FromSoftware released the latest trailer for the Elden Ring “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC on February 22. The DLC is scheduled for release on June 21. Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki has made comments on new elements unique to Shadow of the Erdtree, and one of them seems to be a level-up mechanic reminiscent of Attack Power in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Shadow of the Erdtree is an upcoming Elden Ring expansion that players have been anticipating for a long time. The story is set on a new map, the Land of Shadow, which is physically separated from the existing Lands Between. While showing another side of the original game’s lore, the DLC will feature many new aspects – such as the mysterious character Messmer who was revealed in the latest trailer, leaving many Elden Ring fans speculating.

The upcoming expansion will also bring new gameplay elements, which Miyazaki revealed interesting details about in a recent interview with Famitsu. When asked about mechanics unique to the DLC, Miyazaki starts of by mentioning the addition of a “level-up element.” He explains it as follows: “You will best understand it if you imagine something akin to ‘Attack Power’ in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It’s something like an Attack Power separate from existing levels that is only effective within the DLC area.“

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree trailer footage

Attack Power in Sekiro refers to how much damage the player will deal to enemies with each attack, and this value increases as you progress through the game. Miyazaki explains that the purpose of adding such a mechanic to Shadow of the Erdtree is to give the player the freedom to decide how challenging they want the game to be even at higher levels. He describes this in simple terms – players who want to grind and defeat bosses more easily might decide that, “This boss is too strong, so I’ll explore some other area and challenge them again after I get stronger.” Alternatively, players can choose to take on bosses when at a lower level if they want to experience more of a challenge.

As another addition and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC’s “selling point,” Miyazaki mentions various new weapons, magic spells and skills. The expansion will feature 8 new weapon types, as well as additions to existing weapons. Some of the new weapons will be more orthodox, such as a Japanese daitō (long sword) and sakabatō (reverse grip sword), but some will be more novel, like a dueling shield and throwing daggers.

The Elden Ring DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree ” is scheduled for release on June 21 for the PC (Steam), PS4/PS5 and Xbox series X|S/Xbox One.