These vertical labyrinths of stone and suffering are some of the most challenging side activities in the game. As with many minor dungeons in the Lands Between, some of them are not memorable or are simply worth less than the others. Be it through rewards or a sense of achievement, players will do well to dig some graves in these catacombs — either for them or from the enemies.
Updated August 29, 2022, by Sid Natividad: Elden Ring catacombs are some of the best detours that the Lands Between have to offer. Apart from allowing players a diversion from their quest to be Melina’s pretend boyfriend, these catacombs also house some useful and powerful items.
More than that, they also offer players a piece of history in the lands between. After all, most of these catacombs are home to the fallen remains of heroes, warriors, and former legends in the Lands Between. Thus, more Elden Ring catacombs have been added in order to expand players’ options.
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13 Cliffbottom Catacombs (Linuria of the Lakes)
Around the southeastern edge of the Liurnia of the Lakes region, there’s a catacomb that doesn’t offer anything remarkably overpowered. Rather, it offers chunks of good items in good quantities, and there’s bound to be something useful for any kind of player among these items.
Cliffbottom Catacombs is that place. It’s primarily a good spot for farming low-level Grave and Ghost Gloveworts, but it also has a couple of spirit ashes and some weapons. Rune Arcs are also available, for when players want to hoard them for the future or the late game. This quick catacomb trip shouldn’t cost players too much in terms of sanity.
12 Wyndham Catacombs (Altus Plateau
Near the area leading up to Mt. Gelmir is a solid catacomb that’s ripe for rewards. This mid-game area offers players the chance to finally complete their lighting builds since it houses the Lighting Scorpion Charm. Apart from that, the Wyndham Catacombs is also a great place for Gloveworts and Smithing Stones.
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If players look thoroughly, they might also stumble upon an Ancient Dragon Apostle’s Cookbook which is always welcome for those who love or need to craft. Even just the Gloveworts alone make this area worth visiting. Every single level for that spirit ash or summon helps a lot.
11 Auriza Side Tomb (Altus Plateau)
The Auriza Side Tomb is a prominent spot in the easternmost spot of the Altus Plateau. Players can find it just outside the city walls, near the moat. It’s not as jam-packed with rewards as the Auriza Hero’s Grave, but the Auriza Side Tomb is a good place for farming mid-game Gloveworts.
Players won’t find armor and weapons here, but they will be rewarded with the game’s attempt at cheeky wordplay with the Soldjars of Fortune Ashes. They let players summon a legion of adorable little jars to do the fighting for them. They’re not that good compared to the Mimic Tear or Tiche, but they have Minion vibes, and that’s enough.
10 Minor Erdtree Catacombs (Caelid)
Under the first Minor Erdtree in Caelid, there’s a semi-hidden spot that players might want to check. It’s the Minor Erdtree Catacombs and it’s a great place for farming some Gloveworts, naturally. What’s even more impressive about this place is that it contains level five Grave Gloveworts which can usually be found on the Altus Plateau. Think of it as an early game headstart.
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Apart from the Gloveworts, the Imp Head (Wolf) helmet is also present here for some melee builds. But the real selling point is the Mad Pumpkin Head Ashes. This spirit or ash summon is one of the most imposing in the game due to its size. Plus, he deals strike damage which is handy against stone enemies, especially if players don’t want to switch weapons.
9 Caelid Catacombs (Caelid)
Situated in the southern part of Caelid, the Caelid Catacombs is a lovely death trap that players ought to visit if they want to test their mettle against Scarlet Rot. This whole catacomb is flooded with Scarlet Rot pus and the best way to get through that is by gritting it out.
It’s all worth it for the variety of Gloveworts available. There are no armor pieces or weapons in this dungeon but there is a couple of ash summons. One is the Kindred of Rot Ashes which is formidable as an enemy and the other is the Miranda Sprout Ashes which inflicts poison and can body block enemies. Both are decent summon options for poison or rot builds.
8 Deathtouched Catacombs (Limgrave)
This one is a low-level dungeon that sets player expectations on what to expect in these kinds of places. Deathtouched Catacombs is an accessible place just along the big road on Stormhill and it’s also somewhat important as it’s the only place in the game where players can obtain an Uchigatana (or a second one).
