Summary
As much assome players hate them, Scadutree Fragments are vital to progressing inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. You use them at a Site of Grace to increase your DLC exclusive level, buffing your damage dealt and reducing your damage taken.
It turns out that you may find enough of these fragments to reach level 14 before fighting a single boss, so if you’re struggling, sweeping some of the side areas to pick these up might be the way to go.

You might prematurely end a few NPC quests if you do this, however.
Reddit user Galdiuz2 put together a map with a simple-to-follow path across the Land of Shadow that will help you reach level 12 without having to pass through any fog walls.
By the time you’re done, Rellana, Messmer, and countless others will be much more bearable. But as some pointed out in the comments, a few fragments are missing from this map that can take you even further.
“you’re able to actually get to 14,” commented gilgabroVII. “There is at least one more in the starting zone, two more in the Scadu Altus, and three in the [Cerulean Coast].” That’s six more fragments and thus two more levels.
Typically, you have to go through a dungeon to reach the higher part of the Cerulean Coast (the place with all the red petals), but you can actually get there by following the river under the Ellac Greatbridge and climbing down some waterfalls.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Buffed Scadutree Fragments
Earlier this week, FromSoftware rolled out a patch thatbuffed the Scadutree Fragment system, making it so that you deal more damage and take less in the earlier levels.
Combined with this route, the DLC will be easier than ever. If you’re going into some of the fights too low a level, you’ll struggle, but explore a bit and you’ll find things are much easier than they first seem.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.