How to access Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree: Miquella’s cocoon is your key

Miquella’s cocoon in Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum after being activated by Mohg, a screenshot from Elden Ring

The requirements in accessing Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, a major expansion for Elden Ring, is no straightforward feat.

Like other FromSoftware games, you’ll have to progress through significant parts of Elden Ring’s story and explore its huge open world before you can access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

In short, you can’t just select Shadow of the Erdtree from an in-game menu — instead, you need to reach a secret area and taking down two challenging bosses first.

Our Elden Ring guide will show you how to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and some advice on how best to do it.

HOW TO ACCESS ELDEN RING DLC SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE

An armored Tarnished looks into the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum in Mohgwyn Palace in a screenshot from Elden Ring
There’s DLC in that egg

To access Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, there are two requirements:

  • Defeat Radahn
  • Get to Mohgwyn Palace and defeat Mohg

Once the above two steps are complete, you can then interact with Miquella’s Cocoon — located in Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, which is where you fight Mohg — to enter the Land of Shadow and start the DLC.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ACCESS THE ELDEN RING DLC?

If you’re wondering how demanding the above requirements are, the answer is very, as Radahn and Mohg are mid to late game bosses respectively and amongst the most challenging in the game.

Though it’s hard to put an hour count on how long it’ll take to defeat the two bosses, if you’re racing to start the DLC (perhaps after starting new game plus) it should only take five or six hours if you know exactly where to go, and are happy to skip any associated steps or quests to make the bosses themselves easier.

Fighting Starscourge Radahn in Elden Ring
Fighting Starscourge Radahn.

For those just starting fresh and aren’t rushing, realistically you’re looking at anywhere between 30 and 50 hours of playtime before you’re wanting to start the DLC. If you’re in this position, we highly recommend you take your time and enjoy the game naturally — the world of Elden Ring is both vast and difficult, and not only are those the two required bosses themselves a real challenge, but the DLC itself a significant jump up in difficulty. In other words, it’s best to only get started when you’re ready.

Why isn’t Dragon’s Dogma 2 called Dragon’s Dogma 2?

Why isn’t Dragon’s Dogma 2 called Dragon’s Dogma 2?

Our how to prepare for the DLC has a list of tips to help you get ready, but if want to make the two bosses easier in particular, then consider the following:

  • For Radahn, making progress in the Blaidd quest (or Ranni quest, of which shares many of the same steps) will add him as a summon alongside several other NPCs which can make the boss an easier ride. (Know that Alexander will be there even if you don’t start their quest, and so is optional.)
  • For Mohg, you need to go out of your way to first get to Mohgwyn Palace, which is accessed fastest through Varré’s questline. For the fight itself, you can get the Purifying Crystal Tear from Yura’s questline, as well as Mohg’s Shackle from the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds (located underneath Leyndell, Royal Capital, and is a key area in Dung Eater’s questline) to give you two key advantages.

If you are still struggling, then using one of our recommended rune farming locations can help boost your stats.