Elden Ring's HundoDex

Shadow Keep

Messmer's stronghold, with the Church District, the Specimen Storehouse and its rotating floors, and Messmer the Impaler at the top.

  • Suggested level: 135–150
  • DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree

Bosses

  • Golden Hippopotamus: Charges at you in front of the Shadow Keep Main Gate; beating it opens the Main Gate Plaza grace. Stay at its side away from the bite and roll through the bulldozing charge; it also leaves two Scadutree Fragments.
  • Messmer the Impaler: Fought at the top of the Specimen Storehouse beyond the Dark Chamber Entrance grace. Dodge toward him through the spear combos, and in the second phase watch for the serpent heads.
  • Commander Gaius: Rides his boar outside the Shadow Keep's Back Gate. Dodge sideways from the charges, never straight back, and hit him while the boar turns around.
  • Scadutree Avatar: Waits at the Scadutree Base below the Church District. It revives twice from the flowers around the arena, so keep hitting and roll away from the golden blasts.

Sites of Grace

  • Shadow Keep Main Gate
  • Main Gate Plaza
  • Storehouse, First Floor
  • Storehouse, Fourth Floor
  • Storehouse, Seventh Floor
  • Storehouse, Back Section
  • Tree-Worship Passage
  • Tree-Worship Sanctum
  • Dark Chamber Entrance
  • Messmer's Dark Chamber
  • West Rampart
  • Church District Entrance
  • Sunken Chapel
  • Storehouse, Loft
  • Shadow Keep, Back Gate

