Limgrave Tunnels

Key takeaways

• Location The north-western corner of Agheel Lake, in a cliff face north-east of the Church of Elleh.
• Purpose An early source of Smithing Stone [1] for upgrading ordinary weapons.
• Main enemies Miners, rats and stray dogs.
• Boss Stonedigger Troll.
• Boss reward Roar Medallion and approximately 1,800 runes in the base game.
• Important navigation tip Search the sides of lift shafts instead of riding every lift straight down.
• No resident NPCs or shops The tunnel is an abandoned or active mining site occupied by hostile workers and animals, not a settlement.

About this guide

Overview

Base game, Elden Ring

Base game, Elden Ring

Introduction

Limgrave Tunnels is an optional early-game mine in Limgrave, built into the north-western wall of Agheel Lake. It is one of the first places where the game clearly teaches the value of weapon upgrading: the mine contains a concentrated supply of Smithing Stone [1], along with a smaller number of utility items and crafting materials. Its final chamber houses the Stonedigger Troll, whose defeat rewards the Roar Medallion.

The dungeon is compact but vertically arranged. Several lift shafts connect mining galleries, side tunnels and lower platforms. The lifts are not simply transport: some of the most useful loot is placed on ledges beside or below them, so players who ride directly to the bottom can miss items.

Limgrave Tunnels should be distinguished from other mines in the wider starting region. It is not a broad subregion, settlement or underground region, and it does not include Morne Tunnel, Morne Tunnel being a separate dungeon in the Weeping Peninsula. The two are sometimes covered together in regional walkthroughs because both are early mines, but they are separate locations with separate Sites of Grace, layouts and bosses.

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Named directory: places within scope

No additional named rooms, shops, settlements or internal districts are identified in the base-game location material consulted.

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Limgrave Tunnels is best understood as a sequence of vertical mining levels rather than as a set of formally named rooms. The game does not provide official names for its galleries, so the descriptions below use practical labels.

Named directory: places within scope

• Limgrave Tunnels

Entrance lift shaft

The dungeon begins with a lift descending into the mine. The first shaft is a warning about the dungeon’s design: the safest-looking route is not always the most complete one. Ledges and side tunnels around the lift contain loot, and players should look for places where they can step or drop off rather than automatically travelling to the bottom.

A Site of Grace sits at the lower end of the initial approach. Activate it before exploring. The nearby Summoning Pool can be used for multiplayer assistance, making this a useful preparation point before the boss.

Upper mining galleries

The first galleries contain miners working around glowing mineral seams. These rooms provide the main concentration of Smithing Stone [1]. Some stones are visible directly on the cave walls, while others are found on corpses or in side passages.

The miners are usually encountered in small groups. A few stand in obvious positions, while others may be working around corners or near wooden structures. Because the galleries are narrow, rushing into the centre of a room can attract several enemies at once.

Intermediate lift levels

Further lifts connect the upper galleries to lower chambers. Several side platforms are positioned beside the shafts. One of the most commonly missed items is reached by moving onto a ledge part-way down rather than staying on the lift until it reaches its destination.

These levels are also where the dungeon begins to mix ordinary Smithing Stone [1] with glintstone-related materials. The environment suggests a working mine, but the hostile miners and their improvised shelters make the area dangerous even before the boss.

Lower galleries and boss approach

The lowest section becomes more open and leads towards the large wooden door of the boss arena. A few remaining miners guard the approach, and the final stretch is less about finding a hidden branch than about checking the lower ledges and side walls for missed resources.

The fog door leads to the Stonedigger Troll. There is no NPC encounter or dialogue event before the fight.

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Reaching the entrance

From the early Limgrave area, travel towards the north-western side of Agheel Lake. The entrance is set into the cliff rather than standing in an obvious freestanding structure. The lake itself can contain other dangers, so approaching along the landward edge is usually safer than crossing the open water.

The dungeon does not require a key, Stonesword Key, quest item or story boss defeat to enter.

A useful early route is

1. 01
   Leave the Church of Elleh or Gatefront area.
2. 02
   Travel towards Agheel Lake.
3. 03
   Follow the lake’s northern or north-western edge.
4. 04
   Look for the mine entrance in the cliff.
5. 05
   Enter and activate the Limgrave Tunnels Site of Grace.
6. 06
   Explore the mining galleries before committing to the boss.

Recommended exploration order

For a first visit, the most efficient route is:

The dungeon is short enough that a completionist sweep is practical. It is also one of the better early locations for players who want to improve a normal weapon before attempting tougher Limgrave fights.

