All Paintings in Elden Ring Shadow of Erdtree: How to Find and Solve

Step into the enigmatic world of Shadow of the Erdtree, where every brushstroke hides a secret. From the haunting ruins of Limgrave to the icy peaks of the Mountaintops of the Giants, Elden Ring’s painting puzzles challenge you to decipher cryptic landscapes and uncover hidden treasures. Can you trace the steps of long-lost artists and claim their rewards? Let this guide be your compass as you unravel these artistic mysteries in the Land of Shadow.

You can reach the listed paintings in any order. Also remember that you can view the paintings in the inventory and thus gain clues about where to solve the puzzles.

The Sacred Tower – painting

The Sacred Tower – Painting

The Sacred Tower painting, introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring, is located in a cave northeast of the Scorched Ruins in the Gravesite Plain. This painting depicts a hauntingly beautiful landscape tied to the last moments of those embraced by death. However, solving the puzzle requires significant progress in the DLC. After burning the Sealing Tree and revealing the final dungeon, players must travel to the Ancient Ruins Base Site of Grace. From there, head southwest, utilize Spiritsprings to ascend a mountain, and locate two jagged rocks at its southwestern edge. Aligning these rocks reveals the ghostly painter, who rewards players with the Spiraltree Seal for their efforts.

1. You can find the painting right after the DLC starts, in the starting area called Gravesite Plain.
2. Head north-east of Scorched Ruins. There is a small cave with an interactive painting.

The Sacred Tower – puzzle solution

The Sacred Tower – Puzzle Solution

The Sacred Tower painting puzzle in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree requires players to progress significantly in the DLC before it can be solved. After burning the Sealing Tree—a pivotal late-game event—the tower becomes accessible. Begin at the Ancient Ruins Base Site of Grace, located southwest of the Shadow Keep. From there, head further southwest, bypassing giants and following the hills until you reach a Spirit Spring sealed by a rock pile. Destroy the sealing rock to unlock the Spirit Spring, then use it to ascend the mountain. Continue climbing via successive Spirit Springs until you reach the summit. Near the edge of the mountain, you’ll find two rocks where the artist’s spirit will appear, pointing towards the newly revealed Sacred Tower in the distance. Solving this puzzle rewards players with the Spiraltree Seal, a powerful item boosting Spiral Incantations.

1. The place where the puzzle is solved is a high cliff located southeast of the Temple Town Ruins.
2. Head east from the ruins and find the Spiritspring from screenshot 2. You can break its seal in the area and this will enable you to catapult yourself by jumping in the stream. A little further away is the second Spiritspring.

1. You will reach the upper area, which includes, among others: Northern Nameless Mausoleum. Go southwest of it.
2. You must position yourselfbetween 2 rocks, in the place where the ghost appeared. Turn to the west and you will see Enir-Ilim in front of you. In addition to the ghost, there will be a reward for solving the puzzle – a weapon called Spiraltree Seal.

If the ghost does not appear and Enir-Ilim itself is invisible, make sure that you have defeated the Dancing Lion in Belurat and unlocked access to Enir-Ilim. Only then return to this place.

Incursion – painting

The Incursion painting in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is located in the Artist’s Shack on the highest cliff in the northwestern part of the Gravesite Plain. To solve this puzzle, players need to locate the spot depicted in the painting, which is at the northern edge of the Gravesite Plain. From the Cliffroad Terminus Site of Grace, head southeast to find the Artist’s Shack and collect the painting. Then, travel west from the Greatbridge North Site of Grace toward Belurat Tower Settlement. At this location, you’ll encounter the ghostly artist, who will vanish upon approach, leaving behind the Serpent Crest Shield as your reward.

1. The painting is located in the upper western part of the Graveyard Plain.
2. You can get to the area with the collectible by traveling south from the entrance to Belurat – we have marked the march path in screenshot 1. On the way you will pass a new Site of Grace, Cliffroad Terminus. Head further south-east and you will reach the ruined artist’s cottage with a painting.

