Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehas expanded the world of the base game in a terrific way, as FromSoftware has crafted a massive DLC full of harrowing encounters. The long-awaitedShadow of the ErdtreeDLC features an all-new map that is filled to the brim with compelling extra content, but one of the most intriguing, and bothersome, of these additions is found in a new enemy type.
Some of the most difficult encounters players will come across inShadow of the Erdtreeare the Aging Untouchables.Found in the Abyssal Woods, Aging Untouchables were one of the most shocking run-ins whenShadow of the Erdtreefirst launched, simply because players quickly found out that they kill instantly with seemingly no weakness. However, it was eventually discovered that these beings can be killed if players successfully parry their first attack. Not only is this an intriguing enemy to come across, but it’s also a fun callback toDark Soulsboss Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
Aging Untouchables and Gwyn, Lord of Cinder Put Parrying in the Spotlight
Shadow of the Erdtree Expanding On an Iconic Dark Souls Boss
Gwyn is one of the many bosses players will encounter in 2011’sDark Souls, but what makes him so interesting as a boss compared to others is how important parrying is when facing him.As one ofDark Souls' best boss fights, parrying actually becomes key to making this fight incredibly easy. Of course, players can defeat Gwyn without parrying his attacks, but embracing the use of parry can make the fight feel like a walk in the park. When players parry Gwyn, his defenses are lowered, leaving him wide open to hack and slash through. Repeating this throughout the encounter can present a victory in a matter of minutes or even less.
Shadow of the Erdtreeexpands upon this in an even more challenging way by making the use of parry the only key to defeating the Aging Untouchables. When Aging Untouchables prepare their first strike, players have to parry right then and there, or it’s game over. After a successful parry, it’s actually fairly easy to take the creatures down, but it’s completely unclear that parry is even an option when going into the DLC blind. They are easily some of themost annoying enemies inElden Ringif a player’s parrying skills aren’t up to par.
FromSoftware Using Enemies as a Skill Check
Each enemy or boss players encounter in FromSoftware games has their own unique mechanics required to come out victorious. Both Gwyn and the Aging Untouchables are perfect examples of this, but they are also a great demonstration of how the developer uses certain enemies as opportunities to skill-check players in unexpected ways.FromSoftware games are notoriously challenging, but they are also filled with clever ways to improve a player’s performance.
Shadow of the Erdtree Raising the Bar for Expansions
Elden Ringhas crafted an outstanding DLC withShadow of the Erdtree, raising the bar for other games. Expansions have evolved drastically in a short amount of time, with the creation ofCyberpunk 2077’sPhantom LibertyandShadow of the Erdtreebeing some of the most impressive examples of what a DLC can be. Now, many DLCs are starting to feel more like small-scale sequels instead of simply adding extra content.
Shadow of the Erdtreeis an exciting extra chapter for players to explore and fight through, and the inclusion of an enemy as complex as the Aging Untouchables is a great demonstration of how much work went into this expansion. The Aging Untouchables call back to the early days ofFromSoftware’s venture into grueling skill-focused combat, and it’s great to see how far the studio’s projects have come since then.
