Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Is Perfect for Fans of One Playstyle

Summary

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehas brought a host of new gear to the game, including eight new weapon types and a whopping total of 101 new individual weapons. These new armaments, coupled with all-new spells, talismans, and ashes of war, mean thatElden Ring’s build potentialis broader than ever.

Of all FromSoftware’s games,Elden Ringis probably the most accommodating of different playstyles. The game allows players to slot into broad fantasy RPG archetypes like warrior, rogue, and mage, but within those loose archetypes lie a number of different variables that can be tweaked for radically different gameplay experiences. For instance, a melee character spec’d into bleed damage will feel notably distinct from one focused on stun or crit damage. This emphasis on flexibility and expressive build-crafting is continued inShadow of the Erdtree, which buttresses one common Soulslike build.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Tag Page Cover Art

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Is a Haven for Dual-Wielders

Shadow of the Erdtree Is Surprisingly Jam-Packed with Dual-Wielding Weapons

It shouldn’t be surprising that dual-wielding melee weapons is common practice in Souls games. For one thing,it certainly looks impressive, as players can utilize their off-hand weapon for devastating, flashy combos. But dual-wielding inElden Ringis about more than just looking cool—there are a lot of practical benefits to it as well. An off-hand weapon can be used for stat damage, or both weapons can be used in tandem to stun-lock enemies, for example.

FromSoftware seems to have honed in on this popular playstyle withShadow of the Erdtree, which contains a disproportionately large number of dual-wield weapons. Several armaments, both common and unique, are actually paired weapons, meaning that two-handing them will cause the player-character to produce a duplicate of that weapon in their off-hand. In fact, most ofShadow of the Erdtree’s new weapon typesare exclusively dedicated to this format:

What Shadow of the Erdtree’s Expanded Dual-Wielding Options Mean for Gameplay

Though dual-wielding can function differently depending on weapon type, it generally rewards quick reaction time and aggressiveness. With a second melee weapon taking up the player’s off-hand, they aren’t able to use a shield, staff, or crossbow—all tools that can be used for more careful, defensive, or ranged combat. With this increased emphasis on dual-wielding, FromSoftware is sending a clear message:aggressive gameplay will yield good results inShadow of the Erdtree.

FromSoftware has been moving in the direction of fast-paced, aggressive gameplay sinceBloodborne, with bothDark Souls 3andSekiro: Shadows Die Twicetweaking factors like movement speed and stamina consumption to encourage this playstyle.

Shadow of the Erdtree’s bossescan be brutally difficult, exhibiting verve, speed, and raw attack power that exceeds most of the base game’s bosses. There are some exceptions, but a common trend among these DLC bosses seems to be their ranged attacks, ability to quickly close large distances, and high poise damage, all of which reduce the effectiveness of strategies like ranged magic spamming and tanking hits with heavy shields. Instead, it’s beneficial for players to dodge and get quick hits in when they can, which is facilitated by the high attack speed and damage output afforded by dual-wielding.

Moreover, hitting an enemy twice leads to increased poise damage and stat buildup, if the weapons deal stat damage. For players looking to leverage high-dexterity builds or inflict massive stat damage, dual-wielding can often be a great choice, and these strengths synergize withShadow of the Erdtree’s lightning-quick, unforgiving boss design. It’s not the only viable build in the DLC by any means, but it is definitely a good one, and it now has more flexibility than ever.