Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – Comprehensive Guide to Upgrading Weapons

In the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players will find new ways to maximize their weapons through enhanced upgrade systems, increased material accessibility, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Here’s a thorough guide on how to upgrade your weapons effectively within the new DLC:

Upgrading Normal Weapons

1. Utilizing Smithing Stones:
– In the base game, players could enhance their weapons up to +25 using Smithing Stones. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC does not increase this cap further.
– Materials Required: Continue to use the standard Smithing Stones for upgrades just as you did in the original game.

2. Smithing Masters Locations:
– Seek out Smithing Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold or Smithing Master Iji located in Liurnia of the Lakes for all your enhancement needs.
– Engage with them to assess your weapon’s current level and discuss required materials.

3. Incorporating Ashes of War:
– Implementing Ashes of War allows you to change weapon skills and affinities, which can adapt your weapon to better match your character’s build.
– Explore a variety of Ashes to optimize your weapon’s performance according to your playstyle (e.g., offensive or defensive capabilities).

4. Affinity Modifications:
– Alter the affinity of your weapon through the use of Ashes of War in conjunction with a Whetblade. This enables you to shift the scaling of your weapon with relevant stats (Strength, Dexterity, etc.), catering to specific build strategies.

Upgrading Special Weapons

1. Using Somber Smithing Stones:
– Special weapons, typically acquired by defeating bosses or as loot in treasure locations, need Somber Smithing Stones for upgrades.
– Each special weapon can be upgraded to a maximum of +10 in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

2. Enhanced Drop Rates:
– In the newly introduced Land of Shadow area, players can find a significantly higher drop rate for Somber Smithing Stones. This increased availability makes it easier to fully upgrade your special weapon arsenal.
– Engage in exploration and defeat newly introduced bosses to capitalize on these higher drop rates.

New Features Introduced with Shadow of the Erdtree

1. Material Availability:
– The DLC enhances the overall accessibility of upgrade materials, facilitating a more versatile approach to equipment customization. This encourages experimentation with different builds and weapon combinations.

2. Introduction of New Weapons:
– With a total of 103 new weapons added in the expansion, players can experiment with unique movesets that enhance gameplay in both PvE and PvP settings.
– Take time to identify which new weapons align with your preferred combat style.

3. Level-Scaling Mechanic:
– Shadow of the Erdtree debuts a level-scaling mechanic through Scadutree Fragments. This new system promotes increases in damage output and survival rates while exploring the Realm of Shadows, effectively enhancing player performance.

Best Practices for Weapon Upgrades

– Thorough Exploration:
Utilize the expanded drop rates in the Land of Shadow to stockpile essential upgrade materials. Persistent exploration can lead to finding valuable resources and weapons.

– Experiment with Builds:
Utilize the variety of new weapons and upgrade materials to craft diverse builds. Experimentation can lead to discovering powerful combinations that suit different encounters in the game.

– Strategic Weapon Upgrades:
Focus on upgrading weapons that resonate with your current play style or provide distinct advantages in combat scenarios. Think strategically about which weapons to enhance based on your encounters.

Conclusion

While Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree does not extend the upgrade cap for normal weapons beyond +25, the increase in material accessibility and the introduction of numerous new weapons and play mechanics creates abundant opportunities for players to refine their builds. By exploring, experimenting with different upgrades, and optimizing your weapon choices, you can enhance your gameplay experience in this vast and challenging world.