For action RPG fans still haunted (in a good way!) by the challenges of Elden Ring, a new contender has entered the arena: The First Berserker: Khazan 🎮. Developed by Neople, this fresh Soulslike promises a familiar yet distinct brand of punishing, rewarding combat that's sparking conversations about difficulty. The burning question on every Tarnished's mind? Just how hard is it, especially compared to the notoriously tough Shadow of the Erdtree DLC? Let's dive in.

Soulslike DNA with a Twist of Its Own 🤔

At its core, The First Berserker: Khazan shares that foundational Soulslike philosophy: learn, adapt, or perish. Where Elden Ring offers an almost overwhelming arsenal of weapons, spells, and builds to find your comfort zone, Khazan takes a different approach. The weapon variety is more focused, but the demand on the player is arguably higher. You can't just over-level a favorite weapon and brute-force your way through. Enemies, especially bosses, come with massive health pools and give you very few "free" openings to attack.

🎯 The Key Difference? It's all about ability blending. Success hinges on your skill at seamlessly weaving offensive strikes with precise defensive maneuvers (parries, dodges, guards) to create your own counterattack opportunities. If you don't master this dance, the game's major encounters will stop you dead in your tracks. This specific demand for active, moment-to-moment skill execution is what draws the closest comparison to the peak challenges of Shadow of the Erdtree.

So, Is It as Hard as Shadow of the Erdtree? ⚔️

The short answer? The early to mid-game boss fights can feel just as brutal. This is saying something, as the Erdtree DLC's difficulty was a hot topic even among Soulsborne veterans. Khazan's bosses act as firm gates on its linear progression path. However—and this is a big however—The First Berserker: Khazan is built with multiple, generous progression systems that give you tangible power boosts between attempts. This layered approach to character growth is where it diverges and becomes more accessible over time.

Your Lifeline: The Progression Systems 📈

Think of Lacrima as this game's version of Runes or Souls. You drop it on death and must retrieve it, or lose it forever. Classic Soulslike tension! But here's the kinder twist:

• 💀 Boss Fight Deaths? Your Lacrima drops outside the boss arena for easy, stress-free pickup.

• 🏆 Progress Rewarded: Even a failed attempt earns you bonus Lacrima based on how much damage you dealt to the boss. Every try makes you stronger!

But that's just the baseline. Khazan layers on permanent power gains that go beyond simple stat increases:

• Weapon & Armor Upgrading: Enhance your gear's base power.

• Character Skill Tree: Unlock new abilities and passive buffs for Khazan himself.

• Weapon Skill Trees: Specialize and empower the specific moves of your chosen arms.

The Verdict: A Different Curve 📊

Aspect	Elden Ring / SotE	The First Berserker: Khazan
Early Game Wall	High, but open-world allows avoidance/grinding.	Very High, linear path forces confrontation.
Progression Core	Attribute (Rune) leveling + weapon upgrading.	Layered Systems: Attributes (Lacrima) + Gear + Dual Skill Trees.
Death Punishment	Lose Runes at death location.	More Forgiving: Lacrima outside boss rooms + bonus for damage dealt.
Overall Curve	Steady, with spikes.	Steep start, mellows as you unlock progression systems.

So, while the initial skill check might feel as demanding as facing Messmer the Impaler, The First Berserker: Khazan gives you more tools to gradually overcome that wall. The difficulty curve is front-loaded. As you complete main and side quests, expanding your arsenal and filling out those skill trees, the journey becomes more manageable. You're not just "getting good"—you're visibly, tangibly becoming stronger. The game meets you halfway, rewarding persistence with power.

🔥 Final Thoughts: If you crave that Elden Ring-style challenge where victory is earned through mastery, The First Berserker: Khazan delivers in spades. It might even make you sweat like the Erdtree DLC did at first. But don't let that scare you off! Its smart, multi-layered progression acts as a constant ladder, helping you climb out of the difficulty pit. It's a brutal but fair dance of combat, and learning the steps is incredibly satisfying. A must-try for any Soulslike enthusiast looking for their next fix in 2025! 💪