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Rauh Ruins

Rauh Ruins, officially shown on the map as the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, are a vast overgrown ruin complex in the Realm of Shadow, introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • Rauh Ruins has two major levels The elevated Ancient Ruins are reached through Shadow Keep or from the lower region via lifts and winding routes. Rauh Base is reached most directly through the cave system north of Moorth Ruins.
  • Do not confuse the map fragment route with the main story route The Rauh Ruins map fragment is found in Rauh Base, while the principal late-game route begins from Shadow Keep’s western side.
  • The high ruins are split into eastern and western exploration zones The eastern side contains the Viaduct Minor Tower, Miquella-related discoveries and the Divine Beast temple. The western side contains the route to the Church of the Bud, Romina and the entrance to Enir-Ilim.
  • The region contains multiple separate dungeons Scorpion River Catacombs and Taylew’s Ruined Forge belong to Rauh Base and should not be treated as ordinary rooms within the open-world ruins.
  • There are no normal merchants or settlements in Rauh Ruins The region is an abandoned archaeological landscape populated by hostile creatures, Shadow Undead, hornsent forces and ancient guardians.
  • Several high-value rewards are easy to miss, including the Rauh map fragment, Scadutree Fragments, Revered Spirit Ashes, the Talisman of All Crucibles, the Stone-Sheathed Sword and the eastern Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook.

About this guide

Scope note: This guide uses Rauh Ruins as the broad north-western region of the Realm of Shadow, including the elevated Ancient Ruins of Rauh and the lower Rauh Base. These are related but distinct sub-regions. Temple Town Ruins, Scorpion River Catacombs and Taylew’s Ruined Forge are treated as Rauh Base locations, not as interchangeable names for the upper ruins. The guide covers Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and contains major spoilers.

Overview

Rauh Ruins is one of the largest and most vertically confusing regions in Shadow of the Erdtree. It lies in the north-west of the Realm of Shadow, beyond Scadu Altus and to the west of Shadow Keep. The region is not one simple ruin field. It is a layered landscape made up of a high, green plateau, flooded and broken architectural complexes, deep ravines, a lower forested basin, Temple Town, the Scorpion River and several self-contained dungeons.

The upper section is officially called the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. It contains the main route towards the Church of the Bud, the Rauh Ancient Ruins, East and West Sites of Grace, the Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway, and the ruined temple containing the Divine Beast Dancing Lion. The lower section, generally called Rauh Base, contains the Ancient Ruins Base, Temple Town Ruins, Ravine North, Taylew’s Ruined Forge and Scorpion River Catacombs. The game’s regional organisation places both areas within the broader Land of the Tower.

Rauh is both an exploration region and a late-game story route. Its western end leads to the Church of the Bud and the boss Romina, Saint of the Bud. After obtaining and using Messmer’s Kindling, the Church of the Bud becomes the route into Enir-Ilim, the DLC’s final legacy dungeon. Other areas, including the Divine Beast temple and several optional ruins, can be explored independently.

Named geography directory

Rauh Base

Some of these names are formal map or dungeon names, while others are descriptive labels used to distinguish unnamed but visually distinct structures. The latter should not be mistaken for separate Sites of Grace or official sub-regions.

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There are two principal approaches, and they serve different purposes.

Rauh Base

Route 1: Shadow Keep West Rampart

This is the most direct route to the elevated Ancient Ruins and is the natural approach if following the main DLC progression.

The route from Shadow Keep places you close to the upper ruins and the Viaduct Minor Tower side of the region. It is also the route most closely associated with the late-game progression towards the Church of the Bud. A guide to the area’s main access route confirms that the West Rampart bridge leads directly into Ancient Ruins of Rauh.

Practical advice

The bridge approach is dangerous because it exposes you to ranged attacks while giving limited room to manoeuvre. Use the bridge supports and side structures as cover where possible. If you are under-levelled for the DLC, collect nearby Scadutree Fragments before attempting a full run through the ruins.

