When does Shadow of the Erdtree take place?

✓ At a glance

When is Shadow of the Erdtree set?

• Shadow of the Erdtree takes place alongside the events of Elden Ring
• It’s set between the defeat of Mohg and your battle against the final boss of Elden Ring
• Completing it will unlock an alternative ending to the game

If you’ve already started the Elden Ring DLC, there’s a lot of new story and lore to unpack. And with a whole new world to explore, it’s not exactly clear where it fits in with the main story. Is it at the same time, or does it take place before or after? 

FromSoft haven’t shied away from switching up the timelines of their games before, with similar things happening in the likes of Dark Souls and Sekiro. So if you’re looking for the answer, we’re here to give you the info you need to figure out when Shadow of the Erdtree is set. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Is Shadow of the Erdtree a prequel?

Shadow of the Erdtree is not a prequel, and in fact takes place alongside the events of the main game, following the defeat of Mohg but before you defeat the base game’s final boss. Players enter the Land of Shadow that was being guarded by Mohg in order to reach Miquella, Malenia’s brother.

It can be a little confusing as the Land of Shadow in Shadow of the Erdtree is essentially a completely different dimension to that of the Lands Between in Elden Ring, leading some players to believe that the DLC is set in a past or future version of the Lands Between, similar to how the memories of Hirata Estate work in Sekiro.

However, we do know that the events happening in the Land of Shadow are occuring alongside the events of the main game, and that completing the DLC will provide you with multiple endings that will impact how the events of the main game play out. Essentially, while it’s a whole new world, it’s just like adding on a new storyline and ending to the main game.