Highlights
- Legacy Dungeons in Elden Ring offer a challenging break from the overworld action, testing players’ skills and exploration prowess.
- Not all Legacy Dungeons are created equal; some, like Miquella’s Haligtree, offer frustratingly difficult challenges and unbalanced encounters.
- Unveiling the secrets of Legacy Dungeons like Volcano Manor and Shadow Keep rewards players with rich lore and intricate level design.
There are plenty of moments in Elden Ring where players will have to leave Torrent behind and face the inevitable roots of this Soulsborne game, namely Soulsborne dungeons. Or as the game likes to call them, Legacy Dungeons. These are pretty much Dark Souls levels plopped on top of the Lands Between open world to mark (mostly) linear areas where players can’t use Torrent to speedrun.
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In a sense, Legacy Dungeons are where players stop procrastinating. In stark contrast to the overworld where players can lick their wounds and farm Runes to get stronger, Legacy Dungeons are where they prove their grinding and exploration’s worth. But not all Legacy Dungeons are well-designed or fair challenges. Some are preferable to others.
Updated August 12, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Exploration in Elden Ring remains one of its strongest selling points in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, allowing players to explore a vast open world that’s not afraid to hide things from the player, demanding thorough exploration to reveal all its secrets. Legacy Dungeons are the perfect examples of this phenomenon, showcasing FromSoftware’s mastery of world-building in the form of large, sprawling dungeons to get lost in.
20 Miquella’s Haligtree/Elphael
Apart from the scenery and the main boss of this Legacy Dungeon, there’s really nothing new in Miquella’s Haligtree or in Elphael. It’s an area filled with recycled monsters which would have been fine, but it seems the developers picked the most annoying and least-balanced enemies and dumped all of them in this late-game area.
It doesn’t help that Miquella’s Haligtree is room after room of death traps where players are funneled into gank fights and narrow pathways. Overall, it’s an area that seems to have been made to annoy players rather than test their late-game skills. That’s quite disappointing considering the effort needed to unlock this place.
How To Get There
Unlocking Miquella’s Haligtree and eventually, Elphael requires completing a lengthy questline. Here’s the simplified process:
- Head to the Village of the Albinaurics in Liurnia.
- Walk up the terrain incline in the village near the cliff wall and look for a lone jar. Hit the jar.
- The jar is an Albinauric who will give one-half of the Haligtree Medallion. This will unlock the secret elevator function that leads to the Consecrated Snowfields.
- Players can find the other half of the medallion at the end of Lakeside Crystal Cave, located along the cliffside walls directly south of Liurnia.
- Obtain the other half of the Haligtree Medallion at Latenna’s instructions at the end of Lakeside Crystal Cave.
- Head to Leyndell in Altus Plateau and defeat Morgott.
- This will unlock the Grand Lift of Rold. Go to the lift and unlock the Mountaintops of the Giants.
- Head to Castle Sol, north of Mountiantops of the Giants, and defeat Commander Niall. The other half of the Haligtree Medallion is in a tower after the boss arena.
- Use the secret function in the lift to unlock the Consecrated Snowfields.
- In the Consecrated Snowfields, keep heading north until Ordina, Liturgical Town.
- Behind the town is an Evergaol where players have to light four braziers up some towers in order to unlock the teleporter to Miquella’s Haligtree.
19 Crumbling Farum Azula
Similar to Miquella’s Haligtree, Crumbling Farum Azula is a late-gamer area. While the scenery is imaginative and amazing, this dungeon’s platforming reveals the worst thing about Elden Ring‘s movement scheme: its controls and camera.
Players are required to platform in this location except platforming in a Souls game is never that cohesive or agile, mostly thanks to the stubborn camera. The area is also home to some of the worst boss runs in the game.
How To Get There
Getting to Crumbling Farum Azula is part of the main quest. Players will simply have to defeat the Fire Giant in the Mountaintops of the Giants and light up Melina in the giant kiln. This will transport players to the Crumbling Farum Azula.
18 Lake Of Rot/Nokstella
Lake of Rot and the city of Nokstella were probably awesome on paper. In practice, it’s just players skipping the content by running past them in order to avoid Scarlet Rot and all the tedious enemies. While the city of Nokstella is rewarding thanks to enemies that drop Larval Tear, the Lake of Rot area is neither fun nor challenging.
