The Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, was one of the most highly anticipated gaming experiences this year. That hype was humbled as players slammed into higher difficulty than they were expecting. 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, no boss-beating required.
These items, called Scadutree Fragments, empower your character’s damage and defenses. They’re scattered around the DLC’s area much like the Golden Seeds that increase your amount of health and FP flasks in the base game. There’s another new type of item called Revered Spirit Ashes that likewise increases the strength of your summoned spirit ashes and ensures Torrent, your spiritual steed, can take more hits. But the Scadutree Fragments will likely make more of a difference when fighting bosses and making your way through dungeons.
Read more: How to Start Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
Players who’ve waded deep into the DLC have recommended struggling players prioritize picking up these Scadutree Fragments to survive the tougher difficulty — even players over level 200 are having a rough time, so it does seem like FromSoftware more or less equalized the experience in the DLC by scaling the challenge to these fragments rather than give higher-leveled characters an edge.
Once you’ve picked up Scadutree Fragments, you’ll need to manually apply them while sitting at a site of grace — choose the new Shadow Blessings option from the menu (same with Revered Spirit Ashes too). Also note that, just like with Golden Seeds, you’ll need to collect an escalating amount of Scadutree Fragments to upgrade with each level. Your first upgrade will only take one, while the next three will take two Scadutree Fragments apiece, then three for the next few upgrade levels, and so on.
We haven’t found all of these yet, but we’ll post the location of each of the fragments that we find to help you in the early game. Note that most of these can be found just by exploring the Land of Shadow — we’ll point out if there are tough enemies guarding the fragments, but you can bolster your character by three to four blessing levels without having to 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 always intended the Scadutree Fragments to be a balancing system allowing players to feel a sense of challenge no matter what level they are when starting Shadows of the Erdtree. But less than a week after releasing the DLC amid backlash about the difficulty, the studio uploaded a patch that made the first half of the fragments players use have more effect, essentially easing the beginning of the expansion and encouraging players to collect the new item.
Elden Ring DLC Scadutree Fragment State Upgrade Scaling
Here are the effects of the fragments — first my base stats, which you’ll return to when leaving the Land of Shadow area of the DLC, and then showing one, two, three and four levels of Shadowtree Blessings — which takes seven total Scadutree Fragments. Note that my damage has gone up around 160 and defenses have increased by around 13 across the board with the fourth level of blessings. That’s like adding an extra heavy chest armor piece…for free!
Where to find the Elden Ring DLC’s first Scadutree Fragments
1: The first crossroads and first Miquella’s Cross
Players can get their first Scadutree Fragment very early in the DLC at the second site of grace they’re likely to find. From the first site of grace, reach the road and follow it through the ruined town until you see a shining yellow cross jutting up from the ground on your left — the first of many Miquella Crosses signifying the demigod’s path in the Land of Shadow area of the DLC. The Scadutree Fragment is right at the base of the cross, next to a site of grace (Three-Path Cross).
The Scadutree Fragment location around the Three-Path Cross site of grace.
2. The Miquella’s Cross just south of Belurat, Tower Settlement
Traveling west from those first crossroads through the mountain pass, players will climb up a set of steps to find another Miquella’s Cross, along with a pair of helpful NPCs and a site of grace (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 Scadutree Fragment near the Main Gate Cross site of grace.
3. Church of Consolation
Players can find another Scadutree Fragment immediately after entering the Land of Shadow. Just east of the first site of grace in the DLC, players can follow a worn path to find a church. Inside is a Black Knight Commander that’s tougher than normal enemies, but they aren’t boss-level and shouldn’t be much trouble. Inside the church at the altar is another Scadutree Fragment.
The location of the Scadutree Fragment in the Church of Consolation.
4. Campsite crossroads ahead of the northeast castle
From that first Miquella’s Cross, head northeast across the bridge (dodging the bolts from the enemy ballista directly ahead) and keep going to find a site of grace (Castle Front). At the crossroads slightly before the grace is a statue with another Scadutree Fragment.
A map location of the Scadutree Fragment near the Castle Front site of grace.
The “Pot Guy” enemy holding the Scadutree Fragment is outlined in red — ignore the spectral dog in the bottom left corner imminently coming for my character…
5. East of the first town ruins – your first Scadutree Pot Guy
Another Scadutree Fragment is nestled in a group of enemies, but the tricky part is defeating a specific fleeting enemy nestled in the squad before they vanish: a Pot Guy. They look just like the other shadow villagers, but carry a pot on their heads that sparkles — and much like the scarabs in the base 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 site of grace and is among some spectral dog and shadow villager enemies, including necromancers that fire slow-moving skulls at you. While more annoying than dangerous, they’ll still get in your way to give time for the pot holder to leave, so go for them first.
The map location for the Scadutree Fragment near the Scorched Ruins site of grace.
Another “Pot Guy” outlined in red — kill him before he disappears.
6. Pot Guy within Belurat, Tower Settlement
Though it’s a ways into the DLC’s first big Legacy Dungeon — Belurat, Tower Settlement — it’s still early enough in the game to be on your way if you decide to take the plunge into the castle. Once you reach the Small Private Altar site of grace, make your way up to the crumbling rooftops, defeating the gravebirds along the way. Just before you leave the roofs, you should see a covered bridge — a Pot Guy is waiting, who will drop a Scadutree Fragment upon death.
The map location for the Scadutree Fragment a ways beyond the Small Private Altar site of grace.
7. East of the Castle Front grace
The last easy Scadutree Fragment to pick up in the starting area is a short spectral horse ride away from the Castle Front site of grace. Just go southeast, following the tree-lined trail on the ridge, then following it left down a slight decline. If you hit the Pillar Path Waypoint site of grace, you’ve gone too far — double back and look for a ramp downward.
When you do, you’ll see another Miquella’s Cross and a site 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 site of grace.
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