Venture into the ominous Shadow Keep, the sprawling and treacherous legacy dungeon at the heart of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. From the eerie Main Gate to the flooded Church District and the mysterious Specimen Storehouse, this guide will lead you through every perilous corner, revealing hidden treasures, deadly foes, and powerful boss encounters. Prepare to unravel the secrets of this colossal castle and conquer its challenges to claim your rightful glory in the Land of Shadow.
If you want to reach the Hinterlands from the Shadow Keep, we have a dedicated guide for that via the Shadow Keep Back Gate.
Shadow Keep location
Shadow Keep is a sprawling Legacy Dungeon located in the heart of the Scadu Altus region in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. It lies north of Castle Ensis and is divided into three main sections: the Main Plaza, the Church District, and the Specimen Storehouse. The dungeon is accessible from multiple entrances, including the main gate reached via the Highroad Cross Site of Grace and an eastern entrance through the Church District via an underground path in Moorth Ruins. Shadow Keep features a non-linear layout filled with formidable enemies and bosses, making it a central and challenging area to explore within the DLC.
Shadow Keep is the first legacy dungeon you’ll explore after reaching Scadu Altus. You’ll find it pretty much straight north of Castle Ensis.
Inside the Shadow Keep, you’ll be able to meet up with Redmane Freyja and Sir Ansbach. There are two named bosses to tackle as well: the Golden Hippopotamus and Messmer the Impaler.
Entering Shadow Keep
To enter the Shadow Keep in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start from the Ensis Moongazing Grounds and head north into Scadu Altus, following the road until you see the imposing castle in the distance. Along the way, be sure to stop at the Map Stele to acquire the Scadu Altus map, which will help you navigate the area and locate the Shadow Keep. Upon reaching the main entrance, ride the lift up and activate the Shadow Keep Main Gate Site of Grace to prepare for the challenges ahead. The main plaza immediately presents a boss fight against the Golden Hippopotamus, marking the beginning of your deep exploration into this vast legacy dungeon filled with formidable enemies and valuable treasures.
From the Highroad Cross Site of Grace that you find just north of the fight with Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, follow the road north. You’ll pass by the Scadu Altus Map Fragment, and then come to a camp. As you enter the camp, watch along the low wall on the right to grab a Scadutree Fragment. Keep heading north through the camp.
There are a lot of Messmer Soldiers and Perfumers – and some Black Knights a Furnace Golem – to deal with as you go, but not a lot to pick up. Past the north end of the camp, head into the giant, imposing black stone keep and ride the elevator up to find the Shadow Keep Main Gate Site of Grace.
Golden Hippopotamus boss fight
The Golden Hippopotamus boss fight in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in the central courtyard of Shadow Keep. This optional boss is known for its slow but powerful melee attacks, including aggressive bites, head swings, and head slams, as well as occasional ranged electric projectiles from its back. The fight requires careful dodging, especially to avoid its grab and body slam attacks, which can be lethal. Players are advised to use hit-and-run tactics, attacking after dodging its slow attacks, and to summon Spirit Ashes like Mimic Tear to help distract the boss. The Golden Hippopotamus is vulnerable to strong charged attacks and weapon skills that break its poise. Upon defeat, it rewards 200,000 Runes, two Scadutree Fragments, and the Aspect of the Crucible: Thorns incantation. Despite its straightforward move set, the boss hits hard, so damage negation and timing your attacks during its recovery phases are key to victory.
As soon as you enter the Shadow Keep proper, just past the Shadow Keep Main Gate Site of Grace, you’ll have to tackle the Golden Hippopotamus. For help with the fight, our guide on how to beat the Golden Hippopotamus can help.
Once it’s defeated, you’ll pick up the Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns Ash of War and a Scadutree Fragment. You’ll also unlock the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace.
