You've spent hundreds of hours in the Lands Between, felled gods, and maybe even became the Elden Lord. But now, Shadow of the Erdtree is calling. Honestly, it’s not as simple as just clicking "New Game" or finding a menu option. FromSoftware loves making us work for our content. If you're wondering how to enter Elden Ring DLC, you aren't alone; thousands of players have stared at their screens wondering why the new area won't trigger even after buying the expansion.
It’s all about the cocoon. Specifically, the weird, withered arm hanging out of a giant cracked egg in a subterranean blood palace.
The two bosses you absolutely have to kill
Before you can even think about stepping into the Land of Shadow, you have to prove you're strong enough to survive it. This isn't just a recommendation from the developers. It's a hard gate. You need to defeat two specific "Shardbearers" to trigger the NPC interaction that leads to the DLC.
First up is Starscourge Radahn. You’ll find him in Caelid, specifically at Redmane Castle. Most players do this anyway as part of the main progression, but if you skipped him on a speedrun or a specific build path, you’ve got to head back. Triggering the Radahn Festival is usually the trickiest part here. You either need to reach the Altus Plateau or progress Ranni’s questline until Blaidd tells you about the festival. Once the festival is live, go down to the beach, take the portal, and survive the meteor-crashing chaos of the fight itself.
The second requirement is the real hurdle. You have to kill Mohg, Lord of Blood.
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Do not confuse him with "Mohg, the Omen" who hangs out in the sewers beneath Leyndell. That guy is just an illusion. You need the real deal. He lives in Mohgwyn Palace. To get there, you can either complete White Mask Varré’s questline—which is the fastest way—or find the portal in the Consecrated Snowfield much later in the game. Varré is that NPC who called you "maidenless" at the very start of the game. If you follow his tasks, he’ll give you the Pureblood Knight's Medal. Using that item teleports you straight to the palace.
Finding the Cocoon of the Empyrean
Once Mohg is dead, a Site of Grace will appear in his boss room, titled "Cocoon of the Empyrean." This is the specific spot for how to enter Elden Ring DLC. Look at the back of the arena. There is a massive, grotesque cocoon with a pale arm reaching out of it. This is Miquella.
If you have the DLC installed and you've killed both Radahn and Mohg, a new NPC should appear right next to that arm. Her name is Leda. She wears silver armor with a yellow cape. Talk to her. She’ll basically tell you to touch the withered arm to "transport" yourself to the new map.
Why isn't the NPC appearing?
So you killed the bosses. You're standing at the egg. Leda is nowhere to be found.
This is the part that tilts people. First, make sure the DLC is actually downloaded. On consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X, buying the expansion doesn't always trigger the download automatically. Check your "Manage Game Content" menu. You should see "Shadow of the Erdtree" listed as installed. If it says "Available" or "Purchased" but doesn't show a file size, you’re still playing the base game.
Restart your console. Seriously.
Sometimes the game license doesn't refresh until a hard reboot happens. I've seen dozens of threads where players did everything right but the NPC wouldn't spawn until they cycled their power. If you’re on PC, verify your Steam files. It takes five minutes and fixes 90% of the "missing arm interaction" bugs.
Recommended levels and preparations
Just because you can enter doesn't mean you should yet.
FromSoftware balanced the Land of Shadow for the late game. If you enter at level 60, you're going to get one-shot by a common bird. Most veterans suggest being at least level 120 to 150. Your Vigor should be at 40 minimum, though 60 is much safer.
The DLC uses a unique scaling system called Scadutree Fragments. Think of these like Golden Seeds, but for your attack and defense stats. Within the DLC area, your traditional level matters less than how many fragments you’ve found. However, your base stats still dictate your HP pool and your ability to wield heavy weapons or high-level spells.
Check your gear. Do you have a fully upgraded weapon? You should have at least one +25 regular weapon or a +10 Somber weapon. If you're still rocking a +12 Uchigatana, the bosses in the Land of Shadow will feel like brick walls.
Common misconceptions about the entry point
Some people think you need to reach the ending of the game or defeat the Elden Beast. You don't. You can actually access the DLC quite early if you’re a skilled player. By using Varré’s quest, you can reach Mohgwyn Palace almost immediately after reaching Liurnia of the Lakes.
Is it a suicide mission? Probably. But for those doing "New Game Plus" runs, you can skip the vast majority of the game and head straight for how to enter Elden Ring DLC as soon as Radahn and Mohg are down.
Another weird myth is that you need to have Ranni's ending or Malenia defeated. While Malenia is Miquella’s sister and their lore is deeply intertwined, her death is not a requirement for entry. You can leave her sitting in the Haligtree for the entire duration of your DLC adventures if you want.
Navigating the first few steps
Once you touch the arm and the loading screen finishes, you’ll find yourself in the "Gravesite Plain." It’s dark, haunting, and massive.
Immediately look for your first Site of Grace. Then, look for a map fragment. Unlike the base game where the map is somewhat easy to piece together, the Land of Shadow is vertically stacked. You might see a location on your map but realize it’s actually 300 feet above or below you.
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Don't ignore the "Crosses of Miquella." These are golden spectral markers left by the Empyrean. They almost always have a Scadutree Fragment nearby. Collecting these is the single most important thing you can do in the first hour. Without them, even the most basic knight in the Gravesite Plain will feel like a final boss.
Check your platform-specific quirks
If you're on PlayStation, ensure your DLC region matches your base game region. This is a rare issue but a frustrating one. If you bought a physical disc from Europe but your PSN account is North American, the DLC you buy on the store won't recognize your save file. This happens because Elden Ring treats different regions as different game IDs.
Xbox players often use the "New Zealand Trick" to play early, but this can sometimes mess with save synchronization. Just make sure your location settings are stable before you try to warp.
Final checklist for entry
To make sure you don't waste time running back and forth, run through this mental list before you head to Mohg’s palace:
- Confirm Radahn is dead. The sky should be filled with stars again, and the festival should be over.
- Confirm Mohg is dead. His arena should be empty except for the cocoon and a Grace point.
- Check your inventory for the DLC license. On PC, this is usually a small 10KB file that "unlocks" the content.
- Talk to Leda. If she isn't there, travel to a different map (like Limgrave), rest at a Grace, and then warp back to the Cocoon. This forces the NPC scripts to reload.
The difficulty spike is real. Be prepared to change your build. Many players who cruised through the base game with a specific magic setup find that the DLC enemies are much more aggressive and have higher resistances. Don't be afraid to visit Rennala and use a Larval Tear to re-spec if you find yourself struggling.
Next Steps for Your Journey
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To ensure a smooth transition, start by traveling to the Rose Church in Liurnia to begin Varré’s quest if you haven't reached Mohgwyn Palace yet. Once you arrive at the Cocoon of the Empyrean, prioritize finding the first three Scadutree Fragments located near the Gravesite Plain and the scorched ruins immediately ahead. This will boost your damage negation enough to survive the first major encounter at Belurat, Tower Settlement. Ensure your Flask of Wondrous Physick is set with defensive tears, as the initial burst damage from Shadow of the Erdtree enemies is significantly higher than anything found in the Mountaintops of the Giants.