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It’s just there to frustrate the players once again and is just a mere nuisance in game design as players simply just run past it. It’s topped off with one of the least logical pathways to a boss arena; somehow, coffins are a better transportation method than Torrent.
How To Get There
In order to get to Lake of Rot and eventually, Nokstella, players will also have to complete Ranni’s lengthy questline. Eventually, this will lead to the area. Ranni’s questline is one of the most complex in Elden Ring, so players will want to follow this guide.
17 Castle Sol
Castle Sol almost didn’t make the cut as a Legacy Dungeon on this list since it’s small. But the enemies there ensure that players spend hours dying. The ghost Banished Knights who keep teleporting are too overpowered and leave little room for trial and error.
It’s then topped off with a boss fight that’s equally ridiculous as it forces players to summon or resort to specific tactics that invalidate their character build. The saving grace here (no pun intended) is the reward from the boss and the castle’s treasures.
How To Get There
Players will have to unlock Mountaintops of the Giants in order to get to Castle Sol. It’s an optional area but Mountaintops of the Giants is mandatory so unlocking that region is easy. To get to Castle Sol, players will simply have to head over to the northernmost part of the Mountaintops of the Giants.
16 Caria Manor (Liurnia Of The Lakes)
Once players get past the initial fear and shock of getting assaulted by giant hands, Caria Manor isn’t so bad. The fact that it introduces one of the most terrifying enemies in the game makes it a memorable Legacy Dungeon.
The only issue with it is that it’s too small for a Legacy Dungeon and an area governed by one of the demigods. If players are quick or experienced, they can rush this whole place in just five minutes— boss included.
How To Get There
Caria Manor is located in the northern or northeastern part of Liurnia of the Lakes. It’s up above a hill overlooking the lake. The road is accessible through the western banks of Liurnia.
15 Castle Ensis (Gravesite Plains)
Castle Ensis is a letdown in many ways as there is not much going on in this Legacy Dungeon. It features a relatively linear path with little to no hidden secrets, no backtracking and no reason to revisit the area after it has been cleared.
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight is the only saving grace for this dungeon as she is one of the best-designed bosses in the game, striking the perfect balance between challenging and fair.
How to Get There
Castle Ensis can be found directly northeast of Ellac’s Greatbridge north of the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plains. This area is accessible as soon as players set foot in the Land of Shadow and doesn’t require clearing Belurat, Tower Settlement beforehand.
14 Redmane Castle
Redmane Castle barely counts as a Legacy Dungeon because it’s quite small and there’s not much to do in the area. However, the whole place is oozing with atmosphere and history. It’s Radahn’s castle and supposedly Caelid’s bastion before Malenia nuked the whole continent.
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There are a couple of lions here as enemies and not much apart from a few characters, a missable duo boss fight, and Radahn himself. Despite the lack of activities within this area, visiting the place from time to time (or for the first time) is always a pleasure due to the hauntingly impressive music and scenery.
How To Get There
Getting to Redmane Castle is as easy as following the main road in Caelid. Radahn’s red redoubt is due southeast of Caelid, following the road. Do be aware that the guards are not friendly and will send catapult fire down the player’s approach. There’s a teleporter before the great bridge, but it only unlocks after a certain point during Ranni’s questline.
13 Midra’s Manse (Abyssal Woods)
Midra Manse is little better than Castle Ensis in terms of scale, feeling more like a linear catacomb than an actual Legacy Dungeon. However, there are a lot more secrets to be discovered here, often hidden behind fake walls or accessible via elevated walkways that might be easy to miss.
Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame continues the trend of excellent bosses in lackluster dungeons. The fight is fair, with telegraphed attacks that can be anticipated and dodged with the proper response time but the musical score going on in the background is one of the best in the DLC.
How to Get There
Midra’s Manse can be found at the far edge of the Abyssal Woods. To get her, players will first need to take the hidden ladder behind one of the flaming boats in the area just before the bridge leading to the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace. Follow the route down to the painting room with the illusory wall next to it. Take the ladder down to a coffin that will drop to lower Scadu Altus. Head southwest through the water all the way to the Darklight Catacombs. Clear this dungeon to access the Abyssal Woods. Head to the southwestern edge of the Abyssal Woods to reach Midra’s Manse.
12 Ainsel River
Ainsel River is where players start getting a glimpse of the vastness of Elden Ring‘s underground area. It’s a Legacy Dungeon that supplements the underground wonders brought about by Siofra River (a semi-open-world area). Ainsel River is sprawling, cryptic, and oppressive thanks to a certain mini-boss that’s hard to kill.