Open the other door at the Main Gate Plaza
At the Main Gate Plaza in Shadow Keep, after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus boss and activating the Site of Grace, open the other door on the west side to continue your exploration. Inside, you will encounter several groups of Messmer Soldiers and Black Knights, so proceed cautiously, using stealth and strategic combat to clear the area. Along the way, collect valuable items such as Festive Grease, Smithing Stones, the Main-gauche dagger, Golden Vow consumables, and the Shadow Realm Rune. Progress through the hallways and staircases, dealing with enemies and unlocking shortcuts, including a door that leads back to the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace, facilitating easier navigation of the dungeon.
When you leave the new site of grace, only one path will be open to you. Head through the door to the west. Chat with the ghost in the next room, and then continue up the stairs. Deal with the Messmer Soldiers, and take the stairs on your right.
At the very first landing just a little up the stairs, duck into the room on your right. Deal with the pair on Messmer Soldiers, and then turn to the room on your right. There are two more Messmer Soldiers along with a twinblade-wielding Black Knight. Off to the left, grab the Main-Gauche dagger from the corpse.
Head back to the previous room and jump out of the window to your right (the window where that one Messmer Soldiers was standing). You’ll be a courtyard with a glowing tree and a bunch of praying Shadow Undead. The Talisman of Lord’s Blessing, er, talisman is at the base of the tree.
Head through the door in the southern corner and drop off the ledge. This will bring you back to the room with the ghost.
Retrace your steps up the stairs and past the hall. There are two pairs of Messmer Soldiers at the next open area – one to the right and one to the left. Clear them out and then keep going up the stairs ahead of you.
There are two Black Knights in the hall at the top of the stairs – one with a greatbow (and a twinblade) directly ahead of you, and a sneaky one just to the left of the door. If you’re careful, you can kite the sword-and-shield one back down the stairs to fight him without getting shot constantly. Once they’re both dealt with, grab the Golden Vow consumable and the Shadow Realm Rune (6).
Quick aside: the door on the left side of the hall is a shortcut, but we’re about to open an even better shortcut, so you can skip it for now. To open it, start at the glowing tree where you picked up the Talisman of Lord’s Blessing, head toward the dead end alley to the west (where there’s a Black Knight guarding a Golden Vow). On the right (north) side, look for an open door. Deal with the Black Knight and Messmer Soldiers inside, and keep working north to find a ladder. That ladder leads to the other side of this door.
Head through the door at the east end of the hall and cross the bridge. Grab the Holyproof Pickeled Liver and then take a right. Deal with the Vulgar Militia as you pass the burning ships(?) heading east.
At the center of the rampart, take a right and go down the long ramp, taking out Vulgar Militia as you go. Take a right at the bottom and push open the door to open a shortcut back to the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace.
Find the ’Domain of Dragons’ painting
The “Domain of Dragons” painting in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is located in the Shadow Keep, accessible after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus boss. From the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace, head northwest to the top of the castle, cross a bridge lined with burning boats, then find a ladder on the eastern edge of the bridge that leads down to the water. Behind a waterfall, descend another ladder to reach a small room where the painting is found. To solve the painting’s puzzle, travel to the Jagged Peak Mountainside Site of Grace and follow a rugged path southwest until the storm clears, revealing a glowing ghost near a chair. Interacting with this ghost rewards you with the Rock Heart item, which allows transformation into an Ancient Dragon.
Head back through the door you just opened and climb the rampart ramp back up to the top. Take a right. All the way at the far end, look on the north side for a ladder leading down. Climb down and turn right to walk toward the falling water. Duck under the water to the left to find a hallway and another ladder. At the bottom of this very long ladder, you’ll find a room with the “Domain of Dragons” painting. Head all the way back up to the top of the rampart.
Roll against the right wall of the room to reveal an illusory wall. Head through it and down the stairs. Follow the ramp down. Rest in the coffin there, and you’ll ride down a waterfall. Head out of the tunnel to find the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace. There’s nothing here for us at the moment – it’s a route to the Unte Ruins and the Abyssal Woods – so head back to the Main Gate Plaza and retrace your steps to the rampart.
