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Locationmajor

Abyssal Woods

Abyssal Woods is a dangerous overworld region in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, hidden in the eastern Realm of Shadow.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • The only normal route into the region is through Darklight Catacombs, reached from the terminal section of the Recluses’ River in Scadu Altus.
  • The outdoor area contains five Sites of Grace Forsaken Graveyard, Woodland Trail, Church Ruins, Abyssal Woods and Divided Falls.
  • Torrent is disabled in the woods, and the Aging Untouchables are intended to be avoided unless you know how to parry them.
  • One Aging Untouchable, near the Abandoned Church, drops Aged One’s Exultation They become vulnerable only after a successful parry.
  • The region contains three Scadutree Fragments, including two at the Abandoned Church.
  • The principal dungeon is Midra’s Manse, culminating in the remembrance boss Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.

About this guide

Shadow of the Erdtree area guide Spoiler warning: This guide discusses the route into the Abyssal Woods, its major encounters, the Aging Untouchables, Madding Hand, Midra’s Manse, and the area’s boss and lore.

Overview

The Abyssal Woods is an optional sub-region of the Realm of Shadow in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It lies below the eastern part of Scadu Altus, at the end of the Recluses’ River, and is reached through the Darklight Catacombs. The woods are the forbidden domain of Sage Midra, whose ruined residence, Midra’s Manse, occupies the southern part of the region.

Unlike most open areas in Elden Ring, the Abyssal Woods is designed around avoidance rather than mounted exploration or ordinary combat. Torrent cannot be summoned, several enemies are initially immune to direct attacks, and the safest route through the forest depends on crouching, reading environmental warnings and moving between cover. The region eventually leads to one of the DLC’s major remembrance encounters, Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.

The name can cause some confusion. Abyssal Woods is the broad outdoor sub-region. Midra’s Manse is a separate, enterable dungeon within it, with its own Sites of Grace, rooms, loot and boss. The Darklight Catacombs is not part of the woods, although it is the required approach route.

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Boundaries and hierarchy

The Abyssal Woods should be treated as a sub-region rather than a single point of interest. Its outdoor territory includes the forest, graveyard, church ruins, waterfalls and the approaches to Midra’s Manse.

Included in the Abyssal Woods

Outdoor subareas and landmarks

Dungeon within the sub-region

Nearby but separate

The Recluses’ River is the approach corridor, not part of the Abyssal Woods itself. Darklight Catacombs is likewise a separate dungeon that functions as the access route.

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The Abyssal Woods occupies a deep ravine where the canopy blocks the light above. The map description identifies it as a forest untouched by sunlight, a forbidden region associated with Midra and the Frenzied Flame.

The western approach begins near the end of the Darklight Catacombs and opens into the Forsaken Graveyard. From there, the route bends through the Woodland Trail, then past the Church Ruins and into the darker central forest. The southern and south-western routes ultimately lead towards Midra’s Manse. The Divided Falls marks another prominent water feature and Site of Grace in the region.

The woods are not laid out like an ordinary riding area. The absence of Torrent, dense vegetation and limited visibility make the forest feel considerably larger than its actual traversal distance. Messages placed along the route reinforce the intended play style:

These warnings refer chiefly to the Aging Untouchables, which patrol sections of the forest and punish careless movement.

Nearby but separate

Sites of Grace directory

The final two Sites of Grace are especially useful for exploring the central and southern woods, and for making repeated attempts at Madding Hand or the approach to Midra’s Manse.

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Sites of Grace directory

Reaching the entrance

The route begins in Scadu Altus. Follow the Recluses’ River through its lower reaches until you find the entrance to Darklight Catacombs near the river’s terminal waterfall. The river is described as flowing eastwards from the Castle Watering Hole before emptying into the forbidden woods.

Proceed through Darklight Catacombs and defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor at the end of the dungeon. The exit opens into the Abyssal Woods.

Jori is the access boss for the normal route, but the fight is outside the Abyssal Woods proper and should not be counted as an Abyssal Woods field boss.

Recommended access sequence

  1. 01
    Reach Scadu Altus.
  2. 02
    Travel east towards the Recluses’ River.
  3. 03
    Follow the river downstream.
  4. 04
    Enter Darklight Catacombs.
  5. 05
    Work through the catacombs and defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor.
  6. 06
    Leave the catacombs to reach Forsaken Graveyard.
  7. 07
    Activate the first Site of Grace before beginning the forest section.

Suggested exploration route

For a first visit, the following order minimises backtracking:

This route is a practical suggestion rather than a mandatory progression order. The forest itself has no conventional locked gate requiring the preceding outdoor landmarks to be cleared.

