Abandoned Cave

Key takeaways

• The entrance is east of the Smoldering Wall Site of Grace, across a ravine on the far cliff.
• Cross the tree root carefully Torrent can make the jump easier, but falling into the ravine is fatal.
• Bring Preserving Boluses, use a Scarlet Rot-curing incantation if available, or prepare to sprint between safe patches.
• The cave contains Serpent Bow, Venomous Fang, Dragonwound Grease, Fire Grease and Aeonian Butterflies.
• The boss is a pair of Cleanrot Knights, one wielding a spear and one wielding a sickle.
• Defeating them awards the Gold Scarab, which increases runes from defeated enemies by 20%.
• The cave has no quest-dependent version, alternate progression state, merchant, lift, puzzle or named NPC.

About this guide

Overview

The Abandoned Cave is an optional cave dungeon in eastern Caelid. It is hidden on the side of a ravine and can only be reached by crossing a large tree root from the western cliff. The cave contains one Site of Grace, a scarlet-rot swamp, several Rot-afflicted enemies, scattered Abductor Virgin wreckage and a two-enemy Cleanrot Knight boss fight. Its main reward is the Gold Scarab, a talisman that increases runes gained from defeated enemies by 20%.

The location is easy to overlook because the entrance is not reached from a normal road or path. It is also more hazardous than many early cave dungeons: much of the floor is covered by Scarlet Rot, while some puddles erupt with damaging rot bubbles or geysers. The route itself is short, but the environmental damage makes careless exploration expensive.

The cave is not connected to a questline, contains no merchant or friendly NPC, and has no named internal districts. Its meaningful divisions are functional rather than canonical:

These are guide descriptions, not official in-game subarea names.

Introduction

1. 01
   The exterior ravine and tree-root approach
2. 02
   The entrance chamber and Site of Grace
3. 03
   The flooded rot passages
4. 04
   The Abductor wreckage and weapon chambers
5. 05
   The Rot-blighted flower chamber
6. 06
   The Cleanrot Knight arena

Where the cave is

Abandoned Cave is carved into a cliff in central Caelid, east of the Smoldering Wall Site of Grace. The entrance sits above a ravine that also contains the route towards Deep Siofra Well. The cave is geographically close to several Caelid landmarks, but they are separate locations and should not be counted as internal parts of Abandoned Cave.

Push Square describes the entrance as a cliffside opening reached by creeping across a tree branch from the opposite precipice. PowerPyx likewise places the cave east of Smoldering Wall and notes that Torrent’s double jump can be used to make the crossing.

The most reliable approach is

1. 01
   Travel to the Smoldering Wall Site of Grace.
2. 02
   Ride east towards the ravine.
3. 03
   Look for the large tree root extending from the western side towards the opposite cliff.
4. 04
   Cross the root to the cave entrance.
5. 05
   Enter the opening and activate the Abandoned Cave Site of Grace.

The entrance crossing

The root is the main access hazard before the dungeon even begins. Dismounting Torrent can give more precise control, particularly near the final section where the root narrows. Alternatively, ride across and use Torrent’s double jump to correct your trajectory. Do not jump blindly towards the far cliff: the entrance is slightly recessed into the wall rather than sitting directly at the end of the root.

If you fall, you will normally die rather than reach a safe lower route. The crossing is therefore best attempted before spending runes or after resting at Smoldering Wall.

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Abandoned Cave is a compact, linear dungeon rather than a large cave network. It has one main route with small side pockets containing loot. There are no named subareas, locked shortcuts or optional puzzle rooms.

Entrance chamber

The Site of Grace is just inside the cave. From here, the route descends into a scarlet-rot-filled area. The first safe patches are occupied by broken Abductor Virgin machinery and small stone ledges.

The opening section establishes the dungeon’s main rule: the direct floor route is dangerous, but the cave provides narrow islands and raised surfaces that let you cross without remaining in the rot for long.