Reach the Specimen Storehouse
To reach the Specimen Storehouse in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by progressing through the Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon, typically about one third of the way in. One common route is through the Shadow Keep Main Gate, where after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus boss, you take the lift guarded by a Fire Knight to enter the Storehouse. From the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace, navigate through narrow alleys and staircases, carefully dealing with enemies like Fire Knights and Giant Bats, until you reach the Storehouse, Fourth Floor Site of Grace. This area serves as a hub for further exploration of the Specimen Storehouse, including access to multiple floors, treasures, and boss encounters. Alternatively, the Specimen Storehouse can also be accessed via the Church District by dropping down the cathedral rooftop and using a lift, leading to different sections and bosses. Throughout the journey, activating Sites of Grace and exploring hidden rooms will reward you with valuable items and lore crucial for progressing in the dungeon.
Back at the center of the rampart (and the top of the ramp), turn north. Cross the bridge to meet your first Fire Knight. Continue into the castle and ride the elevator up. At the top, you’ll find the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace.
Reach the West Rampart Site of Grace
To reach the West Rampart Site of Grace in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start from the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace inside the Shadow Keep. From there, head west through a door leading outside to the rampart area. Descend the stairs on either side and exit through another door to find the West Rampart Site of Grace. This location serves as an alternative entrance to the Shadow Keep and provides access to further exploration and shortcuts within the dungeon. It is a key point for progressing through the Shadow Keep area and accessing additional items and paths.
Before heading into (and up) the Specimen Storeroom, there are some good items to collect and a(nother) exit to unlock by taking a little diversion.
From the Storeroom, First Floor, start around the room heading left and take the first left. Take out the Shadow Undead and collect the Rune Arc you find there. In the next room, you’ll find an elevator that goes (a long way) down.
At the bottom, take the first left. Grab the Ash of War: Wall of Sparks from the corpse on the railing, and then head back into the hall.
Take a left and go all the way to the end of the hall. Take out the Living Jar, and grab the Gold Pickled Fowl Foot.
Head back out and take the first left. A Those Who Live in Death will jump out at you. Keep going straight and deal with another Those Who Live in Death. The hall ahead of you splits. The left side looks like a dead end, but it’s actually an illusory wall. Roll against it to pass through and collect the Battlefield Priest’s Cookbook (4).
Back out of the room and head down the stairs. Clear out the Those Who Live in Death and the Living Jars in this room and the next. Head over to the left to find an Iris of Grace and a Hefty Cracked Pot under the balcony where you grabbed the Ash of War a second ago.
Continue out the door heading west and down the stairs (either side). Head out the door to find the West Rampart Site of Grace. The rest of this path leads out and into the Ancient Ruins of Rauh region, so it’s time to warp back to the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace in the Specimen Storeroom.
Reach the Storeroom, Fourth Floor Site of Grace
To reach the Storeroom, Fourth Floor Site of Grace in the Shadow Keep of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by entering the Specimen Storehouse area after passing the Main Gate. Navigate through the vast library and head to the back of the storage room where stairs lead to higher levels. Upon reaching the third floor, proceed along a balcony guarded by Vulgar Militia, then leap onto a large hanging humanoid specimen to access the fourth floor balcony. Here, you will find the Site of Grace along with a Cross of Miquella and a Scadutree Fragment, essential for progression and exploration in this part of the dungeon.
Loop around the first room of the library clockwise, and clear out all of the Shadow Undead and Vulgar Militia you see. On the far side, there are some stairs down that lead to a very obvious secret passage you can’t do anything with yet. Instead, take the stairs up and to the left.
Snake through the stacks to clear out any enemies (and watch out for the Fire Knight). Your next stop is the room down the stairs at the north end of the room. Inside, past the whale(?) skeleton, you’ll find SirAnsbach in his second location.
