Summary
Elden Ring’s big DLC is rumored to come out soon, and fans have already had plenty of time to theorize about what could be in it. Shadow of the Erdtree promises to be FromSoftware’s largest post-launch update yet, taking full advantage of the two years sinceElden Ring’s original launch to deliver another detailed action-RPG experience. With potential features like an expanded story and new gear, it’s hard not to anticipate Shadow of the Erdtree, so, hopefully, fans won’t need to wait much longer to hear more about it.
The enemy variety inElden Ringis nothing to sneeze at, though its tendency to recycle enemy types and bosses throughout its many areas wears thin eventually. In response, fans want to see plenty of new additions toElden Ring’s foes in Shadow of the Erdtree. From introducingoldSoulsboss types toElden Ringto inserting enemies that fill in gaps in the narrative, just about anything would be acceptable as long as it’s new. There is one type of enemy that fans wouldn’t be as happy to see, but, ironically, that might be the best reason for FromSoftware to include it.
Few Elden Ring Enemies Terrorize Tarnished Like Runebears
Across the Lands Between, there are a few bogeymen that players dread meeting. Ulcerated Tree Spirits are a common talking point, even ifElden Ringseems aware of how annoying these enemies aregiven their tendency to suddenly attack the Tarnished. Several others, like Revenants and Crucible Knights, also haunt players, but one beast inspires dread like no other. Not a playthrough ofElden Ringgoes by without at least one story involving a Runebear, and it’s almost never an isolated case.
How Runebears Became An Infamous Elden Ring Enemy
Runebears are akin to Ulcerated Tree Spirits, in that they seem to be implemented primarily to antagonize players with foes that are paradoxically not rewarding enough to fight but too dangerous to ignore. Every Runebear had the stats of a boss despite only one getting the classification, one of the most hyper-aggressive movesets inElden Ring, faster dashing than mounted Tarnished, and a projectile similar to a troll’s roar to snipe fleeing players.
They are encountered inevery region, from Limgrave to the Consecrated Snowfield, and the ones in later areas are more like environmental hazards than real fights. Runebears have instilled a collective trauma into theElden Ringplayerbase, and that’s why Shadow of the Erdtree should keep their spirit alive.
Shadow of the Erdtree Needs An Answer to Elden Ring’s Runebears
Projections forElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC agree that it’s going to add at least one more open-world region, whether as part of the existing map or in a separate place entirely. The gameplay loop there would probably be similar to that ofElden Ring’s regular open world, so it needs to have at least as much variety by including minibosses and intimidating enemies. A new enemy type that acts as the DLC’s equivalent to Runebears could serve as the former but would be perfect as the latter.
Building A Shadow of the Erdtree Runebear
The enemy filling the Runebear’s old role could be anything given the mysterious themes ofElden Ring’s DLC, but they would have to be big, fast, and likely not drop as many Runes as players expect. Giving the open world its own persistent threat outside roaming boss fights helpsgive theElden Ringcommunity shared experiences, particularly funny deaths as players run afoul of this new foe for the first time.
As long as this threat can operate in the place of a potential Runebear population, thenElden Ringcould be looking at its next popular enemy that players love to hate.
