Finding the Boss Commander Gaius and the Hinterlands in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

To make your journey through the Shadow Realm in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree as pleasant as possible, we'll give you tips on how to get to Commander Gaius and the Hinterlands. The boss and the hidden area actually have nothing to do with each other, but the route to them is almost identical.

Only a few meters before the goal you have to decide on one of two directions. In our guide we explain how to get to the back gate of the Shadow Keep and what you have to do afterwards to get to Commander Gaius and the Hinterland.

Reading tip: The questlines of Prince Ymir and Jolán in Shadow of the Erdtree

First step: The way to the back gate in the Shadow Keep

Do you want to go to Commander Gaius or to the Hinterlands? No matter which of the two goals you are pursuing: you must first reach the place of grace “Shadow Keep, Back Gate”.

In order to enter the Hinterland, you also need a certain gesture. You can collect it with a little detour along the way, without having to take a long detour. In both cases, start with the following steps:

• Go to the ruins of Moorth in Scadu Altus. They are located west of the Cross on the High Road place of grace. They are easy to find as there is also a cross nearby.
• In the southeast area of ​​the ruins, look for a large hole near a destroyed house. There you have to drop down bit by bit and then follow the path to a long ladder.
• Once you've climbed it, you'll land in Bonny Village. Run north and look for a small statue in front of a bare tree. There you'll find the gesture called “Oh, Mother,” which you need to enter the Hinterlands.

Source: PCGames

• Return to Bonny Village and continue across the bridge to the east. The path will take you past the whipping hut and a furnace giant. Continue to follow it until you come to the fork in the road at the Place of Grace “High Road to the Church District”.
• Take the right path (or the northern one from the map perspective) and you will end up in the church district of the Schattenbergfried.
• Jump onto the roof directly in front of you and then onto the one directly behind you. At the back right you can now run up the broken steps and hop onto the wall. Turn left, jump onto the next roof and continue running to the left.
• At the end of the smaller roof, you will see a flying buttress to your left, which will take you to the next roof. Once you get there, you have to look for a hole through which you can drop down onto a stone arch inside. Get yourself back on solid ground and then drop down through the hole one floor below.

Source: PCGames

• Run straight ahead and past the first fire knight. Enter the second corridor on the left and walk across the bridge to the large elevator. This will take you to the rehearsal warehouse and in the room on the left the place of grace “warehouse, rear area” awaits you.
• Continue on your way and climb the ladder. Look for the wooden stairs that will take you up one floor and then for a hole in the wall. Once outside, work your way along the wall until you get back inside and can rest at the Place of Mercy “Warehouse, Attic”.
• Use the small elevators and ladders to maneuver your way through the roof until you get back outside. Now use the wooden elevator and then the large elevator to go further down. There you will find the place of grace “Shadow Keep, Back Gate”.

How to get to Commander Gaius

Once you have completed the long journey, you are only a few steps away from the boss fight against Commander Gaius. Simply run straight outside and the enemy will come towards you. There is no way around the fight if you want to collect all the Scadu Tree fragments in the DLC.

How to get to the hinterland

If you want to go to the hinterland instead, you don't have to go far either. Run to the right at the Place of Mercy until you come to a statue. Use the “Oh, Mother” gesture that you collected north of Bonny Village directly in front of it. A path will then open up in front of you and you can follow it into the hinterland.

The area itself is optional and you do not have to have been there to complete the expansion. However, if you Questline of Lord Ymir, you will have to pay a visit to the Hinterlands.