Route 1: Shadow Keep West Rampart: steps

  1. 01
    Enter Shadow Keep in Scadu Altus.
  2. 02
    Reach the Specimen Storehouse and descend through the lower route.
  3. 03
    Continue towards the West Rampart.
  4. 04
    From the West Rampart, cross the large bridge leading west.
  5. 05
    Deal with the hostile fire-related enemies and continue into the Ancient Ruins.

Route 2: Moorth Ruins tunnels

This route reaches Rauh Base and is the best way to obtain the regional map fragment.

The Rauh Ruins map fragment is found outside Temple Town Ruins, near the main road. The route through the caves is easy to miss because the entrance appears to be part of the surrounding cliff rather than a major regional passage.

Why this route matters

The lower route is not merely an alternative entrance. It gives access to:

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Rauh has no ordinary town, merchant hub or permanent friendly settlement. Its main facilities are Sites of Grace, lifts, dungeon entrances and progression landmarks.

Route 2: Moorth Ruins tunnels: steps

  1. 01
    Start at Moorth Ruins in Scadu Altus.
  2. 02
    Travel north-east towards the pond and the cave entrance near a Marika statue.
  3. 03
    Pass through the cave system.
  4. 04
    Continue through the section containing large bird enemies.
  5. 05
    Emerge at Ancient Ruins Base.
  6. 06
    Travel west towards Temple Town and the Rauh map stele.

Why this route matters

Sites of Grace directory

Rauh Base

These Sites of Grace divide the area into useful exploration sectors. The Rauh Ancient Ruins, East grace is a strong starting point for the eastern plateau, while Rauh Ancient Ruins, West is the most useful checkpoint for the western ruins and the Talisman of All Crucibles route. The Church of the Bud graces serve the final approach and boss area.

There are no verified shops or purchasable properties in the region. Decorative architectural structures should not be assumed to be businesses, and no services should be inferred from ruin names.

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The following order reduces backtracking while preserving optional rewards.

Rauh Base

Stage 1: Reveal Rauh Base

Take the Moorth Ruins tunnel route and activate:

Collect the map fragment before attempting to navigate the upper ruins by memory. Temple Town also provides an early overview of the architecture and helps establish the vertical relationship between the lower basin and the plateau.

Stage 1: Reveal Rauh Base: steps

  1. 01
    Ancient Ruins Base
  2. 02
    Temple Town Ruins
  3. 03
    Ravine North

Stage 2: Clear the lower dungeons

The catacombs and forge are independent dungeon spaces. Do not expect every doorway in Rauh Base to lead towards the main ruins. The eastern caves are particularly valuable because one contains a pot-carrying Shadow Undead associated with Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook [1].

Visit

  1. 01
    Scorpion River Catacombs
  2. 02
    Taylew’s Ruined Forge
  3. 03
    Eastern mountain-wall caves north of Temple Town

Stage 3: Enter the upper ruins

Use either the Shadow Keep bridge or one of the lifts and vertical paths from below. Activate Viaduct Minor Tower, then explore the eastern plateau before moving west.

Stage 4: Explore the central ruins

From the eastern side, work towards the Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway and Rauh Ancient Ruins, West. This is where many apparently inaccessible paths become understandable. Several routes require dropping to lower ledges, using lifts or approaching structures from behind.

Prioritise the Talisman of All Crucibles before leaving the western interior. Its room is easy to overlook because the route involves an awkward jump and a lift connection rather than a prominent doorway.

Stage 5: Finish at the Church of the Bud

After the boss, use Messmer’s Kindling at the appropriate location to unlock the route to Enir-Ilim. This is a story progression state, not simply a normal doorway that can be opened from the beginning.

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Follow the western route to

  1. 01
    Church of the Bud, Main Entrance
  2. 02
    Church of the Bud
  3. 03
    Romina, Saint of the Bud

Temple Town Ruins

Temple Town is the most prominent lower-region landmark. It is a ruined settlement or religious complex partially buried among cliffs and forest. Its layout consists of broken streets, elevated structures, collapsed walls and waterlogged approaches.

The region’s map fragment stands outside the town area. Temple Town is also a useful orientation point because several routes branch from it:

It is not a functioning town. There are no verified shops or ordinary civilian residents.