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The most distinctive enemies in the Abyssal Woods are the Aging Untouchables, sometimes called Winter Lanterns because of their visual resemblance to the Winter Lanterns of Bloodborne. They carry a staff-like object, inflict Madness and can teleport towards an alerted player.

Ordinary direct attacks do not damage them while they are invulnerable. Their grab attack can be parried, however. After a successful parry, the particular Untouchable becomes vulnerable until the player dies or the area is reset at a Site of Grace.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Forsaken Graveyard Activate the Grace and collect nearby graveyard loot.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Woodland Trail Use crouching and vegetation to pass the first major stealth section.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Madding Hand Explore south of Woodland Trail for the NPC encounter and weapon reward.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Church Ruins Search the ruined church area and continue towards the south-eastern part of the woods.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Abandoned Church Collect the two Scadutree Fragments and decide whether to fight the nearby Aging Untouchable for Aged One’s Exultation.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Abyssal Woods Site of Grace Use it as the main central checkpoint.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Divided Falls Explore the watercourse and nearby paths.

Suggested exploration route: steps

  1. 01
    Midra’s Manse Enter the manor in the southern part of the area and complete the dungeon.

How to pass them safely

The safest strategy for most players is simply to avoid them. Their presence is part of the region’s environmental puzzle, not a demand that every enemy be killed.

Aging Untouchable directory

Reward: Aged One’s Exultation

The Aging Untouchable closest to the Abandoned Church drops Aged One’s Exultation, a talisman that raises attack power when Madness is triggered nearby. The effect is useful for Madness-oriented builds, although deliberately triggering Madness carries its own risks.

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Forsaken Graveyard

The Forsaken Graveyard is the arrival area after Darklight Catacombs. It establishes the tone of the region with ruined burial grounds, subdued lighting and the first warning messages about the forest’s inhabitants.

Its main importance is practical: it provides the first checkpoint and gives the player a safe place to prepare before entering the stealth-oriented sections.

Woodland Trail

The Woodland Trail is the first substantial forest route. It contains the early messages explaining that the enemies ahead cannot simply be fought normally. The path is designed to teach crouching, cover and patience before the player reaches the more dangerous patrol areas.

Madding Hand is found south of the Woodland Trail Site of Grace. This is a hostile NPC encounter rather than a conventional resident or quest-giver. Defeating Madding Hand rewards the weapon Madding Hand.

Church Ruins

The Church Ruins are a ruined religious structure and a named Site of Grace. They are one of the principal stopping points in the eastern or south-eastern part of the forest and provide access to nearby collectibles and hostile encounters.

Abandoned Church

The Abandoned Church is the most valuable outdoor landmark in the region. Two Scadutree Fragments can be collected here, making it worth visiting even if the player intends to avoid most of the woods’ enemies.

An Aging Untouchable near the church provides the area’s unique talisman reward, Aged One’s Exultation, if defeated after being made vulnerable with a parry.

Divided Falls

Divided Falls is a named waterfall area and Site of Grace. It forms part of the woods’ natural drainage and provides a useful central or eastern checkpoint. The area is more useful as an exploration landmark and route junction than as a settlement or service location.

Midra’s Manse

Midra’s Manse is a separate minor legacy dungeon within the Abyssal Woods. It stands in the southern reaches of the forest and is the principal destination of the region. The manor was once a vibrant home surrounded by flowers, but it has fallen into decay following the emergence of the Flame of Frenzy.

The building contains charred books, damaged furniture and ragged tapestries. Its layout is more compact than a major legacy dungeon, but it contains several hidden routes, a lever-operated bookcase and a number of important items.

Midra’s Manse directory

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The Abyssal Woods has no ordinary settlement, merchant quarter or functional shop. Its named characters are tied to combat, the Manse or the area’s Frenzied Flame lore.

Madding Hand

Madding Hand is a hostile NPC found south of the Woodland Trail Site of Grace. Defeating this encounter awards the weapon Madding Hand.

Madding Hand should be listed separately from the Aging Untouchables. It is a named NPC encounter, not a regular resident and not a conventional boss with a remembrance.

Sage Midra

Sage Midra is the central historical figure associated with the region, although the character encountered in the Manse is ultimately fought as Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.

The woods are described as Midra’s sanctum, and the Manse provides the primary evidence for his history, his relationship with Nanaya and the development of the Frenzied Flame within the area.

Hornsent Inquisitors

The woods and the approach route are associated with Hornsent religious opposition to the Frenzied Flame. Jori, Elder Inquisitor, guards the end of Darklight Catacombs, while Inquisitor-type enemies appear in the broader area. The Hornsent prohibition of the woods is part of the region’s narrative identity.

Character and faction directory

No verified merchant, service provider or ordinary civilian settlement is located within the Abyssal Woods.

