The realm of shadows in the DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree” in Elden Ring is very complex and designed much more vertically than the areas in the main game. So that you don't miss any region, we'll show you the paths to all areas and the locations of the map fragments to uncover the map.
Reveal map & find map fragments
At the beginning, the map of the Shadow Realm is completely covered by the fog of war. Just like in the main game, you have to find map fragments to gradually reveal them. In the expansion you can find a total of five map fragments to completely unlock the map. Below we describe the fastest ways to get there.
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Gravefield Plain
For the first map fragment, you just have to walk a little northeast to the main road after entering the grave field level for the first time. Just before the scorched ruins you will find the fragment by the pillar at the side of the road.
Scadu Altus
Starting from the last map fragment, follow the road northwards and you will reach the three-way intersection. Here you will meet the first NPCs, Needle Knight Leda and the Horn Herald. If you follow the path westwards, you will also reach the tower settlement of Belurat. This is the first major dungeon in the game, which you can tackle as your first challenge. Before that, you will also meet two more NPCs, Sir Ansbach and Moore.
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For the next map fragment, follow the main path further north of the three-way intersection over the large bridge of the Ellac. This will take you to Ensis Castle, the second large dungeon. From here you have two options to reach the next area, Scadu Altus.
You can either follow the main path through Ensis Castle, where a difficult boss fight awaits you at the end. Or you can take the path in front of the castle, heading south-east and down. Further east you will then come to a sealed jumping passage for your horse. To unseal this, you must destroy the pile of stones on the slope above.
The passage then catapults you up behind the Fortress of Rebuke. From here you can follow the path further north to the map fragment. The paths are traced again in detail on the map below.
South bank
For the southern part of the map, start again from the Place of Grace in front of Ensis Castle. Walk down the path towards the southeast and then turn left further down to the Riverbed of the Ellac Walk further south along the riverbed and through various caves until you reach the “Sky Blue Shore” area. From here, walk further south to the stele with the map fragment.
The paths to the left and right after the stele lead you to the larger dungeon “Crack in the Stone Coffin” and to one of the finger ruins.
Ruins of Rauh
From the map fragment in Scadu Altus, the path to the Ruins of Rauh is not far. Just follow the path southwest to the ruins of Moorth. To the north of there you can follow a path through a cave. After the cave you will come to an open swamp area, which you follow west.
This will eventually take you to the Place of Grace “Foot of the Ancient Ruins”. From here, simply follow the path in a straight line towards the southwest until you reach the map fragment in front of the ruins of the temple city.
Abyss
This will likely be your last map fragment, as to reach Abyssal Wood you must enter the Shadow Keep north in Scadu Altus. Note that you will trigger the next step in many NPC quests as soon as you enter the entrance area of the Shadow Keep!
After entering, you must first defeat the golden hippo in the boss fight. Then follow the path until you come to the passage with the burning boats. At the eastern end, a ladder leads down into the sewers, where you will find an open coffin behind an illusion wall (in the room with the painting) that you must climb into. This will transport you to the castle's watering hole.
Now continue walking along the river towards the south until you reach the Darklight Catacombs At the end of this dungeon you have to defeat the boss to then reach the Abyssal Forest. Keep running in the forest towards the southeast until you reach the abandoned church. Shortly before that you will find the stele with the map fragment.
Find all other hidden areas
By collecting the map fragments you can access most of the regions of the DLC. But there are also more hidden areas. Below we will show you the exact entrances.
Charo's hidden tomb
In front of Ensis Castle, follow the path towards the southeast and continue up the path to the waypoint at the colonnade. Now don’t run any further up the left side to the high tower, but run along the slope to the right until you reach the “Dragon Pit” dungeon. You have to cross this to get to the other side.
A dragon fight awaits you at the crossroads. To the left you go to the Blade Peak and to the right you will reach the Altar of Dragon Communion. Make your way over the giant dragon carcass to enter the area behind it with the many red flowers. Continue along the path and you will reach Charo's hidden grave.
Cathedral of Manus Metyr
In Scadu Altus, follow the eastern path to the ruins of Moorth. Here you will find a huge hole in the ground that you must slowly climb down. At the end, a ladder leads up to the Bonny village. Walk over the suspension bridges to the east and then follow the path anti-clockwise to the cathedral of Manus Metyr. The resident Lord Ymir will give you an extensive series of quests.
Backland
This particularly well-hidden area in the far northeast of the map is the most difficult to reach. First, you need the “Oh Mother” gesture, which you can find in the open field directly north of Bonny Village.
With the gesture in your luggage, you now have to fight your way to the back gate of the Shadow Keep. A boss fight awaits you in the field behind the castle, but to the right of it you can enter a side room with a statue at the end. You now have to use the gesture in front of the statue so that it moves. The path behind it then leads you into the hinterland.