Flooded rot passages

The middle section consists of low tunnels and open pools. Scarlet Rot builds quickly when standing in the water, and certain bubbling patches can inflict additional damage. The safest method is to identify the next ledge before entering the pool, sprint directly to it and avoid fighting while standing in the rot.

This part of the cave includes the first rats and Servants of Rot. A dark passage leads towards a ledge overlooking a larger pool. The forward route is found by dropping towards the right-hand side rather than continuing straight through the most active section of the pool. Push Square specifically recommends using the route beside the Abductor wreckage to avoid the worst of the rot exposure.

Abductor wreckage and weapon pockets

Broken Abductor Virgins serve as both scenery and navigation markers. One wreck lies beside a pool containing Serpent Bow. Another can be climbed in the later chamber to reach Venomous Fang.

These machines are not functioning enemies within the cave’s main interior route. The exterior Abductor Virgin near the ravine should also be treated as part of the approach, not as a formal subarea of the dungeon.

Rot-flower chamber

The later open chamber is occupied by small Rotten Miranda Sprouts, a larger Rotten Miranda Blossom and Servants of Rot. It also contains several Aeonian Butterflies and the elevated ledge from which Venomous Fang can be collected.

The flower enemies can be dangerous when approached together. Removing the smaller sprouts first reduces the number of projectiles and status effects while you deal with the larger blossom. Ranged attacks, fire damage and hit-and-run tactics are useful here.

Boss arena

The final passage leads to the fog gate for the Cleanrot Knight pair. The arena itself is partially flooded with Scarlet Rot, and several Abductor Virgin remains are scattered around the room. The boss battle begins with the spear-wielding knight active; the sickle-wielding knight joins shortly afterwards.

After the fight, a dungeon exit teleporter appears in the boss room, as is standard for this type of location. The Site of Grace remains the normal checkpoint for repeated attempts.

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Servants of Rot

The cave is occupied by Servants of Rot, sometimes referred to as Rot Disciples in enemy directories. They are associated with the worship or cultivation of Scarlet Rot and tend the Miranda flowers in the dungeon.

Their presence connects the cave thematically to the broader Servants of Rot found in Caelid and elsewhere. The cave’s item and environmental storytelling suggest that they cultivate the rot flowers rather than merely shelter in the cavern.

Cleanrot Knights

The two bosses are soldiers associated with Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Their presence places the cave within the wider history of the Battle of Aeonia and the spread of Scarlet Rot across Caelid.

The spear knight is the more immediately aggressive opponent. The sickle knight uses sweeping attacks and ranged golden projectiles, while the spear knight can perform a glowing, Scarlet Rot-inflicting grab. The pair should be separated whenever possible rather than fought together in the centre of the arena.

Enemy directory

Recommended preparation

Preserving Boluses are the simplest emergency solution, but they are not essential if you know the route and keep moving. The cave can be completed by sprinting between safe areas, although collecting every item requires more exposure.

Step-by-step route

The route and item order above follows the verified walkthrough sequence: Dragonwound Grease and butterflies near the entrance, Serpent Bow beside the Abductor remains, Fire Grease in the rat chamber and Venomous Fang above the later wreckage.

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Step-by-step route: steps

1. 01
   Start at Smoldering Wall. Ride east towards the ravine.
2. 02
   Cross the tree root. Use Torrent’s double jump if necessary, or dismount for finer movement.
3. 03
   Enter the cliffside opening. Activate the Abandoned Cave Site of Grace immediately.
4. 04
   Drop into the first rot section. Move towards the small ledge containing the first Aeonian Butterflies.
5. 05
   Search the nearby alcove. Collect the additional Aeonian Butterfly and Dragonwound Grease.
6. 06
   Take the dark passage. Follow it towards the ledge overlooking the bubbling rot pool.
7. 07
   Drop towards the right-hand side. This reveals the safer continuation around the pool.
8. 08
   Collect the Serpent Bow. Sprint to the Abductor Virgin remains beside the pool, take the bow and retreat to the tunnel.
9. 09
   Continue south through the passage. Expect a Giant Rat and Servant of Rot.
10. 10
    Enter the small chamber. Deal with the rats and collect Fire Grease.
11. 11
    Proceed into the open flower chamber. Kill or bypass the smaller Miranda enemies first.
12. 12
    Defeat the larger flower or pass it carefully. Fire damage is particularly useful for clearing this chamber.
13. 13
    Climb the Abductor wreckage to the south-west. Collect Venomous Fang.
14. 14
    Return to the slope. Follow the route beyond the flower chamber towards the fog gate.
15. 15
    Enter the boss arena. Prepare for the Cleanrot Knight duo.
16. 16
    Defeat both knights. The reward is the Gold Scarab.
17. 17
    Use the boss-room teleporter or return to the Site of Grace.

