Descend into the fiery depths of the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, an optional yet treasure-laden dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Navigate past stone golems and magma blobs, solve environmental puzzles, and claim powerful smithing stones and the coveted Anvil Hammer-without facing a single boss fight. This walkthrough reveals every secret and step to master this molten labyrinth and upgrade your arsenal to legendary status.
Ruined Forge Lava Intake location in Elden Ring DLC
The Ruined Forge Lava Intake in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is located southeast of the Castle Front Site of Grace near Castle Ensis in the Gravesite Plain. To reach it, players head southeast from the Castle Front Site of Grace, passing through areas with Messmer soldiers and Bloodfiends before finding the dungeon entrance marked by toppled pillars and lit braziers. This optional dungeon is notable for its abundant Smithing Stones and unique items like the Anvil Hammer and Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, making it a valuable stop despite the absence of a boss fight. Players navigate through stone golems and magma blobs, using ladders and levers to progress, ultimately reaching the forge altar where the key rewards are found.
Starting from the Caste Front Site of Grace just outside of Castle Ensis, turn to the southeast. You’ll have to backtrack a little bit, but there’s a path that leads through a(nother) Messmer Soldier camp. Keep following that flat area southeast to the dungeon.
Where to find the Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon
The Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is located in the Gravesite Plain, southeast of the Castle Front Site of Grace near Castle Ensis. To find it, head southeast from the Castle Front Site of Grace, passing through an area where Messmer soldiers and Bloodfiends are fighting. The dungeon entrance is marked by large stone pillars and lit braziers, near toppled pillars. Alternatively, it can be accessed by carefully jumping down the rocky mountainside west from the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace. This optional dungeon is notable for its treasure, including the Anvil Hammer and Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, and does not feature a boss fight.
As you approach the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, you’ll pass through a Messmer Soldier camp. On the other side, you’ll pass by two groups of Messmer Soldiers fighting Bloodfiends.
Just a little southeast of the second group, the entrance is pretty hard to miss. Head down the slope inside, and hit the Ruined Forge Lava Intake Site of Grace.
Start from the Ruined Forge Lava Intake Site of Grace
Starting your journey at the Ruined Forge Lava Intake Site of Grace, located southeast of the Castle Front Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain, is the gateway to this optional dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. From here, you descend into the forge ruins, navigating past stone golems and magma blobs, and collecting valuable smithing materials along the way. The site serves as a critical checkpoint to rest and strategize before exploring deeper into the forge, where you’ll ultimately find unique rewards such as the Anvil Hammer and Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone without facing a boss fight. Approaching from this site of grace allows you to efficiently tackle the dungeon’s challenges and gather its treasures.
Head down the stairs ahead of you and take a right. Climb down the ladder on your left (or just jump it). You’ll pass a helpful note about weakpoints. Take a left just past that note, and you’ll get your first chance to use that hint.
In the next room, you’ll find a Golem with a glowing gem on its lower back. That hint just means that you do (much) more damage when attacking from behind. Take it out, and then sweep the room (and its corpse) for a bunch of Smithing Stones and a Gas Stone.
Back outside, follow the path southwest, grabbing Smithing Stones as you go. Watch for slimes along the ceiling. Take the left at the end of the path.
When the room opens up, there’s a ladder at the far end of the ledge you’re on. Take it down and duck under the ledge to find a stash of Smithing Stones and Gas Stones.
Over on the other side of the room, run up the short stairs and take a right to find more Smithing and Gas Stones as well as the Greater Potentate’s Cookbook (13).
Lower the lava pump
To lower the lava pipe in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, descend the ladder to the lower level and locate the lever on a platform nearby. Interact with this lever to lower the large pipe suspended over the lava, which you will later use to cross the hazardous molten area. After pulling the lever, return to the previous room and drop down to the south corner where you can find a stone golem guarding a corpse. Then, carefully make your way onto the lowered pipe, navigating through the lava while managing its damage-over-time effect, and proceed upwards to reach the forge altar at the top. Interacting with the altar rewards you with the Anvil Hammer and an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, completing this section of the dungeon.
Before you go back down the stairs, look to the southwest to find a slope you can take up. Follow it as far as you can and jump to the ledge against the far wall. Turn right, and take the ladder down.
On the next ledge, throw the lever you find. Backtrack to where you picked up the cookbook.
Head back down the stairs and turn right. Deal with the Golem and Slime, and grab any other crafting materials you see as you cross the room to the southwest.
At the far end, take a left through the broken wall. Take out the Golem and grab anything not nailed down.
Find the Anvil Hammer
To find the Anvil Hammer in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by heading southeast from the Castle Front site of grace outside Castle Ensis. After navigating through the dungeon and defeating stone golems and magma blobs, make your way to a lever that lowers a large pipe suspended over lava. Carefully jump onto the pipe, then walk up and jump off to reach the forge altar at the top. Interact with the altar to receive the Anvil Hammer along with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This colossal weapon scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith, making it a valuable reward for completing the dungeon.
Back outside, cross to the actual doorway on the other side of the room. After the hallway, you’ll come to a landing with another Golem guarding the Smithscript Dagger.
That lever you hit earlier lowered a pump (an Archimedes’ screw if you’re a nerd) into the lava. Climb that pipe – if you miss the jump, there’s a ladder over to the right – all the way to the top.
Hop off on the right through the narrow doorway. Go up the stairs and examine altar at the fireplace-thing to pick up the Anvil Hammer. When you grab it, a teleport back to the entrance appears. Or you can go a little down the pump pipe, drop onto the ledge on the right side, and you’ll be right back at the site of grace.
What secrets does the Ruined Forge Lava Intake hide beneath its lava-filled depths
The Ruined Forge Lava Intake conceals a wealth of secrets beneath its molten depths, including abundant upgrade materials like Smithing Stones, Gas Stones, Somber Smithing Stones, and even a rare Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Players will encounter unique enemies such as rock golems and lava slimes guarding these treasures, as well as valuable items like the Greater Potentate’s Cookbook for crafting Hefty Volcano Pots and the Smithscript Dagger. The dungeon culminates in discovering the Anvil Hammer and an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone atop a hidden altar, rewarding careful exploration and puzzle-solving without a single boss fight. Additionally, the dungeon features environmental challenges like lava-filled areas and levers that lower massive pipes, creating a labyrinthine forge atmosphere rich with lore and valuable loot.
What hidden lore or secrets are buried beneath the lava in the forge
Beneath the lava-filled depths of the forge lies a hidden lore deeply intertwined with the Giants and their god, the Fire Giant, who once guarded this sacred place. Known as the Giant’s Forge, it was built by a civilization closely connected to both the Giants and an ancient serpent cult, symbolized by serpent imagery and motifs of cyclical renewal found in the architecture. This culture revered flame, volcanoes, and natural cycles like day and night, seasons, and rebirth, with the forge housing the Flame of Ruin-a force tied to the ritual burning of the Erdtree to usher in a new order. The forge and the nearby Divine Towers share these symbolic elements, suggesting a unified purpose centered on renewal and transformation, reflecting a time when Giants and Serpents were allies striving to maintain the eternal cycles of the world.
