SotE is the reason for 'Scadutree Fragments' in future games

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FromSoftware's latest and greatest dark fantasy RPG, Elden Ringhas proven to be a worthy successor in a long line of brutal and challenging yet rewarding role-playing gaming experiences. From his merciless combat to his extensive world building and lore, Elden Ring it reflects many of the qualities and mechanics found in its spiritual predecessors that led it to adopt that special FromSoftware formula that makes Soulsborne's gameplay loop so terribly addictive. Although Elden Ring borrowed and improved mechanics found in other Soulsborne titles, there remains an abundance of new concepts unique to Elden Ring that set it apart from its kin, especially with the release of its major DLCs, Shadow of Erdtree.




In typical FromSoftware fashion, Shadow of Erdtree The DLC is separate from the main game and takes place on a brand new map called the Realm of Shadow, where protagonist Tarnished is chasing the lost demigod Miquella. Atypical of FromSoftware, however, is the way the developers have tried to strike a balance between preservation Shadow of Erdtree challenging and fun for experienced players while also making it accessible to newer and lower level players. Generally, given previous Soulsborne titles, enemy scaling is locked in DLC, meaning that new content would be scaled to a specific level with respect to the rest of the game, regardless of the player's level. This time FromSoftware did something a little different.

Elden Ring Dark Souls Underground Perfect

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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree perfected the type one level ahead of another FromSoftware game

FromSoftware's penchant for certain themes in level design reached a particular peak in the Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Legacy mechanics across the Soulsborne genre may change


Enter Scadutree fragments. Scadutree is the name of a twisted variant of Erdtree Realm of Shadow (more or less) and the shards are used to increase the amount of damage the player deals while reducing the damage they take in Realm of Shadow. This is already a big departure from FromSoftware's usual message of simply using in-game currency to build up the player (i.e. run in Elden Ringsouls in Soul of Demonsetc.). Rather than saving runes to assign points to individual stats, Scadutree fragments are the primary method of mediating the difficulty curve within a DLC map.


While it is of course still possible to level normally within the DLC itself using runes, the inclusion of Scadutree Fragments foreshadows the possibility of more complex leveling systems within future FromSoftware titles. Scadutree fragments are most reminiscent of the leveling system Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicewhere levels were only accumulated by using prayer beads dropped from boss fights. That's one reason An axe it is sometimes referred to as the most difficult of the Soulsborne titles; the player cannot delay progressing through grind levels as is possible in other titles. Scadutree fragments can be found in the open world Elden Ring and not only as drops, but the similarity between prayer beads and Scadutree fragments should not be overlooked.

Mechanics Elden Ring borrowed and improved from previous Soulsborne titles:

  • It creeps from An axe
  • Stunning enemies from Bloody
  • Shield reflecting from Dark souls series
  • Jump from An axe
  • Poise and hyper armor from Dark souls
  • The power of standing from Dark Souls 2
  • Martial Arts (called “Ashes of War” in the game) by An axe


What Scadutree Fragments Could Mean for FromSoft's Next Game

To be it Elden Ring is a sort of amalgamation of successful mechanics from previous Soulsborne titles, the prayer bread-like Scadutree fragments hint at the potential for reworked leveling in future FromSoftware RPGs. The dual leveling system that now exists in Elden Ring not only is it a fresh take on an age-old mechanic, but it highlights how such older mechanics and systems are able to accommodate more complex, multi-faceted additions and still blend into the flow of the game. Leveling with Scadutree Fragments, as with base game leveling, is purely optional and allows the player and agency to individually moderate the difficulty of their game and DLC to their liking.


If this is any indication of the direction FromSoftware may be going with the leveling systems and/or other legacy systems within the Soulsborne titles, the move away from simplicity would certainly attract attention, but it doesn't necessarily have a negative effect. The implementation of Scadutree fragments has been well received so far, so it's not a bad idea to continue as long as all the new mechanics are well integrated. However, FromSoftware is clearly innovating as its Soulsborne titles tick along, coinciding with its growing fan base and infamous status in the gaming community at large. No matter what the future holds, in the present, Elden Ring set a tone that is sure to influence more than just what's next for FromSoftware.

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