Viaduct Minor Tower

Viaduct Minor Tower is the eastern gateway to the upper ruins. It provides access to the main plateau, lower lifts and several side paths. It is a useful base for collecting the eastern Scadutree Fragment and exploring the surrounding waterfalls and ruins.

A small water area south of the tower leads to a lift and lower enemy chambers. The route includes Bloodfiends and other hostile creatures, and it eventually connects with the broader ruin interior.

Church of the Bud

The Church of the Bud is the western story landmark and the setting for the fight with Romina, Saint of the Bud. It is also the gateway to Enir-Ilim after the necessary progression event.

The church is not a safe sanctuary. Treat the Main Entrance and Church of the Bud Sites of Grace as boss-run checkpoints rather than settlements or religious facilities with services.

Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway

This is a major interior checkpoint within the high ruins. It links the western and central ruin paths and is the most convenient starting point for obtaining the Talisman of All Crucibles.

The approach involves a lift and a lower side passage. From the western grace, follow the tunnel, remain attentive to branching paths and look for the route that reaches the lift and the square passage. The talisman chest is in a room reached through this less obvious connection.

Taylew’s Ruined Forge

Taylew’s Ruined Forge is a separate dungeon in Rauh Base, not merely another building in the open-world Ancient Ruins. Its contents include forge-related rewards and the Taylew the Golem Smith Spirit Ash.

Treat it as an optional dungeon with its own internal route, enemies and reward structure.

Scorpion River Catacombs

Scorpion River Catacombs is another separate dungeon in Rauh Base. It should be approached as a self-contained catacomb rather than a shortcut through the main ruins. Its notable reward includes Knight’s Lightning Spear, and it has its own traps and boss progression.

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Rauh has no conventional resident population. Its inhabitants are mainly remnants, invaders, guardians and hostile creatures connected to the ruins.

Named characters

Romina, Saint of the Bud

Romina is the principal boss and story figure of the Church of the Bud. Defeating her is central to the route into Enir-Ilim.

Hornsent-associated forces

Hornsent enemies and scholars are strongly connected to the ruins’ history. The Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbooks describe hornsent academic work concerning Rauh and sprite-related techniques. This does not mean that every hornsent enemy encountered in the area is a named character or resident.

Miquella’s followers

The region contains Miquella’s Crosses and progression-related summon signs or character associations depending on the player’s quest state. These encounters are not a permanent settlement. Their availability can change as major DLC events progress.

Enemy directory

The following enemies are verified or strongly associated with Rauh Ruins and its included subareas:

Enemy placement varies between the open-world plateau, lower ruins and dungeon interiors. Some rewards are fixed one-time drops, while ordinary enemy equipment is generally random or chance-based. For example, the Bloodfiend Hexer associated with Rauh can drop items including the Bloodfiend’s Sacred Spear and Bloodfiend’s Fork, with the one-time named encounter distinguished from ordinary repeatable enemies.

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Enemy directory

Divine Beast Dancing Lion

The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is an optional major boss found in a temple within the Ancient Ruins. This is separate from the earlier Dancing Lion encounter in Belurat. The Rauh encounter should therefore not be collapsed into the Belurat boss or treated as a repeatable version of the same fight.

Expect a mobile, aggressive battle in a confined temple arena. The boss combines physical attacks with elemental effects and rapid movement. Spirit Ashes and status effects can be useful, but the arena’s limited space makes positioning important.

Romina, Saint of the Bud

Romina is the major story boss of Rauh Ruins. She is fought in the Church of the Bud and guards the progression route to Enir-Ilim.

The arena contains hazardous terrain and the boss can attack across a large area with sweeping, thrusting and rot-related attacks. Keep enough distance to recognise her longer combinations, but do not remain so far away that you lose opportunities to punish recovery animations.

Defeating Romina is required for the late-game progression sequence involving Messmer’s Kindling and Enir-Ilim.

Crucible Knight Devonia

Crucible Knight Devonia is an optional field encounter in the Ancient Ruins. The fight rewards patience rather than continuous aggression. Crucible attacks can cover more space than their animations initially suggest, particularly when the knight transitions into aerial or sweeping attacks.

