Direct answer: To enter Shadow of the Erdtree, defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then interact with the withered arm hanging from Miquella’s cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace.
Prerequisites
- Defeat Starscourge Radahn in Redmane Castle.
- Reach Mohgwyn Palace and defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood.
- The DLC must be installed and available on your platform/account.
Steps
- Travel to the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint Site of Grace in Mohgwyn Palace.
- Enter the arena at the top of the mausoleum and defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood.
- Rest at the nearby Site of Grace, then approach the large cocoon in the arena.
- Interact with the pale arm extending from the cocoon. Needle Knight Leda appears and the interaction takes you to the Realm of Shadow.
- Activate the Gravesite Plain Site of Grace before leaving the starting area.
Common wrong turns
Defeating Mohg alone is not enough if Radahn is still alive. If the cocoon offers no interaction, confirm both bosses are defeated and that the DLC is installed. Varré’s quest is only one way to reach Mohgwyn Palace; you can also use the sending gate in the Consecrated Snowfield.
Useful next steps
Start in Gravesite Plain, collect the nearby Scadutree Fragments, and get the map fragment south of Scorched Ruins. These fragments improve attack and defense within the Realm of Shadow.
Research status
Research-reviewed against the Elden Ring Wiki.gg DLC walkthrough on 29 September 2026. Not gameplay-recorded or independently tested on this site.
Explore the Gravesite Plain region guide for nearby routes and locations.