Incursion – puzzle solution

Incursion – Puzzle Solution

The Incursion Painting in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring can be found at the Artist’s Shack, overlooking the Gravesite Plain. To solve this puzzle, start from the Cliffroad Terminus Site of Grace and head southeast until you reach the shack. The painting depicts a location at the northern edge of the Gravesite Plain. Travel to this spot to find where the artist stood while painting. Upon reaching the exact location, you will encounter a ghostly figure that disappears, leaving behind the Serpent Crest Shield as your reward.

1. Return to the northern part of the Graveyard Plain. This is the area east of Belurat and southwest of the reservoir – the lair of boss Ghostflame Dragon.

1. Stand in the place shown in the picture and face Ellac Bridge south-east of this place.
2. A ghost should appear and leave behind a reward – Serpent Crest Shield.

Domain of Dragons – painting

The Domain of Dragons painting in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a challenging puzzle that rewards players with the Rock Heart, enabling transformation into an Ancient Dragon. The painting is found in the Shadow Keep of Scadu Altus, hidden behind a waterfall and accessed via ladders in the underground area. Solving the puzzle requires traveling to the Jagged Peak Mountainside Site of Grace and heading southwest. Use a Spiritspring to reach higher cliffs where the storm clears, revealing the correct location. This painting captures the haunting beauty of landscapes seen during final moments, adding depth to Elden Ring’s lore.

1. This painting is hidden on the lower level of the Shadow Keep. There is a well-hidden path leading to it.

1. Explore the fortress walls north-east of the Site of Grace called Main Gate Plaza. In the place shown in the picture you will find a ladder and you can use it to go down to the lower levels.

1. You will eventually reach a room with the painting and a secret passage – it is not related to the painting’s puzzle and is described on a separate page of our guide – How to reach the lower Scadu Altus?.

Domain of Dragons – puzzle solution

The Domain of Dragons painting puzzle in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree begins with locating the painting in the Shadow Keep. Start at the Main Gate Plaza Site of Grace, defeat the Golden Hippopotamus boss, and navigate through the eastern door and down ladders behind a waterfall to find the painting in a hidden storeroom. To solve it, travel to the Jagged Peak Mountainside Site of Grace, head southwest, and use a Spiritspring Jump to reach a lower ledge. Continue along this path until you find a ghostly painter sitting on a chair. Interact with the ghost to receive the Rock Heart reward, which boosts Dragon Communion incantations and allows transformation into an Ancient Dragon.

1. You can only reach the place where you complete the puzzle after unlocking the Jagged Peak region in the eastern part of the map. The required steps are described on the page titled How to open the passage behind the headless statue?.
2. Ultimately, you must reach the Site of Grace called Jagged Peak Mountainside, shown on screenshot 1. Head south-west from there.

1. After reaching the indicated location, turn north and a ghost should appear. He will leave behind a unique item called Rock Heart – it is used in the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion.

What are the most challenging painting puzzles in Shadow of the Erdtree

The most challenging painting puzzles in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring include:

1. Sacred Tower Painting
   This puzzle is particularly difficult because it requires significant story progression to unlock the referenced location, Enir-Ilim. Players must defeat two major bosses—Messmer the Impaler and Romina, Saint of the Bud—to access the final area. Only after burning the Sealing Tree can the painting’s solution be completed, making it a late-game challenge3.

2. Domain of Dragons Painting
   This puzzle combines exploration and combat difficulty. The painting is hidden within the Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon, while its solution lies in a treacherous mountain area guarded by numerous dragons. Navigating through burning boats and overcoming formidable enemies makes this puzzle one of the toughest in the DLC.

These puzzles test players’ map-reading skills, combat prowess, and patience, offering rare rewards for those who persevere.

Which painting puzzle requires the most exploration

In the context of Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring, the painting puzzle that likely requires the most exploration is the Domain of Dragons Painting. This puzzle involves navigating through a challenging mountain area filled with dragons, which demands both exploration skills to locate the painting and its solution, as well as combat prowess to overcome the formidable enemies guarding the area.

While specific details about the exploration required for each painting puzzle in Shadow of the Erdtree are not extensively documented in the search results, puzzles like the Domain of Dragons Painting stand out due to their integration with the game’s vast and complex world. Players must explore various locations, understand the clues provided by the paintings, and apply that knowledge to unlock the solutions, which often involve traversing dangerous landscapes and defeating powerful enemies.