Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree vs Path of Exile 2
Both demand deep system knowledge, but one locks content behind a boss kill, the other behind league resets.
Updated 10d 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.
Punches above its Early Access tag if you want Diablo combat with PoE1's depth — wait for 1.0 if you hate league build wipes.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; 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 7.
| Measure | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | Path of Exile 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Path of Exile 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $35.17 −12% · GameBillet | $29.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $31.49 | $29.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.37/hr $35.17 · 26 h main story | $0.79/hr $29.99 · 38 h main story |
| Off its low | +12% vs $31.49 low | At its low vs $29.99 low |
| Main story | 26 h | 38 h |
| Health Path of Exile 2 wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 70% 104k reviews | 75% 224k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 58% 186 votes · vs 70% lifetime · souring | 81% 2k votes · vs 75% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | — Not yet charted | 125,475 Jul 2026 · ↓ 64% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 22% of Dec 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | — | 578,562 Dec 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | — | 5 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | — | 4+ in last 90 days, at minimum |
| Steam Deck | — | Platinum |
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
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Path of Exile 2
Dec 2024 – Jul 2026
Key differences
Content model
Elden Ring DLC requires base game and a specific boss kill; it's a complete, no-wipe expansion.
Path of Exile 2 is Early Access with frequent wipes and rebalancing patches until 1.0.
Difficulty curve
Scadutree Fragments create an exploration-linked power curve; Consort Radahn was nerfed in patch 1.14.
PoE2's dodge-roll and new boss phases demand active evasion; build wipes force relearning meta.
Progression philosophy
Opaque quests and exploration-based upgrades (Scadutree Fragments) define the DLC's progression.
Deep passive trees and ascendancy classes offer near-infinite build variety, but progress is temporary per league.
Which one is for you?
Pick Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree if
- You finished base Elden Ring and want 35–40 more hours in the same world.
- You enjoy exploring every corner to find Scadutree Fragments that level your character.
- You accept FromSoft's vague questlines and brutal boss gauntlets.
Pick Path of Exile 2 if
- You love Path of Exile 1 and want smoother controls with dodge-roll combat.
- You bounce off Diablo 4's shallow endgame and crave the atlas system's depth.
- You are okay with losing your character every few months to start fresh.
Bottom line
Choose Erdtree for a complete, no-wipe expansion; choose Path of Exile 2 if you're an ARPG veteran who thrives on build resets.