Items found here

  • Shadow Militiaman Helm (Shadow of the Erdtree): The fast, shadow-wrapped militiamen with glowing eyes drop it; four show up right by the Main Gate Plaza grace in the Shadow Keep.
  • Fire Knight Helm (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights inside the Shadow Keep drop it; the one across the bridge west of the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace respawns close by.
  • Winged Serpent Helm (Shadow of the Erdtree): In the Specimen Storehouse, pull the lever that turns the statues, climb them to the upper room, then beat the strong Fire Knight waiting out on the bridge.
  • Death Mask Helm (Shadow of the Erdtree): A unique Fire Knight in a ruined building north-west of the Sunken Chapel grace drops it once the Church District water is drained.
  • Shadow Militiaman Armor (Shadow of the Erdtree): The fast, shadow-wrapped militiamen with glowing eyes drop it; four show up right by the Main Gate Plaza grace in the Shadow Keep.
  • Fire Knight Armor (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights inside the Shadow Keep drop it; the one across the bridge west of the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace respawns close by.
  • Fire Knight Armor (Altered) (Shadow of the Erdtree): Altered look of the Fire Knight Armor, which is a Fire Knight drop; switch it at a grace and back whenever you like.
  • Shadow Militiaman Gauntlets (Shadow of the Erdtree): The fast, shadow-wrapped militiamen with glowing eyes drop it; four show up right by the Main Gate Plaza grace in the Shadow Keep.
  • Fire Knight Gauntlets (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights inside the Shadow Keep drop it; the one across the bridge west of the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace respawns close by.
  • Shadow Militiaman Greaves (Shadow of the Erdtree): The fast, shadow-wrapped militiamen with glowing eyes drop it; four show up right by the Main Gate Plaza grace in the Shadow Keep.
  • Fire Knight Greaves (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights inside the Shadow Keep drop it; the one across the bridge west of the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace respawns close by.
  • Ash of War: Flame Spear (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse: after moving the statues with the lever, go outside and up the stairs to a Fire Knight on the bridge; he drops it.
  • Ash of War: Wall of Sparks (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse: ride the left lift down from the grace on the first floor, take the first right then the first left, and a body lies on the railing.
  • Ash of War: Shield Strike (Shadow of the Erdtree): Comes fitted to the Dueling Shield on the upper wooden walkways of the Specimen Storehouse (also on the Carian Thrusting Shield); remove it at a smithing table.
  • Messmer's Kindling (Shadow of the Erdtree): Dropped by Messmer the Impaler at the top of Shadow Keep.
  • Secret Rite Scroll (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse: leave the fourth-floor grace, slip left past the Fire Knight and down a staircase; the scroll lies on a desk at the back.
  • Letter for Freyja (Shadow of the Erdtree): Sir Ansbach writes it on the storehouse's first floor after you give him the Secret Rite Scroll and tell him about Freyja.
  • Miquella's Great Rune (Shadow of the Erdtree): Dropped by the Scadutree Avatar at the Scadutree Base, reached from the Tree-Worship Sanctum below Shadow Keep.
  • Remembrance of the Impaler (Shadow of the Erdtree): Dropped by Messmer the Impaler at the top of Shadow Keep. Trade it to Finger Reader Enia in Roundtable Hold for the Spear of the Impaler or Messmer's Orb.
  • Remembrance of the Shadow Sunflower (Shadow of the Erdtree): Dropped by the Scadutree Avatar at the Scadutree Base, past the Tree-Worship Sanctum. Trade it to Finger Reader Enia in Roundtable Hold for the Shadow Sunflower Blossom or Land of Shadow.
  • Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider (Shadow of the Erdtree): Dropped by Commander Gaius, fought past the Shadow Keep, Back Gate grace. Trade it to Finger Reader Enia in Roundtable Hold for the Sword Lance or Blades of Stone.
  • Battlefield Priest's Cookbook [1] (Shadow of the Erdtree): Church District: with Marika's statue in front of you, go into the right-hand room and up the stairs to the balcony.
  • Battlefield Priest's Cookbook [4] (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse: ride the left lift down from the first-floor grace, head right to the end of the corridor and hit the left wall to expose a hidden passage.
  • Domain of Dragons Painting (Shadow of the Erdtree): Shadow Keep: from the Main Gate Plaza grace descend the ladder on the east side, cross behind the waterfall and take the next ladder down to the painting room. Solve it on a small ledge reached by spiritspring south-west of the Jagged Peak Mountainside grace.
  • Hefty Cracked Pot (Shadow of the Erdtree): Shadow Keep: past the West Rampart grace, lying on a bed in the next room, where an Iris of Grace also waits.
