Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreenot only builds on the base game’s contributions to the Soulborne genre, but also harkens back to a classic FromSoftware mechanic in previous titles. While players could originally alter their character in more subtle ways, like being touched by the Three Fingers or embracing Dragon Communion, these visually-striking changes have never had a direct impact on moment-to-moment gameplay. The concept of full transformations has been revisited inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but despite the nostalgic quality to this addition, it still feels like a more cautious inclusion than a true leap forward.
Three newforms were introduced inShadow of the Erdtree, each providing its own unique benefits in return for the drawback of not being able to wear armor. However, their overall impact feels limited when considering the disparity in power between them. It’s unclear what FromSoft’s stance on alternate forms is after this perplexing design decision, but the next game could realize this idea in a way that makes new forms more of a focal point.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Dragon Transformations Honored Their Legacy
FromSoft’s Tradition of Form-Changing Items
Becoming a dragon-hybrid has been a mainstay since the firstDark Souls, where the Covenant in Ash Lake could reward the player with the Dragon Torso Stone to transform.DS2continued this with its own armor-like form, whileDS3returned to the organic look of a gaunt hybrid creature. These have always aligned with the lore of their worlds, with there even being an alien form inBloodborne’s Kos Parasitecombined with the Milkweed Rune or a monstrous beast-man from the Beast Claw paired with the Beast’s Embrace Rune.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Lamenter Form Leaves Much to Be Desired
The latest forms made available inElden Ringmostly provide powerful buffs, with thePriestess Heart’s Dragon Priestess form boosting Ancient Dragon Lightning Incantations and the typical Dragon-person form providing the same for Dragon Communion Incantations.Elden Ring’s Hornsent-inspired Lamenter form, however, fails to justify the sacrifice it takes to wield it. Used through theLamenter’s Maskitem, this form only boosts Arcane by 8 points while providing negligible damage negation for all types except Holy, which is substantial. For a form acquired in the late game of the DLC, it stands as more of a joke than a viable option to build around.
Transformations Deserve to Become a Core Mechanic in FromSoftware’s Next Game
New Forms Need to Matter in Gameplay and Beyond
While the Lamenter form likely represents an attempt to craft a new transformation directly tied to the lore of The Lands Between, its practical usage has fallen flat. With the other experimentalDragon Priestess form in Elden Ringeasily able to justify its existence, however, the developer was able to reach an effective middle ground between story relevance and usefulness. If these become a central focus of the player’s kit in future titles, transformations have the potential to be the foundation for diverse strategies that relegate them to more than just a niche option.
Lessons from Bloodborne’s Nuanced Forms
If further releases are going to have as many build options asElden Ring, it’s going to remain difficult to justify the sacrifice of gear in order to achieve specific forms. These have always largely revolved around enhancing magical attacks, butBloodborne’s Beast form demonstrated FromSoft’s willingness to experiment with playstyles outside that formula. If thegame that followsElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreecan offer new forms that appeal to all the different pillars of build-making in this way, it could have the most cohesive transformation system in Soulsborne history.
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.
