One Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Weapon Type Could Inspire FromSoftware’s Next Game

One Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Weapon Type Could Inspire FromSoftware's Next Game

As a die-hard fan who has spent countless hours exploring the intricate worlds of FromSoftware games, I must say that Elden Ring has truly outdone itself with its diverse array of weapons and combat mechanics. The introduction of the Dryleaf Arts weapon type in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was a game-changer, offering a unique, albeit simplistic, fighting style that sets the stage for potential innovations in future Souls games.


In the core gameplay of Elden Ring, there’s an extensive arsenal of weapons for players to acquire, not forgetting the diverse range of Sorceries and Incantations they can master. However, when the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC kicked things up a notch by adding even more new weapons, plus entirely fresh types of weapons, it was a significant milestone for Elden Ring enthusiasts, offering endless enjoyment for both single-player (PvE) and multiplayer (PvP) gamers as they embark on multiple playthroughs.

In a departure from the extensive range of weapons showcased in Elden Ring, which set an impressive standard for future FromSoftware Souls games, the studio’s next Souls game could instead opt for a more concentrated selection or even eliminate weapons altogether. The Dryleaf Arts weapon type in Elden Ring hints at what this approach might entail, but it’s up to future Souls games to fully explore and maximize the potential of this weapon category.

After Elden Ring’s Dryleaf Arts, FromSoftware Could Continue Exploring Hand-to-Hand Combat

In Elden Ring, the weapon you’re referring to isn’t the weakest by any stretch, but it does have an unexpected simplicity. While Dryleaf Arts boasts a distinctive set of movements and some exclusive Ashes of War abilities, these characteristics are common among all weapon types in Elden Ring. What sets this weapon apart is its limited nature – it’s the only weapon within its type, which makes it unique compared to other weapon categories in the game.

Elden Ring’s Dryleaf Arts Conspiracy Theory

This is purely speculation, and it may be a bit of a stretch, but Elden Ring’s new Dryleaf Arts weapon could very well be FromSoftware hiding its next Souls game’s gimmick in plain sight, giving players a taste of what’s to come. In other words, the reason why Elden Ring’s Dryleaf Arts is such a minimalist weapon type may be so that it can pave the path for future Souls games to feature a similar hand-to-hand combat system without traditional weapons. Conspiracy or not, Elden Ring’s Dryleaf Arts weapon type has a lot of room to grow, and considering that the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is said to be the game’s last major content update, the pressure to further explore this weapon type is naturally passed on to FromSoftware’s next Souls game.

In other words, the next FromSoftware game following Elden Ring might stand out as unique compared to their previous titles. This is because Elden Ring featured an extensive array of weapons, and its sequel could potentially shift gears by focusing on a more limited selection or even none at all. Interestingly enough, this pattern can be seen in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, where players were restricted to using one weapon after the Dark Souls games offered a wide range of weapons, similar to Elden Ring.

Since battle is meticulously designed and a fundamental aspect of the Souls series, it’s reasonable for FromSoftware to keep refining unique weapon types in their future games. A combat style that they haven’t delved deeply into yet is close-combat, or hand-to-hand fighting. It appears that it’s only a matter of time before one of the upcoming Souls games includes a martial arts-inspired combat system, and Elden Ring’s Dryleaf Arts might just be the beginning of this potential trend.

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2024-09-15 15:04