  • Mantle of Thorns (Shadow of the Erdtree): Kill the small Ulcerated Tree Spirit that bursts out of the ground in the Church District of Shadow Keep.
  • Impenetrable Thorns (Shadow of the Erdtree): In the Specimen Storehouse area of Shadow Keep, on an outside ledge next to a hanging bat; climb out along the rotated beams.
  • Wrath from Afar (Shadow of the Erdtree): Ride the lift from the Storehouse, Loft grace in Shadow Keep, cross the rafters and drop onto the big cogwheel holding it.
  • Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns (Shadow of the Erdtree): Reward for beating the Golden Hippopotamus at the Shadow Keep Main Gate.
  • Fire Serpent (Shadow of the Erdtree): Climb the ladder near the Storehouse, Back Section grace in Shadow Keep, then take the stairs out to a balcony where it lies.
  • Rain of Fire (Shadow of the Erdtree): Cross the long bridge from Shadow Keep's West Rampart grace toward Rauh; the Fire Knight waiting on the far side drops it.
  • Fire Knight Hilde (Shadow of the Erdtree): Ride the lift from the Storehouse, Loft grace, cross the rafters to a second lift and jump from the roof of the rising car to the ledge.
  • Fire Knight Queelign (Shadow of the Erdtree): Give Fire Knight Queelign the Iris of Grace in the prayer room of Shadow Keep's Church District at the end of his questline.
  • Talisman of Lord's Bestowal (Shadow of the Erdtree): West of the Main Gate Plaza grace, climb the wooden walkway, slip into a side room at the corner and jump out of its window to the golden tree.
  • Boltdrake Talisman +3 (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse, first floor: climb the book piles right of the grace onto the wooden bridge and drop off its far side.
  • Pearldrake Talisman +3 (Shadow of the Erdtree): Specimen Storehouse: pull the lever reached from the seventh-floor grace to move the statue, then reach it from the third floor and take it from the statue's beard.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): Defeating the Golden Hippopotamus at the Shadow Keep's main gate gives two fragments; this is one.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): Second fragment from the Golden Hippopotamus boss at the Shadow Keep main gate.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): Next to Miquella's Cross at the Storehouse, Fourth Floor grace in the Specimen Storehouse.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): Through the large double doors just before the Dark Chamber Entrance grace, in front of a small Marika statue.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): Resting in the hand of the big Marika statue in the flooded Church District; draining the water first makes the jump far easier.
  • Scadutree Fragment (Shadow of the Erdtree): In the room to the right of the Shadow Keep, Back Gate grace, at the feet of a Marika statue.
  • Revered Spirit Ash (Shadow of the Erdtree): In the Specimen Storehouse, climb onto the feet of the giant statue near the Storehouse, First Floor grace and drop carefully onto the horned beast statue below.
  • Revered Spirit Ash (Shadow of the Erdtree): Cross to the far side from the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace and hop along the left railings onto the hanging beast statue.
  • Fire Knight's Shortsword (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights armed with it drop it now and then (about 4%); farm the one across the bridge west of the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace.
  • Main-gauche (Shadow of the Erdtree): Starting from the Main Gate Plaza grace in Shadow Keep, walk west and up the stairs; the corpse carrying it lies in the first room on your right, and from there you turn right once more.
  • Sword of Darkness (Shadow of the Erdtree): Not a separate pickup: take the Stone-Sheathed Sword to one of the two remaining sword altars to turn it into this form; the altars switch forms back and forth.
  • Queelign's Greatsword (Shadow of the Erdtree): Reward at the end of Fire Knight Queelign's questline after you hand him the Iris of Occultation.
  • Fire Knight's Greatsword (Shadow of the Erdtree): Fire Knights with this sword drop it now and then (about 4%); farm the one on the bridge east of and above the Main Gate Plaza grace.
  • Ansbach's Longbow (Shadow of the Erdtree): During Needle Knight Leda's questline you must face Sir Ansbach in Shadow Keep; whether you invade him or help him, you get the longbow.
  • Fire Knight's Seal (Shadow of the Erdtree): From the Sunken Chapel grace, go north then left into the ruined building with a giant statue and look behind the statue.
  • Golden Lion Shield (Shadow of the Erdtree): Redmane Freyja gives it to you on the Specimen Storehouse's seventh floor once you deliver the letter Sir Ansbach writes for her.
  • Dueling Shield (Shadow of the Erdtree): On the Specimen Storehouse's third floor, where a Fire Knight waits on the balcony, head south over the bridge and hop onto the column on the left halfway across.
  • Carian Thrusting Shield (Shadow of the Erdtree): Go west from the Storehouse, Back Section grace; a Fire Knight stands guard over the shield.

