They're supposed to be resting places for the dead, but in Elden Ring, Catacombs might as well be bazaars for how busy and bountiful they are in their current state. They're full of enemies which are very much alive and kicking and also contain treasures that can be game-changing. At the same time, the Catacombs in Elden Ring also demand more brainpower from players.

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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.

Updated June 2, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: In Elden Ring, Catacombs can be found in just about every zone – including hidden areas like the Consecrated Snowfield. Catacombs may seem a bit one-note, as you can only get excited for gloomy interiors, skeletal enemies, and Erdtree Burial Watchdogs so many times. But it's worth hunting down all of these best Elden Ring catacombs locations because of the items you can get inside. This guide has been updated to provide a full list of the major items you can receive from each of these best catacombs Elden Ring players can explore, from weapons to spirit ashes to useful crafting materials and everything in between.

This list is only comprised of catacombs that can be found in the base version of Elden Ring. For information regarding Shadow of the Erdtree, stay tuned as Game ZXC covers the Elden Ring DLC on launch.

13 Cliffbottom Catacombs

Liurnia of the Lakes

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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.

The final boss of the Cliffbottom Catacombs is an Erdtree Burial Watchdog. Unlike some fights against these boss types, there's only one. Avoid its well-telegraphed attacks (and its not-well-telegraphed, extremely fast standing slice attack) while dodging away from its plunging AoE moves.

Cliffbottom Catacombs Rewards & Materials

12 Wyndham Catacombs

Altus Plateau

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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.

The final boss of the Wyndham Catacombs is another Erdtree Burial Watchdog, but this one is different from the others you will encounter as it appears to use Lightning sorcery and damage types. It can fire Lightning at the player, and perform its other typical Burial Watchdog moves. It's not a bad idea to get some aid via jolly cooperation, or via a Spirit Ash.

Wyndham Catacombs Rewards & Materials

11 Auriza Side Tomb

Altus Plateau

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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.

The final boss of the Auriza Side Tomb is a Grave Warden Duelist, a fast and brutal gladiator that wields two hammers chained to its hands. Its close-range AoEs can be deadly, but for the most part the boss itself is relatively easy to avoid and anticipate – especially if you're a ranged spellcaster. The difficulty comes with dealing with a horde of Living Jars at the same time, so focus on getting rid of the adds first before putting full attention on the boss.

Auriza Side Tomb Rewards & Materials

10 Minor Erdtree Catacombs

Caelid

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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.

The final boss of the Minor Erdtree Catacombs is yet another Erdtree Burial Watchdog fight, but this time there are two of them. One wields a Scepter and deals mostly magically-charged attacks, while the other wields a Sword and deals more physical damage. It's hard to do on one's own, but there's a nice trick that Elden Ring doesn't make obvious. Before going in, get some Crystal Darts, and throw them at one of the Watchdogs until it is charmed. This specific item, used on this specific enemy, will make them fight for you. If all else fails, try using Spirit Ashes to split their attention.

Minor Erdtree Catacombs Rewards & Materials

9 Caelid Catacombs

Caelid

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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.

The final boss of the Caelid Catacombs is a Cemetery Shade, a terrifying-looking enemy that's really not all too tough. Thanks to its low HP, getting a few hits in with a heavy weapon is usually enough to kill it, but it can be surprisingly quick as it phases around and moves from place to place. It shouldn't take too long to beat, though it will be harder than the previous two Cemetery Shades players can find earlier in the game.

Caelid Catacombs Rewards & Materials

8 Deathtouched Catacombs

Limgrave

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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.

The final boss of the Deathtouched Catacombs is a Black Knife Assassin. This enemy is incredibly difficult for low-level players as it rapidly will dash around the arena, come up behind you for a grab attack, and otherwise pull off maneuvers that are hard to anticipate or counter. Be careful with your dodges, get hits in when you can, and be glad that this isn't the invisible one you may encounter later at the Sage's Cave.

Deathtouched Catacombs Rewards & Materials

7 Fringefolk Hero's Grave

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Funny Elden Ring Clip Shows Enemy Fleeing from Player Character

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.

The final boss of the Fringefolk Hero's Grave is an Ulcerated Tree Spirit – as if the rest of this dungeon wasn't hard enough. The tree spirit's moves can be difficult to anticipate due to its sheer size, but as long as you take care to dodge into its attacks (except its self-centered explosion or diving move), you should stay relatively safe. Be sure to equip some decent armor to reduce its enormous damage output to something more reasonable.

Fringefolk Hero's Grave Rewards & Materials

6 Black Knife Catacombs

Liurnia Of The Lakes

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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.

There are actually two final bosses of the Black Knife Catacombs: a Black Knife Assassin, and a Cemetery Shade. You can summon D to help with the Black Knife Assassin, who will drop the Black Knifeprint quest item on defeat. But head a little further past the Black Knife Assassin's boss room to discover the entrance to the cemetery Shade's room. This one has an army of skeletons that help it, so be sure to take them out before dealing with the boss.

Black Knife Catacombs Rewards & Materials

5 War-Dead Catacombs

Caelid

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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.

The final boss of the War-Dead Catacombs is a Putrid Tree Spirit, and this one (being at such a high level) is one of the hardest versions of the boss in Elden Ring. Luckily, it's a straight shot to the boss room from the Site of Grace at the entrance, so trying over and over again doesn't feel quite so bad as it could. Bring in some Scarlet Rot-cleansing items (or Flame, Cleanse Me incantation) to have a slightly easier time, but be prepared to try multiple attempts.

War-Dead Catacombs Rewards & Materials

4 Gelmir Hero's Grave

Altus Plateau

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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.

The final boss of the Gelmir Hero's Grave is a Red Wolf of the Champion, an empowered Red Wolf of Radagon. A few good hits with a heavy weapon can break this boss' stance, but because of how fast it moves around the battlefield (and the rate at which it casts spells), it can be easier to go with a fast or ranged spellcaster build.

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Gelmir Hero's Grave Rewards & Materials

3 Auriza Hero's Grave

Altus Plateau

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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.

The final boss of the Auriza Hero's Grave is a duo boss: a regular Crucible Knight and Crucible Knight Ordovis. The regular Crucible Knight should be your primary priority, as it is easier to kill and deals less damage than Ordovis. But you will have to keep an eye on both bosses as Crucible Knights can be surprisingly, well, surprising. It's a good idea to use Spirit Ashes in any duo boss fight, and especially in this one.

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Auriza Hero's Grave Rewards & Materials

2 Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave

Mountaintops Of The Giants

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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.

The final boss of the Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave is an Ancient Hero of Zamor. This enemy can deal significant Frost damage, attacks fast, but can take its time to actually get to you. Dodge its fast attacks and take the breather room in between to get a hit in or hit that Flask of Crimson Tears. Dodging backward for most of this enemy's attacks will be enough to avoid them, but if it charges towards you, dodge into its attack to get more time to retaliate as it recovers.

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Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave Rewards & Materials

1 Leyndell Catacombs

Leyndell, Royal Capital

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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.

The final boss of the Leyndell Catacombs is Esgar, Priest of Blood, who can be troublesome if he is allowed to get off Bleed procs. His boss room is also home to two dogs, which should be dealt with first. It is very easy to break his poise and get critical hits in, but don't be too greedy as he can be nimble and close distances really quickly.

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Leyndell Catacombs Rewards & Materials

elden ring cover
Elden Ring

Platform(s)
PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Released
February 25, 2022
Developer(s)
From Software
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence