Key takeaways
- Belurat is a legacy dungeon, not the whole western portion of Gravesite Plain.
- Enter from Three-Path Cross by taking the left-hand route through the large stone arch.
- The dungeon has three important internal progression points Belurat, Tower Settlement Site of Grace, Small Private Altar, and Stagefront.
- The Storeroom Key opens the room containing Hornsent Grandam Speaking to her while wearing the Divine Beast Head grants Watchful Spirit.
- The Well Depths Key opens the poisoned lower section It is optional for reaching the main boss.
- The main boss is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, whose remembrance can be exchanged for either the Dancing Lion incantation or the Enraged Divine Beast Ash of War.
- After the boss, a route leads to the base of the Tower of Shadow The additional Revered Spirit Ash there is part of the post-boss approach, not the pre-boss town.
About this guide
Shadow of the Erdtree location guide Spoilers: This guide covers the settlement’s layout, NPCs, keys, optional areas, major rewards and the Divine Beast Dancing Lion.
Overview
Belurat, Tower Settlement is one of the first major legacy dungeons in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It stands at the western edge of Gravesite Plain in the Realm of Shadow, reached by taking the western branch from Three-Path Cross and following the road through the ruined settlement approach. The dungeon is not merely the visible town around its main staircase. Its scope includes the elevated settlement, waterways and rooftops, the well and poison-filled depths, the Hornsent storeroom, the tower approach, the Stagefront and the Divine Beast’s arena.
Belurat is a compact but vertically confusing dungeon. Its streets loop around a central waterfall and fountain, while ladders, rooftops, bridges and lifts gradually connect the lower entrance to the upper tower. The area’s principal guardian is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a major boss whose defeat opens the route towards the Tower of Shadow and provides the key item needed for the settlement’s hidden NPC interaction.
The nearby Belurat Gaol, Ellac River Cave, Scorched Ruins, Three-Path Cross and Main Gate Cross are separate locations. They belong to the broader Gravesite Plain region but should not be treated as internal sections of Belurat, Tower Settlement.
Boundaries and included subareas
Belurat’s practical boundaries are easiest to understand as a connected dungeon rather than a single town square.
Separate neighbouring locations
The following are nearby, but are not subareas of the settlement:
The tower visible beyond the settlement is associated with Belurat’s broader story and post-boss route, but the final dungeon Enir-Ilim is a separate location. Likewise, the inaccessible-looking temple in the poisoned depths is not a normal Belurat route. It is reached later through platforming from Enir-Ilim and contains the legendary twinblade Euporia.
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Geography and layout
Belurat is built on a steep slope beneath a monumental tower. Its architecture combines a settlement, ceremonial stairways and drainage channels. The vertical design is the main source of difficulty. The most useful mental map is:
The settlement uses several visual landmarks repeatedly: the fountain, the large waterfall, the main metal doors, the spiral stairway and the tower silhouette. If you become lost, return to one of these landmarks rather than trying to follow the apparent direction of the rooftops.
The first Site of Grace is positioned beside large metal doors that initially cannot be opened. Later, a lift and lever open them to create a shortcut back to the entrance. The route is deliberately designed to make the dungeon feel longer on the first pass than it is after the shortcut is unlocked.
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Geography and layout: steps
- 01Entrance staircase
- 02First Site of Grace
- 03Fountain and waterfall
- 04Lower thoroughfare and well
- 05Small Private Altar
- 06Horned Warrior route and Queelign’s invasion
- 07Waterfall basin and Storeroom Key
- 08Upper rooftops and scorpion area
- 09Spiral staircase
- 10Stagefront
- 11Divine Beast arena
- 12Tower of Shadow approach
Access and nearby connections
Reaching Belurat
The approach contains useful early DLC resources, including a Scadutree Fragment and NPC interactions. The merchant at Main Gate Cross sells resistance-related consumables, including Lightning-Proof Pickled Livers, which are useful against the Dancing Lion’s lightning attacks.
