Elden Ring players are underestimating how important Scadutree Fragments are in Shadow of the Erdtree

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring has surprised players with its difficulty, but many do not know a secret to make the game more bearable. Across the Shadow Realm are Scadutree Fragments designed to balance the game due to its level scaling system, or rather Scadutree Fragments scaling system.

Players discovered the effects and benefits of using Scadutree Fragments and took to the Elden Ring subreddit to discuss their findings. Using the Scadutree Fragments gives players a permanent boost to their stats while in the Shadow Realm, and Shadow of the Erdtree was designed with players using these fragments in mind. So, while there is no level scaling in the game, the DLC is based on scaling enemies against your Scadutree Fragment total, especially with damage mitigation.

Players will find 50 Scadutree Fragments in Elden Ring's Shadow Realm, and I know I always seek them out to help prepare for the next boss that will inevitably stomp me into the ground 10 times before I get close to defeating them. While it is optional to use Scadutree Fragments, avoiding them will make your run more difficult. There is no shame in using the fragments since the game expects you to do so.

The Shadow of the Erdtree has numerous secrets to discover, with the Scadutree Fragments being just one. The community is a great place to learn of these secrets and get tips for beating the DLC. If you're having a tough time with the DLC, use the Scadutree Fragments and browse the subreddit for further help.

For more information on Elden Ring, check out The one thing missing from Shadow of the Erdtree: boss replays on Pro Game Guides.