Back in the main room, take two rights to find another staircase. Go up. Sweep this floor for enemies (including another Fire Knight) and items.
Starting at the top of the stairs, head over to the right and follow the walkway around. Below you on the left, you’ll see an open room with large tables. Jump the railing and drop down to find the Boltdrake Talisman 3.
Along the west wall, you’ll find a lever that moves that conspicuous bookcase we saw a second ago. Retrace your steps up to the second floor and then continue up the stairs against the north wall.
On the next floor up, turn back to the south and take on the Fire Knight before they notice you. Check the room to the west for some more enemies and items. When you’re done, head onto the balcony around the center of the room.
Head to the left (east) side. Watch on your left for a buttress you can jump onto. Use that to cross to the section of room across from you and head to the south end to find the Dueling Shield.
Hop back across the buttress to the balcony and continue south. At the end of the walkway, the corpse of a giant(?) will be hanging to your right. Jump over the railing onto its feet. When you reach his knees, turn to the right and look down. You’ll be standing directly over that goat-thing corpse that’s directly in front of the site of grace. Drop off the knees onto the goat’s back for a Revered Spirit Ash.
Drop to the floor and retrace your steps all the way to the hanging god corpse. This time, walk up along its back and onto its head. Jump from its head to the balcony ahead of you to find the Storehouse Cross message from Sir Ansbach, a Miquella’s Cross, a Scadutree Fragment, and the Storehouse, Fourth Floor Site of Grace.
Reach the Storehouse, Seventh Floor Site of Grace
To reach the Storehouse, Seventh Floor Site of Grace in the Shadow Keep of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start from the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace and navigate through the labyrinthine area filled with shadows and militiamen. Progress upward through the floors, clearing enemies and collecting items along the way. Upon reaching the seventh floor, you will find the Site of Grace near Needle Knight Leda, but be cautious as a nearby Fire Knight will soon attack. Activating this Site of Grace provides a crucial checkpoint for exploring the upper levels of the Specimen Storehouse and preparing for the challenges ahead in the Shadow Keep dungeon.
From the site of grace, head out onto the balcony and take a left. Follow the ledge around and past the Fire Knight.
Around the next corner, you’ll pass some stairs on your left. Go down. Make a U-turn to the left at the bottom to find a Shadow Realm Rune (5).
Head inside. Just to the left of the door, grab the Holyproof Pickled Liver. Walk forward to the edge. Take a right, and pick up the Secret Rite Scroll. Warp back to the Storeroom, First Floor Site of Grace and head back to Sir Ansbach to hand over the scroll. When you’re done, travel back to the Storeroom, Fourth Floor Site of Grace and retrace your steps.
Go past the stairs and the Giant Bats, and then take the first left you come to back into the Storehouse (there’s also a Rada Fruit at the end of the walkway). Take a left and check the room at the end of the hall for a Smithing Stone (6). Go back past the door and follow the floor around counterclockwise. Keep going past the Fire Knight and up the stairs.
At the top, you’ll start hearing Redmane Freyja speaking – but she’s not on this floor. Take a left, go up the stairs, and then another left and more stairs. Grab the Sliver of Meat at the top, and then head through the door to find the Storeroom, Seventh Floor Site of Grace and Redmane Freyja’s second location. Talk to her and exhaust her dialogue. You can’t get much out of her at the moment, though.
Warp back down and talk to Ansbach some more and he’ll have new dialogue. Head back up to the Seventh Floor.