Walkthrough: Scadu Altus: Bonny Village and the Broken Charm

  • From Moorth Ruins, ride north-east to a lake; a Scadutree Fragment sits by the Marika statue at the cave mouth beyond it.
  • Go through the cave into the poison swamp and cross it to its north-east corner.
  • Talk to the Forager waiting there for Forager Brood Cookbook [5].
  • Back at Moorth Ruins, head south-east into the town and take the dirt road north down to the path below.
  • Follow that path to its end at the Bonny Village grace.
  • Cross the river basin north-east and keep going to the corpse beneath a tree, which carries the O Mother gesture.
  • Optional: at the northern tip of the narrow ravine through Bonny Village, a statue holds a Revered Spirit Ash.
  • Before going on, finish any conversations you still owe; the next bridge breaks Miquella's charm and changes several questlines for good.
  • Go south-east and cross the bridges toward the east to the Bridge Leading to the Village grace; a message announces that a Great Rune has shattered.
  • Stay on the road heading north to reach and light the Church District Highroad grace.
  • Ride west to the cliff and climb the rocks to the north-west, then talk to the Forager to receive Forager Brood Cookbook [6].
  • Back on the road, look for the tunnel opening to the west; inside it, light the Church District Entrance grace for a later visit.

Walkthrough: Shadow Keep: Golden Hippopotamus and the Specimen Storehouse

  • Enter Shadow Keep through the camp and ride the lift up to the Shadow Keep Main Gate grace.
  • Summon Hornsent and Redmane Freyja, then defeat the Golden Hippopotamus for Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns and two Scadutree Fragments.
  • Touch the Main Gate Plaza grace that appears after the fight.
  • Climb the path to a crossroads lined with giant braziers; leave its two summon signs alone for now.
  • Take the south road down the ramp and open the shortcut door back to Main Gate Plaza.
  • Climb back up the hill, where a lift rises to the Storehouse, First Floor grace.
  • Climb onto the horned beast statue on this floor and take the Revered Spirit Ash from it.
  • From the grace, keep left at both forks and ride the elevator down.
  • Continue to the bottom, where an Iris of Grace lies before the altar in a room packed with pots.
  • Press on along the same route to touch the West Rampart grace for later.
  • Back at Storehouse, First Floor, go left and then right between the bookshelves and climb the stairs.
  • Take the stairs down and enter the room on the north side, then speak with Sir Ansbach; you come back to him a number of times.
  • Keep climbing the storehouse until you reach the Storehouse, Fourth Floor grace.
  • Claim the Scadutree Fragment at the Miquella's Cross by the fourth-floor grace.
  • Pick up Leda's Storehouse Cross Message beside the cross.
  • Go west until a staircase falls away to your left, descend it and take the Secret Rite Scroll in that room.
  • Keep exploring upward until you hear voices, then climb the stairs to the Storehouse, Seventh Floor grace.
  • Cross the small bridge east of the grace and take the Revered Spirit Ash from the hanging statue on your left.
  • Find Redmane Freyja on this floor and speak with her.
  • Return to Sir Ansbach near Storehouse, First Floor and tell him about Freyja.
  • Give Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll; without it he never joins the later fights.
  • Rest at a grace and speak with him again to receive the Letter for Freyja.
  • Deliver the letter to Freyja on the seventh floor and receive the Golden Lion Shield.
  • Descend the eastern stairs from the seventh floor; a lever waits in the adjoining room, so pull it.
  • Push on to the Dark Chamber Entrance grace.
  • Take the Scadutree Fragment in front of the small Marika statue near the grace.
  • Stop here: walking into Messmer's arena removes the Hornsent and Leda summon signs, so settle those choices first.

Walkthrough: Shadow Keep: Choosing Sides in Leda's Hunt

  • From Storehouse, First Floor, ride the lift back down to the brazier crossroads; two summon signs wait at its south-east corner.
  • Pick a side: the gold sign defends Hornsent for Ash of War: Swift Slash and Leda's Rune; the red sign helps Leda kill him for the Hornsent Set and Falx.
  • If you helped Leda, visit her at Highroad Cross for the Lacerating Crossed-Tree, then reload and talk to her again.
  • If you sided with Leda, return to Storehouse, First Floor, where a red sign for Leda and a gold one for Ansbach now appear.
  • Choose again: the gold sign saves Ansbach for Ansbach's Longbow and Leda's Rune; the red sign helps Leda kill him for Ansbach's Longbow and Ansbach's Set.
  • If Ansbach survived, talk to him after the fight; only a living Ansbach can later hand over his finest weapons.
  • If you helped Leda kill Ansbach, see her at Highroad Cross for the Retaliatory Crossed-Tree.

Walkthrough: Shadow Keep: Messmer the Impaler

  • Inside Messmer's arena, use Hornsent's sign on the right or Jolán's on the left; a summoned Hornsent later invades near the Church of the Bud instead.
  • Defeat Messmer the Impaler for the Remembrance of the Impaler and Messmer's Kindling.
  • Touch the Messmer's Dark Chamber grace that appears in the arena.
  • If Hornsent fought beside you, rest and talk to him in the arena; if you miss him there, he waits at Highroad Cross.
  • At Highroad Cross, pick up the Message from Leda left beside the cross.
  • If you ignored the first pair of signs, talk to Hornsent and Leda at Highroad Cross, reload, then speak to Leda again to start her hunt for Ansbach.
  • Wearing the Divine Beast Head, visit the Hornsent Grandam at Small Private Altar for a Gourmet Scorpion Stew.
  • Reload and collect a second Gourmet Scorpion Stew while she sleeps.

