The wait is over, and Shadows of the Erdtree is looming just on the horizon. If you're wondering how to access the new DLC and get stuck into all of that FromSoft goodness, then this guide has you covered.
How to start Shadow of the Erdtree in Elden Ring
In order to start Shadow of the Erdtree in Elden Ring, you'll have to make your way through the rather awful (and concerningly damp) Mohgwyn Palace, and if you haven't already, defeat everybody's favorite amateur mathematician, Mohg, Lord of Blood.
Where to Find Mohgwyn Palace
Gaining access to Mohgwyn Palace is no small feat unto itself, as it is only accessible via the end-game area of the Consecrated Snowfield (specifically through a teleporter). This guide will assume that you already have access to the Consecrated Snowfield, but if not, check out this guide on how to get there for all the information you need.
Once in the Consecrated Snowfield, you'll want to head to the Inner Consecrated Snowfield Site of Grace, and from there, head to the location pictured below.
Here, you'll find a teleporter that will lead you to Mohgwyn Palace; take heed of the Sanguine Noble invading NPC (proud owner of my favorite piece of fashion) if you haven't dealt with him already, as he will spawn nearby and follow you to the teleporter if not promptly dispatched. You'll know the teleporter when you see it, as it will be (much like the rest of Mohgywn Palace) absolutely drenched in blood.
Once there, you'll need to battle through Mohgwyn Palace and ensure you're plenty prepared, as enemies in this region have some pretty beefy health pools, and many of them apply considerable bleed stacks on top of their typical damage. You'll be heading for the big ruined structure all lit up and pretty, which is where you'll face off against the namesake of this terribly sticky locale, the one and only Mohg, Lord of Blood.
How to Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood
Mohg is quite the tricky boss and one of the few in the game to have multiple hidden mechanics to his fight. You can find guides on items relevant to these mechanics here and here, but for the sake of this guide, we'll assume you already have both Mohg's Shackle and the Purifying Crystal Tear.
You'll want to use Mohg's Shackle from your quick slots if you need a moment to heal or want to take a chance to do some extra damage, and you'll want to use the Purifying Crystal Tear (mixed with any other Tear of your choice) as his phase shift mechanic begins. Timing wise, I'd suggest using it right around the time he says "NIHIL!" for the first time. Trust me, you won't miss it.
The Purifying Crystal Tear is the big one here, as it negates his phase-shift mechanic, in which he will count and then activate an inescapable series of damage ticks, which might either kill you outright or drain you of those ever-precious Crimson Tear flasks.
Mohg tends to make some rather large sweeping attacks, so if at any point you see him back up and take to the sky, go on the defensive and move around plenty to try and avoid him. Side rolls are your friend in these situations. He also leaves behind patches of Bloodflame on certain attacks, so be careful not to catch any, as this causes some really nasty damage over time and causes Bleed buildup. Bleed will absolutely annihilate your health pool, so watch out.
I'd suggest going heavily on the offensive in his first phase, as his Phase 2 move set can be wildly unpredictable. This means, ideally, you want to be in it for as little time as possible so he doesn't wear you down. He has a wide range of attacks, some of which have very little telegraphing. One of the worst is his Bloodflame Talons attack, which has him doing a very quick slash followed by an explosion. Getting the timing down for this one is important, as you'll need to roll backward the second it pops up.
One other attack of note is the one in which he slams his spear into the ground and rags it around a bit. This one can be punished, albeit with some considerable risk. You'll want to try rolling into him here and then hitting him in his back whilst he's stuck like a muppet.
Once Mohg is dealt with, you'll want to make your way to the back of the arena and interact with the hand protruding from the cocoon (poor Miquella) to gain access to the new DLC area, The Land of Shadow. And don't worry; you're free to return to The Lands Between at will, even after starting the DLC. (But it might be best to make sure you're prepared for whatever may wait on the other side before starting.) Best of luck on your travels through this new locale!
If you're looking for some more Elden Ring content from us here at Pro Game Guides, check out our Countdown to Shadow of the Erdtree, or if you're looking to get a build going before then, our Best Warrior Build Guide will see you right.
