Summary
Co-op can be a great experience in theElden RingexpansionShadow of the Erdtree, but there’s one quirk that limits it in a way that can occasionally be frustrating. Although games fromElden Ringdeveloper FromSoftware tend to focus on single-player, they usually incorporate some unique multiplayer features that can add interesting layers. Even those venturing throughElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreealone will encounter messages strewn across the world, and it’s possible to summon other players or join their own worlds for brief bouts of collaboration or opposition.
Shadow of the Erdtreedoesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes toElden Ringco-op and summoning, sticking to the same fundamental formula that the base game utilizes. For the host, the key lies in opening a summoning pool, whileanyone attempting to join a session needs to use an item called the Small Golden Effigy. It may not be as straightforward as setting up a lobby in most games, but it feels appropriate forElden Ring, and using it prudently can make taking down some of the game’s toughest bosses a lot easier than the process would be alone.
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Elden Ring DLC Co-Op Options Need A Middle Ground
The Golden Effigy Only Offers Extremes
The complication inShadow of the Erdtree’s co-op comes from the proximity options that the Small Golden Effigy provides. When activating the tool, it’s possible to select between a “Nearby Only” option, which makes the user available for summons from players in a similar vicinity, and"Both Near and Far," which applies the possibility to all activated summoning pools throughout the game. For the base game, this covers the options fairly well, making it possible to maintain some sense of geographical continuity or toss it aside for a wide-open approach to being summoned.
There’s no way to get pulled to areas where a Tarnished hasn’t yet been inElden Ring, so “Both Near and Fardoesn’t pose any special risk of getting overwhelmed.
When playingShadow of the Erdtree, however, the “Both Near and Far” option can feel significantly more disruptive than in the base game. AlthoughShadow of the Erdtreeis essentially a separate experience,“Both Near and Far"allows all the activated summoning pools from theElden Ringbase game into the mix, opening up a Tarnished to a lot of potential ping-ponging back into areas they might have first visited two years ago. That can still be fun, but when trying to appreciate everything the expansion has to offer, returning to a particularly familiar fight might prove significantly less exhilarating.
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Sticking to “Nearby Only” solves this issue in a basic capacity, butit feels like there’s room for an option in the middle. A “Land of Shadow Only” toggle or something similar could incorporate the robust possibilities of “Both Near and Far” while keeping things contained to the newShadow of the Erdtreecontent. Although it’s not strictly necessary, it feels like a reasonably simple addition that would open up the possibilities for jumping around all the new areas inElden Ringwithout any of the current complications.
Shadow Of The Erdtree Could Get Updated In The Future
It’s always possible that FromSoft could add another selection in the future, asElden Ringfeatured plenty of free updates and DLC prior to the release ofShadow of the Erdtree.Multiplayer previously received a big buff thanks to theElden RingColosseum Update, which opened up the fighting arenas found in Limgrave, Caelid, and Leyndell for PvP and PvE action. Inserting an option to restrict “Both Near and Far” summoning functionality toShadow of the Erdtreecould follow up on the game’s continued improvement, and it doesn’t seem like it would go against the spirit of the multiplayer design.
Elden Ring DLC Patch Makes The Game Just A Little Less Punishing
After days of complaints regarding Shadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty, FromSoftware’s latest update tweaks the game to make it slightly easier.
This particular quirk is far from the only limitation toElden Ring’s co-op play, and getting a seamless option that supports more consistent companionship has been a common request since the launch of the game. This one seems like a much smaller ask, however, and it’s hard to see any real downsides to implementing a “Land of Shadow Only” toggle. There’s still plenty of challenging fun to be found inShadow of the Erdtreeas it is, but it does feel like the co-op would really benefit from a tweak toElden Ring’s general approach.
