Venture beyond the familiar realms of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and uncover the secrets of the Abyssal Woods-a shadowy, fog-shrouded forest teeming with madness and danger. To reach this hidden domain, you must navigate a labyrinthine path starting deep within the Shadow Keep, uncover illusionary walls, and conquer the formidable Jori, Elder Inquisitor in the Darklight Catacombs. Only then will the eerie, sunless woods open before you, promising untold challenges and rare treasures for the bold.
Should you heed their warnings and retreat? Or should you continue on face the madness? Read on to find out how to get to the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring.
How to get to the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
To get to the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by reaching the Shadow Keep legacy dungeon, specifically the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace. From there, navigate past the Fire Knight and descend a ladder near the burning boats to reach the keep’s water level. Follow the path under a waterfall and descend further via another ladder until you find a secret room with a painting. Proceed through the Darklight Catacombs, defeat the boss Jori, Elder Inquisitor, and then use the Forsaken Graveyard Site of Grace to enter the Abyssal Woods. This hidden and fog-shrouded region lies east of the Gravesite Plain and south of Scadu Altus, featuring stealth challenges and dangerous enemies unique to this DLC area.
To find the Abyssal Woods, you’ll first need to reach the Ruins of Unte, which is hidden behind an illusionary wall in the Shadow Keep.
Starting from the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace, head down the elevator behind you, which will lead you back towards the main gate of the Shadow Keep.
Defeat or run past the Fire Knight, and turn to the left towards the golden boats. On the left side of the path, you’ll find a ladder leading down to a lower level of the Shadow Keep. Climb down the ladder and walk into the waterfall to reveal a hidden space.
Go down the ladder ahead of you and follow the path to find a room with the “Domain of Dragons” painting. On the southwestern wall, you’ll spot two torches and a seemingly ordinary wall between them. Hit the space between the two torches to reveal an illusionary wall.
Follow the path to find a stone coffin that will take you to the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace.
From the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace, head southeast to find a pathway along the rockface, which has the Recluses’ River Upstream Site of Grace. Follow the path and jump over the gaps until you can cross over to the path on your right.
Continue along the path and drop off the southern end to find the Recluses’ River Downstream Site of Grace. Look over the eastern edge of the cliff to find gravestones that lead to the bottom of the waterfall. Hop your way to the bottom and head southeast to find another set of gravestones at the edge of the cliff.
Make your way to the bottom of the cliff and cut through the woods to the east to find the entrance to the Darklight Catacombs. Progress through the Darklight Catacombs and defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor to make it to the Abyssal Woods.
What hidden clues lead to the secret entrance of Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring
The secret entrance to the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is hidden behind several subtle clues and illusionary walls within the Shadow Keep dungeon. Key hidden clues include:
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In the Shadow Keep, after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus boss at the main gate, enter the door on the left side of the arena and ascend wooden stairs to a dining hall guarded by Black Knights.
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Proceed through a long alley with burning boats and Shadow Militiamen, then descend a ladder on the left side at the alley’s end.
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Behind a waterfall, find a room with a painting titled “The Domain of Dragons.” On the right side of this painting is an illusory wall that you must strike to reveal a secret passage.
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At the end of this passage, interact with a stone coffin to reach the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace and continue towards the Darklight Catacombs.
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Defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor, in the Darklight Catacombs to unlock the path to the Abyssal Woods.
These hidden clues-especially the illusory wall behind the painting-are essential to uncovering the secret entrance to the Abyssal Woods, a shadowy forest region filled with danger and mystery.
What role does the illusionary wall behind the ’Domain of Dragons’ painting play in access
The illusionary wall behind the “Domain of Dragons” painting in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree serves as a crucial hidden passage that grants access to a secret route leading deeper into the Shadow Keep area. Striking this illusory wall reveals a hidden corridor that descends down a set of stairs and eventually leads to a coffin at the edge of a ledge. Interacting with this coffin transports the player to the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace, from where they can continue onward to the Darklight Catacombs and ultimately gain access to the Abyssal Woods. Without discovering and passing through this illusionary wall, players cannot progress to these key areas or reach the Abyssal Woods.
