Uhl Palace Ruins

Key takeaways

• Uhl Palace Ruins has two sections South and North. They are connected to different entrances and different stages of progression.
• The South section is available early, through the Ainsel River Well in eastern Liurnia.
• The North section is reached through Renna’s Rise, using the sending gate unlocked during Ranni’s questline.
• The most important encounters are the Malformed Star in the northern approach and the non-respawning Withered Astel in the southern-western cavern.
• The Ainsel River map fragment is in the northern section, near the Hermit Merchant.
• The notable unique reward is the Wing of Astel, found in the southern portion near the Withered Astel.
• Do not confuse Uhl Palace Ruins with Uld Palace Ruins, the separate above-ground ruin complex in Liurnia.

About this guide

Overview

Uhl Palace Ruins is a large, partially submerged archaeological complex beneath eastern Liurnia and the Ainsel River. It is not a single compact ruin in the manner of a small overworld landmark. The name covers two separated but related sections, commonly identified as Uhl Palace Ruins (South) and Uhl Palace Ruins (North).

The southern section is reached from the Ainsel River Well Depths and contains the principal ruined hall, a hostile Malformed Star, and the route to the Withered Astel. The northern section is reached much later through Renna’s Rise, after progressing through Ranni’s quest, and contains the Ainsel River Main Site of Grace, a Hermit Merchant, the Ainsel River map fragment and the route onwards towards Nokstella and the Lake of Rot.

The ruins are associated with the ancient dynasty that built several underground cities and monumental sites across the Lands Between. Their architecture, clay inhabitants and recurring visual motifs connect Uhl Palace with the Uld Palace Ruins above ground, the Hallowhorn Grounds, the Siofra River ruins and other remains of the old dynasty. The game does not provide a fully explicit history of the palace, so interpretations concerning its rulers, religion and relationship with later dynasties should be treated as lore analysis rather than confirmed biography.

Named locations within scope

The final two entries are connected routes rather than subareas of Uhl Palace Ruins proper. They are included because they explain where the ruin paths lead.

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Reaching Uhl Palace Ruins (South)

The southern ruins are the natural first entrance for players exploring the underground areas.

The early approach contains Claymen and narrow passages, but it is comparatively straightforward. The main danger begins when the player reaches the broad ruin hall beneath the large enemy suspended above the architecture.

Reaching Uhl Palace Ruins (South): steps

1. 01
   Travel to the Ainsel River Well in eastern Liurnia.
2. 02
   Use the lift to descend into the Ainsel River.
3. 03
   Leave the well area and follow the river tunnels.
4. 04
   Continue through the passage and use the lift leading towards the sluice.
5. 05
   Cross the water-control structure and activate the Ainsel River Sluice Gate Site of Grace.
6. 06
   From the grace, follow the river and ruined structures south-east into the main palace area.

Reaching Uhl Palace Ruins (North)

The northern ruins cannot normally be reached from the surface or from the southern Ainsel River entrance. The route is tied to Ranni’s questline.

The northern arrival is also the most practical way to obtain the Map: Ainsel River, which is positioned near a guide stele and the Hermit Merchant.

Reaching Uhl Palace Ruins (North): steps

1. 01
   Progress through Ranni’s quest until Renna’s Rise becomes accessible.
2. 02
   Enter the sending gate at the top of the tower.
3. 03
   The gate transports the player to Ainsel River Main.
4. 04
   Activate the Site of Grace and collect the nearby Miniature Ranni if beginning the relevant quest stage.
5. 05
   Follow the river and ruin paths south-west and west.
6. 06
   Explore the palace approaches, the merchant’s chamber and the route towards Nokstella.

Suggested order of exploration

For a first playthrough, the most useful order is:

This order avoids treating the North and South as a single early-game dungeon. They are connected in geography and theme, but not by a normal continuous entrance.

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Suggested order of exploration: steps

1. 01
   Explore the Ainsel River Well route.
2. 02
   Activate Ainsel River Sluice Gate.
3. 03
   Search the southern ruins for upgrade materials and consumables.
4. 04
   Decide whether to fight or bypass the large Malformed Star.
5. 05
   Continue towards Ainsel River Downstream.
6. 06
   Explore the Withered Astel cavern if prepared for a difficult fight.
7. 07
   Later, progress Ranni’s quest and enter through Renna’s Rise.
8. 08
   Activate Ainsel River Main.
9. 09
   Buy from the Hermit Merchant.
10. 10
    Collect the Ainsel River map fragment.
11. 11
    Continue towards Nokstella and the Lake of Rot.

Ainsel River Sluice Gate

This grace is reached from the Ainsel River Well route. It is the main checkpoint before entering the southern ruins.