Reach the Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace
To reach the Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace in the Shadow Keep of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by exiting the room heading east and crossing the bridge, where you’ll face a Fire Knight. After defeating or bypassing this enemy, continue to the end of the walkway, then turn left and jump onto a goat-like creature to collect a Revered Spirit Ash. Drop down to the room below and collect the Shadow Realm Rune from a corpse at the east end. Pull the lever on the east wall to raise hanging specimens, then backtrack north and locate a balcony without a railing on your left. Jump across to the repositioned beam, climb the steps, and leap to the platform on your left. From there, jump right onto a hanging deer-like corpse, run up its back to the head, and jump into the next room. Ascend the stairs on the balcony, turn left to face a Flame Knight guarding the large doors to the final boss. Defeat this Flame Knight to earn the Winged Serpent Helm and Ash of War: Flame Spear, then push through the doors to collect a Scadutree Fragment. Finally, head up the stairs to activate the Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace, the last rest point before the final boss fight in the Shadow Keep.
Head back out of the room heading east and cross the bridge to find (oh, surprise!) another Fire Knight. Keep going past them to the end of the walkway.
When it dead ends, turn to the left and jump onto the back of the goat-creature for a Revered Spirit Ash.
Drop down to the room below you. At the east end, there’s a corpse with a Shadow Realm Rune (5) on the right. Against the east wall, throw the lever. That will raise all of the hanging specimens on the central pillar.
Backtrack to the north a little and look for a section of balcony (with no railing) jutting out on your left. Jump across to the beam that you just repositioned.
Climb up the steps, and then jump to the platform on your left. Jump to the right onto the hanging deer(?) corpse. Run up along its back to the head and jump into the room ahead of you.
Out on the balcony, take a right and go up the stairs. At the top, turn left and take out the Flame Knight waiting for you. It will drop the Winged Serpent Helm and the Ash of War: Flame Spear when defeated. Push through the doors it was guarding to pick up a Scadutree Fragment.
Turn left and head up the stairs to find the Dark Chamber EntranceSite of Grace.
Get the Pearldrake Talisman 3
The Pearldrake Talisman +3 in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a powerful talisman that reduces elemental and other non-physical damage taken by 11%, making it highly valuable against many bosses and elemental attacks. To obtain it, you need to progress through the Shadow Keep area, specifically reaching the seventh floor of the Specimen Storehouse. After pulling a lever that moves statues on this floor, return to the third floor and locate the talisman hidden in the beard of a large statue. One effective approach is to use the Storehouse, Fourth Floor site of grace, jump from the railing to the statue’s feet below, then run across the statue’s back to drop down and collect the talisman. This talisman is exclusive to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and is considered the best variant for boosting non-physical damage negation.
Before we go any further, there’s a really good talisman we can pick up now. Fast travel back to the Storeroom, First Floor Site of Grace. Work around the Storehouse retracing what you did before until you get to the third floor (where there’s that Fire Knight standing at the edge). Over to the west, you’ll see that hanging giant has moved. Walk over under its head to pick up the Pearldrake Talisman 3 talisman.
Head back to the Dark Chamber Entrance.
Defeat Messmer the Impaler
Messmer the Impaler is the final boss of the Shadow Keep dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, located at the topmost level of the Specimen Storehouse above the Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace. This challenging fight requires players to prepare for his long-reaching spear combos and fire-based attacks. Summoning NPC allies like Hornsent can aid in the battle if their questlines were advanced earlier. Messmer transitions into a more dangerous second phase known as Base Serpent Messmer, making the encounter even tougher. To succeed, players should focus on close-range dodging, use fire resistance gear, and consider spirit summons or Mimic Tear to distract him. Defeating Messmer rewards 400,000 runes, his Remembrance, and access to powerful weapons and incantations, crucial for progressing the DLC story.
Push through the doors next to the site of grace for a cutscene, some insults, and the Messmer the Impaler boss fight.
When you get him to about half health, you’ll get another cutscene that’s not gross or disturbing at all. Messmer will become Base Serpent Mesmer and a second phase of the fight will begin.
Once you defeat him, you’ll pick up the Remembrance of the Impaler and Messmer’s Kindling. Messmer’s Remembrance can be turned into the Spear of the Impaler great spear or the Messmer’s Orb incantation back at Roundtable Hold.
