FromSoftware recently announced Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for the beloved open-world RPG Elden RIng's Miquella Is Less Saintly Than You Think
1 Shadow Of The Erdtree Can Finally Introduce Miquella
In Elden Ring, players encounter various fascinating deities, ranging from the bestial Starscourge Radahn to the skillful Malenia. Malenia's twin brother Miquella is suspiciously absent from the game, but Shadow of the Erdtree can provide Miquella answers that fans of the game so desperately crave. Evidence suggests that the long-haired figure riding Torrent in the expansion's teaser image is actually Miquella, which begs questions and promises answers about the mysterious Demigod. A great deal of lore surrounding Miquella is already found in the base Elden Ring experience, but meeting the childlike son of Marika in the flesh should shed more light on his role in the Lands Between's history.
2 Shadow Of The Erdtree Can Expand Elden Ring Lore
Like most FromSoftware Soulsborne titles, Elden Ring is filled to the brim with fascinating lore. The history of the Lands Between and its inhabitants is told through environmental detail, item descriptions and conversations with iconic characters, and Shadow of the Erdtree can delve even deeper into this fascinating story. The DLC can explore Elden Ring backstories and lore pertaining to The Shattering, a cataclysmic war between the gods that left the Lands Between in a state of ruin. The expansion could also reveal more about Marika and Radagon, a pair of gods who are implied by the game's ending to actually be the same being.
The teaser image for Shadow of the Erdtree alone suggests some interesting new lore, with new items and characters set to contribute even more to the Elden Ring story upon release. Miquella is expected to play a large role in the narrative, which likely means that more will also be revealed about his twin sister Malenia. The noble steed's appearance on the expansion's teaser image suggests that more of Torrent's Elden Ring lore will also be unveiled, with Shadow of the Erdtree possibly revealing the horned horse's origins and original owner.
3 Shadow Of The Erdtree Can Add Mount Customization
Considering Torrent's prominent place in the Shadow of the Erdtree teaser image, it seems likely that the spectral steed will play a key role in Elden Ring's DLC. Hopefully this renewed focus on Torrent will lead to some customization options for the horse, letting Tarnished warriors travel across the Lands Between in style. These customization options could come in the form of cosmetic armor or decorations to bring FromSoftware's signature fashion to new heights. This customization could even let Torrent take the form of other iconic Elden Ring mounts, like a Tree Sentinel horse or a wolf, for enhanced roleplay.
4 Elden Ring Needs A Robust New DLC Region
Considering the teaser image and the open-world nature of Elden Ring, it seems very likely that Shadow of the Erdtree will add new Elden Ring DLC regions for players to explore. Where exactly the expansion will take players remains unclear, but this new location should be comparable to the fantasy epic's most robust regions. The setting should be filled with special enemies to face and hidden side quests to discover, recapturing the sense of wonder and adventure generated by Elden Ring's best areas. By taking inspiration from regions like Limgrave and Liurnia, rather than the game's emptier areas like Mountaintops of the Giants, Shadow of the Erdtree can truly shine.
5 Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Can Include Godwyn
Alongside Miquella, Godwyn the Golden is the most important Elden Ring character to never appear alive in the game itself. Featured heavily in the game's marketing, Godwyn was the first god to be killed during the brutal Elden Ring event The Shattering. His dark and corrupted corpse does appear in-game, but Shadow of the Erdtree has the potential to feature the demigod as a boss or in an impactful narrative role. This could be accomplished by taking players into the past, which FromSoftware has historically done in expansions for Dark Souls and Bloodborne, or perhaps by resurrecting Godwyn in the DLC's ethereal new area.
6 Elden Ring DLC Can Improve Armor Customization
Elden Ring boasts a wide variety of armor and weaponry to help players customize their character, but Shadow of the Erdtree can push the game's fashion meta even further. Different pieces of armor can already be paired together and swapped, but FromSoftware can make customization truly robust by letting players choose between different color palettes for each individual piece of armor. This would make armor for Elden Ring character customization more versatile, with certain helmets potentially pairing better with different chestpieces by eliminating a clash of colors.
7 Shadow Of The Erdtree Can Add Elden Ring Covenants
While they were left out of the base game to streamline co-op, multiplayer Covenants can make a grand return in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. This classic FromSoftware system lets players various in-game factions, which changes how they interact with other players online. Covenants were left out of Elden Ring, but perhaps the concept can make a return in the game's DLC area to make online interactions more in-depth. Perhaps the expansion can introduce two rival factions, with players choosing a side and invading players who choose the opposite Covenant. This could improve Elden Ring's co-op multiplayer while still keeping the Covenant system out of the base experience.
8 Chalice Dungeons Can Return In Elden Ring DLC
While Bloodborne's Chalice Dungeons are a clear inspiration for the caves and catacombs explored in Elden Ring, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC can bring the concept back even more faithfully. The gothic horror RPG features randomly-generated dungeons that can be created endlessly, giving players an infinite number of levels to explore. Elden Ring could benefit from this same endless replayability, perhaps by adding a randomly-generated Chalice Dungeon to the game's DLC region. This area could be fought through and reset endlessly, letting players test out their Elden Ring builds ad nauseam.
9 Shadow Of The Erdtree Needs Horseback PVP
While Elden Ring lets players mount Torrent and engage in horseback combat against computer-controlled foes, players are sadly unable to ride their steeds while engaged in multiplayer gameplay. However, Shadow of the Erdtree has the potential to rectify this unfortunate absence by adding mounted PVP combat to Elden Ring. This competitive mode would need to be restricted to a single area, however, to stop players from riding away from each other and causing technical issues. Perhaps the expansion's new region can include a Colosseum, similar to the ones added to the base game in a post-launch update, that offers multiplayer jousts.
10 Elden Ring DLC Can Let Fans Face Bosses In Their Prime
Along with the potential appearance of Miquella and Godwyn, many Elden Ring fans would no doubt enjoy facing other familiar figures in their prime. If Shadow of the Erdtree does explore the history of the Lands Between, there is plenty of potential to meet characters like Godrick or Rykard before their descent into madness. Time travel would also let players face Elden Ring's misunderstood hero Starscourge Radahn in his prime, before his affliction with Scarlet Rot, potentially creating the most difficult boss fight in the entire game. Marika herself, rather than her alternate form as Radagon, could also prove to be incredibly intense final boss for the DLC.
While little is actually known about Shadow of the Erdtree, the Elden Ring DLC's teaser image alone is enough to ignite the fires of imagination. The expansion seems to focus on a new region of the Lands Between, or perhaps a past version of the fantasy setting, with Miquella and Torrent playing key roles in the experience. With this DLC, FromSoftware has the opportunity to improve many of the game's mechanics, from character customization to online multiplayer. Until more is revealed about Shadow of the Erdtree, the Elden Ring community can only speculate about FromSoftware's plans for the exciting expansion.
Source: Elden Ring/Twitter