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Recommended exploration order: steps

1. 01
   Activate the Site of Grace.
2. 02
   Clear the first mining room carefully.
3. 03
   Collect the visible Smithing Stones from the walls.
4. 04
   Search side tunnels and corpses before using the next lift.
5. 05
   Check ledges beside each lift shaft.
6. 06
   Rest or return to the Site of Grace if your flasks are running low.
7. 07
   Make a second pass through any platform you skipped.
8. 08
   Enter the boss arena only after collecting the upgrade materials.

Miners

The miners are the dungeon’s defining ordinary enemy. They carry pickaxes and tend to stand close to the mineral deposits they are extracting. Their posture can make them appear passive, but they attack when approached or struck.

Their armour and mining tools make them resistant to many weak frontal attacks. Heavy weapons, jumping attacks, charged attacks and blunt damage are generally more dependable than repeatedly striking their guarded front. Attacking from behind or while they are focused on another target is safer than trading blows in a narrow tunnel.

Miners can also drop mining-related loot, although enemy drops should be treated as supplementary rather than guaranteed. The fixed wall deposits and corpse items are the reliable source of the dungeon’s upgrade materials.

Rats

Rats occupy some of the darker side passages and lower sections. They are individually weak but can interrupt attacks or surround a player who is already dealing with a miner. Listen for their movement and check corners before looting.

Stray dogs

Stray dogs appear in the mine’s broader or more exposed passages. They are fast and can stagger a lightly equipped character, particularly if they attack while the player is harvesting a wall deposit. Pull them away from miners where possible.

Named directory: ordinary enemies

No named NPC, merchant, faction leader or friendly resident is established within Limgrave Tunnels itself. The miners are hostile enemies, not recruitable workers or dialogue characters.

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The Stonedigger Troll is the final boss of Limgrave Tunnels. It is a large troll wielding a heavy weapon, fought in a broad but enclosed chamber. Its size is intimidating, but the arena gives enough room to circle around its legs and punish slow attacks.

Main attacks

The safest general position is near the legs or behind the boss, with enough space to retreat when it begins a large swing. Do not stay underneath indefinitely. The stomp and follow-up attacks can catch players who attack without leaving an escape route.

Practical strategy

The boss’s large frame makes stance-breaking a realistic tactic. Once staggered, take the critical hit rather than continuing ordinary attacks.

Practical strategy: steps

1. 01
   Enter with your chosen weapon upgraded where possible.
2. 02
   Stay close enough to encourage manageable melee attacks, but avoid standing directly in front.
3. 03
   Circle towards the rear or side after each major swing.
4. 04
   Use jumping attacks or charged heavy attacks to build stance damage.
5. 05
   Attack during the recovery after a missed overhead strike.
6. 06
   If using a shield, avoid relying on blocking every heavy blow, as repeated impacts can drain stamina quickly.
7. 07
   Summon assistance if desired. The nearby Summoning Pool is available, and spirit summons may also be used where permitted by the game’s normal rules.
8. 08
   Collect the boss reward after the fight and check the arena before leaving.

Rewards

The Roar Medallion is a talisman associated with roar and breath attacks. It is the dungeon’s main unique reward and is separate from the upgrade materials gathered throughout the mine.

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The dungeon’s fixed loot is weighted heavily towards early weapon-upgrade materials.

Upgrade materials

The principal reward is a supply of Smithing Stone [1]. These are found as glowing mineral deposits on cave walls and in a number of side positions. The exact number of available stones can be described differently by guides depending on whether they count only guaranteed wall pickups, corpse items, or additional loot sources. The consistent point is that Limgrave Tunnels contains several fixed Smithing Stone [1] pickups and is designed as an early upgrade mine.

The mine also contains Somber Smithing Stone [1] according to detailed route guides. This is useful for players using a special weapon, although Limgrave Tunnels is primarily associated with normal Smithing Stone [1], not with a large supply of somber materials.

Consumables and materials

These are found on corpses, in side passages and around the wooden mining structures. Glintstone Scrap is useful as a ranged magic-related crafting material, while the Golden Runes can be consumed for a fixed number of runes.

Loot directory

1. Secure the checkpoint

Enter the mine and use the lift to descend. Activate the Limgrave Tunnels Site of Grace as soon as you reach it. If you plan to explore every side passage, consider returning here after clearing each major gallery.

2. Clear the first gallery

Deal with miners one at a time. Use the walls and corners to break line of sight, and avoid standing in the middle of the room where several miners can surround you.

Collect the visible Smithing Stones from the yellow mineral seams. Do not assume that the largest room contains everything. Check the smaller tunnels branching from it.

3. Search the first lift shaft

Before riding further down, examine the edges of the shaft. A route guide for Limgrave places a Golden Rune [1] on a corpse reached by dropping to a lower ledge rather than simply taking the lift. Move slowly and use controlled drops. A missed jump can cause a death and may leave your runes below the platform.