Recommended preparation
Belurat is available early in the DLC, but its enemies hit hard. Before entering, consider:
There is no required level stated by the game. Scadutree Blessing level and weapon improvement are more important practical indicators than ordinary character level.
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Reaching Belurat: From the initial section of Gravesite Plain
- 01Begin at Gravesite Plain Site of Grace or another nearby checkpoint.
- 02Follow the road through or past the Scorched Ruins.
- 03Reach Three-Path Cross.
- 04Take the left-hand path through the large stone arch.
- 05Pass the NPC camp and Main Gate Cross.
- 06Continue up the monumental staircase to enter Belurat proper.
1. Entrance and first Site of Grace
Climb the main staircase and deal with the spider-like enemies near the gate. Their ambushes are more dangerous than their appearance suggests, particularly if they surround you. Continue through the entry buildings until you reach the room with two stairways.
Take the route towards the settlement and activate Belurat, Tower Settlement Site of Grace. The nearby metal doors are a future shortcut. The room beside the grace is initially a dead end, so do not spend time searching it for the main route.
2. Fountain, waterfall and lower thoroughfare
Move into the plaza with the fountain and waterfall. A large Shadow enemy lies near the water and can punish players who rush in. Search the waterfall and nearby ledges for loot before continuing up the stairs.
The thoroughfare beyond the fountain contains elevated spellcasters. They attack from bridges and balconies, making the street dangerous if you remain exposed. Kill them from range if possible, or use the surrounding buildings for cover.
The well on the side of the thoroughfare leads to a small lower section. The first descent provides loot, including Messmerfire Grease, but the deeper poisoned area is sealed until you obtain the Well Depths Key.
3. Small Private Altar and the two upper routes
At the far end of the thoroughfare, enter the archway and activate Small Private Altar Site of Grace. This checkpoint is the central staging point for the upper half of Belurat.
On leaving the grace, the right-hand arch is the route towards the boss. The left-hand arch leads towards the storeroom and is initially blocked by the locked door containing Hornsent Grandam.
Proceed past the Horned Warrior. The route splits:
Defeat or avoid the Horned Warrior carefully. These enemies have long attack chains and are difficult to stagger consistently. Patience is more reliable than trading blows.
Fire Knight Queelign
The invasion occurs in the open area near the tree. Defeating Fire Knight Queelign rewards the Crusade Insignia, a talisman that increases attack power after defeating an enemy. The invasion is separate from the main boss and is worth completing before moving on.
4. Waterfall basin and the Storeroom Key
Continue through the upper route until you reach the top of the waterfall. The area contains several Shadow enemies and a room with a ladder.
Climb the ladder and loot the corpse at the top. It carries the Storeroom Key. This key is required for the Hornsent Grandam interaction and should not be confused with the Well Depths Key.
From this upper position, the route divides again:
The left route is generally easier to control and contains useful rewards. The right route provides an alternative path and additional loot but is more dangerous if the birds knock you from the roofs.
4. Waterfall basin and the Storeroom Key
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Left | Man-Flies and the more direct exploration route. |
| Right | rooftops guarded by aggressive birds. |
5. Rooftops, Man-Flies and scorpions
The upper settlement mixes narrow rooftops, broken walls and enclosed rooms. Man-Flies can rush from corners and inflict heavy damage if they grab you while you are already wounded. Deal with them one at a time and avoid committing to attacks near ledges.
The scorpion area contains a larger chamber with two scorpions and the Bone Bow. One scorpion is substantially tougher, so decide whether the weapon is worth the fight for your build. The main route continues over rubble and through the archway.
Further on, you can obtain a Scadutree Fragment and the Dried Bouquet talisman. Dried Bouquet raises attack power after your summoned Spirit Ash dies, making it a niche option for aggressive Spirit Ash users.
A shortcut lies behind the scorpion section. Descend the stairs, take the lift down and use the lever to open the large metal doors near the first Site of Grace. Once opened, this makes repeated attempts against the upper enemies and boss much faster.