Meanwhile, the whole area is also a prime spot for subtle and minimalistic lore exposition. There are tons of Clayman enemies and ants in Ainsel River. As a reward, players also get a glimpse of the Lake of Rot (albeit inaccessible) as a precedent of the worse things to come.
How To Get There
Players can find the entrance to Ainsel River in Ainsel River Well located on the eastern banks of Liurnia. It’s due directly east of the Church of Vows.
11 Subterranean Shunning-Grounds (Leyndell, Royal Capital)
Moving on to debatably good areas, the sewers under Leyndell are quite polarizing. On one hand, it’s great as a horror level; that area is a nightmare maze that rivals Resident Evil titles.
On the other hand, the platforming sections (specifically the one on the pipes with imps) are too overdone. Moreover, putting giant lobsters in a small area is just unnecessary torture. But even then, a lot of players will appreciate the cleverness that went into designing this vast dungeon.
How To Get There
Access to the sewer entrance is through a well near the Avenue Balcony grace in Leyndell, Royal Capital.
10 Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula)
Castle Morne is a good example of a minor Legacy Dungeon done right. It’s supposed to be smaller than the main ones, but it’s still surprisingly lengthy because of all the hidden pathways and traversal involved.
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Moreover, there’s a rather dramatic quest in this place and the area alone is interesting with the story unfolding before the player’s very eyes. There’s an ongoing battle in this place and players can see the enemies in their natural activities instead of just standing by waiting for an ambush.
How To Get There
Follow the road south starting from the Third Church of Marika. Ride past the forest, and then the bridge and keep heading south until Castle Morne looms on the horizon.
9 Ruin-Strewn Precipice (Liurnia Of The Lakes)
Ruin-Strewn Precipice is what happens when the developers decide to turn what could have been a short cave or dungeon into a fully-fledged Dark Souls level. That makes sense for this place since it’s a shortcut to the Altus Plateau.
In essence, the Ruin-Strewn Precipice is just a mine that opened up at the back-end to extend to the Altus Plateau. It’s thus filled with a balanced blend of enemy types that complement one another well. Combined with the manageable platforming, it’s an overall good Legacy Dungeon.
How To Get There
Head for the northernmost tip of the lake in Liurnia of the Lakes.
8 Enir-Ilim
Little comes close to burning the Sealing Tree to reveal the truth of the looming shadow that has been hanging over the entire world for the entirety of the playthrough as the Legacy Dungeon Enir-Ilim. It all culminates into a suitably grand introduction to the final leg of the journey in Shadow of the Erdtree.
That being said, the inside of the dungeon feels half-baked, like the devs were planning on adding three additional wings to it but ran out of time before they could deliver. Each of the four Horned Warrior minibosses could’ve had a longer build-up, a better arena, and more fanfare in general to give the impression it was all leading up to something spectacular.
How to Get There
Enir-Ilim is the very last Legacy Dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. To unlock it, players will have to first defeat Messmer the Impaler in Shadow Keep and then Romina, Saint of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh before burning the sealing tree in front of Romina’s boss arena to fast-travel to Enir-Ilim.
7 Shaded Castle (Altus Plateau)
Not all poison swamps are terrible in Elden Ring. One of them was used strategically well to make an area seem larger than it actually is; the Shaded Castle is a good example of this. The whole moat is poisoned, prompting the players to explore the ramparts and look for shortcuts.
The enemies are not too unfair and complement one another well and there are only a handful of stressful kill zones here. The area itself is also moderately rewarding with a boss arena where players aren’t taxed too heavily for dying.
How To Get There
The Shaded Castle is located between the Altus Plateau and Mt. Gelmir. From the Grand Lift of Dectus, players only need to head north into the valley until they see this castle.
6 Raya Lucaria Academy (Liurnia Of The Lakes)
As far as Legacy Dungeons in Elden Ring go, Raya Lucaria Academy is one of the biggest. Its vertical complexity is astounding thanks to the waterwheel elevator which takes players to some secret depths and opens up a secret shortcut.
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What makes it even more interactive is how it’s connected to the overworld. There are several entrances to this Legacy Dungeon, compelling players to use their creativity and resourcefulness in finding paths. There were some questionable enemy types, but that’s easily forgiven.
How To Get There
Raya Lucaria Academy is located near the center of the lake in Liurnia of the Lakes.
