You're standing at the entrance to the Land of Shadow. You’ve beaten Mohg. You’ve touched the withered arm. But honestly, if you’re still clutching that Rivers of Blood you leaned on for the last two years, you’re gonna have a bad time. FromSoftware didn’t just add more swords to the pile with this expansion. They basically rewrote the rules for how combat feels.
The Shadow of the Erdtree weapons are weird. They're aggressive.
If you've been playing Elden Ring since launch, you know the rhythm: dodge, poke, dodge, poke. The DLC throws that out the window by introducing eight entirely new weapon categories. We aren't just talking about Greatswords with slightly different scaling here. We’re talking about throwing daggers that never run out, perfume bottles that turn the air into a localized explosion, and literal martial arts that let you kick a demigod in the face.
It’s a massive shift in philosophy.
The Best Shadow of the Erdtree Weapons You Probably Missed
Everyone talks about the big flashy stuff, but the real power often hides in the strange corners of the Gravesite Plain. Take the Milady, for instance. It’s a Light Greatsword. That sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? It has the reach of a claymore but the speed of a rapier. When you pair it with the Wing Stance Ash of War, you’re not just playing an RPG anymore; you’re playing a character action game. You can literally leap over ground attacks and follow up with a flurry of stabs that would make Malenia jealous.
Then there’s the Backhand Blade.
It’s fast. Like, really fast. The base move set involves these sweeping, circular motions that keep you mobile while you're attacking. If you’ve struggled with the bosses in the DLC—and let's be real, Rellana is a nightmare—the Blind Spot skill on these blades is a literal lifesaver. It lets you dash sideways and strike in one fluid motion. It’s the kind of weapon that makes you realize how static the base game’s combat could sometimes feel.
Milady and the Power of Versatility
A lot of players sleep on the Light Greatsword class because it doesn't have the "bonk" potential of a Giant-Crusher. Big mistake. The scaling on Milady is incredibly flexible. Whether you’re running a Quality build or dipping into Intelligence for a Cold infusion, the move set remains the gold standard for fluid combat. The R2 (heavy attack) is a double-hit pierce that comes out way faster than it has any right to.
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Pushing the Limits with Beast Claws and Martial Arts
Let's talk about the Beast Claw. You find this thing almost immediately by killing Logur, the Beast Claw Hunter in the woods. It’s savage. It changes your entire stance, making your character hunch over like a predator.
The aggression required to make this weapon work is staggering. You can't play defensively. You have to stay in the enemy's pocket, shredding them with bleed build-up. It’s risky. One wrong move and a Messmer Soldier will flatten you, but the trade-off is some of the highest sustained DPS in the game.
And then there's Dryleaf Arts.
Honestly, finding out you could fight unarmed was the highlight of the DLC for me. You get it by challenging Dane at Moorth Ruins. It’s not just a gimmick. When you’re using your hands and feet, your stamina recovery feels different, and the poise damage from a well-timed kick is surprisingly high. It’s also just incredibly satisfying to defeat a Knight of Solitude by simply out-boxing him.
Dryleaf Arts: Not Just for Show
- Speed: Faster than almost any bladed weapon.
- Weight: Practically zero, allowing for heavier armor or "Blue Dancer Charm" builds.
- Scaling: Works best with Strength and Dexterity, but reacts well to elemental buffs.
Why Smithscript Weapons Are a Game Changer
Range used to be the domain of mages and archers. Not anymore. The Smithscript Greathammer and Smithscript Cirque allow melee builds to engage from a distance without swapping to a bow.
When you throw the Smithscript Cirque, it returns to your hand like a boomerang. It’s weirdly addictive. You can weave these throws into your regular melee combos, catching enemies who try to back away to heal. It solves the age-old "chasing the boss across the arena" problem that made Elden Beast so annoying for some players.
The Specifics of the Great Katana
The Great Katana is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a huge sword with a bleed bar. But unlike the standard Uchigatana, this thing has incredible reach.
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You find the base Great Katana near a Ghostflame Dragon in the starting area. It’s a monster for PvE. The thrusting attacks cover half the zip code, and the overhead chops are perfect for hitting dragon heads. If you’re a Dexterity main who felt left out of the "colossal weapon" club, this is your ticket in.
