Summary
Official details are still sparse on what to expect fromElden Ring’s upcoming first expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. The initial teaser image shared by FromSoftware is essentially the only concrete information that fans have aboutElden Ring’s DLC so far, which notably still doesn’t include a release date.
With all the possibilities forwhat the Shadow of the Erdtree expansions could include, it should arguably skip out on adding any more poisonous swamps toElden Ring. Many players are frustrated by the threat these environments present, mainly because it’s more of an annoyance than a challenge. Especially when considering how many areasElden Ringhas that qualify as a poisonous swamp, many feel that enough is enough already, so the game’s expansion should give this mechanic tradition a break.
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Elden Ring Has Too Many Poison Swamps Already
According toGame Informer,Elden Ring’s Game Director Hidetaka Miyazaki once said in an interview that FromSoftware is aware of players’ frustrations about these recurring environments throughout the studio’s games. However, Miyazaki’s enjoyment of making these environments still leads to them showing up, with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Some fans appreciate the studio’s infamous poison swamps, especially in light of Miyazaki’s revelation, although the consensus in the FromSoftware games’ community regarding poison swamps is that less is more.
Swamp of Aeonia
This region gets credit for having significance inthe events ofElden Ring’s lorethat happened before the player’s journey begins, but this doesn’t mean it is as enjoyable as it is interesting. Caelid is crowded with extremely difficult enemies, like giant dragons, crows, and dogs, all of which are terrifying to fight in the midst of an environment that is equally deadly on its own.
Lake of Rot
This other major location is especially deadly because payers can’t rely on Torrent to safely explore the environment without becoming afflicted with theScarlet Rot Status Effect. With enemies hiding throughout the area and a scarce amount of safe places to take rest, this location is overwhelmingly deadly. The only redeeming quality of this area is that players who aren’t interested in discovering all of its secrets can generally pass through it fairly quickly.
Why Elden Ring Doesn’t Need Any More Poison Swamps
At this point, it’s recognizable as a recurring staple throughout FromSoftware’s Souls-like games to have at least one major area that resembles a poison swamp. In the case ofElden Ring, there are two main “poison swamps,” with several other minor areas where the terrain itself is either poisonous or covered in another kind of negative status effect. Between the Swamp of Aeonia, the Lake of Rot, and the other poison areas scattered around the Lands Between,Elden Ringarguably has too many poison swamp areas already, before any expansions come out.
A big part of whyElden Ring’s poisonous swamps are frustrating is that these locations aren’t all optional, sometimes even including boss fights that are required for certainNPC questlines inElden Ring. Not only are these locations difficult to navigate through, but fighting within them is almost always a miserable experience. The open-world nature ofElden Ringgives players a lot of choices in where, when, and how to explore each area, but poison swamps take away a lot of these freedoms.
Even though players can useElden Ring’s mount, Torrent, to safely cross certain terrains, this solution isn’t without its downsides. Primarily, horseback combat adds a lot of difficulty to what could otherwise be straightforward fights, with things like reduced mobility and limited attack options, which especially affects melee builds inElden Ring. So, even in the areas where players can rely on Torrent for crossing through poison swamps in the game, it’s still far from an enjoyable experience compared to exploring other areas. With many players finding the difficulty of poisonous areas arbitrary, leaving them out of the DLC could be an ideal approach.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
