The DLC for Elden Ring introduces numerous new weapons to the game. But one stands out in particular. With it, you can beat your opponents according to all the rules of the art and look like a martial arts fighter while doing so.
What weapon is it? When FromSoftware announced a total of eight new weapon categories for the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, the excitement was high. What new additions would there be? In the first trailers for the expansion, alongside the obligatory swords, spears, and staves, there was also a fighting style that reminded many players of Bruce Lee kung fu movies.
In the now-released DLC, you can find this weapon called “Dry Leaf Art” and beat the crunchy opponents with it. In addition to punches, you can also kick with your feet and actually whirl through the air – both you and the opponents.
In practice, this fighting style is a lot of fun and lets you zip from enemy to enemy like a whirlwind. Also, because it is unusual for Elden Ring. FromSoftware manages to loosen up the established fighting styles of their games a bit and bring some fresh air into it.
You must defeat a master
How do you get the weapon? Dry Leaf Art cannot simply be found in the world of the DLC. You have to earn it.
At the grace “Cross at the High Road,” just after Castle Ensis in the Scadu Altus area, you will find the gesture “May the Best Win.” Collect it and run east to the grace “Ruins of Moorth.”
There, the NPC Dry Leaf Dane awaits you. He has nothing to say to you. Instead, use the gesture you just received, and you will be thrown into an arena where you must fight Dane.
The NPC does not withstand much, so he is not comparable to the big and difficult boss enemies of the expansion. After your victory, you return to the grace and find a drop from Dane there. Namely, his hat and the sought-after weapon Dry Leaf Art.
Equip it, preferably upgrade it, apply a war ash to it – then the joyful beating and kicking can begin. Your opponents won’t survive the day without a black eye.
Unfortunately, the weapon has one downside. Its range is not particularly large, and in combat against tower-high boss enemies that also move quickly, it may happen that you swing at empty space. Against smaller opponents, this problem is hardly noticeable. They end up in the afterlife and will tell their colleagues there about the cool guy with the hard kicks. Unless you die yourself – Lead developer Miyazaki has now explained why his game has to be so difficult.
