Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree how to reach all secret and optional areas
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree features a rich selection of secret and optional areas and regions: in this guide we will see how to reach them all.
True to FromSoftware tradition, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree hides a rich selection of completely hidden areas and regions. Secret maps have always been a fundamental feature of the experience, and Shadow Realm has not only replicated this formula, but has instead pushed it to the limit with an open world structure designed specifically to change the approach to exploration.
The new map is in fact a riot of hidden paths and passages through the mountains that lead to entire regions that are completely optional, full of unique rewards, bosses and above all shreds of the classic narrative. In short, exploration can be very stimulating, but in some cases it can also become frustrating: for this reason we have created the guide to the secret and optional areas of Shadow of the Erdtree that explains in great detail how to reach every single hidden area of the Shadow Realm.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree how to reach all secret and optional areas
Costa Cerulea – Optional Region
This optional region occupies the southern area directly beneath the Sepulchre Plains and is an extremely important location due to certain points of interest that it hosts and which are closely tied to the story of the normal Elden Ring. To reach it, however, it is necessary to pass through the Ellac River, so we will start from that first destination.
How to reach the Ellact Riverbed
The Ellac riverbed is not a particularly important area but it is fundamental as a connection point between different sections of the map that we will discuss later. To reach it, just follow one of the two paths in red and green that we have indicated in the photo above, while in blue we have marked the areas that pass through caves .
How to reach the Costa Cerulea
Starting from the Ellac River Cave grace point, all you have to do is follow the Ellac River south until it enters the mountain. At this point, a long section awaits you, where you will have to abseil down a series of waterfalls, also doing a lot of parkour on Torrent’s back (the blue section in the photo above). Along the path, you will also find a Furnace Giant, a grace point, and at least one Shadow Tree Fragment. Exiting on the other side, you will reach the Cerulean Coast.
Jagged Peak – Optional Region
Jagged Peak is a huge secondary region aimed primarily at players who have followed the Draconic Communion story, perhaps using dragon spell builds, but also for anyone interested in the story of Placidusax that was only hinted at in the base game.
How to reach Jagged Peak
Following the launch update for Shadow of the Erdtree, there is only one way to reach this region: in the area of Sepulchre Plains East there is a dungeon called Dragonpit that you can see circled in red in the image above. This is not a normal dungeon: on the lowest floor you will find a large altar built on a chasm. By dropping into the chasm you will have to face a boss, and once defeated you can continue to emerge on the other side of the mountain.
This place can be reached from the beginning of the adventure and you will not have to worry at all about the narrative progression because this region – being optional – has nothing to do with the story and the main characters.
Charo’s Hidden Tomb – Optional Region
How to get to Charo’s Hidden Tomb
This optional region focuses mainly on the theme of “undeath”, so it hosts creatures such as Death Rite Birds and Tibial Sailors. It is a place devoid of large quests and instead focuses on the collection of resources and, above all, sorceries that have to do with necromancy.
Reaching Charo’s Hidden Tomb is truly the easiest thing in the world: starting from the Great Altar of Draconic Communion at the base of Jagged Peak , you simply have to walk along the corpse of the great dragon, climbing up to its paw until you see a field of blood-red flowers.
All you have to do is use Torrent to land comfortably in the middle of the flower field and reach this small optional region. It is essentially the top of the small plateaus that surround the Cerulean Coast, and is another area completely unrelated to the main story.
Rauh Base – Optional Region
Rauh’s Base is a grove on the edge of a winding river that runs beneath Shadow Keep: this location features several nods to the Ruins of Rauh, a much more advanced region than Shadow of the Erdtree, but otherwise offers a couple of optional dungeons and several unique weapons.
How to reach Rauh Base
Starting from Altus Ombra, you simply have to reach the small lake visible a little to the east and locate a cave with perfumers inside, emerging on the other side of the plateau and accessing a long hidden path that leads to this region. In the image above, we have marked the path to take in red and the underground sections in blue . After a small path that you can follow on horseback passing by several Gravedigger Birds, you will emerge on the other side at Rauh’s Base.
This region basically follows the river that you can see on the map , so it’s pretty quick and easy to explore. The points of interest are all clearly visible except for a hidden Catacomb in the far northwest area.
