Summary
Surviving can be hard inElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtree, but getting around doesn’t have to be. One of the elements that setsElden Ringapart fromprevious From Software gamesis its suite of traversal options. Things like universal fast travel, horse riding, double jumping, even single jumping are far from commonplace in Soulsborne games - in this regard,Elden Ringis the exception, not the rule.
Another novel aspect ofElden Ringis its open-world map. That means that getting from point A to point B isn’t always so straightforward. Shortcuts, secret passageways, and illusory walls abound. Thankfully, the methods of traversal employed inElden Ringmake this easier from time to time. But in an effort to surprise (or confuse) seasoned players,Shadow of the Erdtreehides what may be its most useful new method of traversal behind an obtuse puzzle. There’s an easy solution, but players need to know what to look for.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review
Screen Rant’s Chris Teuton reviews Elden Ring’s highly-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC ahead of its launch on July 26, 2025.
Sealed Spiritsprings Make Getting Around Elden Ring’s DLC Easier
Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Greatest Puzzles
Remember the Spiritsprings fromElden Ring’s base game? Cloudy waves of air radiating from cracks in the ground, these would propel the player character (and Torrent) high into the air, usually allowing them to land safely on some high-up platform and access a new area. Well, they’re back in the DLC, only some of them don’t work. They’re called Sealed Spiritsprings, and they look identical to their base game cousins, only somehow muted.The secret to activating these Sealed Spiritsprings is to find a nearby rock cairn and smash it, thus removing the hold and propelling the Tarnished skyward yet again.
The only way to figure out this information in-game is to discover it organically, or buy a note from Moore at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace.
Sealed Spiritsprings Enhance Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Verticality
A Hallmark Of The Elden Ring DLC Map
Sealed Spiritsprings both accentuate and complicate the very thing that makesElden Ring’s DLC map unique: its increased verticality. The Land of Shadow has more variation in elevation than most of the baseElden Ringmap regions, except maybe theMountaintops of the Giants. That necessitates a lot of upward and downward travel, which would be all too simple if the map were dotted with working Spiritsprings. Instead,Elden Ringrequires players to solve a problem (albeit a simple one) by breaking rock cairns before they can use the easy way out. At other times, players must navigate unintuitive paths to get up cliffsides, or trust risky jumps to reach distant valleys.
The overall effect is that everything in the DLC, even something as simple as getting around, feels interesting, challenging, and ultimately rewarding. It’s emblematic of that classic FromSoft tough love: there are great rewards to be found, if only players are willing to overcome challenges big and small. Sealed Spiritsprings may only pose a small challenge once they’re understood, but even getting to that point takes a fair bit of effort. But learning how to find and solve them can open up countless new areas inElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
