You’ll have to visit the ominous Abyssal Woods if you want to uncover all the optional areas in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. This area is incredibly well-hidden, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting it. So, let’s put on our explorer hats, tarnished, and go on the long and arduous journey to uncover the Abyssal Woods.
The only way to Abyssal Woods is through the Darklight Catacombs, a minor dungeon in the lowest sections of the Scadu Altus. Let’s get into the details on how you can find this catacomb and all the other holla hoops required to find the hidden area.
Abyssal Woods Location in Elden Ring
The middle right area of the map (as seen above) is where the Abyssal Woods are hidden.
Getting here isn’t easy. You must navigate the Shadow Keep and jump through secret hoops to reach the Darklight Catacombs.
But don’t worry; follow this guide, and you’ll find your way to the Abyssal Woods and discover the hard-to-reach bottom area of Scadu Altus, including the Ruins of Unte and other secret locations.
If you have already discovered this section and have unlocked the Recluses’ River Downstream Site of Grace, you are golden. For others who have yet to reach here, follow along.
Shadow Keep
To get here, you must first arrive at the Shadow Keep in Scadu Altus. It is straight ahead of Hornsent’s second location, Highroad Cross Site of Grace. You enter through the main gate, take the elevator up, fight the Golden Hippopotamus boss, and unlock the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace.
Conversely, if you don’t want to face the boss, you can also infiltrate the Shadow Keep through the eastern entrance that unlocks the Church District Entrance Site of Grace. The journey from here to the Main Gate Plaza is a bit complex, so follow this video guide for more precise directions.
Once you reach the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace, take the doorway to the left and up the stairs.
Two soldiers will be standing on the edge here. Kill them and move up the wooden staircase on the right. While ascending the stairs, be prepared for the double soldier ambush.
Keep going up the next flight of stairs until you reach the grand banquet hall. This hall has multiple Black Knights, so it is best to get ready to fight or dash to the other side of the room and exit.
Run out and turn right, where you see a line of burning boats. Be mindful that many Vulgar Militiamen are hiding around these boats, ready to surprise you.
Note: In the middle of this section is a giant descending stairway. Follow it to unlock a shortcut to the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace.
Keep moving straight through the boats to the other end. On the left side of the last boat, you will come across a ladder. Use it to drop down to the watery section of the Keep.
After you get off the ladder, immediately to your right, you will see a waterfall of sorts. There is a room behind the falling water with a ladder at the end. Slide down the ladder and move into the next room. The room only has a painting you can pick up, seemingly a dead end.
However, there is an illusory wall here. As you enter the room, you’ll notice a large empty wall between some barrels and crates on the right. Hit the wall, and it will reveal a secret path.
Follow the downward path, which ends at a coffin. Standing near it will prompt, “Rest in Coffin.” Press the interact button, and a cutscene will trigger. You will hop into the coffin and be taken to the lower section of the Scadu Altus.
Lower Scadu Altus
Walk out of the room and touch the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace.
From here, mount Torrent and start galloping south past the Ruins of Unte and a Furnace Golem. The exact direction is marked on the map above.
This is where you will unlock the Recluses’ River Upstream Site of Grace.
From here, you’ll jump back on Torrent, hug the cliff, and continue south past the rocky terrain. Watch out for the gaps in the track.
Keep proceeding until you see a cliff with a pathway appear on the right side. Jump across the gap and resume your trek south like before. Be wary of the Man-Flies sprinkled throughout the trail.
There is a drop at the end of the trek. You will see a Site of Grace below. While on Torrent, jump down and interact with the Recluses’ River Downstream Site of Grace.
Walk to the cliff beside the Site of Grace; you will witness giant tombstones jutting from the rock face. Carefully platform your way down. For some, it’s safer to do it on foot rather than on Torrent, but you do you. Make sure to go all the way down, below the waterfall in the middle of the descent.
From here, turn southeast and run to the other waterfall, as marked on the map. You will see another set of tombstones that you need to parkour down to the lowest section of Scadu Altus.
Once below, stick to the wall/cliff on the left and move a little further. You will see a gate that leads to the Darklight Catacombs.
Darklight Catacombs
The Darklight Catacombs is a multi-story mini-dungeon and the last thing standing between you and the Abyssal Woods. It is pitch black here, so equip a torch or activate the lantern when exploring the dungeon.
You can scour this place if you like, but for the purpose of the guide, we will only go over the most direct route to the end of the catacombs.
This is a massive dungeon that might take multiple runs to complete. It’s a good thing there are Stakes of Marika along the way to save your progress.
Take the elevator down from the entrance and unlock the Dark Catacombs Site of Grace. Go to the next room, then right, and then left again. After the two sets of stairs, you’ll enter a large room with a stair in the middle and an imp.
Jump down, and you’ll see an exit on the right. There is a canon imp guarding the exit that will blast you to smithereens if you rush, so be careful.
Move to the other room, take the stairs on your left, and go down the following two ladders to enter a giant room with a Putrescence Sorcerer at the end. Blow past him to enter a room with a descending ramp with pits on each side. In the subsequent room, there is an elevator to the next level of the catacombs; take it.
In the room after the elevator ride, take the stairs leading downward on the right. Then, take the next flight of stairs on the left, where there is an imp. There are two sets of downward ladders in the next room and an imp waiting in the middle. Drop down both and run to the exit on the eastern end.
Sprint past this section to avoid getting sniped by the sorcerer on the upper platform. In the next chamber, you’ll encounter another elevator in the dungeon. Use it to descend.
Move to the next room, and you’ll see a giant canon imp perched atop a platform in the middle. Don’t be fooled; it is not a statue. This thing will continue to fire huge projectiles at you and track you.
You need to keep running and perfectly dodge those cannon shots to survive. Sticking close to the platform will also restrict it from firing.
Drop down from the starting platform, take the path on the statue’s left (staying close to its platform), run behind it, and take the stairs down. The imp can still shoot you if you are behind him, so stay vigilant. Descend the stairs and quickly enter the room on the right before you get hit.
There is the last elevator of the dungeon in the next room that will take you to the boss of Darklight Catacombs, Jori, Elder Inquisitor.
Jori, Elder Inquisitor, is a tough boss to deal with. He will spam faith spells as soon as you enter the arena.
Make good use of all the tombstones in the arena to shield yourself from the onslaught of holy arc projectiles he fires at you. He also does this ground burst spell that will track you, so start running when you see the ground under your feet glow.
Additionally, he likes to summon enemies to make this fight even harder. You should even the odds by tagging in your own spirit summons to aid you. He regularly teleports in the arena to make this fight even more annoying.
After you beat him, you’ll receive the 260,000 Runes and the Barbed Staff-Spear. Activate with the Forsaken Graveyard Site of Grace and move out of the exit at the other end of the arena. You are technically in Abyssal Woods now.
When you travel further on Torrent, you will automatically be knocked off your mount. You won’t be able to summon him back even if you try with a message flashing, “The spectral steed is frightened and cannot be summoned.” You will have to traverse this location on foot.
Keep going forward, and soon, you will reach the scary Abyssal Woods.
The Abyssal Woods is a frenzy-ridden area, so come extra prepared, or else madness awaits you. This area has a lot of Bloodborne-esque horrors and some unique rewards for your praiseworthy courage.