6. Spiral staircase and Stagefront
The upper path eventually reaches a large spiral staircase. A highly mobile Curseblade patrols here. It can attack from awkward angles and punish healing, but it has a chance to drop the Curseblade Cirque.
Continue up the staircase to reach the boss approach and Stagefront Site of Grace. Check for available summon signs before entering the arena.
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The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is the main boss of Belurat. It fights as a huge, acrobatic beast whose attacks combine physical damage with lightning, frost and wind-based effects. The camera can become difficult to manage, especially when the creature leaps or coils above the arena.
Summons
Redmane Freyja can be summoned outside the arena if the relevant NPC progression has been preserved. Hornsent may also be available depending on the state of his quest and the player’s progression. Summoning increases the boss’s health, so the choice is not automatically beneficial for every build. Redmane Freyja is nevertheless durable and can create useful openings.
Practical tactics
The boss’s elemental attacks are signalled by its posture and movement. Once the attack has passed, close in quickly. Remaining too far away allows it to chain into another leap or ranged burst.
Rewards
The remembrance can be exchanged at the Roundtable Hold for one of two rewards:
The Divine Beast Head is also needed for the Hornsent Grandam interaction.
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Return to Small Private Altar after defeating the boss. Take the previously blocked route across the bridge, deal with the spellcasters and use the Storeroom Key on the locked door.
Hornsent Grandam is inside. Equip the Divine Beast Head before speaking to her. The head causes her to recognise the player as a representative of the Divine Beast and changes the interaction.
The Divine Beast Head is therefore not merely cosmetic. It is a required condition for obtaining Watchful Spirit.
Directory: Hornsent Grandam sequence
Do not treat Hornsent Grandam as a conventional merchant. She provides dialogue, a quest-related interaction and a spell, but not a general shop service.
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The well near the central thoroughfare leads to a locked door. The Well Depths Key is found elsewhere in the settlement and is required to open it.
The area is optional for reaching the Divine Beast. It is best explored after activating the Small Private Altar shortcut, because the return route is safer and quicker.
The bridge and temple visible in the depths create a deliberate false lead. The temple cannot be reached directly from the well section. It is accessed later by platforming down from Enir-Ilim and contains Euporia, a legendary Twinblade.
Directory: Well Depths
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The following directory consolidates the named rewards and notable fixed pickups documented for Belurat’s internal sections. Ordinary crafting materials, runes and common enemy drops are not listed exhaustively.
Directory: Well Depths
Scadutree and Revered Spirit rewards
The Revered Spirit Ash at the tower stairway is obtained after defeating the Divine Beast and following the post-boss route. The overlook fragment is found near the upper settlement before the Stagefront section.
Weapons and offensive equipment
Spells and Ashes of War
Status notes: Watchful Spirit requires the Hornsent Grandam interaction and Divine Beast Head. Dancing Lion and Enraged Divine Beast are remembrance choices, so one remembrance normally produces one of them unless the remembrance is duplicated. Curseblade Cirque is a random enemy drop rather than a guaranteed fixed pickup. The Horned Warrior’s Sword is associated with the Horned Warrior in the poisoned section as a guaranteed reward according to the item-location guide.
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Belurat has no conventional guards or law-enforcement system. Its security is provided by hostile creatures and defenders occupying fixed patrol routes.
Named or distinctive encounters
The settlement’s enemy composition reflects its cultural and architectural identity. Horned Warriors guard ceremonial approaches, Shadow enemies occupy the ruined streets and waterways, and the upper routes introduce creatures that attack from vertical positions or ambush from cover.
The most dangerous ordinary enemies are usually the Horned Warriors and Curseblade, while Man-Flies and the entrance spiders are most threatening when they attack in groups or from blind corners.
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For a first complete clear, use this order:
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Belurat’s internal geography remains substantially stable after the Dancing Lion is defeated, but NPC availability and dialogue depend on wider DLC progression.
