Leyndell Ashen Capital Walkthrough Guide for Elden Ring Gameplay

Choking on ash and haunted by echoes of a ruined empire, Leyndell, Ashen Capital is the final crucible for Tarnished adventurers in Elden Ring. Once a gleaming metropolis, now smothered in the aftermath of the Erdtree’s burning, this desolate city marks your last approach to the game’s ultimate battles and secrets. Prepare to navigate a landscape transformed by devastation, where every step brings you closer to the throne-and the fate that awaits beyond the Erdtree’s shattered gates.

In this Elden Ring walkthrough, we point out the location of the last items for you to grab in the wasteland that is now Leyndell, the Ashen Capital. We’ll also tell you how to reach the fights against Sir Gideon Ofnir, Hoarah Loux, Radagon, and the Elden Beast.

How reach Leyndell, Ashen Capital in Elden Ring

To reach Leyndell, Ashen Capital in Elden Ring, you must first complete Crumbling Farum Azula and defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade. After Maliketh falls, a cutscene will automatically transport you to Leyndell, now transformed into the Ashen Capital. This version of the city is only accessible after this major story milestone and serves as the gateway to the game’s final encounters, including the last bosses and the ending sequence. Once you arrive, you’ll find yourself at the Leyndell, Capital of Ash Site of Grace, ready to explore the ashen ruins and face the challenges that await.

You can only access the Ashen Capital after you have defeated Maliketh in Crumbling Farum Azula. Following a cutscene, you’re teleported to Leyndell. The city is now a fairly short area and there isn’t much to be done here, besides unlocking some lost graces that disappeared from your world map, get to the Subterranean Shunning-Ground if you haven’t done it yet, or heading toward the endgame.

Below, you find the rundown of the east section of the map and all the new areas you can access by going south.

Leyndell, Ashen Capital east walkthrough

After being transported to Leyndell, Ashen Capital following Maliketh’s defeat, begin your exploration by heading east from the Site of Grace where you awaken. This initial eastern section is largely devoid of enemies, offering a brief respite as you traverse the ashen ruins. Here, you’ll find a lost grace to activate, ensuring a safe checkpoint before advancing further. While the lower city is mostly destroyed and covered in ash, you can still access the underground area via a large open manhole in the main road if you wish to explore the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Otherwise, continue moving through the ashen landscape, collecting any remaining items and preparing for the challenging encounters that await deeper within the capital.

You’ll want to start your journey in the modified Leyndell by going east from the lost grace where you wake up after the events in Crumbling Farum Azula. As mentioned, you won’t find enemies around this initial part of the city, so don’t worry about dying. On the other hand, at the east side, all you find is a lost grace – nothing else.

By going as far as possible east, you’ll arrive at some stairs. Climb them and follow the corridor until you find a door to your side that leads into a room. Nothing too special here so, you can move on and climb the stairs to arrive at the upper level.

Go ahead, turn around, and go north, through a path with two flights of stairs.

At the end of it, turn right to reach a room where you find the East Capital Rampart site of grace.

Leave the room heading east, turn left into a walkway that takes you to a room filled with benches and a body. Within it, there’s a door to your left. Use it to find the path to a lift, which takes you to the Capital Outskirts, the path from which you might have entered the city for the first time.

With the east side explored, teleport back to the initial site of grace in the Ashen Capital.

Leyndell, Ashen Capital south walkthrough

After awakening at the Leyndell, Capital of Ash Site of Grace, head directly south down the ashen slope. At the bottom, you’ll find a body holding a Rune Arc on the incline. From here, look to your right and descend further to discover an open building containing a Tarnished Golden Sunflower. Nearby, you’ll spot a large manhole-this leads to the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds if you wish to explore the underground, but it’s optional for main progression. Continue heading southwest, ignoring the mostly barren west side, until you reach the giant statue and another Golden Sunflower. To proceed, go up the stairs to the south and take the lift, which will bring you closer to the Erdtree Sanctuary and the next major boss encounters.

You won’t find much in the west side of Leyndell, Ashen Capital besides ashes and funny messages from other players. Instead, head south.

At the bottom of the slope in front of you, instead of jumping in the hole that will take you to the Subterranean Shunning-Ground, pass it and enter a room to your right to grab a Tarnished Golden Sunflower.

Next, walk toward the giant statue southwest to find a Golden Sunflower.

While you can explore some buildings in the southeast sector of the map, there aren’t more items to get here. To get your next objective, go south up the stairs and get the lift.

Once you leave the lift, there’s only one path to follow. Climb the stairs to reach the same room where you fought the Golden Share of Godfrey before. But now, a new foe awaits you: Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. Defeat him to unlock the Erdtree Sanctuary site of grace.

How to approach the Erdtree in Leyndell, Ashen Capital

To approach the Erdtree in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, begin at the Leyndell, Capital of Ash Site of Grace, where you arrive after defeating Maliketh in Crumbling Farum Azula. Head directly south from the Site of Grace, navigating around the ash-covered ruins and following the building walls until you find a curved staircase that remains clear of ash. Climb these stairs and take the lift up to re-enter the Erdtree Sanctuary, where you must face Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. After defeating him, activate the newly spawned Erdtree Sanctuary Site of Grace, then proceed east onto the balcony. From here, follow the large tree roots and pathways leading upward and west, which will guide you toward the Queen’s Bedchamber and ultimately toward the Erdtree itself. This route is relatively direct, as much of the city is inaccessible in its ashen state, focusing your progression toward the final encounters and the endgame.

