How to get to Abyssal Woods in Shadow of The Erdtree

Here’s the Abyssal Woods location in Elden Ring and a walkthrough of the key locations within

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Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Wondering how to get to the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree? Possibly the scariest and most intimidating area in the entire Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC is the Abyssal Woods region, a dark, madness-dominated forest filled with enemies that, for the first time in the history of Elden Ring , simply cannot be beaten. A place where Torrent is too scared to assist you, and you must make your way on foot. Intrigued yet?

The path to reach the Abyssal Woods is both well-hidden and extremely convoluted, so if you’re having trouble making your way there, don’t feel bad - so is half the Elden Ring playerbase. Below, we’ll make the job easy for you with our walkthrough of how to get to the Abyssal Woods in Shadow Of The Erdtree, so you can at long last pick up that final map fragment . We’ve also included an Abyssal Woods walkthrough of key locations like Midra’s Mance, the Church Ruins and where to pick up the Aged One’s Exultation Talisman , so you don’t miss anything important.

In this guide:

• Abyssal Woods location
• How to get to the Abyssal Woods
• Abyssal Woods walkthrough

Where are the Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring?

The Abyssal Woods are located to the east of the Gravesite Plain and south of Scadu Altus. To enter the Abyssal Woods, you must pass through the Darklight Catacombs in Recluses’ River, and defeat the boss there: Jori, Elder Inquisitor . Once this boss is defeated, you can exit through the other side of the Darklight Catacombs dungeon and emerge in the Abyssal Woods.

If you’re not sure where the Darklight Catacombs are, we’ll guide you to its exact location below. Once you’re there, the dungeon involves turning several pitch black areas light again using levers. Otherwise, it’s a fairly straightforward dungeon until the end, when you’ll face a pretty challenging boss: Jori, Elder Inquisitor, who makes liberal use of summons and teleports to keep you from attacking him head-on.

However, once you defeat Jori, you can follow the path ahead out of the Darklight Catacombs and into the Abyssal Woods, where the first Site Of Grace - the Forsaken Graveyard - will be waiting.

How to get to the Abyssal Woods

Use this map to chart a course from Shadow Keep all the way to the Abyssal Forest via the Darklight Catacombs. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

The Darklight Catacombs are found at the very southern end of the Recluses’ River which cuts through Scadu Altus. To reach it, you must use a secret passage in the Shadow Keep which allows you to reach the Castle Watering Hole Site Of Grace, and head south down the river from there.

This secret passage in the Shadow Keep is located just below the steps in front of the Specimen Storehouse tower. This area is a foyer of sorts, filled with Vulgar Militiamen and funeral boats. You’ll get here by following the main route through The Shadow Keep, or by going through the large double doors to the right of the Main Gate Plaza Site Of Grace if you have already unlocked the shortcut here. At the base of the steps leading to the Messmer Knight on the bridge, turn right, and go down the ladder on the left-hand side just after the second boat.

Go through the doorway hidden behind the waterfall next to you, and descend the ladder. Once you get to the room with the painting, turn right and attack the wall to reveal a secret passage within the secret passage. Thanks for that, FromSoftware.

Note: This is actually one of several special paintings in Shadow Of The Erdtree . The painting here is called the Domain of Dragons. If you follow the subject matter of the painting, you’ll end up in the Jagged Peak and will be rewarded with the Rock Heart Dragon form. (More on this in our Dragon Communion Priestess guide here).

At the end of this passage, interact with the stone coffin to get inside it. This will transport you to the Castle Watering Hole Site Of Grace, just a stone’s throw away from the Ruins of Unte (which is worth a visit if you wish to obtain either the Sword of Night or Sword of Darkness). From there, head south and follow the river all the way south. Just past the Recluses’ River Downstream Site Of Grace, you can use the platforms jutting out from the cliffside to parkour down to the lake below which is guarded by two Hippopotamus enemies.

At the far end of the lake, by the waterfall, you can parkour down another section of platforms in the cliff wall to reach the area below. Once you’re down there, turn left and hug the cliff wall you just descended, and you’ll soon see the entrance to the Darklight Catacombs which bridges Scadu Altus and the Abyssal Woods.

