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If you thought Elden Ring‘s base game legacy dungeons were a sight to behold, wait until you delve into those in Shadow of the Erdtree. FromSoftware has crafted many new dungeons for players to explore, from intricate towers full of hidden floors to maze-like fortresses with enemies at every turn. If you want to know which are the ones you’ll face in the game, we’ve listed all the major and minor ones.
Major Legacy Dungeons
There are three major legacy dungeons in Shadow of the Erdtree that you must visit in order to progress the story. While you can approach them in any order you want, we’ll list them below in the recommended order. Also, keep in mind that the Scadutree Blessing will become weaker the deeper you delve into these areas, so it is better to tackle them as suggested unless you want to die a hundred times when facing a single normal enemy.
Belurat Tower Settlement
The first legacy you’ll encounter in Shadow of the Erdtree is Belurat Tower Settlement. After finding the first cross of Marika, you can continue uphill until you reach this dungeon. Finding it is quite easy, and you don’t require any items to enter this area. However, once inside, you’ll face the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, who is one of the most unique and challenging bosses in all Elden Ring.
Shadow Keep
If you follow the main road from the starting point of Shadow of the Erdtree, you’ll eventually find Shadow Keep, home to Messmer. This is an extremely challenging dungeon, as many players might miss Scadutree Fragments and enter this place under-leveled. Furthermore, the Golden Hippo boss is extremely erratic and hits like a truck, so the unprepared will have a hard time here.
Enir-Ilim
We chose to include only the picture of the dungeon’s location because we don’t want to spoil it for you. Enir-Ilim is the last legacy dungeon you’ll visit in Shadow of the Erdtree. You must complete the previous ones in order to get access to this place. Furthermore, there is another boss you need to beat to gain entry. Once you approach this dungeon, that is the point of no return in the DLC, so remember to finish all your side quests first.
Minor Legacy Dungeons
Minor legacy dungeons aren’t mandatory to progress in Shadow of the Erdtree, but ignoring them is a bad idea. Most of these places contain fantastic rewards, such as many of the new weapons and spells the DLC brought. Also, there are some interesting lore tidbits for those intrigued by the game’s story, so we recommend visiting them when possible.
Castle Ensis
We wouldn’t blame you if you got Raya Lucaria flashbacks when entering Castle Ensis. This place houses many magical-focused denizens and one of the most challenging bosses in the DLC: Rellana, Twin Moon Knight. However, exploring this place is recommended due to all the loot you can get, which helps with almost every build in the game. If you enter this dungeon, we recommend bringing your Scadutree Blessing at least at level 5 or above. You can find this place by crossing the first bridge you encounter on the main road.
Fort of Reprimand
At a glance, Fort of Reprimand doesn’t look like the biggest dungeon, yet it hides a few secrets within its walls. Also, it is a structure you’ll likely encounter once you reach Scadu Altus. There are two ways to reach it. The easiest way is by clearing Castle Ensis and exiting through the gate at the back to reach Scadu Atlus. However, if you want to skip Castle Ensis, you can grab a few Spiritsprings to reach this fort. We recommend checking this guide on how to reach the fort easily.
Midra’s Manse
Just like Enir-Ilim, we decided to keep the looks of Midra’s Manse a secret. Why? Because out of every zone FromSoftware has made it, this dungeon is one of the most unique. However, you’re in for one frantic journey. To reach this place, you must find a secret room inside Shadow Keep, cross the Abyss, complete a dungeon, and then avoid some of the game’s deadliest enemies. Here’s a guide that can help you find this place.
While the quantity isn’t the same as the base game, don’t let that fool you. FromSoftware brought the big guns for this expansion and personally, I prefer some of these dungeons more than those in the base game. And while many might differ with that, one thing’s for sure: all of them are full of dangers, and without proper preparation, you should prepare to die.
