The upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for FromSoftware’s hit titleElden Ringhas the potential to expand the Lands Between in ways players might not expect. There are some high expectations placed on this DLC after the success ofElden Ring, and with the development of this expansion seemingly taking quite a while, it could point to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC being bigger than any previous FromSoftware DLC. However, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC could revolutionize the game by taking a page out ofBloodborne’s book and introducing firearms as a new weapon type.
For as popular asElden Ringis, there is a large subset of FromSoftware fans who are very dedicated to the developer’s gothic horror-inspired Soulslike. As calls for aremaster ofBloodbornefor current-gen platformscontinue to grow, FromSoftware could acknowledge the love for the game by including an homage inElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. While adding firearms in a primarily dark medieval fantasy setting might seem to clash tonally,Elden Ringboasts enough unique armaments that lifting some of these weapons fromBloodbornewouldn’t be all that strange.
RELATED:Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Has to Give Closure to the Lands Between’s Frenzied Tarnished
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Could Add Bloodborne-Style Firearms as a New Weapon Type
Bloodborneintroduced firearmsas secondary weapons that function similarly to shields in past FromSoftware Soulslikes, but more appropriate for the game’s faster paced gameplay and Victorian era-inspired setting. Instead of using a shield to parry incoming enemy attacks,Bloodborneallowed players to fire their sidearm at just the right time in order to stagger enemies, effectively parrying their attack and rendering them vulnerable to counterattack. Additionally, these firearms could also be used for ranged combat, allowing players to deal damage to enemies at a distance and increase their overall combat options.
WhileElden Ringis firmly rooted in the dark medieval fantasy genre, there are ways that firearms could be introduced to naturally fit within the game’s tone and setting. These weapons could be much more rudimentary firearms based on flintlock pistols and blunderbusses, or even the ancient Chinese fire lance, moving away from some ofBloodborne’s more advanced weapons like its Gatling Gun or Flamesprayer. The game’s numerous weapon types already create a diverse swath of gameplay styles for players to choose from that introducing firearms could work very well with many ofElden Ring’s already existing builds.
Elden Ringhas a greater emphasis on ranged gameplay than past FromSoftware titles, with numerous ranged weapon types available to players. Between its bows, great bows, crossbows, and ballistas, adding firearms as another ranged weapon category wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary and could help give the DLC a reason to include brand-new weapons. As a game with some truly bizarre weapon options likeElden Ring’s Ringed Fingerand Ghiza’s Wheel, the latter of which bearing a striking resemblance toBloodborne’s Whirligig Saw, including firearms seems like a tame addition by comparison but would help give the game the feel ofBloodbornefor fans missing that style of gameplay.
Although theShadow of the Erdtree DLCis still cloaked in mystery, it’s likely that the expansion will feature new weapons in some capacity. With the calls for a remastered version ofBloodbornefor modern consoles intensifying, FromSoftware could take this opportunity to appease this portion of the fan base somewhat by including a variation ofBloodborne’s firearm mechanic in theElden RingDLC. WhileBloodborne Remasteredis only rumored to exist, Shadow of the Erdtree is a far more concrete way to bring one ofBloodborne’s beloved elements to fans once again viaElden Ring.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
