How to get martial arts in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

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✓ At a Glance

Get the May the Best Win gesture
Use it in front of Dryleaf Dane
Defeat Dryleaf Dane to get the Dryleaf Arts

Arguably one of the more unique weapons introduced by From Software in the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, martial arts, or to give them their in-game name, Dryleaf Arts, turn your tarnished into a hand-to-hand combat expert.

The weapon isn’t, however, available from the get-go and requires a bit of hoop jumping and progress, but nothing too taxing. We’ll walk you through how to get the Dryleaf Arts.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree martial arts: realm of shadows map. — Dryleaf Dane hangs out next to the Moorth Ruins. Captured by VideoGamer

Dryleaf Arts location

The Dryleaf Arts is available Dryleaf Dane at the Moorth Ruins site of grace in Scadu Altus. You can access the site of grace once you’ve beaten Rellana, Twin Moon Knight in Castle Ensis and gained access to Scadu Altus. Moorth Ruins is just east of the Highroad Cross site of grace, the first one you’ll bump into stepping into Scadu Altus.

Dane won’t simply hand over the weapon, though. Firstly, you’ll need to May the Best Win gesture, which you can pick up on the floor next to Hornsent at the Highroad Cross site of grace. Once you have the gesture, head back to the Moorth Ruins site of grace and perform it in front of Dane. This will trigger a fight against Dryleaf Dane where he’ll show off his martial art skills. Defeat him then you’ll find the Dryleaf Arts on the ground next to the site of grace, along with Dane’s Hat and message reading ‘Grow not complacent. Continue to temper your strength.’

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree martial arts: Tarnished in the realm of shadows. — Defeat Dane and he’ll drop the Dryleaf Arts. Captured by VideoGamer

The Dryleaf Arts are equipped as you would any normal weapon. They include a skill called Palm Blast, a kind of charged punch with an explosive blast along with standard and charged attacks that use both the hands and feet.

Dane’s Footwork location

Shadow of the Erdtree also features a second martial arts ‘weapon’ called Dane’s Footwork. It isn’t available until pretty much the end of the game, but focuses almost exclusively on kicking techniques. To get Dane’s Footwork, you’ll need to defeat Leda and allies (including Dryleaf Dane) just before the Divine Gate Front Staircase site of grace in Enir-Ilim that leads to the game’s final boss. Defeat the group then you’ll find Dryleaf Dane and his gear, including the Footwork weapon to the left of the door leading out of the arena.