Dungeons are a good way to find items and runes in Elden Ring, but some of them are hidden and easy to miss. No matter the amount of exploring or messages on the floor, players may have missed one or two dungeons during their play throughs. Some of them may be locked, hidden behind a wall, or maybe the player simply did not see the door.
Most Elden Ring dungeons are optional. There may be an NPC questline that leads the Tarnished into one or two of the dungeons, but finding and exploring them is up to the player. They are beneficial to explore since some give you Smithing Stones, crafting ingredients, or new items. It may be easy to compare these dungeons to Bloodborne‘s Chalice Dungeons, but Elden Ring fixes the problems with Chalice Dungeons.
Many dungeon locations are likely to be uncovered during the extensive exploring most Elden Ring players partake in. However, there are a few difficult-to-find dungeons. Sometimes they are hidden in hard-to-reach places or behind enemies that may be too powerful for the player, which prevents them from going further.
Highroad Cave Is An Early, Easily Missed Elden Ring Dungeon
Highroad Cave is a tricky but valuable dungeon to find in the Stormhill region of Limgrave. Its location hidden near the Sainstbridge Site of Grace makes this cave easy to miss, and the darkness once inside makes it hard to navigate. Highroad Cave contains Wolves, Giant Bats, Land Octopuses, and the Guardian Golem boss. This is where Elden Ring‘s Shamshir is found, along with the Blue Dancer Charm.
Academy Crystal Cave Requires Two Stonesword Keys
The Academy Crystal Cave is located to the west of the Raya Lucaria Academy. It is barred by an imp statue that requires two Stonesword Keys. This cave is also dark, so it is recommended players bring a torch or lamp. The Tarnished will encounter groups of Rats, a few different Sorcerers, and a Battlemage throughout the cave. The final boss is a pair of Crystalians; one uses a spear, while the other has a staff. The Sorcerers and Crystalians may make this an annoying cave to explore, but the Academy Crystal Cave is where players get Elden Ring‘s Crystal Staff, and two Sorceries called Crystal Release and Terra Magica.
Ruin-Strewn Precipice Is A Hidden Alternate Path To Altus Plateau
The Ruin-Strewn Precipice is the alternate route to reach the Altus Plateau. The entrance to this lengthy dungeon is accessible by going through the Ravine-Vailed Village in Liurnia. The Ruin-Strewn Precipice has a variety of enemies, such as Miners, Giant Bats, and Land Octopuses at the very top. It is a larger dungeon with a total of three Sites of Grace.
Other than being the alternate way to reach the Altus Plateau, this dungeon is a valuable place to explore. There are many Smithing and Somber Smithing Stones to locate. Close to the Ruin-Strewn Precipice Outlook Site of Grace is the location of the Elden Ring Serpent-God’s Curved Sword. Another weapon called the Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword is also looted after defeating the dungeon’s boss, Magma Wyrm Makar.
Elden Ring’s Abandoned Cave Is Aptly Named
The Abandoned Cave is located in Dragonborrow, Caelid. It is east of the Smoldering Wall and northwest of the Sellia Evergaol. This dungeon is another tricky one to find because the only way to enter the cave is by approaching from the west and using a tree as a bridge across a canyon. The cave is full of Scarlet Rot, so taking supplies or Incantations to help relieve the buildup is advisable. While the entrance and Scarlet Rot may make this cave sound more like a nuisance, the items inside make the Abandoned Cave a worthy place to explore. Two weapons can be found in the cave; one is the Venomous Fang, and the second is the Serpent Bow. Both these weapons inflict poison. Elden Ring‘s Gold Scarab Talisman drops from the dungeon’s two Cleanrot Knights when they are defeated.
War-Dead Catacombs Is Hidden In The Corner Of A Boss Arena
These catacombs are found in Caelid in the northern corner of the large, sandy beach area where the Tarnished defeats Radahn. The door to the War-Dead Catacombs is built into the cliff wall, so it can be difficult to see. Throughout the catacombs, spectral Cleanrot Knights and Radahn Soldiers fight each other, but may turn to fight the player character. There are also a few Imps lingering around. Many Ghost Glovewort and Grave Glovewort can be found, along with some other interesting items, like the Sorcery called Collapsing Stars and the Radahn Soldier Ashes. The boss, a Putrid Tree Spirit, drops the Redmane Knight Ogha Ashes and is where one of the golden seeds in Caelid is located.
Sage’s Cave Is Filled With Elden Ring’s Illusory Walls
The Sage’s Cave is located on the western cliffs of the Altus Plateau. The easiest way to get there is by traveling north from the Abandoned Coffin site of grace. This cave is filled with illusionary walls, so be sure to check every wall or read the messages left by other players.
There are mostly Skeletal Bandits lingering in the cave, but also Necromancer Garris and a Black Knife Assassin. There is quite a bit of valuable and interesting loot within the Sage’s Cave. The Raptor Talons, Raptor’s Black Feathers, and the Skeletal Mask are a few of the coolest items to be found. Necromancer Garris also drops an armament called Family Heads, while the Black Knife Assassin drops the Concealing Veil.
Leyndell Catacombs Are Hidden Deep Beneath The Royal Capital
The Leyndell Catacombs are accessible through the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, a location easily missed while exploring the Royal Capital, with the entrance near where Elden Ring‘s Mogh’s Shackle is located. From the Underground Roadside Site of Grace, head to the large room with the pipes and Imps. Use the pipes to reach the bottom, where the two Giant Crayfish are. Run south, past one of the Giant Crayfish, to a crack in the wall.
While exploring the catacombs, Elden Ring‘s Tarnished will encounter regular enemies, like Imps and Omens. But it will give them the chance to gather the Crucible Scale Talisman and the Haligdrake Talisman +1. If the Tarnished decides to face the boss, they will have to fight Esgar, Priest of Blood, and his two dogs. Edgar and his dogs inflict Blood Loss, but if the Tarnished can defeat Esgar, they will get the Lord of Blood’s Exultation.