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To reach the Abyssal Woods, take the hidden coffin route from Shadow Keep to Castle Watering Hole, follow the river south to Darklight Catacombs, and defeat the dungeon boss. The exit leads to Forsaken Graveyard and the woods. You must first meet the expansion’s base-game access requirements.
Before you start: unlock the Realm of Shadow
Your save must have Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood defeated. Then interact with the Cocoon of the Empyrean at its Site of Grace to enter the Realm of Shadow. After unlocking a Site of Grace in the expansion, you can use the map to travel between the Realm of Shadow and the Lands Between. FromSoftware’s official expansion access instructions describe these requirements.
Find the hidden coffin in Shadow Keep
The route starts in Shadow Keep, but it branches away from the keep’s obvious main progression. Find the concealed passage in the lower section, behind an illusory wall near a painting; the coffin beyond it takes you to Castle Watering Hole.
Walkthroughs describe the approach using different landmarks. You can follow the directions from the Specimen Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace, or approach from the Main Gate Plaza side. Either way, the important transition is the hidden passage and coffin, not continuing through the main route. See Game8’s route guide or PowerPyx’s walkthrough.
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- Playable on 21st June 2024.
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- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
Follow the river to Darklight Catacombs
- Start at Castle Watering Hole. After the coffin ride, head south along the watercourse.
- Descend the ravine. Follow the river’s course down the cliffside, using the drops and ledges to make your way lower. The route involves jumps between ledges, so stay with the river rather than looking for a direct overland entrance. A route overview is also available from Elden Ring Wiki.gg.
- Enter Darklight Catacombs. Continue downstream until you reach the dungeon.
Defeat the catacombs boss and enter the woods
Make your way through Darklight Catacombs and defeat its boss. This is the progression gate: defeating the boss opens the way to Forsaken Graveyard. Leave the catacombs, follow the path from the graveyard, and you will reach the Abyssal Woods.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Find the Abyssal Woods map fragment
If you are looking for the map piece as well as the region entrance, continue from Forsaken Graveyard along the southeastern route toward Church Ruins. Game8’s Abyssal Woods guide places the map fragment along this route within the region.
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