Summary

  • Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is highly acclaimed and has made history as the highest-rated DLC of all time.
  • Some players have had trouble starting the DLC due to it not being properly installed on their consoles.
  • Make sure to check the title screen for proper installation and visit the store page to download the expansion if needed.

Some Elden Ring players are having trouble starting the DLC, but for some, it may simply be because the expansion isn't properly installed. Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has been highly-anticipated ever since it was first announced. After FromSoftware blew away expectations with the base game, many were expecting the beloved studio to do the same with the DLC. As expected, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has proven to be a runaway hit, earning widespread acclaim from critics.

The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has made history as the highest-rated DLC of all time. With so much hype behind it, it's understandable that many Elden Ring fans have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. They may have prepped beforehand by making sure to defeat the required base game bosses Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Even with these prerequisites met, some Elden Ring players have been booting up the DLC only to find a missing NPC and no way to start the DLC.

mohg lord of blood in elden ring
Elden Ring: How To Beat Mohg, Lord Of Blood

It can be difficult to defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood, who is one of Elden Ring's trickiest bosses.

By 

This was my experience when I first tried to play Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. I successfully beat Mohg and Radahn and was ready to jump into the expansion, but upon loading up my save and traveling to Miquella's Cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace, there was no way to start the DLC. An NPC named Needle Knight Leda is supposed to appear in front of the cocoon, but she was nowhere to be found, and I had no way of interacting with Miquella's hand, which is how players enter the Land of Shadow. Based on various social media posts, it seems other players have been running into the same problem. Luckily, there may be an easy solution. In my case at least, the reason I couldn't access the DLC was because it wasn't properly installed on my console. I had downloaded the latest Elden Ring update, pre-ordered the DLC, and thought I was good to go, but I needed to trigger an additional download for the expansion.

Elden Ring DLC Not Working Solution

elden ring wrong version

To find out if one does not have the expansion properly installed, check the bottom right-hand corner of the title screen. It will look like the above picture. To start downloading the DLC, click on Microsoft Store/PlayStation Store/etc. On the main menu to get taken directly to the expansion's store page. After downloading the Elden Ring DLC, the title screen will look like this:

elden ring correct version

With the download installed, Elden Ring players should be able to return to Miquella's Cocoon and find Needle Knight Leda in the correct spot.

elden ring needle knight leda

Now, this may not solve the problem for all Elden Ring players who have been unable to start the DLC. Other posts on social media have indicated that players have been able to enter the new DLC area, but Needle Knight Leda didn't spawn in Mohg's boss room, locking them out of her quest. Others still have claimed that they simply can't access the DLC at all, even with it installed properly. Still, the provided solution, while it may seem obvious to some, could potentially help a few Tarnished get started on their new adventure.

FromSoftware is pretty quick when it comes to fixing Elden Ring bugs and other issues, so hopefully those that still can't start the DLC and have it properly installed don't have to wait too long for a fix. There may even be a solution for players who missed out on talking to Needle Knight Leda, but that remains to be seen.

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Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Tag Page Cover Art
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
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Released
June 21, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware's groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Base Game
Elden Ring
Developer(s)
FromSoftware
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer