Elden Ring: How to Get Rotten Crystal Sword

This article is part of a directory: Elden Ring Guide Hub: Weapons, Items, Tips, Tricks, Bosses, & Builds

Table of contents

When it comes to status effects in Elden Ring, it is no surprise that Scarlet Rot is the most powerful and broken effect. Sure, Blood Loss is also tremendously strong, but it requires you to repeatedly build the Bleed status and proc it by constantly hitting enemies. However, Scarlet Rot needs to be inflicted only once or twice (or three times if you are unlucky), and it will start chipping away at the health of enemies and trivialize the fights.

The challenge with a Scarlet Rot build is the lack of strong weapons. Most Scarlet Rot weapons have a slow attack speed, which isn’t helpful for status build-ups. Unless players are planning to use Scarlet Rot incantations like Rot Breath and Ekzykes's Decay, they will have to look for fast-hitting weapons with Scarlet Rot build-up. This is where the Rotten Crystal Sword shines in Elden Ring.

The Rotten Crystal Sword is a short sword with an innate Scarlet Rot build-up of 50. It might not seem like much, but with its quick moveset and Ash of War: Spinning Slash, players can quickly inflict Scarlet Rot on enemies. Let’s discuss how you can get the Rotten Crystal Sword in Elden Ring.

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Elden Ring Kindred Of Rots Exultation Header

Elden Ring: Kindred Of Rot's Exultation Talisman Location

The Kindred of Rot's Exultation Talisman works wonders for players that love to stack Poison or Scarlet Rot in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring: Rotten Crystal Sword Location

To get the Rotten Crystal Sword, players will have to head to the Elphael Inner Wall site of grace located in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, a sub-part of Miquella’s Haligtree legacy dungeon. From the Elphael Inner Wall grace site, go down the stairs and go behind the giant branch on the left to find three Crystallian enemies guarding a solo chest. Open this chest to find the Rotten Crystal Sword.

Except for the Antspur Rapier and Scorpion’s Stinger, all Scarlet Rot weapons, including the Rotten Crystal Sword, can be found in endgame areas like Consecrated Snowfield and Miquella’s Haligtree. This should come as no surprise, considering that the Rot goddess resides at the deepest layer of the Haligtree. Unfortunately, for players who have not yet reached the Haligtree, obtaining the Rotten Crystal Sword may prove to be a challenging task.

For those who have reached the Consecrated Snowfield, the next step is to solve the puzzle in Ordina, Liturgical Town, which will unlock the teleporter leading to the Haligtree. Once unlocked, players must navigate through the branches of the Haligtree, ultimately encountering Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree boss. Defeating her will grant access to the lift leading to Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. After taking the lift, players will soon arrive at the Prayer Room site of grace, marking the entry point to Brace of the Haligtree.

Elden Ring - Rotten Crystal Sword chest location (1)

Starting from the Prayer Room grace site, head north and locate a staircase leading downwards. Go down the staircase, jump onto the supporting beam on the right, and then leap to the platform featuring a gazebo and a flying red scarab. Take note that this area also houses the legendary spirit ash - Cleanrot Knight Finlay in the room adjacent to the flying red scarab.

Continue your journey in the northward direction, jumping onto the first supporting beam you encounter. This will lead you to a balcony occupied by Cleanrot Knights and Haligtree Soldiers. Carefully run past them, heading west until you find Haligtree Soldiers near giant crossbows. Climb the arch next to the crossbow, and then jump onto the balcony in the west to discover the Elphael Inner Wall grace site. In case you miss the jump, prepare to face a Rotted Putrid Avatar, or quickly roll west to reach the grace site.

Elden Ring - Rotten Crystal Sword chest location (4)

Proceed by taking the staircase to the south and turning left to encounter Crystallian enemies guarding a chest. Players can choose to engage the Crystallians individually or opt for a speedy loot-and-run strategy to claim the Rotten Crystal Sword.

Is Rotten Crystal Sword A Good Weapon?

The Rotten Crystal Sword comes with natural Scarlet Rot build-up, which already makes it a good weapon option in Elden Ring. Being a short sword, the Rotten Crystal Sword falls short when it comes to range, but its fast attacks and skill make up for it. If you are able to get a second Rotten Crystal Sword from a friend or by going into New Game +, you will be able to dual-wield the Rotten Crystal Sword and use one of the fastest movesets available in the game. With two of these swords, players can inflict Scarlet Rot on enemies in no time.

However, a drawback of the Rotten Crystal Sword lies in its weapon skill, featuring a standard Spinning Slash that cannot be altered with whetblades. Upgrading this weapon requires Somber Smithing Stones.

To wield the Rotten Crystal Sword effectively, a character needs 13 Strength, 10 Dexterity, and 15 Intelligence. Surprisingly, Intelligence scaling plays a significant role, contributing to almost half of the sword's damage as Magic damage. Nevertheless, those seeking to use the weapon solely for Scarlet Rot effects can focus on meeting the minimum Intelligence requirement for wielding the sword without delving further into that attribute.