Deeproot Depths Location and Walkthrough - Elden Ring Guide - IGN (2024)

Deeproot Depths is a larger underground region and hybrid dungeon found in the Leyndell Region in Elden Ring. It is an optional underground area slightly more linear than the overworld, but keeps many of its core mechanics - such as fast travel and the restoration of flasks upon defeating enemy groups persist whilst underground. This page contains information on the location, walkthrough, and guide to traverse this area, locate all of its treasure, and tips to defeat the enemies within.

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• How to Get to Deeproot Depths
• Deeproot Depths Walkthrough
• Boss Fight - Fia's Champions
• Fia's Embrace
• Boss Fight - Lichdragon Fortissax

How to Get to Deeproot Depths

Deeproot Depths is technically accessible via two locations. One, a teleporter; the other is a coffin you can ride up a waterfall after you defeat the Valiant Gargoyles in Nokron, Eternal City. This guide starts from the coffin ride.

After defeating the Gargoyles. head to the very back of the arena against the waterfall and you'll note a coffin you can rest in. By interacting with it, you will initiate a cutscene riding the coffin up the waterfall and you'll emerge in Deeprot Depths next to a Site of Grace.

Deeproot Depths Walkthrough

From the Site of Grace, head southwest and you can platform with Torrent up the tree roots to reach a corpse facing east holding a Smithing Stone (6). To the southeast, you'll note an Erdtree Avatar patrolling. Defeat it to earn the Staff of the Avatar, beyond which is a Scarab that holds the Ash of War - Golden Land.

Now head northwest past the tree roots to find a slope and a branch that is guarded by two Winged Ants. Before continuing, you'll see a branch leading up into the rock face, with a small entrance.

Heading inside, through a small tunnel, you'll emerge into a cave filled with Ants and Ant Queens. Whilst the regular Ants will be instantly hostile upon detecting you, it's your choice whether you kill the Ant Queens or not. However, each one you kill nets you a Numen's Rune and a Rune Arc. And there are four Queens in this tunnel.

When you drop down by the three Queens, a corpse to the right holds a Somber Smithing Stone (6). Continuing to the end of the cave, defeating any remaining Ants, you'll find a corpse holding the Elden Stars Incantation.

Drop down from here onto the platform with two Winged Ants. From there, continue along the branch up to the west to find a corpse holding a Smithing Stone (4).

Moving southwest, you'll see 7 Winged Ants; 6 hovering in the air and one on the ground to your right, but if you head left (to the southeast) you can head along a small piece of wood to reach a corpse holding a Golden Rune (4).

After clearing the Winged Ants, you'll see three corpses in the clearing that they were hovering above; one holds a Warming Stone x3, one holds a Smithing Stone (4), and the third holds a Golden Rune (6). Continue all the way up to the west to reach a cliff edge with a Finger Reader Crone and a Site of Grace.

From the Site of Grace, head northeast along the path near the rim of the waterfall to find a small ruin on the right amongst the trees, full of Basilisks. They are guarding two corpses, one with a Rune Arc and one with Smithing Stone (6) x3. There are various corpses strewn along the path, some with Smithing Stones, others with Hefty Beast Bones and one specifically in the center of this ruined town on the steps of the circular structure that holds the Map: Deeproot Depths.

From this structure, head northeast in through the open doors to defeat a fire-breathing enemy guarding the Ash of War - Vacuum Slice.

Back outside, head east to the waterfall behind the ruined church to find a cave with a Runebear. By defeating the Runebear you'll earn the Prince of Death's Cyst.

Then head southwest through all the ruins to emerge on the other side near a Site of Grace. From this Site of Grace, head west into the ruins amongst the water to find corpses among the coffins that are holding Human Bone Shard x5, Smithing Stone (4) x2, Clarifying Boluses, Golden Rune (9), Golden Rune (8) x2, and a Nascent Butterfly. There is also a Ghost Glovewort (5) next to the tree nearby. To the southwest, on the edge of the waterfall, is another coffin that you can rest in that will take you to Ainsel River Main if you wish.

Heading north, you'll note a Walking Mausoleum in the distance, guarded by patrolling Mausoleum Soldiers. Tucked in a cave across the water from the large cathedral-type building near the Walking Mausoleum, you'll find another Runebear.

Defeat it to loot the three corpses it was defending to gain a Somber Smithing Stone (7), a Golden Rune (8), and Fan Daggers x4.

To lower the Mausoleum, you'll want to platform up the tree branches to the southwest and then clear the skull clusters around the rim of the Mausoleums building.

