True to FromSoftware's DLC tradition, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is proving to be the hardest part of the game. At least, that's what everybody else seems to think. As complaints about the expansion's difficulty rain in, I've been feeling like I've been playing an entirely different game. I wouldn't call any part of Shadow of the Erdtree easy, but I found the original game more challenging in general with far more frustrating moments, and now I'm afraid I might've made some mistakes back in 2022.
When I started up Elden Ring at its original launch, I set two rules for myself. First, I would avoid any kind of online guide. Second, I wouldn't be afraid to make use of any kind of in-game advantage. Summons? Spirit Ashes? The cheesiest weapon strats I could come up with? All on the table. With that in mind, I specced my character toward what I remember always being the coward's way of playing a FromSoftware game: ranged magic.