It feels heavy. It feels significant. But it still retains that signature katana speed on the follow-up swings. It’s easily one of the most balanced Shadow of the Erdtree weapons for a first-time playthrough of the expansion.
Dealing with the DLC Difficulty Spike
The bosses in the Land of Shadow have absurdly long combos. If you try to use a slow Colossal Sword without a plan, you’ll get interrupted 90% of the time. This is where the new Deflecting Hardtear comes in. It’s not a weapon, but it changes how you use them. It enables a "perfect block" mechanic similar to Sekiro.
Suddenly, those massive weapons like the Fire Knight’s Greatsword become viable defensive tools. You block at the last second, take zero chip damage, and follow up with a guard counter that comes out with increased speed and power. It’s a symbiotic relationship between your gear and your Physik flask.
The Spear of the Impaler
If you manage to take down Messmer, you get his spear. It’s a Great Spear that doubles as a projectile. The heavy attack lets you hurl the spear, which then explodes in a burst of fire. It’s flashy, sure, but the actual utility of having a high-damage fire projectile on a melee build can't be overstated. Especially in the later areas like Enir-Ilim, where being able to pick off annoying casters from a distance is a necessity.
What Most People Get Wrong About Scaling
There’s a common misconception that you need to completely respec your character to use these new tools. You don't. While some weapons like the Star-Lined Sword require Intelligence, many of the best options—like the Bloodfiend's Arm—actually thrive on Arcane.
The Bloodfiend’s Arm is currently a bit of a legend in the community. It’s a giant club that, when infused with Blood, has a hidden multiplier for bleed build-up on its heavy attacks. We’re talking about proccing hemorrhage in one or two hits. It’s broken. It’ll probably get nerfed, but for now, it’s the ultimate "easy mode" for high-health bosses.
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Understanding the Scadutree Fragment Influence
No matter how good your weapon is, it will feel like a wet noodle if you don't collect Scadutree Fragments. Your attack power in the Land of Shadow is tied directly to these. A +25 Milady at Scadutree Level 0 is weaker than a basic dagger at Scadutree Level 10. Don't blame the weapon; go find some fragments.
The Performance of Perfume Bottles
Perfume bottles used to be consumable items. Now, they're full-fledged weapons with infinite "ammo." The Lightning Perfume Bottle specifically had a moment of fame for being able to one-shot bosses when used with the Rolling Sparks Ash of War.
Even after the bug fixes, these are still potent. They deal pure elemental damage and have a wide area of effect. If you’re a high-Faith build, the Firespark Perfume Bottle gives you a way to clear crowds that feels entirely different from casting incantations. You're basically a chemist on the battlefield.
It’s a bit floaty. You won't be breaking much poise with perfume. But for pure damage numbers against large enemies, it’s hard to beat.
Actionable Tips for Mastering New Gear
If you want to actually survive the Land of Shadow, you need to be smart about your loadout. Don't just pick the weapon with the highest attack rating.
- Test the move set in a safe area. Many of these weapons have multi-hit R1 chains that leave you vulnerable. Know when the chain ends so you don't get stuck in an animation while a furnace golem is trying to stomp you.
- Look for synergies. The Smithing Dagger talisman buffs all those throwing attacks we talked about. If you're using Smithscript weapons, that talisman is mandatory.
- Don't ignore the shields. With the new emphasis on guard counters, even a medium shield with 100% physical defense can make the new weapon classes much more effective.
- Experiment with infusions. The new weapon types often have strange interactions with Frost and Bleed. A Cold-infused Backhand Blade can be a status-effect machine.
The Land of Shadow is punishing, but the tools provided are more than enough to even the odds. Whether you’re kicking knights into the abyss or throwing exploding spears, the variety on display is staggering. Forget what worked in Limgrave. It's time to find something new.
To truly optimize your build, head to the Moore Ruins area early on. This is where you can find some of the best versatile Ashes of War that fit the new weapon categories. Specifically, look for the Dryleaf Arts and the Deflecting Hardtear in the nearby Furnace Golem encounter; these two items alone will fundamentally change your defensive and offensive capabilities for the rest of the DLC. Next, prioritize upgrading your Scadutree Blessing level to at least 5 before taking on major remembrance bosses, as weapon scaling alone won't carry you through the massive damage negation enemies have in this region.