To the extreme north, next to a decayed tree stump are the Mausoleum Soldiers Ashes. Head southwest through and past the thicket of tree roots and branches to reach a small clearing leading to a giant tree, where an optional Field Boss, Crucible Knight Siluria resides.

Should you defeat them, you'll earn the Siluria's Tree spear. Inside the chest within the tree that Siluria was defending is the Crucible Tree Helm, the Crucible Tree Armor, the Crucible Gauntlets, and the Crucible Greaves.

Looking east from the tree, you'll see a building, with a spirit spring down and to the right. Use the spirit spring to launch onto this roof of the building next to the spring to loot a corpse holding a Stonesword Key.

Backtrack to the ruined town, by the last Site of Grace you activated, and platform up the branches (with or without Torrent), and you'll see a number of the large fire-breathing enemies lining the roofs high above.

Curving up the branch to the left, you'll need to dodge the flames coming from the enemy above, and in the roof of the building to the left is a corpse holding the Prince of Death's Staff. Dropping off the branch onto a roof below on the left, grab the Arteria Leaf x5 off the corpse there and follow the branches back up.

Now following the branch up to the right, you'll encounter two more fire-breathing enemies above you. It's recommended to follow the branch to the right past both of them, then jump back across on the roof with one of them, and you can then safely take both of them out.

Before crossing the branch to the northeast and progressing into the next area, continue up the branch to the southeast, and similarly jump back to the northwest to see another fire-breathing enemy on the level above the last two you just dealt with. On the outer corner of that roof is a corpse holding Nascent Butterfly x3.

Now turn to the northeast and you'll see below you, across a last bit of branch, is a Site of Grace and an archway through thick tree roots on the left. Proceed all the way across this large open space, and as you approach the giant corpse on the far side a boss encounter will begin, so long as you have progressed far enough in Fia's Questline.

Boss Fight - Fia's Champions

A boss fight consisting of three waves against spectral opponents, this fight is unique but if you are appropriately leveled, it is unlikely to cause too much annoyance.

The first wave is a single opponent, which can be any of the spectral invaders in the game. The moveset you'll be working against therefore shifts depending on which enemy it is that spawns in. If you're wanting to use a Spirit Ash, now is a good time to summon it in, as you'll have less opportunity later on when it may actually prove more useful.

After clearing the first invader, the second wave begins; another singular invader. Again clear this one and the third wave begins.

The third wave is where things can get difficult; three invaders spawn in at once. Your Spirit Ash, should you have summoned it earlier, will help to draw some aggro off of you from at least one of the opponents. IF one of the invaders is a magic user, target them first to ensure no ranged attacks can take you by surprise when performing the dance of battle against the melee-focused spirits. When all three spirits are down, the fight will conclude with you earning the Fia's Mist Sorcery, and a Site of Grace spawning near the large corpse; you'll also note Fia sitting directly beneath the corpse, waiting for you.

Fia's Embrace

Approaching Fia and speaking to her, tell her you wish to be held, and give her the Cursemark of Death when prompted, and then exhaust her dialogue.

When she begins repeating herself, back out and rest at the Site of Grace behind you, then go back to Fia to find her seemingly resting. Touch her and you'll be prompted to enter the Deathbed Dream. Do so to initiate another boss fight!

Boss Fight - Lichdragon Fortissax

A large dragon enemy, Lichdragon Fortissax relies on swipe attacks with its claws and heavily damaging electrical moves.

Fortissax can perform similar move variations to other dragons, be it breathing fire, forward lunges, 180-degree tailspins, and flights into the air before slamming back down into the ground.

Fortissax will begin the fight however by summoning down multiple small lightning strikes that leave behind clouds of Death inflicting vapor. This makes it instantly more difficult to traverse the arena safely, so it's recommended to use this time while Fortissax is in the animation to summon an upgraded Spirit Ash to draw some fire and get in some extra damage. Typically you can stick to just behind Fortissaxs legs and repeatedly attack there to try and stagger the dragon. The only real attack to look out for here is foot stomps, which can be easily dodge-rolled away from.

Fortissax can also slam rods of electricity into the ground in front of itself, creating a large shockwave that radiates out across the majority of the arena. These can be deadly, dangerous even if they only briefly incapacitate or stagger you, so keep an eye out for these rods being summoned in Fortissax's hands. It's arguably best to not lock on to Fortissax as you are either directed to the head or chest, which are both relatively difficult to reach for melee builds, so keep your head on a swivel each time you go in for an attack.

After whittling down Fortissax's health and defeating the dragon, you'll earn the Remembrance of the Lichdragon. You can then return to Fia's body and collect the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, which is an item you'll need to achieve one of Elden Ring's alternate endings.