Walkthrough: Shadow Keep: Church District and the Scadutree Avatar

  • From Church District Entrance, work through the district until you drop through the church roof.
  • Inside the church, go east and unlock the Prayer Room with the Prayer Room Key to find Fire Knight Queelign.
  • Choose his reward: an Iris of Grace earns the Fire Knight Queelign spirit ash, while an Iris of Occultation brought later earns Queelign's Greatsword.
  • Explore onward and pull the lever that lowers the water level.
  • Optional: with the water gone, kill the Ulcerated Tree Spirit in the district for an Iris of Occultation.
  • Optional: jump onto the half-sunken Marika statue and grab the Scadutree Fragment from its hand; draining the water makes this easier.
  • Go back to the church, drop to the bottom and follow the path west, then north through a doorway.
  • An elevator past the doorway sinks to the Tree-Worship Passage grace; ride it and rest there.
  • Continue to the statue ahead and pick up the second Iris of Grace beneath it.
  • Follow the passage on to the Tree-Worship Sanctum grace.
  • Defeat the Scadutree Avatar for the Remembrance of the Shadow Sunflower and Miquella's Great Rune.
  • Touch the Scadutree Base grace once the Avatar falls.

Walkthrough: Shadow Keep: Through the Storehouse to the Back Gate

  • From Tree-Worship Passage, walk back south and, still inside the church, round the corner east to a lift that carries you up.
  • Follow the corridor west to light the Storehouse, Back Section grace.
  • Climb through the rafters and outer walkways to the Storehouse, Loft grace.
  • Take the lift above and keep going until you reach the Shadow Keep, Back Gate grace.
  • Enter the room to the east and take the Scadutree Fragment at the foot of the Marika statue.
  • Perform the O Mother gesture in front of that statue to open a hidden path onward.

Walkthrough: Scadu Altus: Recluses' River and the Darklight Catacombs

  • Starting at Main Gate Plaza, pass through the eastern door and climb until the paths cross.
  • Take the south-east path, climb down a ladder, slip behind the waterfall and descend the next ladder.
  • In the room with the painting, pass through the illusory wall and ride the coffin down to the Castle Watering Hole grace.
  • Optional: south-east past the Ruins of Unte, a statue against the cliff holds a Revered Spirit Ash.
  • Continue south-east along the riverbank and light the Recluses' River Upstream grace.
  • Optional: a stone coffin at the foot of the waterfall below the Upstream grace contains a Scadutree Fragment.
  • Follow the river path to the Recluses' River Downstream grace.
  • Optional: two lesser hippopotamuses in the lake past the grace each drop a Scadutree Fragment.
  • Optional: hug the cliff south of the grace down into the Village of Flies for another Revered Spirit Ash.
  • Jump down the tombstones jutting from the cliff face until you reach the bottom.
  • Head south-south-east and drop down a second run of tombstones.
  • Open the catacomb door and ride the lift down to the Darklight Catacombs grace.
  • Push through the catacombs and defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor for the Barbed Staff-Spear.

Walkthrough: Ancient Ruins of Rauh: Road to the Church of the Bud

  • From the West Rampart grace, ride west across the long bridge, entering through the archway on its right side.
  • At the far end, climb the spiral stairs and ride the lift up to the Viaduct Minor Tower grace.
  • Just inside the first ruins west of the grace, kill the glowing Shadowpot for a Revered Spirit Ash.
  • Head west into the underground tunnels and find your way out the far side to the Rauh Ancient Ruins, East grace.
  • Pick up the Scadutree Fragment at the Miquella's Cross by the grace.
  • Read the Ancient Ruins Cross Message lying near the cross.
  • Optional: a short way north-east of the grace, near a waterfall, lies the Ash of War: Dryleaf Whirlwind.
  • Cross the bridge west, then turn south to the Rauh Ancient Ruins, West grace.
  • Climb the stairs of the ruined building beside the grace and collect the Scadutree Fragment up there.
  • Optional: leave that building by its north side to a large gazebo where a statue guarded by two Horned Warriors holds a Revered Spirit Ash.
  • Head west toward the rot-filled church, but first climb the slope north-east of it and break the stone pile to open a shortcut.
  • If you summoned Hornsent against Messmer, he invades near the church entrance; defeat him for the Hornsent Set, Falx and Soiled Loincloth.
  • Light the Church of the Bud, Main Entrance grace before stepping into the church.
  • With Dryleaf Dane's sign called in, take on Romina, Saint of the Bud and claim the Remembrance of the Saint of the Bud.
  • Touch the Church of the Bud grace inside the arena.
  • Before burning the Sealing Tree, finish what's left for Leda, Hornsent, Freyja, Moore, Ansbach, Thiollier, Dryleaf Dane and St. Trina; several threads end there.