With the release ofShadow of the Erdtree,Elden Ring’s already great combat system has been polished to a brilliant shine. Many words have already been typed aboutShadow of the Erdtree’s new progression system, which allows even the most veteran Souls players to feel a constant sense of improvement within the DLC itself, but the plethora of new weapon types added with the expansion, alongside diverse boss and encounter design, also helps deepen the game’s combat sandbox. That said, it still pales in comparison to FromSoftware’s best combat system.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicecame as a massive shock to FromSoftware fans back in 2019. On top of being remarkably distinct from its Souls predecessors in terms of narrative and setting, it takes a huge creative leap: there are no classes, no builds, and no gear to collect—only one sword and a handful of special abilities.Sekiro’s combat framework is deceptively complex, but its central pillar is a parry and stance system that encourages constant aggression by rewarding damage negation. With each successful hit and parry, the enemy’s posture will decrease, and lowering an enemy’s health decreases their posture resistance. This gives combat a constant sense of forward momentum, which could have been used to great effect inShadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Would Have Been the Perfect Venue for Sekiro’s Mechanics
Players Are Still Lamenting the Loss of Sekiro’s Combat
AfterSekiroreleased, there were hopes that its well-received combat system would be incorporated, at least partially, into future FromSoftware games. While this could still happen, andElden Ringdoes draw fromSekiroin some ways, the 2019 action game’s combat seems to be collecting dust for now, asElden Ring’s combat has much more in common with theDark Soulsseries.
This isn’t inherently bad, as bothDark SoulsandSekiroare effective in different ways, but many feel thatElden Ringcould have gone farther with itsSekiroelements. Perhaps the biggest thing thatElden Ringhas in common withSekirois its approach to poise, as players can break down an invisible stagger bar with heavy and jump attacks, which can open a window for a critical hit. But this can feel watered-down after playingSekiro, as it lacks both the energy and transparency of that game’s posture system.
Shadow of the ErdtreeHighlights How Well Sekiro’s Combat Would Work in Elden Ring
Shadow of the Erdtreehas some brutal boss fights, and the DLC as a whole poses some of the greatest challenges of the whole game. A common shared trait of the expansion’s hostile NPCs is a tendency toward fast, long-lasting attack sequences, with enemies like the dancing Curseblades and bosses like Rellana regularly launching into extensive combos. For players who love to chain together perfectly-timed rolls and blocks, these attack chains are welcome, but they can also often halt the momentum of a fight. This is because the player is forced to strictly play defense and wait for an opening, rather than being aggressive and making constant progress.
WhileElden Ring’s parry mechaniccan be useful against these enemies, it doesn’t have the speed or intensity ofSekiro’s deflecting mechanic, and it requires a specific Ash of War to use. In general, parrying is more difficult to execute and often not as rewarding as it is inSekiro, which is built around deflecting long, speedy combos from enemies. With so many ofShadow of the Erdtree’s bosses and overworld creatures feeling pulled straight out ofSekiro, some version of that game’s singularly satisfying parry system would have been a natural, impactful addition.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