We have an entire Darklight Catacombs walkthrough but essentially, to get through the dungeon you must restore four lights by pulling four separate levers on different levels of the dungeon. As you progress downwards to Jori, watch out for the various Bigmouth Imps that block your way.

Abyssal Woods walkthrough

The Abyssal Woods is home to the Remembrance boss, Midra. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Once you defeat Jori, you’ll be left rather unceremoniously in the Abyssal Woods. This region is as dark as you might expect and filled with Aging Untouchables , seemingly invincible enemies that kill quickly and viciously. Although, there is a way to parry them for a unique Talisman ( more on this below ). These following areas are the main ones of note to discover within the Abyssal Woods.

Church Ruins

First and foremost, you’ll want to collect the Abyssal Woods Map Fragment to make traversal a little easier on yourself. The fragment is located at the Church Ruins , an area you can find by following these steps from the initial area you fought Jori:

• Follow the lake south and rest at the Woodland Trail Site Of Grace.
• Continue southeast along the path and defeat the Madding Hand invader.
• Continue on the path southwards, past the various Madness-afflicted rats and you’ll see ruins ahead. The Map Fragment is on the monolith outside these church ruins, there is also a Site Of Grace within.

The Aging Untouchables

Aging Untouchables are the bane of this land. They are seemingly invincible, will quickly inflict Madness buildup until you die, and will teleport to any sound. The safest way to travel in the Abyssal Woods (especially without Torrent) is by sneaking, using the yellow grass as coverage. It is possible, however, to kill these beasts and acquire a unique Talisman as a reward.

If you want to get the Aged One’s Exultation Talisman, there is an Aging Untouchable near the Church Ruins you must target. Travel west along the main path from the Church Ruins. The first enemy you see will be the one to target. Parry its attack perfectly, and you’ll be able to damage it enough to kill it and pick up the Talisman. All other Aging Untouchables drop Swollen Grapes and a few Runes so it’s recommended you sneak the rest of the way through the region.

To parry, you’ll need a shield equipped to your off-hand (it must also have the ‘Parry’ skill listed under the damage type in the inventory description). This will likely take a fair few attempts but luckily, you’re near a Site Of Grace.

The Aged One’s Exultation Talisman can increase your attack power when Madness status buildup is nearby. As you can imagine, this will be pretty handy in the upcoming fight against the region’s boss.

How to find Midra

Follow this route through the Abyssal Woods to locate Midra’s Manse, a huge library complex containing the formidable Remembrance boss. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

The Remembrance boss of this region is Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame. Midra is located in Midra’s Manse , a large structure to the southwest of the Abyssal Woods and one of the few areas really worth exploring. To get there from the Woodland Trail Site Of Grace, follow these steps:

1. Travel west along the large river.
2. Rest at the Abyssal Woods Site Of Grace.
3. Turn south and walk, you should see a large white tree on your way.
4. Follow the water and pathway as it curves southwest.
5. Continue directly west, the area will be shrouded in fog so be careful of the lurking enemies within and try to go stealthily.
6. As the fog lifts, continue west past the trees.
7. Curve slightly south around the tree line, it will take you upwards and over a pass guarded by two Candle Inquisitors.
8. Defeat them or continue, headed south now.
9. Follow the main trail south and you should see the large Manse structure in the distance.

Now, you should be ready to explore the Manse and take on Midra. He is located just beyond the Second Floor Chamber Site Of Grace which means you’ll naturally need to make your way up the levels of the mansion. Once defeated he will drop 410,000 Runes and the Remembrance of the Lord of Frenzied Flame.

That’s all you need to know in order to at long last reach the Abyssal Woods region in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree. We highly recommend you stock up on your Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes before you attempt to take on the Abyssal Woods, because this place is not for the faint of heart. If you’re struggling to fill in the rest of the map, check out our similar guide on how to reach the Cerulean Coast , the Cathedral Of Manus Metyr , and the Hinterland .

Elden Ring

PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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