Encounter structure

The spear knight is present first. The sickle knight rises from the rot pool shortly after the encounter begins. This creates a short opening in which you can damage the spear knight, summon a Spirit Ash or establish a safer position before both enemies are active.

Practical strategy

Inventory directory

The cave’s verified item list includes these named rewards and materials.

Inventory directory

Gold Scarab

The Gold Scarab is the cave’s principal reward. It is not found in a chest or hidden behind an environmental puzzle. The Cleanrot Knights must be defeated, after which the talisman is awarded directly.

Because the talisman increases enemy rune rewards, it is useful to obtain early if you intend to level through repeated enemy encounters. It is especially effective when combined with areas containing large groups of ordinary enemies, although the cave itself is not necessarily the safest place to farm after completion.

Serpent Bow

The Serpent Bow is found in the flooded section beside an Abductor Virgin husk. The pickup is exposed to Scarlet Rot, so collect it quickly and retreat rather than attempting to fight in the pool.

Venomous Fang

Venomous Fang is found by climbing the Abductor wreckage in the later open chamber. It is easy to miss if you follow the slope directly towards the boss. Clear or bypass the Miranda enemies, then search the south-western wreckage for the climbable route. Push Square identifies the item as one of the cave’s two notable weapons.

Aeonian Butterflies

Several Aeonian Butterflies are placed around the rot pools and flower chamber. They are fixed environmental pickups rather than random loot. Their value depends on how much crafting the character does, but they are worth collecting if you regularly make items associated with Scarlet Rot or related status effects.

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Scarlet Rot

Scarlet Rot is the cave’s dominant hazard. The status meter rises while standing in infected water and may also be increased by attacks or environmental eruptions. Once the meter fills, the player suffers heavy damage over time.

The safest approach is not to attempt to tank the status. Instead:

Scarlet Rot: steps

1. 01
   Identify the next safe patch.
2. 02
   Sprint through the pool.
3. 03
   Avoid combat until your feet are on solid ground.
4. 04
   Cure the status before entering another long section.
5. 05
   Keep at least one Preserving Bolus available for emergencies.

Rot eruptions

Some pools bubble or erupt. These hazards can damage the player even when the status bar is not yet full. Avoid stopping on active bubbling patches, especially during item collection.

Enemy ambushes

Rats are placed in narrow passages where movement is already restricted. Servants of Rot can attack from near the flower chambers, while Miranda enemies punish players who remain in open ground. Fighting from the edge of a safe ledge is generally better than standing in the rot.

No confirmed hidden quest state

There is no verified NPC, quest flag or alternate boss state tied to entering Abandoned Cave before or after a particular Caelid event. The Cleanrot Knight fight and its Gold Scarab reward remain available as optional dungeon content.

This should not be confused with progression changes elsewhere in Caelid. The broader region changes in atmosphere and enemy presence through the game, but no separate Abandoned Cave phase has been established for the base game.

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The Servants of Rot appear to be cultivating Miranda flowers in the infected chamber. The broken Abductor Virgins suggest that the cave has also become a dumping ground for damaged machinery, though the game does not provide a complete account of how the machines arrived there.