The room where you fought Sir Gideon has two exits. You can go right, toward the south, to see the giant roots from where you climbed to this room last time, but you won’t find much besides a place for some reflection. Enter back and go east, through the large archways.

The walkway splits into two paths; on the left path, you find a root that you should use to reach the upper level of the building.

Once you arrive in the next section, go through the door in front of you, turn left, and jump on the roof of the building.

Get back inside the building but by using the window that you can access through the roof.

Follow the path to find a chest with the Erdtree Bow.

Now, there is a door nearby that leads to a room with a ladder and a Celestial Dew. Don’t use the ladder yet though.

Go back and follow the walkway until the end of it where you can jump on the root and grab the Golden Order Principia on a suspended chair.

Use the root to go back to the initial door and move forward to reach a short path that will take you to the next building, where you can rest using the Queen’s Bedchamber site of grace.

On the giant bench in front of you, you’ll find an Erdtree Heal incantation.

The exit to your right takes you to your next boss fight against Godfrey, First Elden Lord/Hoarah Loux. This fight is not easy, but once you defeat him, the Elden Throne site of grace becomes available.

You can now enter the Erdtree and face Elden Ring’s final encounter, which is made of two boss fights in sequence. First, you face Radagon of the Golden Order. Once that fight is over, you’ll fight the Elden Beast.

What secrets and treasures await in Leyndell, Ashen Capital

Secrets and Treasures in Leyndell, Ashen Capital

Leyndell, Ashen Capital is the final, ash-choked incarnation of the Royal Capital, accessible after defeating Maliketh. While the area is more compact and stripped of some earlier loot, several valuable secrets and treasures still await determined explorers:

• Crimson Amber Medallion +2: Found by dropping into the sewer near the southern slope. This powerful talisman increases maximum HP, making it a sought-after late-game upgrade.

• Rune Arc: Located on a body on a sloping hill directly south from the Leyndell, Capital of Ash Site of Grace.

• Tarnished Golden Sunflower: Collectible inside a building near the bottom of the southern slope and again near a giant statue in the southwest.

• Sombre Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone: A rare upgrade material found in the alternate version of the Roundtable Hold, accessible from the sand pit area beneath the city.

• Subterranean Shunning-Grounds: Still explorable for those who missed it earlier, offering additional secrets and connections to side quests.

• Boss Encounters: The area culminates in battles with Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing, and the game’s final boss, both of whom must be defeated to progress.

• Changed Layout and Hidden Paths: The devastation has altered the city’s layout, opening some new routes while closing others, encouraging players to explore for hidden items and lore.

While the Ashen Capital is less densely packed with loot than its former glory, its secrets, high-level upgrade materials, and climactic boss fights make it a crucial and rewarding area for endgame adventurers.

What hidden areas and secret items are still undiscovered in Leyndell

Hidden Areas and Secret Items in Leyndell, Ashen Capital

Leyndell, Ashen Capital is filled with secrets, some of which remain overlooked even by experienced players. While many treasures and hidden paths have been documented, a few areas and items are still easily missed or remain the subject of ongoing community speculation.

Hidden Areas:

• Out-of-Bounds Court: Some players have discovered extremely well-hidden areas outside the intended map boundaries. For example, a secret court area, accessible through unconventional exploration, contains an Arteria Leaf, suggesting FromSoftware’s penchant for rewarding curiosity, even in inaccessible spots.

• Alternate Roundtable Hold: By navigating through broken rooftops and hidden ledges, players can reach a version of the Roundtable Hold within Leyndell. Here, you can find the Coated Sword and encounter unique lore elements that are not obvious on a standard playthrough.

• Leyndell Sewers/Subterranean Shunning-Grounds: This vast underground labyrinth is often missed or left unexplored. It contains secret bosses, the Dung Eater’s questline, and rare items. Some routes and hidden chambers in the sewers are still being discovered by the community.

Secret Items:

• Unique Armor Sets: Hidden rooms and rooftops sometimes hold rare armor sets, such as the Albrecht’s Set, which boosts aberrant sorceries.

• Coated Sword: Found in the hidden Roundtable Hold area, this weapon is easily missed if you don’t thoroughly explore the capital’s alternate locations.

• Golden Seeds, Rune Arcs, and Smithing Stones: Scattered in hard-to-reach places, such as rooftops, behind illusory walls, or deep within the sewers, these items reward thorough exploration.

• Arteria Leaf: Even in out-of-bounds or seemingly empty areas, minor but rare crafting materials like the Arteria Leaf can be found, highlighting the game’s attention to detail for explorers.

Ongoing Discoveries:

• The community continues to search for illusory walls, hidden paths, and out-of-bounds exploits, with some areas still yielding new secrets years after release.

• Some theorize that certain hidden areas may be linked to future DLC entrances or deeper lore, as suggested by the presence of unused models and inaccessible locations.

Summary Table

Leyndell, Ashen Capital continues to reward the most inquisitive players with hidden areas and secret items, many of which remain undiscovered or are only accessible through creative exploration and community collaboration.