The nearby area also contains a Scadutree Fragment associated with the wider eastern and central ruin route. The fragment directory identifies one Rauh Ancient Ruins fragment as being dropped by a pot-carrying enemy east-north-east of Devonia, so do not assume the boss itself drops every nearby progression item.

Furnace Golem

At least one Furnace Golem is encountered in the upper ruins. These are large field enemies rather than conventional fog-wall bosses. Their attacks cover broad areas and can be dangerous on Torrent, especially around uneven terrain and water.

The most reliable approach depends on build, but attacking the exposed face or using the terrain to control distance is generally safer than remaining directly beneath the golem for long periods.

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Scadutree Fragments

The Ancient Ruins of Rauh contain four verified Scadutree Fragments:

This distinction matters when checking completion. A player who clears the upper plateau can still be missing the Temple Town fragment, while a player who explores Rauh Base can still miss the altar and enemy drops in the elevated ruins.

Revered Spirit Ashes

The Ancient Ruins of Rauh contain three Revered Spirit Ashes:

The pot-carriers can disappear or move away if approached carelessly, so use ranged attacks or a quick opening strike when possible.

Talisman of All Crucibles

The Talisman of All Crucibles is one of Rauh’s most important optional rewards. It combines the effects of the Crucible Scale, Knot, Feather and Fine Crucible Feather Talismans, but also increases damage taken.

It is found in a chest in the western Ancient Ruins. From Rauh Ancient Ruins, West, follow the south-western tunnel, locate the lift and use the lower ruin lattice to reach the room containing the square passage. A Torrent jump is required to enter the passage.

Stone-Sheathed Sword and the Rauh altar

Rauh contains one of the special altars associated with the Stone-Sheathed Sword and its transformations into the Sword of Light or Sword of Darkness.

The first altar used gives the Stone-Sheathed Sword. Later altars transform it according to the sequence described by the acquisition location. The Ancient Ruins of Rauh altar is therefore part of a region-spanning item route rather than an isolated weapon chest.

The three relevant altars are distributed across

Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbooks

Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook [1]

Found in Rauh Base, in a cave in the eastern mountain walls north of Temple Town Ruins. It is dropped by a pot-carrying Shadow Undead and unlocks the recipe for Fire Spritestone.

Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook [2]

Found in the eastern Ancient Ruins, on a corpse in front of a statue north of Viaduct Minor Tower. It unlocks the recipe for Spritestone.

Other notable rewards

Verified named or notable rewards associated with Rauh and its child areas include:

Some of these belong specifically to Taylew’s Ruined Forge, Scorpion River Catacombs or isolated lower caves and should not be counted as rewards from the open-world plateau itself.

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Other notable rewards

Eastern Rauh

  1. 01
    Enter from Viaduct Minor Tower or the Shadow Keep bridge.
  2. 02
    Activate Viaduct Minor Tower.
  3. 03
    Search the area south of the tower for the lift and lower pond.
  4. 04
    Collect the nearby fixed corpses and examine the lower tunnels.
  5. 05
    Find the eastern Miquella’s Cross and collect the Scadutree Fragment.
  6. 06
    Follow the northern cliff route to the statue and obtain Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook [2].
  7. 07
    Explore the pond and lower ruin paths for the Hippopotamus and Furnace Golem encounters.
  8. 08
    Continue west towards the central ruins.

Central and western ruins

  1. 01
    Activate Rauh Ancient Ruins, East if you have not already.
  2. 02
    Search the elevated paths around the central structures.
  3. 03
    Locate Crucible Knight Devonia.
  4. 04
    Kill the nearby pot-carrying enemy for the Scadutree Fragment.
  5. 05
    Continue towards Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway.
  6. 06
    From the western side, take the lower route towards the Talisman of All Crucibles.
  7. 07
    Activate Rauh Ancient Ruins, West.
  8. 08
    Explore the western pond and gazebo for the Revered Spirit Ash.
  9. 09
    Follow the route towards the Church of the Bud.
  10. 10
    Collect the western altar fragment guarded by a Horned Warrior.
  11. 11
    Enter the Church of the Bud and fight Romina.

