Summary
Elden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC is imminent, and based on its reveal trailer, it looks like it’ll be updating gameplay just as much as world design and lore. With the DLC adding a whopping eight new weapon categories, various sorceries and incantations, and unique enemies to face off against,players are going to have a number of fresh ways to engage withElden Ring’s excellent combat system, which will hopefully encourage further build-crafting and experimentation.
IfShadow of the Erdtreeis adding new featuresand broadening gameplay options, then there’s one aspect ofElden Ring’s base game that it should hone in on: stealth. Stealth, despite being presented as a viable gameplay approach in most FromSoftware games, has always felt like the studio’s weak spot. For most players, this isn’t a huge issue, as the main draw of FromSoftware’s seminal combat design is the back-and-forth between the player and enemy NPCs, but if stealth is going to be included in these games, then it ought to be effective, deep, and most importantly, fun.
Shadow of the Erdtree Has the Chance to Update FromSoftware’s Approach to Stealth
Stealth Hasn’t Been FromSoftware’s Strong Suit
Elden Ringplaces a higher emphasis on stealththan previous FromSoftwareSoulstitles, but the mechanic has always been there in some form. Even inDemon’s Souls, stealth options are handed to the player in the form of invisibility spells and gear that reduces movement sounds.Dark Soulsfleshes things out slightly with additions like the Chameleon spell, but stealth can often feel like an afterthought in theSoulsseries; it’s clearly not a viable option for an entire playthrough, and mostly serves as a method to avoid certain enemies or make backstabbing (which alerts nearby enemies) easier.
FromSoftware doubled down on stealth withthe radically different gameplay ofSekiro, which introduced sneaky staples like crouching, hiding in tall grass, air assassinations, and all manner of ninja tools and abilities to aid in player subterfuge. Many of these elements would be carried intoElden Ring, albeit to a lesser extent. The issue is that stealth often isn’t a solid alternative to classic Soulslike melee combat and is generally most effective as a method to thin out enemy crowds before an encounter. Moreover, stealth isn’t nearly as enjoyable as the more fleshed-out, fully realized combat system of a game likeSekiroorElden Ring.
Stealth FromSoftware games is also hurt by inconsistent AI behavior, as it can be hard to predict when enemies will be able to detect the player.
Making Stealth Better In Shadow of the Erdtree
It seems like FromSoftware wants players to experiment withdifferent character builds inElden Ring, and the existence of the Bandit starting class (much like the Thief class inDark Souls), implies that a stealth-focused playstyle is more viable than it really is.Shadow of the Erdtreecould lean into this implicit promise, letting players leverage stealth in all situations instead of only when certain opportunities arise. The DLC will be focusing heavily on Miquella, and his connection to St. Trina could mean extra sleep spells, which could translate to more flexible and expressive stealth gameplay. It’s hard to know exactly what this would look like, but rewarding players who get creative and invest in a stealth build would go a long way toward making the mechanic feel more complete and satisfying.
At the end of the day,FromSoftware combat isn’t built around stealth, and that’s okay. However, it seems like the studio wants players to feel like stealth is a playstyle on par withElden Ring’s melee or magic builds via options like the Bandit and its predecessor the Thief, and it usually isn’t.Shadow of the Erdtreecan, and hopefully will, take steps to change that.
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.
