Elden Ring: Embrace Martial Arts with the Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion

The *Shadow of the Erdtree* expansion for *Elden Ring* brings an Elden Ring Items exciting new twist to combat with the introduction of Hand-to-Hand weapons. Monk builds are now more viable than ever, thanks to the new weapons: Dryleaf Arts and Dane’s Footwork. Fans of *Dark Souls* who missed the Bone Fist can now enjoy these superior martial arts weapons.

#### **How to Obtain the Dryleaf Arts**

To acquire the Dryleaf Arts, you must progress through the *Shadow of the Erdtree* expansion until you reach the Scadu Altus region. At the Highroad Cross Site of Grace, you'll find a gesture called "May the Best Win" and a note titled "Monk’s Missive." This note will guide you east to the Moorth Ruins. Once there, head to the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace to find Dryleaf Dane.

Engage Dryleaf Dane in a duel by using the "May the Best Win" gesture. He combines martial arts with Holy magic, so be cautious of his Palm Blast, which can defeat you in one hit if you're not careful. High poise will help you trade blows effectively and chain powerful attacks. Defeating him will reward you with the Dryleaf Arts and Dane’s Hat.

#### **How to Acquire Dane’s Footwork**

Dane’s Footwork is unlocked later in the expansion during the penultimate boss fight against Miquella’s Followers. This fight features Needle Knight Leda and Dryleaf Dane. Defeating these NPCs, who may only appear depending on your quest progress, will allow you to loot their gear, including Dane’s Footwork.

In this encounter, Dryleaf Dane will wield Dane’s Footwork instead of the Dryleaf Arts. Be prepared for his kicks and watch out for Needle Knight Leda’s Needle Piercer, which can be dangerous if you're unprepared. Summoning Pureblood Knight Ansbach can be extremely useful to handle the numerous adversaries.

#### **Comparing Dryleaf Arts and Dane’s Footwork**

Both weapons offer distinct martial arts styles:

- **Dryleaf Arts**: A versatile Hand-to-Hand weapon that balances punches and kicks. It’s the easier of the two to use, making it a great choice for players new to martial arts in *Elden Ring*.
- **Dane’s Footwork**: Focuses on kicks, which are more challenging to execute but can be highly effective.

When choosing Ashes of War:
- **Palm Blast** is best suited for Dryleaf Arts to maximize single-target damage.
- **Dryleaf Whirlwind** enhances kicking attacks, making it ideal for Dane’s Footwork.

#### **Optimizing Your Build**

Both weapons can be equipped in either hand, offering flexibility in your build. For Dryleaf Arts, consider the following infusions based on your build:
- **Flame Art Infusion**: Adds Fire damage and scales with Faith.
- **Magic Infusion**: Adds Magic damage and scales with Intelligence.

Enhance the base damage of Dryleaf Arts to boost the effectiveness of Palm Blast.

Recommended talismans include:
- **Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman**: Boosts physical damage negation.
- **Rotten Winged Sword Insignia**: Increases attack power by 13% at maximum stacks.
- **Lord of Blood’s Exultation**: Boosts attack power by 20% when blood loss occurs nearby, synergizing with Dryleaf Whirlwind.

The new **Shattered Stone Talisman** further boosts kicking attack potency by 10%.

With these new martial arts weapons and optimized strategies, you can effectively harness the power of Hand-to-Hand combat. Enjoy the enhanced gameplay and unleash your martial prowess as best place to buy elden ring items you venture through the *Shadow of the Erdtree* expansion!