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Ordinary enemies

Verified named enemy types and encounters associated with the area include:

The Eldenpedia region listing identifies the Frenzied Ram and Frenzied Giant Rat, while other area summaries use slightly different naming conventions such as Frenzied Goat and Giant Frenzied Rat. These should not be treated as separate enemies without a more precise in-game taxonomy.

Ordinary enemies

Madding Hand

Madding Hand is a named hostile NPC encounter and drops the Madding Hand weapon. It is found south of the Woodland Trail Site of Grace.

Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame

Midra is the remembrance boss at the end of Midra’s Manse. Defeating him grants the Remembrance of the Lord of Frenzied Flame, which can be traded through the usual remembrance systems. Midra is listed among the Shadow of the Erdtree remembrance bosses.

The encounter is the culmination of the area’s themes:

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Scadutree Fragments

Scadutree Fragments are consumed at Sites of Grace to increase the Scadutree Blessing, improving damage dealt and damage negation within the Realm of Shadow. Their benefit does not apply outside the DLC area.

Outdoor notable items

Other reported outdoor loot

The region also contains lower-value materials and upgrade resources, including:

The exact placement of minor resources can vary in usefulness depending on whether the player treats the named landmark, enemy drop and nearby ground loot as part of the same route. The major fixed collectibles are the three Scadutree Fragments, Aged One’s Exultation and Madding Hand.

Midra’s Manse loot

The Manse contains the region’s most important dungeon rewards:

The Nanaya’s Torch is found on a body in Midra’s Library. Reaching it requires navigating the upper bookcases and rafters, using a lever that raises a bookcase. The route includes an illusory wall concealed behind a painting.

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Entering the manor

  1. 01
    Reach the manor from the southern forest.
  2. 02
    Activate Manse Hall.
  3. 03
    Explore the entrance rooms and adjoining corridors.
  4. 04
    Search the side rooms for notes, runes and the route towards Midra’s Library.
  5. 05
    Watch for concealed or misleading walls, particularly around the painting and bookcase mechanism.

Reaching Nanaya’s Torch

This route is easy to miss because the main library path does not naturally lead directly to the item. The lever is part of the dungeon’s environmental navigation rather than a conventional locked-door key.

Reaching Nanaya’s Torch: steps

  1. 01
    From Midra’s Library, inspect the surrounding rafters and bookshelves.
  2. 02
    Drop down west of the Site of Grace.
  3. 03
    Turn around and locate the room containing a painting.
  4. 04
    Treat the painting as an illusory wall.
  5. 05
    Follow the hidden route to the ladder and lever.
  6. 06
    Pull the lever to raise the bookcase.
  7. 07
    Cross the upper route and reach the body carrying Nanaya’s Torch.

Reaching Midra

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The Abyssal Woods does not have a large visible quest hub, and the area’s fixed content is not substantially rearranged by the major DLC progression states in the way some NPC locations are. Its main progression change is the player’s own ability to move through it:

The forest is associated with the Hornsent’s prohibition of the Frenzied Flame. Its messages, enemy design, Manse documents and boss encounter present the area as a place where the player is being watched by beings who guard something the wider Hornsent culture rejected or feared.

The Aged One’s Exultation description connects the Aging Untouchables with grapes, madness and service to a lord. The Torn Diary Page, Nanaya’s Torch and Manse lore expand this theme through Midra’s household and the failed history of Frenzied Flame power.

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Reaching Midra: steps

  1. 01
    Continue through the upper sections of the manor.
  2. 02
    Activate Second Floor Chamber before the fog wall where available.
  3. 03
    Proceed to the confrontation with Midra.
  4. 04
    Defeat Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.
  5. 05
    Activate Discussion Chamber after the battle.
  6. 06
    Collect the remembrance-related rewards and search the boss area for remaining items.

Manse checklist

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Can Torrent be summoned in the Abyssal Woods?

No. The area deliberately prevents mounted traversal, with the game indicating that the spectral steed is frightened.

Can the Aging Untouchables be killed?

Yes, but not through ordinary direct attacks while they are invulnerable. Parry their grab attack, then attack them while their protection is disabled.

Do I need to kill every Aging Untouchable?

No. Avoidance is the intended solution for much of the forest. Kill the one near the Abandoned Church if you want Aged One’s Exultation.

Is Midra’s Manse part of the outdoor forest?

It is within the Abyssal Woods geographically, but it is a distinct dungeon with its own internal Sites of Grace and boss.

Are there merchants in the Abyssal Woods?

No verified functional shop or merchant is listed within the region. The area contains combat encounters, lore objects, fixed loot and Sites of Grace rather than commercial services.

Is the Abyssal Woods required to finish the DLC?

No. It is an optional region, although Midra’s Manse contains a remembrance boss and several unique items.

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Sources