When veteran players first delve into the murky depths of a new FromSoftware title, there are a few staples they can expect to come across.Epic bosses, obscure lore, more weapons than one could ever conceivably own inexplicably secreted about their person - and invaders. Whether they love engaging in some jolly cooperation online or prefer the life of a solitary hero, eventuallySoulsfans will face these unscrupulous red phantoms relentlessly hunting them down for their Souls/Echoes/Runes/insert currency here.
Elden Ringcontinues this merciless tradition with a host of NPC invaders that are “totally fair” (such asFestering Fingerprint Vyke), and theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC adds a whopping 17 additional NPC enemies on top of that to truly test the Tarnished. And if the challenge itself wasn’t enticing enough, there’s plenty of shiny new loot to collect from these crimson-clad menaces. Below are the best invaders fromShadow of the Erdtreebased on the fight itself and the goodies they drop.
6Madding Hand
Invades In The Abyssal Woods And Inflicts Madness
As if entering the Abyssal Woods wasn’t terrifying enough already, the fact that Torrentpointedly refuses to be summonedshould set off plenty of alarm bells. That’s because this dark forest is home to the Madding Hand, a crazed disciple of the Frenzied Flame that can permanently slay Spirits. Gulp. When engaged by the player, the Madding Hand uses Frenzy incantations and rolls around like a, well, madman.
They don’t have any armor and therefore are very easy to stagger or afflict with status effects. Having said that, staying up close and personal for too long is a great way to get personally acquainted with the Madness status very quickly. Just watch out for the casting animation and try to disrupt them as much as possible. The Madding Hand can be found near the Woodland Trail Site of Grace and drops the Madding Hand weapon.
5Logur, the Beast Claw
Invades In The Gravesite Plain
Out in the eerie and unsettling Gravesite Plain, the Tarnished will face the grim realities of the war-torn Land of Shadow. Something savage stalks the misty woods after nightfall and attacks without warning. Logur, the Beast Claw invades with a blood-curdling scream and bounds towards the Tarnished like a wild animal, striking with feral fury to overwhelm unsuspecting prey.
Logur’s moves are quite unique and may take a few attempts to master. He uses lots of lunges and leaps to catch players off guard, while every hit builds up the deadly bleed status effect that can tear off a chunk of health. When he is finally defeated he’ll dropthe Beast Claw weaponthat gives players access to his special attacks. Brave Tarnished can challenge Logur by heading southeast from the Gravesite Plain Site of Grace at nighttime.
4Fire Knight Queelign
Invades At Belurat And Church Of The Crusade
The Tarnished can encounter this loyal vassal of Messmer the Impalertwice during their adventuresthrough the Land of Shadow. He’ll first invade the player at Belurat Tower Settlement in the main plaza area wielding a spear and a homing fireball. The key is to keep up pressure on him as he can be easily staggered - just watch out for his devastating upward swing that ends in a fiery explosion. Upon defeat, he’ll drop the Crusade Insignia talisman which boosts attack power for 20 seconds after killing an enemy.
But the Fire Knight isn’t done with the Tarnished yet. Queelign invades yet again at the Church of the Crusade as soon as the player sets foot inside. The strategy largely remains the same, the only difference is the environment. Put him down a second time and he’ll drop the Prayer Room Key for the Shadow Keep, as well as his unique Ash of War, Flame Skewer.
3Moonrithyll, Carian Knight
Invades At Castle Ensis
Chamberlain to Rellana (and apparently a friend to the trolls), Moonrithyll invades clad in knightly garb and wields amassive two-handed swordupon entering the chapel of Castle Ensis. As with other Carian-related enemies, she deals magic damage in huge arcing swings that are slow and easily dodged. However, getting caught in just one of her attacks can quickly destroy even the hardiest Tarnished’s health bars.
Make sure to take out the other enemies patrolling the area first so they don’t come to Moonrithyll’s aid - players will want to concentrate on evading her attacks without worrying about adds. Then it’s all about patience and timing, baiting out swings and looking for openings. Besting her in combat rewards the Tarnished with Moonrithyll’s Knight Sword, a colossal weapon with the unique Tremendous Phalanx Ash of War that summons gigantic glintblades above the player’s head.
2Moore
Invades If You Attack His “Friends”
The mild-mannered and softly-spoken Moore certainly seems like an ally when the Tarnished first meets him. He sells a few useful items, and he’s friend-shaped to boot being reminiscent of Siegmeyer of Catarina fromDark Souls. However, attack any of the Lesser Kindred of Rot enemies nearby and players will be immediately invaded by this juggernaut wielding a massive greatshield.
As he’s wearing heavy armor, Moore is very difficult to stagger. That makes trading blows with him difficult (and likely deadly). Watch for his shield charges and take the time to search for safe opportunities to land a few quick strikes. Status effects like bleed, poison, and frostbite can be extremely helpful in this fight. Once he’s down, the Tarnished receives the Verdigris armor set, the Verdigris Greatshield, and Moore’s Bell Bearing, but that also ends his quest prematurely. Best to save this one till later.
1Needle Knight Leda
Invades At The Castle In Enir-Ilim
What’s astory without a good betrayal? That’s exactly what Needle Knight Leda represents inShadow of the Erdtree. Players first meet this loyal follower of Miquella in Mohgwyn Palace after defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood, where she acts as an introduction to the DLC. From there the Tarnished canfollow her journeyto find the lost Empyrean all the way to Enir-Ilim, where things take a dark turn.
She’ll invade at the end of the castle no matter what choices the player made along the way, ready to defend her lord to the bitter end. And she’ll bring some friends along too, depending on what the player has done or completed so far - up to 3 in fact - making this fight feel as climactic and impactful as the end of Millicent’s quest in the base game. Players will always receive Leda’s Sword upon her defeat, and they can get some additional loot if her allies join the fray.