5 Belurat, Tower Settlement
Belurat, Tower Settlement is reminiscent of the old-school Dark Souls 1 and 3 world in the best way. The circuitous routes, the backtracking, and its interconnectedness would all be right at home as an expansion of any DS title.
The enemy variety leaves something to be desired as the only two enemies that are memorable in any way are the grave birds and the horned soldiers. That said, the final boss, the Divine Beast Dancing Lion more than makes up for it.
How to Get There
Take the road west of the Three Path Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plains through the tunnel. The road leads directly to the entrance of Belurat, Tower Settlement.
4 Stormveil Castle (Limgrave)
Stormveil Castle sets an example of the RPG qualities of Elden Ring. As early as the main gate, players are presented with two choices: storm the gate or sneak through a hidden path. The latter does lead to more interesting content but nevertheless, Stormveil Castle is a lovely maze begging to be solved.
There are plenty of locked rooms and winding shortcuts to pique anyone’s attention. Going off the intended path and finding it also requires the same amount of effort. It’s easy to get lost in Stormveil Castle, but even a blunder like that gets a fair recompense in this area.
How To Get There
Stormveil Castle is accessible from Stormhill Shack grace in Limgrave. Players just need to follow the road until it forks to the west. They’ll have to turn westward to reach Stormveil Castle’s gates.
3 Volcano Manor (Mt. Gelmir)
The rest of the Volcano Manor (past the lobby) is a whole Legacy Dungeon that’s easily missed if players aren’t inquisitive or curious enough. That’s why exploring this area is so rewarding. Every tap on the wall for a fake barrier or branching path always seems to lead somewhere interesting.
The simple act of going wayward inside this castle also leads to uncovering the Volcano Manor’s biggest secrets. To that end, it’s one of the most well-designed Legacy Dungeons in Elden Ring and certainly a contender for one of the best levels in a Soulsborne game.
How To Get There
There are three methods of getting to Volcano Manor:
- Through Rya’s questline starting from Liurnia of the Lakes.
- Through Raya Lucaria Academy. At the bottom of the area housing the giant water wheel elevator, there’s an Abductor Virgin. Getting killed by that particular Abuductor Virgin will transport players to an area of Volcano Manor.
- Manually finding Volcano Manor starting from Windmill Village grace in Altus Plateau. From Windmill Village, players need to follow the road that leads southwest toward Mt. Gelmir. Once they’re past a large bridge, there’s a camp with a hidden ladder to the left side (starting from the bridge) near a cliff wall.
2 Shadow Keep (Scadu Altus)
The Shadow Keep is one of the best Legacy dungeons in all of Elden Ring and definitely the most memorable one in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Not only is the location well-designed, but there are layers upon layers of levels that peel back like an onion as players explore more and more of the area. There is a linear path leading right up to the final boss fight against Messmer, but for the keen-eyed explorer, secret passageways lead to the Abyssal Woods, the Hinterlands, and the Finger Ruins of Dheo.
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The only thing to complain about the Shadow Keep is its overreliance on Fire Knights as a means of increasing the difficulty of navigation. As one of the most annoying enemies in the game, Fire Knights are the bane of anyone not running a Stagger-heavy build. While one or two of these enemies would be understandable obstacles at key locations, the Shadow Keep has them crawling out of every hole players are likely to poke their heads into.
How to Get There
The main route to Shadow Keep involves first clearing Castle Ensis before heading northeast through Scadu Altus to reach the destination just past the Furnace Golem. There is a shortcut in the form of a sealed spiritspring that allows players to skip clearing Castle Ensis and jump straight to Scadu Altus’s Fort of Reprimand to reach Shadow Keep. This route does not involve any boss fights.
1 Leyndell, Royal Capital (Altus Plateau)
One of the most magical moments in the original Dark Souls is seeing Anor Londo for the first time. It’s safe to say Elden Ring managed to surpass that feeling with Leyndell, Royal Capital. It’s a huge city (probably the biggest Legacy Dungeon) that’s not just for show.
Every building, every rooftop, and even the depths of the ground level are accessible if players know where to jump. Being able to jump down the roofs of hundreds of houses to get to the streets below without ruining progression or using a gargantuan dead dragon’s corpse to climb up is a great show of how far level design has come in Soulsborne games.
How To Get There
Leyndell is due east of Altus Plateau. The entrance, however, is at the northern part of the wall guarded by a Draconic Tree Sentinel.
