Summary
As the wait forElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC continues, some players are returning to the base game to fill the time. Whether they’re building up a save file for the DLC or just experimenting with different builds and PvP, there’s still a lot to offer inElden Ring’s massive world. It’s the largest game FromSoftware has ever released, with an enormous density of content packed into every part of its landmass. Thankfully, players don’t need to spend all of their time in the Lands Between on foot.
To complement its open world,Elden Ringalso employs a spirit steed to keep players moving briskly through it. Named Torrent, this horse allows players to essentially double their speed and jump height, on top of using Spiritspring shortcuts to shave off additional time. In general, Torrent is a positive addition to the game, and theposter art for Shadow of the Erdtreeimplies that the mysterious horse may even gain a backstory. However, ifElden Ring’s DLC wants to focus on Torrent, then it should also give Torrent’s mounted combat a major rework.
Elden Ring’s Mounted Combat Has A Lot Of Room For Improvement
Players haveclicked withElden Ring’s combatto varying degrees, but a consensus has formed around its horseback equivalent being one of its weakest links. Using a template of left-side and right-side light and heavy attacks, with the occasional unique attack like a lance charging forward, mounted combat was a catch-all solution that never fit especially well. TheElden Ringfandom’s long list of grievances about Torrent’s combat includes:
Elden Ringwas FromSoftware’s first attempt at horseback combat, and it shows. Torrent was designed to enhance navigation, and isn’t flexible enough to do anything else. Shadow of the Erdtree can’t afford to totally overhaul the system, but it should try to improve what’s already there.
Shadow of the Erdtree Should Give Players More Motivation To Fight On Torrent
AnythingElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion does to improve Torrent’s combat abilities would be appreciated. Introducing alternate mounts with unique heavy attacks, or horse equipment that confers them, would give players more of a reason to use Torrent in battles. Perhaps the single most impactful change Shadow of the Erdtree could make,beyond even revampingElden Ring’s endgame, is moving the invincibility frames on mounting and dismounting animations to Torrent’s initial dash, creating a proper mounted dodge. If that’s too much defensive power, then replacing heavy shield attacks with regular guarding should serve a similar purpose.
Better Torrent Fights Mean Better Elden Ring Fights
Different lock-on properties could be a major offensive boost, especially if melee strikes gain the tracking properties that mounted enemies often enjoy. Making Torrent’s combat feel fair and consistent wouldaddress manyElden Ringplayers’ complaints, and could set the stage for more interesting horseback encounters like a chase sequence or jousting over a pool of Scarlet Rot. Even one of these changes making it into Shadow of the Erdtree would drastically improveElden Ring’s mounted combat, and hopefully, FromSoftware is using the expansion’s long development time to include reworks like it.
