The Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the expansion’s most mysterious and Elden Ring Runes dangerous areas. Cloaked in perpetual twilight and filled with distorted wildlife, it’s a zone designed to test both your curiosity and your caution. Players who wander in unprepared often find themselves lost in the dark or ambushed by the forest’s horrors. This guide will teach you how to explore the Abyssal Woods efficiently — from reaching the area safely to navigating its deadly shadows and uncovering every secret it hides.

What Makes the Abyssal Woods Unique

The Abyssal Woods are a late-game area within the Shadow Realm, located southeast of the Scadu Altus. It’s an eerie, fog-drenched forest where natural light is almost nonexistent, and enemies rely on stealth and illusion rather than brute force. Unlike many regions in Elden Ring, combat isn’t always the best solution here — stealth, observation, and patience are often the keys to survival.

Exploring efficiently requires understanding that this isn’t a zone to sprint through. The area is built as a labyrinth of interconnected clearings, narrow trails, and hidden passages. Many of its best treasures lie off the beaten path, and a single misstep can alert enemies that will chase you relentlessly.

Step 1: How to Reach the Abyssal Woods

Before you can explore, you need to reach the Abyssal Woods — and the path isn’t straightforward.

Start at Scadu Altus: Travel to the Highroad Cross Site of Grace in the southern region.

Locate the Cathedral of Manus Metyr: Head east and complete any side objectives connected to Count Ymir or the Cathedral questline. This opens the Ruins of Unte.

Find the Hidden Path: In the Ruins of Unte, drop into the well that leads into a long, pitch-black tunnel. Bring a Lantern or Torch of Night — visibility is essential.

Defeat the Guardian Enemy: You’ll encounter a hidden boss-like foe guarding the entrance to the Abyssal Woods — defeating it unlocks the forest proper.

Once you step through, you’ll arrive at the Abyssal Woods Site of Grace, your central checkpoint.

Step 2: Prepare Your Loadout

Because the Abyssal Woods emphasize stealth and endurance over raw power, efficient explorers prepare specialized gear:

Lantern or Torch of Night: Keep one equipped at all times. The woods are nearly pitch black, and many enemies rely on hiding in darkness.

Light Armor: You’ll need speed and quiet movement. Heavy armor increases detection risk.

Stealth Talismans: Equip Crepus’s Vial or the Concealing Veil to reduce noise and visibility.

Bow or Crossbow: Long-range weapons let you pick off threats without drawing attention.

Status Resistance Gear: Many creatures here inflict Madness or Death Blight, so consider the Clarifying Horn Charm and Mottled Necklace.

Keep a few Starlight Shards or Glowstones on hand as breadcrumbs — these help you mark paths when the forest’s maze-like design becomes disorienting.

Step 3: Learn the Enemy Patterns

Efficient exploration in the Abyssal Woods means avoiding unnecessary combat. The area’s enemies are designed to punish aggression. Here are the key types to look out for:

Mad Shadows: Shadowy humanoids that blend into the fog. They move silently and strike when you turn your back. Use Beast-Repellent Torch to keep them at bay.

Dappled Deer and Wolves: Seem passive but can turn aggressive if you attack or sprint nearby. Move slowly and observe their paths.

Mindflayer-like Horrors: They inflict rapid Madness buildup. Use terrain and cover to break line of sight — they can’t attack through obstacles.

Abyssal Spirits: Invisible until you’re very close. Throw Glowstones or cast Revealing Order to reveal them early.

By watching these patterns, you can chart routes that bypass most fights, saving time and resources.

Step 4: Map Out Your Exploration Route

The Abyssal Woods are divided into three main regions:

1. Western Thicket (Entrance Area)

Home to several Mad Shadow patrols.

Contains early loot such as Smithing Stones (7–8) and Madness-resistant talismans.

Best approach: Move along the left-hand cliffs to avoid patrol routes.

2. Central Grove (Mid-Zone)

A fog-filled basin with collapsed ruins and spectral wildlife.

Hidden Cave of Offerings contains high-tier crafting mats and spirit ashes.

Tip: Drop Glowstones to mark your path — it’s easy to get turned around here.

3. Eastern Hollow (Boss Approach)

Home to elite Abyssal Horrors and a massive tree where the zone’s boss, the Watcher in the Dark, lurks.

You’ll find Abyssal Spirit Ashes, one of the strongest summons in the DLC, inside a chest guarded by an invisible spirit.

Recommended approach: Move via elevated ridges to avoid triggering multiple enemy spawns at once.

By progressing methodically — one sub-area at a time — you can explore the entire woods in under two hours while minimizing risk.

Step 5: Manage Light and Sound

Light plays a dual role in the Abyssal Woods: it helps you see, but it also reveals you. Efficient explorers toggle their Lantern off when sneaking near enemies and rely on Glowstones or Starlight spells to illuminate without detection.

Sound is equally important. Running, rolling, or breaking branches alerts nearby enemies. Use crouch movement as your default. Only sprint in open terrain when you’re confident it’s clear.

Step 6: Collect Rewards Without Backtracking

To save time, plan your route so you don’t revisit cleared zones. Focus on these key pickups:

Abyssal Spirit Ashes – Summon of a spectral knight found near the eastern tree.

Talisman of the Deep Night – Boosts stealth and damage in low-light areas. Found in the central ruins.

Memory Stone – Hidden behind an illusory wall in the Cave of Offerings.

Watcher’s Rune Fragment – Needed to unlock a secret ending related to the Abyssal questline.

Completing the full exploration nets not just these treasures but also a deeper lore understanding of the Abyss itself.

Step 7: Escape or Reset Safely

Once you’ve cleared the zone or found all major items, return to the Abyssal Woods Site of Grace and rest. Avoid fast-traveling mid-combat — it’s easy to get trapped if enemies are still chasing you. If you die deep in the woods, your Runes can be hard to retrieve due to disorientation. Drop Glowstones near key turns so you can retrace your steps if needed.

Final Tips

Don’t rush. The Abyssal Woods reward patience more than aggression.

Use Night Comet or Ambush Shard spells — they blend into darkness and allow for silent kills.

Rest frequently at discovered Sites of Grace to avoid long corpse runs.

If you get lost, follow the sound of whispering spirits — they often guide toward exits or hidden loot.

Conclusion

Efficient exploration of the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is about more than just surviving — it’s about mastering the rhythm of darkness. Move with intent, observe your surroundings, and cheap Elden Ring Runes use stealth as your greatest weapon. With preparation, patience, and a keen eye for light and shadow, you’ll uncover every secret this haunting forest guards — and walk out of the Abyssal Woods not as prey, but as a hunter of the dark.