Streamer Dan Gheesling achieved an extraordinary milestone by conquering the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC without resorting to Scadutree Fragments or enhancing his HP, enduring a whopping 15,522 deaths in the process. This Herculean accomplishment captured widespread admiration across the Elden Ring community, sparking a wave of positive engagement on social media.
For anyone familiar with FromSoftware titles, it’s well-known that these games are not for the faint-hearted. They’re notorious for pushing players to the brink, often with little guidance to assist the newcomer. Mistakes are costly, and numerous deaths are almost a guarantee. While Elden Ring initially offered players a bit more flexibility with its open-world design, allowing them to avoid danger more easily, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion cranked up the difficulty. So much so, that an update was needed post-launch to address the challenge levels.
However, these tweaks didn’t deter Gheesling. He embraced the grueling nature of the game, choosing not to upgrade his HP or utilize Scadutree Fragments. This made his playthrough not only time-consuming at 423 hours but also incredibly challenging, as most enemies were able to defeat him in a single hit, leading to his staggering death count.
Player Overcomes Shadow of the Erdtree Without Scadutree Fragments or HP Enhancements
Spoilers for the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree ahead
Adding another layer of difficulty, Gheesling refrained from using resin to upgrade his weapons. During the climactic showdown with the final boss, Radahn, 3,469 of his total deaths were recorded. His final, successful attempt at defeating Radahn lasted an intense 15 minutes. After achieving what many would consider impossible, Gheesling reflected on his grueling 423-hour journey, offering viewers the valuable message to "never give up."
The release of Shadow of the Erdtree reignited discussions about game difficulty, with some players voicing concerns about the steep challenge compared to the base Elden Ring game. This sparked a mixed reception on Steam. Despite the criticisms, a segment of players, including Gheesling and other daring streamers, thrive on this type of challenge, seeking out every opportunity to push the limits of their skills in the unforgiving world created by FromSoftware.
So, whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned veteran, there’s no denying the allurement and the distinct satisfaction that comes from overcoming Shadow of the Erdtree, one of the most challenging ‘Elden Ring’ expansions to date.