Lower Rauh

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Lower Rauh: steps

  1. 01
    Enter through the Moorth Ruins cave.
  2. 02
    Activate Ancient Ruins Base.
  3. 03
    Take the map fragment outside Temple Town Ruins.
  4. 04
    Search Temple Town for the bridge Scadutree Fragment.
  5. 05
    Check the hill south of Temple Town for the Revered Spirit Ash altar.
  6. 06
    Explore the eastern mountain-wall cave for Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbook [1].
  7. 07
    Visit Scorpion River Catacombs.
  8. 08
    Visit Taylew’s Ruined Forge.
  9. 09
    Use the lower lifts and ruin paths to reach the upper plateau if you entered from below.

Vertical misdirection

The most common mistake is assuming that a visible doorway belongs to the same level as the player. Rauh uses stacked ruins, open shafts, lifts and broken bridges extensively. When a route appears blocked, check:

Pot-carrying Shadow Undead

Several collectible rewards are carried by enemies that can move or vanish. They are especially easy to miss in the open ruins because they resemble ordinary background enemies. If you see a Shadow Undead holding a pot, prioritise it before clearing the surrounding group.

Water and Furnace Golems

The open terrain makes it tempting to fight from Torrent, but uneven ground and water can interfere with movement. If a Furnace Golem is close to a cliff or pool, reposition before committing to the fight.

Rot and status effects

The western approach and Church of the Bud introduce rot-related hazards. Carry Preserving Boluses or use suitable resistance equipment if your build is vulnerable. Do not assume the open, sunny appearance of the ruins indicates a safe environment.

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Rauh is important because it preserves traces of a civilisation that predates much of the visible order in the Realm of Shadow. The architecture is monumental, geometric and closely associated with the ancient tower culture. Its ruins are unusually intact, but they are also overtaken by nature, suggesting abandonment rather than simple destruction.

The Antiquity Scholar’s Cookbooks identify Rauh as a subject of hornsent academic study. Their recipes for Spritestone and Fire Spritestone imply that the region’s sprites were not merely decorative creatures. They were materials, phenomena or beings studied for practical use.

The Talisman of All Crucibles adds another layer. Its description connects the region’s tower lore with the Crucible and with giant bodies from which Crucible traits supposedly grew. This links Rauh’s architecture, ancient scholarship and Crucible imagery without proving that every ruin, golem or guardian was built by the same people. The game deliberately leaves some of those historical relationships unresolved.

The Church of the Bud represents a later and more corrupted stage of Rauh’s history. Its emphasis on bud, rot and saintly transformation contrasts with the older academic and architectural remains scattered through the region.

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Ancient Ruins of Rauh

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Is Rauh Ruins the same as Ancient Ruins of Rauh?

Not exactly. Ancient Ruins of Rauh is the elevated upper sub-region. Rauh Base is the lower sub-region beneath it. “Rauh Ruins” is a useful broad label for both, but the game’s map and regional structure distinguish them.

Is Temple Town part of the Ancient Ruins?

Temple Town Ruins belongs to Rauh Base, not the upper Ancient Ruins of Rauh. It is geographically connected and part of the same broad region, but it has separate Sites of Grace and collectibles.

Do I need to enter Shadow Keep to reach Rauh?

No. You can reach Rauh Base through the tunnels north of Moorth Ruins. However, Shadow Keep’s West Rampart provides the most direct route to the upper Ancient Ruins and the main late-game approach.

Where is the map fragment?

The Rauh Ruins map fragment is in Rauh Base, outside Temple Town Ruins, reached through the cave route north of Moorth Ruins.

Are there merchants in Rauh Ruins?

No verified ordinary merchants or shops are part of the region. Decorative ruins and temple structures are not functioning businesses.

Which boss is required?

Romina, Saint of the Bud is the important progression boss. The Divine Beast Dancing Lion, Crucible Knight Devonia and Furnace Golems are optional encounters.

What is the most easily missed reward?

The Talisman of All Crucibles is among the easiest major rewards to overlook because its route uses a lower lift, broken lattice and Torrent jump rather than a prominent entrance. The pot-carrier collectibles are also easy to miss because the enemies may move or disappear.

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Sources