Elden Ring players underestimate how important Scadutree Fragments are in Shadow of the Erdtree

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring surprised players with its difficulty, but many do not know a secret to make the game more bearable. Across the Shadow Realm are Scadutree Fragments designed to balance the game due to its level scaling system, or rather Scadutree Fragments scaling system.

Players discovered the effects and benefits of using Scadutree Fragments and took to the Elden Ring subreddit to discuss their findings. Using the Scadutree Shards gives players a permanent boost to their stats while in the Shadow Realm, and the Shadow of the Erdtree was designed with players using these shards in mind. So, while there is no level scaling in the game, the DLC is based on scaling enemies against your entire Scadutree Fragment, especially with damage mitigation.

Players will find 20 Scadutree Fragments in Elden Ring’s Shadow Realm, and I know I’m always looking for them to help progress. Although it is optional to use Scadutree Fragments, avoiding them will make your run more difficult. There’s no shame in using the fragments because the game expects you to do so. That said, not using Scadutree Fragments.

The Shadow of the Erdtree has many secrets to discover, with the Scadutree Shards being just one. The community is a great place to learn about these secrets and get tips for beating the DLC. If you’re having a hard time with the DLC, use the Scadutree Shards and browse the subreddit for more help.

For more information on Elden Ring, check out The one thing missing from Shadow of the Erdtree: boss replays in Pro Game Guides.