Tree Cult Sanctuary – Secret Area
You may first hear mention of this area when exploring the Specimen Storehouse: a note left by Ansbach will refer to this lost area, which has apparently been flooded by Messmer’s followers. The first step in locating it is therefore to find a way to access the lower sections of the Shadow Fortress.
How to Lower Water in the Shadow Rock Church District
Once you reach the church in the center of the Church Quarter, which is the secondary entrance to the Shadow Keep dungeon, you can take the path visible in the image above to reach the ledges of the area. At the end of the path you will find a contraption that when activated will open the dam and completely lower the water level in this area, revealing a hidden section of the map that you can already explore for rewards
How to reach the Tree Cult Passage
Once you’ve lowered the water, you’ll be free to explore the entire lower section of the neighborhood, even facing a couple of mid-bosses. What we’re interested in, however, is entering the large cathedral in the middle of the Church Quarter.
At the back of the church is a large statue of Marika. Retrieve the Fire Knight Seal on the back of the statue, then turn towards the nave: as in the image above, exit the room and turn left to take a path that leads to the elevator of the Secret Passage of the Arboreal Cult, a long path that will take you very deep .
A nice surprise awaits you at the end of the path.
Shadow View – Secret Area
How to reach Ombravista
Starting from the graceful place of the secondary entrance to the Specimen Warehouse – that is, the one reachable from the Church Quarter of the Rocca delle Ombre, it is possible to climb up until reaching the suspended beams. From this point, looking down, you will be able to notice a door that overlooks the outside of the fortress, the very one we have immortalized in the image you find above. Following this path it is possible to reach an elevator that leads to the lower floors of the castle, towards Ombravista .
Once you reach the bottom of the elevator you will find a place of grace and above all a fork in the road: continuing outwards along the red path you can access the small optional area of Ombravista, which however are very well guarded. The blue arrow instead indicates a special room linked to access to the next optional region.
Hinterland – Secret Region
The reference place of grace is the one shown in the image of the previous section, that is “Rocca delle ombre, gate on the back” . Instead of going out towards Ombravista, this time you will have to enter the chapel dedicated to Marika.
Standing in front of the Marika statue you must use the “O Mother” emote to reveal the secret path to the Hinterland. In case you do not have this specific emote, we recommend you to recover it through our complete solution .
Abyss – Secret Region
The Abyss is the deepest area of the Shadow Realm, a place that has now been completely contaminated by the Flame of Frenzy. This area is immense, and you can’t use Torrent to explore it, making it one of the most tiring areas to move around in. Inside, however, lies an entire Optional Legacy Dungeon.
How to reach the Castle Water Basin
To get to the abyss, you must first reach the river beneath the Keep of Shadows. Starting from the section on the walls with the burning boats in the Keep of Shadows – see the photo above for reference – you must locate a small ladder located on the left side of the structure.
Going down the ladder you will find yourself right next to the water, and beyond the nearby waterfall you can turn left, as in the photo above, to re-enter the structure and find another ladder with which to descend to the lower level.
Even though the next room seems to contain only the painter’s painting, you must hit the right wall, the one with two torches on the edges indicated in the image above, to reveal an invisible wall that will lead to a sarcophagus . Enter the sarcophagus and let it drag you down the waterfall to reach the Castle Water Basin .
How to reach the Abyss
Now all you have to do is follow the course of the river and the waterfalls to reach the lowest level ever, where you will finally find, at the point indicated by the image above, the Catacombs of Tetraluce . These are the only way to reach the Abyss, which awaits you once you have completed the mini-dungeon.
Stone Coffins Fault – Secret Area
The Rift is the large hole in the Cerulean Coast : when Miquella’s Greater Rune broke, the seal blocking the main door dissolved, revealing access to the tunnels below, a particularly challenging endgame dungeon, especially in the form of the boss you encounter at the end.
This dungeon is very linear, it is connected to Thollier’s personal mission, and it is very important in terms of the narrative of Elden Ring in general. For this reason we will not add anything else: go to the Cerulean Coast when you feel ready and face it! If you want to know more, we recommend you consult our guide to characters and secondary missions .