The Cleanrot Knights at the end are particularly significant. Their equipment and fighting style identify them as soldiers who served Malenia. Their presence in a rot-flooded cave filled with Servants of Rot suggests that the area has become a shrine-like or military remnant associated with the aftermath of the Battle of Aeonia.

The Mushroom Crown, found elsewhere in the game, describes ancient lords who served Scarlet Rot and refers to fungal bodies as their crowns. That broader item lore complements the cave’s mushroom-like servants and Miranda growth, but the Mushroom Crown is not a reward from Abandoned Cave itself. The cave should therefore be read as part of the game’s wider Scarlet Rot imagery rather than as the complete origin point of the Rot religion.

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Fast route to the Gold Scarab

Use this if the talisman is your only goal:

This route sacrifices Serpent Bow, Venomous Fang, grease and some butterflies.

Fast route to the Gold Scarab: steps

1. 01
   Activate the Site of Grace.
2. 02
   Sprint through the first rot pool.
3. 03
   Ignore the early side loot.
4. 04
   Follow the right-hand route around the bubbling section.
5. 05
   Continue through the rat passage.
6. 06
   Run past the flower chamber.
7. 07
   Reach the fog gate.
8. 08
   Use a Spirit Ash or co-operative summon if needed.
9. 09
   Defeat the Cleanrot Knights and collect the Gold Scarab.

For every verified named pickup

1. 01
   Collect the early Aeonian Butterflies.
2. 02
   Take Dragonwound Grease from the first alcove.
3. 03
   Retrieve Serpent Bow beside the Abductor wreckage.
4. 04
   Collect Fire Grease in the rat chamber.
5. 05
   Search the flower chamber for all butterflies.
6. 06
   Climb the south-western wreckage for Venomous Fang.
7. 07
   Defeat the Cleanrot Knight pair.
8. 08
   Confirm Gold Scarab is in your inventory before leaving.

Practical checklist

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Is Abandoned Cave in Caelid or Dragonbarrow?

It is generally classified as a Caelid location. It lies near the boundary of the broader Caelid and Dragonbarrow regions, but the dungeon is normally listed under Caelid rather than as a Dragonbarrow cave.

Is Deep Siofra Well part of Abandoned Cave?

No. The cave and the well are neighbouring destinations connected by the same ravine landscape, but neither is a subarea of the other.

Do I need to enter the cave from the tree root?

Yes. The normal entrance is the cliffside opening reached by crossing the root from the western side. There is no verified ground-level entrance from the bottom of the ravine.

What does the boss drop?

The Cleanrot Knight duo awards the Gold Scarab talisman. The fight does not primarily serve as a source of Cleanrot armour or weapons, despite the knights’ equipment.

Is the Gold Scarab missable?

No permanent missability trigger has been verified for the base-game cave. It can be completed whenever the player reaches the entrance and is able to defeat the bosses.

Can I summon Spirit Ashes?

The boss arena supports the normal Spirit Ash rules. If the summon icon is available, an ash can be used to divide the knights’ attention. Summoning availability can be affected by multiplayer and other standard restrictions.

Is there a Site of Grace inside?

Yes. Abandoned Cave is the cave’s only verified Site of Grace.

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The dungeon’s location, entrance route, Site of Grace, enemy roster, boss pair and main rewards are consistently supported by the consulted sources. The principal naming variation is Gold Scarab versus Golden Scarab in guide prose. Gold Scarab is the in-game item name; “Golden Scarab” is a common informal or guide-title variant.

The game does not provide official names for the cave’s internal chambers. The subarea labels used in this guide are descriptive navigation terms created to clarify the route, not canonical location names. No separate quest phase, named NPC, shop, business, faction headquarters or alternate progression state was verified within the cave itself.

Sources

• Abandoned Cave | Elden Ring Wiki | Fandom — eldenring.fandom.com
• Elden Ring: How to Complete Abandoned Cave | Push Square — pushsquare.com
• Cleanrot Knight | Elden Ring Wiki | Fandom — eldenring.fandom.com
• Elden Ring Gold Scarab Location — powerpyx.com