That weapon alone offers many opportunities for players regardless of the build. Meanwhile, the enemies are Skeletons and they teach the newbie players early on that they’re the most annoying enemy type in the game. The catacomb’s hidden lever mechanic also explains well how things work in these kinds of places.
7 Fringefolk Hero’s Grave (Limgrave)
Fringefolk Hero’s Grave is one of the first catacombs the players will encounter, but it’s locked and requires two Stonesword Keys. It’s situated near the first Site of Grace just after the tutorial cave. Even so, it’s not meant to be visited early on as it’s a brutal place with a killer chariot and an Ulcerated Tree Spirit for a boss.
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The rewards are worth it, however, as the place contains some solid weapons and a Golden Seed. This whole place is also a test for players to see how well they react under pressure or the fear of certain death because those chariots are not messing around and will one-shot any low to mid-level character.
6 Black Knife Catacombs (Liurnia Of The Lakes)
Off to Liurnia of the Lakes, one catacomb stands out there from the rest as it’s part of two side quests and also a way to unlock certain endings. The Black Knife Catacombs is a deceptive place with two bosses and a clever but clunky puzzle designed to challenge players into thinking outside the box.
Who would have thought that huge guillotine traps can also function as elevators? In any case, the enemies are also interesting here and there’s a rich history tied to this catacomb since it’s home to some assassins responsible for ruining everything in the Lands Between.
5 War-Dead Catacombs (Caelid)
War-Dead Catacombs is a special one in Caelid since it’s only unlocked once players have defeated Starscourge Radahn. The developers probably thought that a sprawling beach battlefield would have gone to waste if there was nothing else in the area besides Radahn. Hence, the War-Dead Catacombs are situated north.
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It also tells a story of an ongoing war between Malenia’s Cleanrot Knights and Radahn’s Redmane warriors. So the players will stumble upon a battle in this catacomb. Many have taken advantage of this and turned the spot into a Rune farming area. Transforming into an object via the Mimic Veil and watching the two armies kill each other is quite profitable.
4 Gelmir Hero’s Grave (Altus Plateau)
Gelmir Hero’s Grave looks important for Rykard and his faction since they even bothered to place another of those lethal chariots patrolling the catacombs. It’s quite notorious since players are also vaguely incentivized here to think oddly as riding the death chariots seem to be the intended way of traversing this dungeon.
Not many could have thought of that but it’s that kind of torturous obscurity that makes Soulsborne games one of a kind. Thankfully, there are some good rewards in this place as players can acquire two stylish armor sets in Gelmir Hero’s grave.
3 Auriza Hero’s Grave (Altus Plateau)
Yet again another dungeon with those pesky cruel chariots, Auriza Hero’s Grave is a handful. The difference here is that players can finally take revenge against these seemingly indestructible foes. There’s a puzzle in Auriza Hero’s Grave where players can unleash a rogue chariot against the patrolling ones to destroy all of them.
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This feat is handsomely rewarded with the Tree Sentinel armor set. Beyond that, the dungeon also houses one of the toughest twin boss fights in the game; players will have to face two Crucible Knights at the end of the catacombs to be rewarded with their armor set.
2 Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave (Mountaintops Of The Giants)
Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave is placed in a late-game area but that doesn’t mean it’s too hard or frustrating. It does introduce a new mechanic where enemies are invulnerable and can only be killed when exposed to a special light. In a way, it spices up the combat and compels players to adjust their approach.
It also has a puzzle that isn’t too complex or as tedious as dealing with chariots. The rewards are ample and the dungeon even grants an armor set along with several spells and a good weapon. Overall, it’s a refreshing dungeon with just the right amount of challenge.
1 Leyndell Catacombs (Leyndell, Royal Capital)
Leyndell Catacombs doesn’t have the best enemies or the best rewards when it comes to catacombs, but it had one of the most clever dungeon designs in Elden Ring. The whole place is a delirious and mind-bending labyrinth where the same layouts are repeated into several vertical layers, prompting the players to question their sanity and directional awareness.
The dungeon is also intricately large, meaning players will be spending a good amount of time clearing and figuring out this place. Solving the riddle of the clone floors alone is worth the price of admission for this dungeon; the most notable reward is a talisman enabling Bleed builds.
Elden Ring is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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