4. Explore the wooden mining structures

The next section contains miners, mineral deposits and wooden structures used as shelters or work areas. Search inside and behind these structures. The documented loot includes Glintstone Scrap, Large Glintstone Scrap and further Smithing Stone [1] pickups.

Use ranged attacks or short pulls if several enemies are close together. The wooden buildings can restrict movement, so it is often safer to draw one miner into the open.

5. Check the upper and lower platforms

Continue through the connected galleries and use the lifts. Whenever a lift passes a visible ledge, look for a safe dismount point. Some items are positioned on platforms that are not obvious from the top or bottom of the shaft.

If you are only visiting for upgrade materials, you can collect most of the valuable Smithing Stones without fighting every optional enemy. If you want a full clear, search every wall deposit before entering the final approach.

6. Prepare for the boss

Return to the Site of Grace if necessary. Equip a weapon that can deal reliable stance damage, and make sure you have enough healing for a prolonged fight. The Stonedigger Troll’s attacks are slow but cover a large area.

Players using a normal weapon should benefit from the Smithing Stone [1] pickups collected in the mine. Players using a special weapon should check whether they have enough Somber Smithing Stone [1] to make a meaningful improvement before fighting the boss.

7. Defeat the Stonedigger Troll

Stay near the troll’s side or rear, punish recovery animations, and avoid greed after a stagger. Two or three strong attacks are usually safer than an extended combo. When the boss falls, take the critical hit if available.

After victory, collect the Roar Medallion and leave through the unlocked route.

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Lift-shaft drops

The most important environmental hazard is falling. The shafts are designed to tempt players into jumping towards apparently reachable ledges. Some drops are safe, while others are lethal. Use the camera to identify the actual platform below before committing.

Miner resistance

The miners are not individually powerful, but their defensive posture can make early weapons feel ineffective. This is a combat hazard rather than a hidden mechanic that requires a particular item. Change attack timing, use heavy or jumping attacks, or strike from behind.

Narrow rooms

Several galleries are too narrow for comfortable evasion when multiple enemies are active. Pulling enemies into corridors one at a time is safer than opening every fight with a wide-area attack that attracts the room.

Resource temptation

The glowing Smithing Stones encourage players to mine while enemies remain nearby. Clear the immediate threat first. A miner interrupting the gathering animation can force a poor trade, especially for a new character with low stamina.

Missed ledges

The dungeon’s “secret” content is primarily positional rather than quest-based. There is no known hidden NPC storyline or permanent faction choice attached to Limgrave Tunnels. The main risk is leaving fixed loot behind by taking lifts directly to their endpoints.

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Limgrave Tunnels is most useful before or around the player’s first serious attempts at Stormveil Castle. Its Smithing Stone [1] supply can bring a normal weapon to the early upgrade levels, which often matters more than a small increase in character level.

The dungeon can be completed before entering Stormveil and does not depend on defeating Margit, Godrick or another major story boss. It also does not require access to Roundtable Hold, a merchant quest or a regional progression flag.

These are connections in the overworld or in regional route planning, not internal exits from Limgrave Tunnels.

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Nearby locations and related mines include

• Church of Elleh
• Murkwater Cave
• Murkwater Catacombs

Is Limgrave Tunnels required?

No. It is an optional dungeon. However, it is strongly worthwhile for early weapon-upgrade materials and the Roar Medallion.

Where is Limgrave Tunnels?

It is in the cliff at the north-western corner of Agheel Lake in Limgrave, north-east of the Church of Elleh.

Is Limgrave Tunnels the same as Morne Tunnel?

No. They are separate dungeons. Limgrave Tunnels is in the Limgrave lake area and ends with the Stonedigger Troll. Morne Tunnel is in the Weeping Peninsula and has a different layout, enemy set and boss.

What is the best reason to visit?

The best practical reason is the concentration of Smithing Stone [1] for upgrading ordinary weapons. The boss’s Roar Medallion is the principal unique reward.

Can the miners be farmed?

Enemies can be fought again after resting, but their item drops are random and the fixed wall deposits do not function as an unlimited guaranteed source in the same way. The dungeon is best treated as a one-time upgrade haul, with repeat visits mainly useful for runes or enemy-drop attempts.

Are there any NPC quests here?

No named NPC quest or merchant service is associated with the dungeon itself in the base-game location material consulted.

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Sources

• Limgrave Tunnels | Elden Ring Wiki | Fandom — eldenring.fandom.com
• Limgrave - Elden Ring Walkthrough & Guide - GameFAQs — gamefaqs.gamespot.com