Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree vs Mortal Shell II
FromSoftware's punishing scale versus Cold Symmetry's focused intensity—choose your poison.
Updated 5d ago
Best-in-class single-player DLC if you finished base Elden Ring — Land of Shadow rivals a full game, and patch 1.14 tamed Consort Radahn's combos.
A worthy successor that nails the fast, hard-hitting combat — but the 50-100-hit boss fights and near-unreactable one-shots make it a qualified buy.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 26; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 26.
| Measure | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | Mortal Shell II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree wins on value | ||
| Price now | $35.17 −12% · GameBillet | $49.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $31.49 | $49.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.37/hr $35.17 · 26 h main story | — |
| Off its low | +12% low was Aug 2024 | At its low low was Jul 2026 |
| Main story | 26 h | — |
| Health Mortal Shell II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 70% 104k reviews | 75% 11k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 57% 167 votes · vs 70% lifetime · souring | 76% 11k votes · vs 75% lifetime |
| Peak players | — Not yet charted | — Not yet charted |
| Support | ||
| Steam Deck | — | Gold |
Key differences
Scope and length
Shadow of the Erdtree adds roughly 26 hours of main story, rivaling a full game's breadth.
Mortal Shell II's interconnected world is deliberately compact, respecting your time with a shorter critical path.
Combat pacing
Erdtree's combat remains methodical, with patch 1.14 softening Radahn's combos but not the difficulty.
Mortal Shell II pushes adrenaline-charged, faster combat, though boss fights can stretch to 50-100 hits.
Difficulty curve
Erdtree relies on Scadutree Fragments to level up, tying power to exploration and opaque progression.
Mortal Shell II's boss fights feature near-unreactable one-shots and sparse checkpoints, demanding precise parries.
Which one is for you?
Pick Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree if
- You've beaten base Elden Ring and crave more of that world.
- You have 26+ hours to spend on another challenging playthrough.
- You enjoy hunting for hidden upgrade materials like Scadutree Fragments.
Pick Mortal Shell II if
- You prefer a tightly packed world that respects your time.
- You like fast, aggressive combat with parry windows.
- You're okay with sparse checkpoints and long runbacks.
Bottom line
Pick Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree if you want a grand, opaque challenge at 70% positive reviews; choose Mortal Shell II if you value speed and directness over sheer scale.