Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC presents a significant difficulty spike compared to the base game. Players are discovering creative strategies to overcome this challenge, with one unexpected item gaining popularity: Boiled Crab. While Scadutree Fragments offer potent offensive and defensive buffs, their limited quantity necessitates alternative solutions. Boiled Crab, readily available in the base game, provides a 20% physical damage negation for 60 seconds, offering a compelling substitute due to its unlimited availability.
However, accessing Boiled Crab hinges on a crucial, easily missed quest. Players must interact with or defeat Blackguard Big Boggart to obtain it, a task locked out if the Volcano Manor is reached before speaking to Rya. This oversight has left many players without access to this helpful item.
Fortunately, viable alternatives exist. The Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman offers a similar 20% physical damage reduction, albeit at the cost of a talisman slot. Furthermore, the Opaline Hardtear provides a broader 3-minute damage negation across all damage types, proving particularly useful against the challenging bosses of the DLC. These options provide players with multiple pathways to mitigate the increased difficulty of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The discovery of Boiled Crab's utility highlights the community's ingenuity in adapting to the DLC's challenges and finding creative solutions within the game's mechanics.
