that difficulty spike — namely by collecting new items that make your character more powerful, some of which you can pick up just by exploring without having to fight bosses.
These items, called Scadutree Fragments, boost your character’s damage and defenses. These are scattered throughout the DLC area, similar to Golden Seeds, which increase your amount of health and FP flasks in the main game. There is another new item type called Revered Spirit Ashes, which also increases the power of your summoned spirit ashes and ensures that Torrent, your spirit steed, can take more hits. But the Scadutree shards will probably make more of a difference when you’re fighting bosses and making your way through dungeons.
Read more: How to run Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
Players deep into the DLC have recommended that struggling players prioritize picking up these Scadutree Shards to survive the harder difficulty – even players above level 200 are having a rough time, so it seems that FromSoftware more or less flattens out the DLC experience by scaling the challenge to those fragments instead of prioritizing higher level characters.
Once you get the Scadutree Fragments, you’ll need to apply them manually while sitting in a place of grace – select the new Shadow Blessings option from the menu (same with Revered Spirit Ashes). Also note that just like with Golden Seeds, you’ll need to collect an increasing amount of Scadutree Fragments to upgrade with each level. Your first upgrade will only take one, while the next three will take two Scadutree Shards each, then three each for the next few upgrade levels, and so on.
We haven’t found all of these yet, but we’ll post the location of any shards we find to help you out in the early game. Note that most of these can only be found by exploring the Shadowlands — we’ll point out if there are difficult enemies guarding the shards, but you can boost your character by three to four levels of blessing without having to you face a boss.
Read more: Elden Ring creator Hidetaka Miyazaki talks Shadow of the Erdtree, new weapons and more
Why are Scadutree fragments important?
FromSoftware has always intended Scadutree Fragments to be a balancing system, allowing players to experience a sense of challenge no matter what level they are when they start Shadows of the Erdtree. But less than a week after the DLC’s release amid backlash over the difficulty, studio uploaded a patch which made the first half of the shards that players use have more impact, essentially making it easier to start the expansion and encouraging players to collect the new item.
Here are the effects of the shards — first my base stats, which you’ll return to when you leave the DLC’s Land of Shadow area, and then it shows one, two, three, and four levels of Shadowtree Blessings — which takes seven total Scadutree shards. Note that my damage increased by about 160 and defenses increased by about 13 all around with the fourth level of blessings. It’s like adding an extra heavy piece of chest armor…for free!
Where to find the first Scadutree fragments of the Elden Ring DLC
1: The first crossroads and the first cross of Michela
Players can get their first Scadutree Fragment very early in the DLC in the second fertile spot they are likely to find. From the first place of grace, reach the road and follow it through the ruined city until you see a glowing yellow cross sticking out of the ground on the left – the first of many Michela crosses marking the path of the demigod in the Shadowland area of the DLC. The fragment from Scadutree is right at the base of the cross, next to the place of grace (Three Way Cross).
The location of the Scadutree fragment around the place of grace at the cross of the three paths.
2. Michela’s Cross south of Belurat, Tower settlement
Traveling west from these first junctions through the mountain pass, players will climb a set of steps to find another cross of Miquella, along with a pair of helpful NPCs and a place of grace (the Main Gate Cross). As before, the Scadutree Fragment is an item waiting at the base of the cross.
A map showing the location of a fragment of the Scadutree near the place of grace on the cross of the Main Gate.
3. Church of Consolation
Players can find another Scadutree fragment as soon as they enter the Shadowlands. Just east of the DLC’s first place of grace, players can follow a well-worn path to find a church. There is a Black Knight Commander inside that is stronger than the normal enemies, but they aren’t boss level and shouldn’t be much of a problem. Inside the church at the altar is another Scadutree fragment.
The location of the Scadutree Fragment in the Church of Consolation.
4. Intersection of the campsite in front of the northeast castle
From this first Miquella cross, head northeast across the bridge (dodging the enemy ballista bolts directly ahead) and continue to find a place of grace (Castle Front). At the crossroads just before the grace there is a statue with another Scadutree fragment.
Scadutree fragment map location near Castle Front site of grace.
The “Pot Guy” enemy holding the Scadutree shard is outlined in red — ignore the ghost dog in the lower left corner that’s coming for my character soon…
5. East of the first city ruins – your first Scadutree Pot Guy
Another Scadutree fragment is nestled in a group of enemies, but the hard part is defeating a specific fleeting enemy nestled in the squad before they disappear: Pot Guy. They look just like the other shadow villagers, but they wear a pot on their heads that glows – and much like the scarabs in the main game, if you don’t defeat them quickly, they’ll disappear. (Don’t worry, they’ll come back when you visit a site of grace.)
This Scadutree Pot Holder is located just east of the Scorched Ruins boon site and is among some ghostly dog and shadow enemies, including necromancers that shoot slow-moving skulls at you. While they’re more annoying than dangerous, they’ll still get in your way to give the pot holder time to leave, so take them out first.
Map location for Scadutree Fragment near Scorched Ruins site of grace.
Another “Pot Guy” outlined in red — kill him before he disappears.
6. Pot Guy within Belurat, Tower Settlement
Although it’s a path to the DLC’s first major dungeon – Belurat, Tower Settlement – it’s still early enough in the game that you’ll be on your way if you decide to dive into the castle. Once you reach the place of grace Small Private Altar, make your way to the collapsing roofs, defeating the gravebirds along the way. Just before you leave the rooftops, you should see a covered bridge — a man with a pot is waiting for you, who will drop a Scadutree fragment on death.
The map location for the Scadutree Fragment is well beyond the Small Private Altar of Grace.
7. To the east of the front grace of the castle
The last easy Scadutree fragment you can pick up in the starting area is a short ghostly horse ride from the place of grace in front of the Castle Front. Just head southeast, following the tree-lined path on the ridge, then follow it left down a gentle incline. If you hit the Pillar Path Waypoint’s grace point, you’ve gone too far – backtrack and look for a ramp down.
When you do, you’ll see another Miquella cross and a place of grace (Pillar Path Cross), as well as a new NPC selling poison items. As before, the Scadutree fragment is at the base of the cross.
The map location for the Scadutree Fragment right next to the Pillar Path Cross boon location.
Watch this: Elden Ring DLC preview: Tough bosses, new weapons and more mystery
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