“Embark on a journey through the mysterious realms of Shadow of the Erdtree, the latest expansion for Elden Ring. As you delve into this vast and enigmatic world, uncovering the secrets of the Land of Shadow begins with revealing its hidden map. With five crucial Map Fragments to discover, each nestled in a distinct region—Gravesite Plain, Scadu Altus, Ancient Ruins of Rauh, Southern Shore, and Abyssal Woods—your quest for exploration and mastery is about to begin. Dive into our comprehensive guide to find every Map Fragment and illuminate the path to victory.”
Map fragment #1 – Graveyard Plain
To find the first map fragment in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, head to the Gravesite Plain. This area is the first region you’ll encounter after being transported from Miquella’s cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace. From the starting point, ride north on the main road toward the Scorched Ruins. The map fragment is located on a stone monument to the right of the road, just before reaching the ruins. Be cautious of a Curseblade Ascetic that may drop down from an archway nearby, as well as harpy-like creatures that can attack from above.
This part of the map can be found near the starting point of the DLC. Watch out for the fire giant walking around.
Map fragment #2 – Ruins of Rauh
To find the Ancient Ruins of Rauh Map Fragment, start at the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace in Scadu Altus. Ride northeast towards a small pond near a cliff, where you’ll find a cave entrance marked by a statue. Enter the cave, navigating past Perfumer enemies and a glowing tree, and exit into a poison field area. Continue northwest, then angle west to reach Rauh Base. Follow the valley southwest, avoiding large crossbow-wielding enemies, until you see a large monument containing the glowing Map Fragment just before entering the Temple Town Ruins. This fragment will reveal the Rauh Ruins area on your map, allowing you to explore its lush, green landscape filled with Crucible Knights and other challenges.
This obelisk can be found in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. You will get there from the east, specifically from the Base Rauh location.
Map fragment #3 – Scadu Altus
To find the Scadu Altus Map Fragment, you have two main options. The most direct route involves defeating Rellana, the Twin Moon Knight, at the end of Castle Ensis, which is located northeast of Gravesite Plain. After defeating Rellana, exit the castle and follow the main road north towards the Shadow Keep. The map fragment will be located on the main path just before a soldier encampment3. Alternatively, you can bypass Castle Ensis by using a Spiritspring located below the Fort of Reprimand in Gravesite Plain. This will transport you directly into Scadu Altus, allowing you to access the map fragment without facing the boss.
You will reach this obelisk by traveling north from the Highroad Cross place of grace.
Map fragment #4 – Southern Shore
To find the Southern Shore Map Fragment, start at the Castle Front Site of Grace and head southeast. You can either follow the winding road past the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace and through the Dragon’s Pit, or take a more direct route via the Ellac River. For the river route, cross the Ellac Greatbridge, then head down past the poisonous swamps and through the cave to reach the Ellac River Cave Site of Grace. From there, follow the river downstream, navigating past obstacles like the Furnace Golem, until you reach the Cerulean Coast. Once on the coast, proceed south, avoiding a Ghostflame Dragon ambush, to find the map fragment on the coast near a large open area.
To obtain this map fragment, you must reach the Cerulean Coast location – on the page How to reach the Cerulean Coast? you will find instructions on how to do it.
Map fragment #5 – Abyssal Woods
To find the Abyssal Woods Map Fragment, you’ll need to navigate through a challenging path. First, head to Scadu Atlus by defeating Rellana at Castle Ensis. Once there, access the Shadow Keep, a giant black fortress, and defeat the Golden Hippopotamus. Follow the main path to a bridge, then down a ladder under a waterfall, and through an illusory wall to a chamber with a painting. Interact with a coffin to transport to the Darklight Catacombs. After defeating Jori, Elder Inquisitor, proceed to the Abyssal Woods. The map fragment is located just outside the Abandoned Church, which you can reach by heading south from the Abandoned Graveyard and following the path along the left wall.
What are the most challenging map fragment locations in Shadow of the Erdtree
In Shadow of the Erdtree, the most challenging map fragment locations are often those that require navigating through perilous areas or overcoming complex obstacles. Here are some of the most difficult ones:
-
Abyssal Woods Map Fragment:
-
Location: Deep within the Abyssal Woods, accessible via a secret pathway into the Darklight Catacombs.
-
Challenges: This area is notorious for its Madness-inducing attacks and the inability to summon Torrent. Players must navigate through flooded ruins, waterfalls, and defeat Jori the Inquisitor to access the woods.
-
-
Ancient Ruins of Rauh Map Fragment:
-
Location: Located at Rauh Base, below the main ruins.
-
Challenges: Requires navigating through a poison field with Gravebirds and avoiding Guardian Golems. The path involves a large tunnel under Shadow Keep’s main entrance.
-
-
Southern Shore Map Fragment:
-
Location: Cerulean Coast, south of Ellac Greatbridge.
-
Challenges: Involves traversing poison fields, avoiding a Furnace Golem, and navigating through a cave behind a Giant Poison Plant.
-
These locations demand careful exploration and strategic combat to overcome the obstacles and enemies that guard the map fragments.
Which map fragment location requires the most backtracking
In Shadow of the Erdtree, the Rauh Ruins Map Fragment location is likely to require the most backtracking. To reach this fragment, you must navigate through a cave, traverse a poison swamp, and avoid golem enemies. The path involves heading east from Rauh Ruins, finding a cave entrance north of a small body of water, and then proceeding west through the swamp until you reach a Site of Grace. After activating the Site of Grace, you continue forward cautiously to find the map fragment, which involves navigating through a somewhat complex and winding route.
While other locations like the Southern Shore might require some exploration, they generally involve more straightforward paths once you reach the Cerulean Coast. However, the Rauh Ruins fragment demands careful navigation and backtracking to ensure you don’t miss the cave entrance or get lost in the swamp.