Unveil the Hidden Depths of Shadow Keep: In the mystical world of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the flooded Shadow Keep holds secrets beneath its watery veil. Learn how to drain the waters and unlock a realm of new challenges and treasures, navigating treacherous rooftops and ancient mechanisms to reveal the mysteries hidden beneath the surface.
How to reach the Church District Entrance in Shadow Keep?
To reach the Church District Entrance in Shadow Keep, follow these steps: Start by navigating to the Moorth Ruins, located southeast of the Shadow Keep’s main entrance. From there, proceed through an archway that leads to a pit. Carefully descend the pit and find a ladder that takes you to Bonny Village. Once in Bonny Village, follow the road as it curves north until you reach the Church District Highroad Site of Grace. From this point, continue northward to find the side entrance of the Shadow Keep, which leads directly into the Church District. Alternatively, you can approach the Church District from the east side of the Shadow Keep by using the Church District High Road Site of Grace as a starting point.
- You cannot explore 100% of the Shadow Keep, available in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, right away. The entire Church District in the eastern part of the keep is flooded. You must first get there and then follow the steps to lower the water level.
- First, each the eastern part of the Scadu Altus region– you can do this by going east from the Bonny Village. There you will find the Church District Highroad Site of Grace.
- Head north-west. In the place shown in picture 2 there is a tunnel leading to the Shadow Keep. Use it and you will reach the Church District Entrance Site of Grace.
There is an elevator next to the Site of Grace. It is inactive by default and you can use it only after draining the water.
Lowering the water level in the Church District
To drain the water in the Shadow Keep’s Church District, start at the Church District Entrance Site of Grace. Head west, jumping across rooftops until you reach a connecting tower path, then proceed east past a Fire Knight. Drop down through a broken rooftop and enter the next room, turning left to cross a bridge. Defeat the giant bats, ascend the stairs, and climb a ladder to find a rotating lever. Rotate this lever to lower the water level, allowing access to previously submerged areas, including the path to the Scadutree Avatar and the Ulcerated Tree Spirit, which drops the Mantle of Thorns Incantation.
- Don’t jump into the water, because you will die immediately. You can jump on floating objects, adjacent ledges and roofs of flooded buildings. Head north-west.
- In the place shown in the picture, make a more difficult jump to land on the crooked element of the structure and climb up.
- Ultimately, you need to reach a hole in the roof shown in the image. Check the area below you carefully and land on one of the lower elements of the structure instead of in the water. Walk through the concrete arch to make a second jump and reach a new part of the keep.
- The further path is quite linear, but after reaching the walls, make two small jumps over the water. You need to reach the rotating mechanism from the pictures above – this is the southern part of the Church District.
- Using the rotating mechanism will open the floodgates and drain excess water. You will see this in a short cut-scene.
Rewards for draining the district and reaching the Scadutree Avatar
Draining the Shadow Keep and reaching the Scadutree Avatar offers several rewards. Once the Church District is fully drained, you can explore it more thoroughly and find additional items. However, the main reward comes from defeating the Scadutree Avatar, an optional boss located beneath the Shadow Keep. Upon defeating this boss, you receive 260,000 Runes, the Remembrance of the Shadow Sunflower, and Miquella’s Great Rune. The Remembrance can be exchanged for a homing Incantation or a Colossal Weapon made from the Avatar’s head, providing valuable upgrades for your character.
- From this point you can jump down or take the elevators to the lowest level of the eastern part of the Shadow Keep.
- In the newly unlocked part of the Church District you will find a new Site of Grace, new monsters (including 2 larger Ulcerated Tree Spirits) and new loot.
- Draining the water in the Church District is also required to unlock the passage to the Scadutree Avatar boss – this fight is described on the Scadutree Avatar page in the Bosses chapter.
- In the northern part of the church district, find an elevator traveling to the Tree-Worship Passage (picture above). Go further north and you will reach the boss’s lair.
What are the best strategies to avoid enemies while draining the water in Shadow Keep
To effectively drain the water in Shadow Keep’s Church District while minimizing encounters with enemies, follow these strategies:
Strategies to Avoid Enemies
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Rooftop Navigation:
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Jumping and Dodging: Use rooftops to navigate, jumping between buildings to avoid enemies on the ground. Be cautious of grab enemies on the roofs, but they are generally not aggressive.
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Timing Jumps: Practice timing your jumps to avoid falling off edges or into the water, where watery monsters lurk.
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Enemy Avoidance:
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Flaming Enemies: When encountering flaming enemies that can explode, run past them quickly or engage in melee combat, ensuring you jump back after defeating them to avoid explosion damage.
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Fire-Casting Enemies: Take out fire-casting enemies before proceeding, as they can knock you into the water. Use ranged attacks if possible.
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Stealth and Positioning:
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Use Cover: Utilize buildings and pillars for cover when navigating through areas with flying enemies like bats.
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Backstabbing: If you encounter enemies like Fire Knights, consider sneaking up for a backstab to avoid prolonged fights.
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Path Optimization:
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Direct Routes: Focus on reaching the lever that drains the water as quickly as possible. Use ladders and bridges to bypass areas with high enemy activity.
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Elevators and Ladders: Use elevators and ladders to move between levels efficiently and avoid unnecessary combat.
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By employing these strategies, you can minimize interactions with hostile enemies while draining the water in Shadow Keep’s Church District.
What are the safest routes to avoid enemies while draining the water
To safely navigate and avoid enemies while draining the water in Shadow Keep’s Church District, consider the following safest routes:
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Rooftop Path:
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Start by navigating through the rooftops to bypass ground-level enemies. This involves jumping between buildings and using support arches or columns to traverse.
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Be cautious of grab enemies on the roofs, but they are generally less aggressive.
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Direct Approach to the Lever:
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Once you reach the area with the fire enemy, take the left path and climb the ladder.
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Push the lever to drain the water. This direct approach minimizes exposure to unnecessary combat.
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Utilize Ladders and Elevators:
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Use ladders and elevators to move between levels efficiently. This helps avoid areas with high enemy activity.
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Stay alert for enemies that might be near these access points.
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Avoid Water Areas:
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Until the water is drained, avoid falling into the water, as it contains aggressive aquatic enemies.
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By following these routes and strategies, you can effectively avoid enemies while draining the water in Shadow Keep.
