Abyssal Woods is a secret and optional area in Elden Ring that can only be accessed through a secret path in Shadow Keep. Home to the followers of Frenzied Flame, this area holds some of the scariest enemies and one of the best boss fights in the game.
In this guide, we will teach you how to reach the Abyssal Woods and how you can navigate it to reach Midra’s Manse without getting killed by Aging Untouchables.
How to Reach Abyssal Woods
Abyssal Woods is a hidden area in Shadow of the Erdtree that can only be accessed by following an alternate path in Shadow Keep. To reach this area, you must continue your journey until you reach the Shadowkeep.
Once you reach the Main Gate Plaza site of grace, go forward until you reach a courtyard with burning boats. From there, turn left to find a ladder leading below.
Climb down the ladder and turn right to go through the waterfall. You will find another ladder leading further below. This will take you to a room with the “The Domain of Dragons” painting.
Hit the illusory wall to the right of the painting with two torches. Enter the hidden path and interact with the Stone Coffin. A cutscene will trigger, and it will transport you to the Castle Watering Hole site of Grace in the Recluses’ River area.
This area is filled with dead Furnace Golems. However, one of them will turn active once you get near it. Go south until you reach the Recluses’ River Upstream site of Grace.
This will lead you to a perilous terrain. Use the spectral steed, Torrent, to climb down until you reach the Recluses’ River Downstream site of grace.
Look down carefully to find a gravestone. Use it as a step to drop down. Keep descending until you reach a graveyard full of fog. Travel northeast to locate the entrance to the Darklight Catacombs.
As the name suggests, Darklight Catacombs is devoid of any light. Make sure to use the torch to traverse this mini-dungeon. This dungeon is full of imp enemies and a large Impmouth that shoots cannonballs at you.
Make your way to the end of the Darklight Catacombs to find Joi, Elder Inquisitor. He is the final boss of the dungeon. Defeat him and you will be instantly transported to the Abyssal Woods area of Elden Ring.
You can’t use Torrent in Abyssal Woods, as it will refuse to appear. This makes traversing the area not only difficult but also one of the scariest moments in Elden Ring.
Abyssal Woods Walkthrough
Before entering Abyssal Woods, make sure that you have enough items that can protect you from Frenzy. Once you reach the Forsaken Graveyard site of grace, travel southwest to find the map fragment called Abyss.
On your way, you will encounter Madding Hand invader. This NPC uses frenzy attacks and can kill you instantly if you are not well prepared. Defeat him and make your way to the Abandoned Church. Rest at the Church Ruins site of grace.
Interact with a dead body to collect the map fragment of Abyssal Woods. Make sure to also collect the Scadutree Fragment. From there, travel southeast to reach Midra’s Manse.
This area is full of fog and dangerous enemies known as Aging Untouchables (also known as Winter Lanterns). These enemies can’t be killed and don’t take any damage. If they spot you, they will transport to your location and instant kill you with their grab attacks.
Make sure that you hide amongst the tall grass while moving southwest. Avoid the Aging Touchables at all costs. You can also follow the northern route for an easy approach to Midra’s Manse. This area is littered with Frenzy-inducing rats and some important collectibles like Smithing Stone 7.
Midra’s Manse can be noticed from afar as a lot of headless corpses surround it. Once you reach the Manse, force your way through it until you reach Midra, Lord of Frenzy. He is one of the most difficult bosses in Eden Ring and uses Frenzied Flame blast attacks to kill the players.
This is everything you can do and find in Abyssal Woods. This area has nothing more to offer once you defeat its main boss, Midra. You can always explore and try your luck at defeating the Aging Untouchables.
