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Where Abyssal Woods is in Shadow of the Erdtree
The woods occupy a remote part of the Land of Shadow, with Midra’s Manse in the southwestern corner. They are optional and are not an early-DLC destination; the route opens only after substantial Shadow Keep and underground-river progress.
How to reach the Abyssal Woods
Darklight Catacombs, at the end of Recluses’ River in Scadu Altus, are the only entrance into the woods.
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- Playstation 05 (PS5)
- A New Fantasy World – Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential Dark Souls video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unravel the mysteries of the Elden Ring’s power. Encounter adversaries with profound backgrounds, characters with their own unique motivations for helping or hindering your progress, and fearsome creatures
- World Exploration in the Lands Between – Elden Ring features vast fantastical landscapes and shadowy, complex dungeons that are connected seamlessly. Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, foreboding castles and other sites of grandeur on a scale never seen before in a FromSoftware title
- Genre-Defining Gameplay – Create your character in FromSoftware’s refined action-RPG and define your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world. Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid. Many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
- Start in Shadow Keep. Find the ladder beside the flaming boats and descend.
- Take the hidden waterfall route. Go behind the waterfall, then descend the next ladder.
- Break the illusory wall. Behind the painting, strike the concealed wall to reveal a coffin.
- Ride the coffin. It carries you into the Recluses’ River section.
- Follow the river downstream. Continue through the lower, foggier stretch until you reach Darklight Catacombs.
- Clear Darklight Catacombs. Defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor at the end of the dungeon.
- Enter the woods. The passage beyond Jori leads into Abyssal Woods.
What makes the area different
- No mounted travel: your steed cannot be summoned in the woods, so exploration and retreats are on foot.
- Low visibility: the environment is dark and misty, making enemy detection and navigation more difficult.
- High-risk enemies: Winter Lanterns are a major threat, but guides identify them as vulnerable to parries and ripostes.
- Optional progression: you can postpone the region if you are still starting the DLC; it is not required to begin Shadow of the Erdtree.
Items and collectibles in Abyssal Woods
The area contains valuable optional rewards. The documented item list is:
- Madding Hand
- Map: Abyss
- Three Scadutree Fragments
- Frenzyflame Perfume Bottle
- Aged One’s Exultation
- Mad Craftsman’s Cookbook (1)
- Mad Craftsman’s Cookbook (2)
How to handle enemies in the woods
Winter Lanterns
Do not rely on mounted hit-and-run tactics: Torrent is unavailable here. Approach carefully through the mist, watch the enemy’s attack timing, and use parries followed by ripostes, the counterplay specifically highlighted for these enemies. Because sightlines are short, avoid rushing into an unidentified group before checking the surrounding path.
Rank #3
- Enter a brutal mega boss encounter where the Erdtree Avatar unleashes crushing power, relentless aggression, and battlefield dominance that demands precision and nerve.
- Ride into combat with enhanced mounted mechanics, gaining overwhelming mobility and striking freedom that reshape your tactical identity and open high-risk attack windows.
- Battle ruthless guardian warriors whose unwavering devotion, deadly weapon mastery, and uncanny resilience turn every clash into a desperate struggle for survival.
- Fight on a dramatic, atmospheric encounter map, designed to heighten tension, reward clever movement, and transform each moment into a cinematic showdown.
- Unlock powerful rewards and exclusive equipment, earning new cards and gear that expand your Tarnished progression and deepen long-term campaign impact.
General exploration
Use the map and landmarks to avoid wandering in the fog, and collect the area’s rewards as you advance rather than assuming you can return safely after triggering enemies. The woods’ optional status means you can leave and return later if a fight is consuming more resources than it is worth.
Abyssal Woods in Kingdom Death: Monster
Kingdom Death: Monster — Abyssal Woods Expansion is a physical campaign-board-game expansion, not an Elden Ring location.
Rank #4
- Elden Ring board game campaign featuring tactical combat, exploration, treasure hunting, and cinematic boss encounters for 1–4 players
- 20+ hour replayable campaign that can be played as a standalone adventure or combined with other Elden Ring: The Board Game content
- Card-driven, diceless combat system rewards strategic positioning, timing, resource management, and tactical decision-making
- New playable Tarnished classes including the Confessor and Prisoner, adding fresh character options and strategic play styles
- Detailed tabletop miniatures include 22 figures and a massive Godrick the Grafted miniature on a 120mm base, with components varying by selected edition
| Aspect | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | Kingdom Death: Monster |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Third-person action RPG region | Physical campaign expansion |
| How you access it | Reach Shadow Keep’s hidden route, cross Recluses’ River, clear Darklight Catacombs and defeat Jori | Requires the Kingdom Death: Monster core game; the Flower Knight and Spidicules expansions are also required |
| Core activities | On-foot exploration, combat, optional collecting | Campaign play involving settlement development, encounters, miniatures, cards and new locations |
| Named content | Winter Lanterns, Midra’s Manse and the listed collectibles | People of Bloom, Flower Knight worship, Witch disciples, Dragon Goblin, Flower Witch, armor, events and settlement locations |
| Additional dependencies | Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and the required in-game route | Dung Beetle Knight and Honeycomb Weaver have optional interactions |
| Release status | Available as part of the DLC | BoardGameGeek records an English edition with 2027 release information as unreleased and Kickstarter-preorder; release and stock can change |
Does the Kingdom Death expansion require the core game?
Yes. The Abyssal Woods expansion requires Kingdom Death: Monster and also lists the Flower Knight and Spidicules expansions as prerequisites. Dung Beetle Knight and Honeycomb Weaver provide optional interactions rather than mandatory requirements.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A world fully listed: Enjoy exclusive lavishly illustrated maps that carefully list all of the Shadow Kingdom's major objects, points of interest, and enemies. Discover the smallest nooks of the new inherited dungeons and take secret passages that connect the different areas of this dark world.
- Fearsome new enemies - Many opponents designed to push you into your entrenchments add to Elden Ring's bestiary. Whether it's triumphing over golems whose flaming faces overlook ancient ruins or surviving new clashes against legendary deities, you'll need the in-depth analysis provided by the bestiary chapter.
- A new perspective: In Shadow of the Erdtree, you'll explore the Shadow Kingdom in search of the missing god Miquella. You will not be alone on this journey, because this new land is populated by characters just as intriguing as those of the Interland. The Quest Guide chapter introduces you to each step of these new stories, which enrich the majestic world of Elden Ring.
- Revisited arsenal: Browse through a complete catalogue of new gear, giving you access to sneaky tricks and more expressive combat styles than ever before. Whether it's during fights or when it comes to your dress choices, you'll have more options than ever before.
- The guide also includes a carefully presented conceptual art gallery, where you can admire glorious landscapes in large format as well as illustrations of characters. And that's not all: you'll also find a comprehensive progress guide showing all possible routes through the Shadow Kingdom and in-depth character building tips that combine the basic game gear with the best new features introduced by Shadow of the Erdtree. To top it off, the book includes a huge poster depicting the entire Shadow Kingdom, which shows the locations of all Sites of Grace.
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