The most important local condition is the Hornsent Grandam sequence. The Storeroom Key alone is insufficient. You must also possess the Divine Beast Head and equip it before speaking to her. The boss therefore needs to be defeated before the settlement’s full NPC reward can be collected.
The availability of NPC summon signs is progression-sensitive. Redmane Freyja can be available for the Dancing Lion, while Hornsent’s appearance depends on his quest state and whether the relevant progression conditions remain intact. Because NPC questlines in Shadow of the Erdtree can change after major story events, speak to nearby NPCs before advancing deep into the expansion if you are attempting a completionist run.
The bridge temple in the poisoned depths is not a missed Belurat entrance. It is intentionally reserved for a later route through Enir-Ilim. A player who has fully explored the normal settlement but cannot reach that temple has not necessarily overlooked a key.
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Belurat presents the Hornsent settlement as a place of ritual architecture, vertical ceremonial routes and decaying civic infrastructure. The tower, the Divine Beast and the Hornsent Grandam’s storeroom connect the playable dungeon to the older religious identity of the Realm of Shadow.
The dungeon’s central waterfall is more than scenery. It acts as a navigation anchor, hides the route to the Storeroom Key and visually links Belurat’s upper and lower levels. The locked doors and apparently unreachable structures reinforce the area’s recurring theme: the settlement is both physically and historically fragmented.
The Divine Beast’s arena also clarifies the relationship between Belurat and its guardian. The Dancing Lion is not a conventional animal boss. It is a ritualised figure whose movements, elemental transformations and ceremonial headpiece reflect the Hornsent’s sacred traditions.
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Named or distinctive encounters
Named or distinctive encounters: steps
- 01Enter from Three-Path Cross.
- 02Activate Belurat, Tower Settlement Site of Grace.
- 03Explore the fountain and lower thoroughfare.
- 04Loot the first section of the well.
- 05Activate Small Private Altar.
- 06Defeat Fire Knight Queelign.
- 07Continue to the waterfall basin.
- 08Obtain the Storeroom Key.
- 09Explore the Man-Fly and scorpion routes.
- 10Collect the Bone Bow, Dried Bouquet and Scadutree Fragment.
- 11Open the shortcut to the entrance.
- 12Activate Stagefront.
- 13Summon Redmane Freyja if desired.
- 14Defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion.
- 15Collect the Divine Beast Head and remembrance.
- 16Return to Small Private Altar.
- 17Open the storeroom and speak to Hornsent Grandam while wearing the head.
- 18Return to the well with the Well Depths Key.
- 19Clear the poisoned depths.
- 20Follow the post-boss route towards the Tower of Shadow and collect the Revered Spirit Ash.
Is Belurat, Tower Settlement part of Gravesite Plain?
It is a sub-region and legacy dungeon located at the western edge of Gravesite Plain. It is within the Realm of Shadow, but Gravesite Plain and Belurat are not interchangeable names.
Is Belurat Gaol inside Belurat?
No. Belurat Gaol is a separate dungeon in the surrounding Gravesite Plain region.
Can I reach the poisoned depths before defeating the Dancing Lion?
Yes, provided you find the Well Depths Key. The poisoned section is optional and is not required to reach the main boss.
Where is Hornsent Grandam?
She is locked inside the Storeroom near the Small Private Altar section. Use the Storeroom Key and equip the Divine Beast Head before speaking to her.
What does Hornsent Grandam give?
Her local interaction gives the Watchful Spirit incantation and additional quest-related dialogue.
Is the temple in the well reachable from Belurat?
Not directly. The bridge temple is reached later by platforming from Enir-Ilim and contains Euporia.
Should I summon Redmane Freyja?
She is a strong option if available, particularly for players who want help creating openings. However, summoning increases the boss’s health, so solo players with a well-developed build may prefer to fight alone.
What should I do with the Dancing Lion remembrance?
Exchange it for either Dancing Lion or Enraged Divine Beast. Choose the reward that suits your build, or duplicate the remembrance later if you want both.
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