After Messmer
After defeating Messmer the Impaler, the final boss of the Shadow Keep dungeon, players gain access to the deeper parts of the keep and valuable rewards such as the Winged Serpent Helm and Ash of War: Flame Spear. This victory marks a crucial progression point in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, allowing exploration beyond the main plaza and opening new paths filled with tougher enemies and rare loot. Players should prepare for challenging encounters ahead as the Shadow Keep’s complexity and enemy aggression increase significantly after Messmer’s defeat.
Before you leave, rest at the new Messmer’s Dark Chamber Site of Grace. When you get up, Hornsent will be kneeling by the statue. Speak to him and exhaust his dialogue.
Head down to the First Floor and go check in with Sir Ansbach. He’ll give you a Letter for Freyja. Return to the Seventh Floor and pass on the Letter for Freyja. Exhaust her dialogue to receive the Golden Lion Shield.
Continue exploring the Shadow Keep
Continue exploring the Shadow Keep to uncover its vast and intricate layout filled with valuable treasures, challenging enemies, and hidden secrets. This massive legacy dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree offers multiple sections to explore, including the Main Plaza, Church District, and Specimen Storehouse, each packed with unique loot and formidable foes. As you navigate through the Shadow Keep, be prepared for intense boss fights like the Golden Hippopotamus and Messmer the Impaler, and make sure to collect important items such as the Pearldrake Talisman and powerful incantations. Thorough exploration will also reveal shortcuts and hidden paths that can ease your journey through this sprawling castle.
You may have noticed that your journey through the Shadow Keep doesn’t actually take you through all of the keep. And there’s an entire flooded section off to the east. Reaching the rest of the Shadow Keep and draining the flooded Church District is its own adventure.
At the Shadow Keep Back Gate, the “O Mother” gesture will open a path to the Hinterlands where you can tackle a boss fight against Commander Gaius.
What secrets and treasures await inside the Shadow Keep in Elden Ring
Inside the Shadow Keep in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players will uncover a wealth of secrets and treasures that enrich the dungeon’s mystique and challenge. Notable discoveries include:
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Illusory walls and hidden paths that reveal secret areas and shortcuts, such as a hidden entrance to the Castle Watering Hole accessed through a coffin teleporter.
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The flooded Church District, where players can drain the water to access the Sunken Chapel, home to two Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirits guarding powerful loot like the Iris of Occultation and the Fire Knight’s Seal.
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A secret rite scroll found in the Specimen Storehouse that ties into forbidden rituals and advances key NPC questlines, adding depth to the narrative.
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A hidden entrance to the Hinterland behind a statue of Marika, unlocked by a specific emote, which leads to further quest progression and valuable rewards.
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The Darklight Catacombs and Eastern Nameless Mausoleum, accessible only via the Shadow Keep’s secret coffin, offering rare gear including the Death Knight Set and the Rakshasa Set.
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The challenge of awakening a sleeping Furnace Golem blocking access to the Ruins of Unte by using craftable flaming pots, which unlocks a new area after a tough battle.
These secrets, combined with critical items and NPC questline triggers, make thorough exploration of the Shadow Keep essential for any Tarnished seeking to master the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
What is the significance of the Iris of Occultation found in Shadow Keep
The Iris of Occultation in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a unique consumable with significant story and gameplay value. While it can be used like a Rune Arc to activate the power of a Great Rune, its primary importance lies in two specific NPC questlines within the DLC. By exchanging the Iris of Occultation with Fire Knight Queelign in the Church District of Shadow Keep, players receive Queelign’s Greatsword weapon. Similarly, giving it to Jolan, at the end of Ymir’s questline in the Church of Metyr, rewards the player with the Sword of Night katana. Notably, the Iris is not consumed when used in these quests, allowing players to obtain both unique weapons. The item is found in challenging locations such as the Fort of Reprimand and the Church District after draining its floodwaters, often guarded by powerful enemies like Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirits.
