What to Do After Beating the Final Boss in Elden Ring

After braving the dangers of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and emerging victorious over the final boss, Promised Consort Radahn, you might find yourself wondering what comes next. The conclusion feels somewhat abrupt, leaving many players unsure of their next steps. Fear not—while the battle may be over, there's still much to explore and accomplish in the world of Elden Ring. Here's a detailed breakdown of what you should do after defeating Radahn.

 

Claim Your Rewards: Remembrance and Elden Ring Items

 

Once you've taken down Promised Consort Radahn, your first order of business is to collect the rewards that come from this hard-fought victory. After Radahn is defeated, he drops his Remembrance, a key item that can be exchanged for powerful rewards. You can take this Remembrance back to the Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold, where you'll have the option to exchange it for one of two valuable items:

 

    Radahn's Sword: A powerful weapon that complements a Strength or Dexterity build.

    Light of Miquella Incantation: A unique spell tied to Miquella, offering an offensive light-based incantation for Faith-based players.

 

Both items offer substantial benefits, and if you're looking to acquire both without making a choice, remember to use one of the Elden Ring Remembrance duplication coffins found in the game to clone the Remembrance before trading it in.

 

Discover New Elden Ring Items and Lore

 

After defeating Radahn, you'll notice two important Elden Ring Items near the newly revealed Site of Grace in the boss room. One of these items is the Let Us Go Together gesture, a nice little reward to commemorate your journey.

 

The second item, however, is far more interesting. This item is something to interact with, unlocking a cutscene that offers additional lore regarding Miquella, one of the central figures in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. While this interaction doesn't conclude the DLC, it provides valuable insights into Miquella's story and grants you a special item—the Circlet of Light headpiece for your character. This unique Elden Ring Item adds a fresh aesthetic to your character while tying into the game's deeper lore.

 

However, beyond these items and lore pieces, you'll find that this is the primary "ending" to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The DLC doesn't have a major concluding cutscene or event, but that doesn't mean your journey is over.

 

Explore the Shadow Realm and Complete Unfinished Quests

 

With the main boss defeated and key items in hand, this is the perfect time to return to unfinished business within Shadow of the Erdtree. The expansion still offers plenty of opportunities to explore new areas, uncover hidden secrets, and fight optional bosses you may have missed along the way.

 

First, ensure you've fully uncovered the map of the Shadow Realm, the mysterious area introduced in this DLC. This region is filled with hidden locations, powerful foes, and rare Elden Ring Items that you can collect to further strengthen your character.

 

Additionally, many NPCs throughout the game will have their questlines come to a close after Radahn's defeat. Characters such as Needle Knight Leda, Dryleaf Dane, Thiollier, and Moore—all of whom play significant roles in the build-up to Radahn's battle—will no longer progress in their stories. If you've been following their questlines, now is the time to finish any lingering tasks they've left behind.

 

While you can no longer progress their quests beyond this point, you can still revisit these NPCs for any final interactions or Elden Ring Items they may offer. It's also worth noting that this is your last chance to experience these stories on your current playthrough, so make sure you don't leave any loose ends.

 

Choose Your Path to One of Elden Ring's Endings

 

After wrapping up your activities in Shadow of the Erdtree, your next step will be to focus on reaching one of the many endings in the base game. Elden Ring features multiple endings, each tied to different decisions you make during your journey and the NPCs you interact with.

 

If you're planning to continue your playthrough into New Game Plus, you'll want to ensure you've gathered all the necessary items, made the right choices with NPCs, and prepared your character for whatever challenges lie ahead. Discovering new endings in Elden Ring can significantly alter the narrative experience, offering a fresh perspective on the game's story.

 

Prepare for Future Playthroughs

 

Lastly, if you're planning to dive into New Game Plus with the same character, make sure you've fully explored every corner of the Shadow Realm before restarting. Not only will this help you get a complete picture of the expansion, but it will also make your next journey through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC smoother and more efficient.

 

By fully unlocking the map and familiarizing yourself with different NPCs and their dialogue options, you'll be in a better position to make new choices and experience alternative questlines in future playthroughs. Plus, having collected all available Elden Ring Items will give you a head start in terms of gear and abilities.

 

Conclusion

 

Defeating Promised Consort Radahn in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC marks the end of a significant challenge, but it doesn't mean your adventure is over. From exchanging Radahn's Remembrance for powerful Elden Ring Items to exploring the lore, farming Elden Ring Runes, and preparing for New Game Plus, there's plenty left to do before you close the chapter on this expansion.