In Elden Ring, the Shadow Of The Erdtree expansion contains several unique and secret areas that can be difficult to find, especially if you don't know what to look for. One of these areas, the Abyssal Woods, is arguably the most hidden, as there is currently only one known way to get there. To do so, you must progress within the Land of Shadow until you reach the Shadow Keep, where your journey to the Abyss begins.

To get to the Abyssal Woods, you must take a transporter coffin underneath Shadow Keep, much like the coffins from the base game that would take you to areas like Deeproot Depths. Fortunately, the transporter coffin can be found shortly after arriving at Shadow Keep, after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus Boss. The Abyssal Woods is home to a mighty boss, so I recommend finding as many Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes as possible before making the journey.

How To Find The Transporter Coffin

Main Gate Plaza To Castle Watering Hole

Starting from the Shadow Keep: Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace, make your way west and up the stairs, slaying enemies as you go. You will come across an area with flaming boats, where you will normally continue up the stairs to the left. However, go past the stairs to the second set of flaming boats, where a ladder on the left side will take you down to the water.

Before the second set of boats, make sure to complete the Leda/Hornsent invasion by choosing who to side with in battle.

Navigate around the corner through the waterfall to find another ladder that will take you down to a room with a painting. While this seems like a dead end, a false wall across from the painting will take you to the transporter coffin, which will bring you to the next part of your journey below the Shadow Keep.

Descend Recluses' River

Castle Watering Hole To Darklight Catacombs

As seen in Furnace Golems in Elden Ring before continuing south down the river, where you will find the Recluses' River Upstream Site of Grace. Following this path, you will navigate through enemies and across rocks until you reach the Recluses' River Downstream Site of Grace, where you will be on the edge of a cliff.

There are several Furnace Visages around the Castle Watering Hole on the remains of Furnace Golems.

To progress, look over the cliff's edge to the east to find several stone platforms that can be used to climb down. Use Torrent's double jump to safely descend to an area with two waterfalls. Continue to the southeast cliff edge, left of where the first waterfall continues, to find more stone platforms that will take you down even further. Upon reaching the bottom of the cliff, you will find Darklight Catacombs, which you must enter to progress.

Near the second waterfall to the east, two Golden Hippopotamuses will drop Scadutree Fragments upon their defeat.

How To Clear Darklight Catacombs

Conquer This Disorienting Dungeon

Darklight Catacombs is nearly pitch black, so turn on your lantern or equip a torch. Make your way to the northeast down sets of stairs where you will encounter some imps. Turn around once you find the first jar cannon imp and find a lever that will turn on some of the lights.

Continue down the main path and cross the bridge the mage was guarding to find a lift that will take you down to the next part of the catacombs. There will be two paths to take, the path to the north being correct.

Continue to the north to find a narrow path to the west, which will take you down some stairs through a small arched door. Continue down the ladders to the left to find another lift, which will take you to an open room with a massive jar cannon imp.

Defeating him will allow you to jump over the ledge he was guarding, where a chest contains the Bigmouth Imp Ashes. Climb the nearby ladder and drop off a set of stairs leading to the final lift, where you will encounter the boss, Jori, Elder Inquisitor.

The giant jar cannon imp will drop a Great Ghost Glovewort upon its defeat.

How To Beat Jori, Elder Inquisitor

A Faith Build Is Recommended

Jori's boss fight is quite interesting, as he employs unique summons that will force you to reposition in the arena constantly. His Holy magic attacks can be easily dodged while also utilizing the surrounding gravestones to block his projectiles. He does not have much HP, so playing it slowly and waiting for openings to attack is advisable. Jori can be backstabbed by the Tarnished, allowing you to chunk massive bits of his HP.

If you are running a Faith build, make use of the incantation Lord's Divine Fortification to boost your Holy damage negation significantly.

When Jori reaches his second phase, he will summon a dozen Holy apparitions to assist him in the fight. Utilizing your Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring will help take their attention off of you, allowing you to focus on defeating the boss. Try and time a dodge through his vortex attack, which will leave him vulnerable to a backstab.

Once Jori has fallen, you will be at the Forsaken Graveyard Site of Grace at the entrance of the Abyssal Woods. Be careful traversing through this area, as there will be enemies you must hide from in the tall grass. Now that you've reached the Abyssal Woods, have fun navigating one of the creepiest areas in Elden Ring.

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