Summary
Like other FromSoft RPGs,Elden Ringhas its fair share of obscure secrets, but the game’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLCadds a particularly devious one that most players aren’t likely to find their first time through. While games likeDemon’s SoulsandDark Soulshave always had a reputation for extremely well-hidden secrets, sometimes granting access to something as important as an entire new area,Shadow of the Erdtreetakes things to a new level.
Although baseElden Ringhas some well-hidden secrets, such as the entrance to the Deeproot Depths from the bottom of the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds,Shadow of the Erdtreetakes things a step further, to the point of hiding entire sections of the mapbehind easily missed caves or even illusory walls. One such area, the Abyssal Woods, can only be accessed by finding a fake wall at the bottom of the Shadow Keep, and then progressing through both a secret area and a hidden dungeon with its own unique boss.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review - FromSoft’s Greatest Hits
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a victory lap for FromSoftware, bringing in elements from past games without losing what made it special.
Shadow Of The Erdtree Hides One Talisman In An Invulnerable Enemy
Aged One’s Exultation Is One Of Elden Ring’s Most Well-Hidden Items
Even once players havereached the Abyssal Woods, though, there’s still yet another secret - a special talisman that can only be obtained bykilling one of the invulnerable Aging Untouchables.This talisman, theAged One’s Exultation, is dropped after the player manages to kill an Untouchable, and gives an attack boost whenever the madness effect is triggered within a certain range of the player, similar to the Lord of Blood’s Exultation and Kindred of Rot’s Exultation talismans for bleed and poison/rot, respectively.
While the intended method for killing Untouchables is to parry their grab, players have also found that any weapon or spell that applies the Destined Death effect (Black Knife, Maliketh’s Black Blade), will also drain their health, although this method is considerably slower.
However, the chances of most players finding this talisman on a blind first playthrough is fairly slim, as the game takes great pains to establish the Aging Untouchables as invincible threats that players have to sneak past instead of fighting. Only once players have progressed through the entire area can they find theTorn Diary Pagein Midra’s Manse, which vaguely hints at the solution of parrying the Untouchables to make them vulnerable. To make matters worse,only the Untouchable closest to the Abandoned Church will drop the talisman- all others will only drop theSwollen Grapecrafting item.
Missing The Talisman Isn’t A Big Deal In Shadow Of The Erdtree
While Effective For Certain Builds, SOTE’s Secret Talisman Is Very Niche
As consolation for players who missed out on theAged One’s Exultationtalisman, though,its effects are admittedly more on the niche side. Unlike other status effects, like bleed, frost, or poison, madness unfortunately does not work on most enemies inElden Ring, and can only be applied to other players, or enemies that use player models. Interestingly, the talisman will take effect when madness is triggered on the player’s own character, but the status is both rare and debilitating, making it ultimately not quite worth the risk.
While most players may have interpreted the Torn Diary Page as a bit of extra lore or set dressing, it actually is the only clue the game gives on how to kill the Aging Untouchables - making the Aged One’s Exultation potentially one of the most hidden items in the game. Players who missed it, though, can take some comfort in the fact that the talisman is one ofElden Ring’s more niche offerings, requiring a very specific build and situation to make use of.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
