TL;DR
- Stockpile runes for character leveling and Smithing Stones for weapon upgrades
- Maximize healing capabilities with Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears collection
- Prepare comprehensive status effect remedies and defensive talismans
- Upgrade Spirit Ashes and collect versatile spells for tactical flexibility
- Complete outstanding quests and explore unfinished areas for potential DLC connections
The announcement of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has triggered a massive surge in player preparation activities. Gaming marketplace data reveals daily increases in demand for essential resources as players strategically position themselves for the upcoming challenges.
With the expansion’s imminent release, experienced Tarnished are systematically gathering critical items to ensure they’re optimally equipped. This comprehensive guide outlines the strategic approach to DLC preparation that separates successful adventurers from those who struggle.

Strategic Rune Accumulation
Runes serve as the fundamental currency for character progression in Elden Ring. These essential resources enable skill enhancement and ability upgrades that will prove critical in the DLC’s more demanding encounters. Accumulating substantial rune reserves allows for meaningful level advancement, providing statistical advantages that can dramatically impact survival rates against new, more powerful adversaries.
Pro tip: Focus on farming locations like Mohgwyn Palace or the Haligtree for efficient rune acquisition. Avoid common mistakes like carrying excessive runes into unexplored areas where unexpected deaths can lead to permanent loss.
Weapon and Armor Enhancement Priorities
Systematically collect Smithing Stones, Somber Stone Bell Bearings, and other essential upgrade components. Enhanced weaponry and armor not only improve core statistics and resistances but also unlock special effects and visual customization options. High-tier upgrades become essential for effectively engaging the DLC’s more formidable opponents.
Stockpile crafting components for arrows, bolts, throwing knives, and other consumables. The ability to craft these items during extended exploration sequences can determine mission success or failure.

Advanced strategy: Prioritize weapons that scale well with your build’s primary attributes. Weapons upgraded to +24 or +9 (Somber) typically provide the best return on investment for DLC preparation.
Healing System Optimization
Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears enable crucial upgrades to Flasks of Crimson Tears and Flasks of Cerulean Tears. These consumables provide essential health and FP restoration that will be fundamental to surviving the DLC’s heightened challenges.
Crystal Tears unlock access to the Flask of Wondrous Physick, a versatile item capable of simultaneous health and FP recovery with additional buff potential.
Status Effect Countermeasures
Maintain stocks of Neutralizing Boluses, Immunizing Cured Meat, and other specialized remedies. FromSoftware’s design history suggests poison, rot, bleed, and frost mechanics will feature prominently in the expansion’s environmental hazards.
Defensive Accessory Collection
Assemble diverse talisman collections to adapt to varying combat scenarios. Defensive talismans particularly valuable given the likelihood of new elemental attacks and status effects.
Magical Arsenal Diversification
Collect comprehensive spell and incantation portfolios to maintain strategic flexibility. Ensure balanced collections of offensive, defensive, and utility magic to handle diverse encounter types.
Quest Completion and Exploration
Finalize outstanding questlines and secure their unique rewards. Many quests provide exclusive abilities, summons, or items unavailable through other acquisition methods.
Secure important keys and keepsakes from the base game that may unlock previously inaccessible DLC content or provide narrative connections.

Companion and Ability Enhancement
Ashes of War enable skill and ability customization at the Shrine of the Fallen. These combat enhancements provide significant advantages including damage amplification, defensive boosts, speed increases, and elemental effects.
Upgrade Spirit Ashes systematically, as powerful summons can dramatically alter battle dynamics during challenging boss encounters or hazardous exploration sequences.
Thoroughly investigate unfinished areas, as the DLC may introduce narrative connections or reasons to revisit previous locations. Consider refining existing character builds or experimenting with alternative configurations to accommodate potential new playstyles introduced in the expansion.
Pro tip: Allocate 15-20 hours for comprehensive DLC preparation if starting from mid-game progression. Advanced players should focus on optimizing their top three weapons and securing all available Sacred Tears before release.
Action Checklist
- Accumulate 500,000+ runes for immediate leveling needs
- Collect all Smithing Stones for 3 primary weapons
- Upgrade Flasks using all available Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears
- Stockpile status effect remedies (20+ of each type)
- Complete 3 major questlines for unique rewards
No reproduction without permission:OnLineGames Guides » Top 9 Items to Prepare for Elden Ring DLC Essential Elden Ring DLC preparation guide covering must-have items, strategic upgrades, and survival tactics