It is useful as a recovery point after the Clayman-filled tunnels and before the large palace hall. Players should activate it before attempting to explore the more open section, particularly if they are carrying a large number of runes.

Ainsel River Downstream

Ainsel River Downstream lies in the western portion of the complex, near the cavern containing the Withered Astel. It provides a convenient checkpoint for repeated attempts against the encounter and for exploring the passages around the lower river.

Ainsel River Main

Ainsel River Main is the northern arrival grace reached from Renna’s Rise. It is especially important for three reasons:

Hermit Merchant

The Hermit Merchant is found in the northern Ainsel River section, inside a sheltered ruin near the Ainsel River map stele. He is a functional merchant, not merely a decorative figure.

His stock includes useful underground exploration supplies. The exact importance of his inventory depends on the character’s progress and build, but he is particularly convenient because he stands near the map fragment and a Site of Grace.

Claymen

Claymen are the most common inhabitants of Uhl Palace Ruins. They appear in both the northern and southern areas and are closely associated with the ancient dynasty.

They are slow compared with many underground enemies, but their attacks can be awkward in water and cramped spaces. Some use melee attacks, while others employ magical projectiles or spells. Pulling them one at a time is safer than allowing several to surround the player in the flooded corridors.

Their presence is significant for lore as well as combat. The Clayman Ashes description identifies them as servants of an ancient dynasty and associates them with the search for lost revelations, making them one of the clearest links between the ruins and the vanished civilisation that built them.

Miranda enemies

The northern section contains Frenzied Miranda Blossoms and Frenzied Miranda Sprouts. They can be easy to overlook among the ruined vegetation, but their ranged attacks and status pressure make them dangerous if approached carelessly.

Use the surrounding masonry as cover, avoid standing in open sight for long and prioritise the larger blossom when it controls the route. Fire-based attacks are particularly useful against Miranda enemies, although ordinary physical damage remains viable.

Malformed Star

A large Malformed Star hangs above or near the northern palace approach. It attacks from a distance with gravity-based magic and can punish players who cross the exposed lower paths without using cover.

The Malformed Star’s position is one reason the northern section can feel more dangerous than its ordinary Claymen population suggests. The safest route is usually not the shortest-looking route across the cavern floor.

There are two practical approaches

1. 01
   Bypass it: Stay close to walls and ruined structures, move between cover and continue towards the merchant and map area.
2. 02
   Fight it: Use ranged attacks, spells or carefully timed mounted attacks where the terrain permits. Do not remain in the open after the enemy begins its ranged sequence.

Withered Astel

The Withered Astel is a non-respawning major enemy in the western cavern of the southern ruins. It resembles Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, but is presented as a decayed or withered form rather than the main boss encountered later in the game.

This encounter is optional. Defeating it gives access to the surrounding reward area, including the Wing of Astel. The fight is particularly dangerous at close range because Astel’s body and tail attacks cover a large area, while its gravity and teleporting attacks can catch players who retreat in a straight line.

Important rewards

Upgrade materials

The Ghost Glovewort pickups are among the strongest practical reasons to search the ruins thoroughly. They support Spirit Ash upgrades and can be more valuable than the ordinary runes found along the main path.

Crafting materials and consumables

The Nascent Butterfly is treated as a non-respawning pickup, while ordinary crafting materials may be subject to the usual fixed-pickup or respawn rules for their particular placement. Do not assume every material in the area is a permanent one-time collectible.

Full verified item directory

Weapons and key progression items

• Wing of Astel

Southern section route

1. 01
   Enter through the Ainsel River Well. Descend and follow the river tunnels. Watch for Claymen in narrow spaces.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Activate Ainsel River Sluice Gate. This is the safest reset point before the main ruins.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Search the side passages before crossing the open hall. Collect early Smithing Stones, Ghost Glovewort and crafting materials before committing to the larger enemy area.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Approach the palace hall using cover. The large enemy above the ruins can attack across much of the open space. Moving from pillar to pillar is safer than sprinting directly across the floor.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Choose whether to fight the Malformed Star. It is possible to pass through the area without treating the encounter as a mandatory boss fight. If you are under-levelled, collect what is safe and return later.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Continue towards Ainsel River Downstream. This opens the western portion of the underground route and provides a useful checkpoint.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Explore the Withered Astel cavern. This is optional but necessary if you want to claim the Wing of Astel.

Southern section route

1. 01
   Return to the grace before attempting repeated fights. The ruins contain several narrow ledges and drop-offs, so retrieve lost runes carefully rather than rushing through the whole area.

Northern section route

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Northern section route: steps

1. 01
   Complete the necessary stage of Ranni’s quest.
2. 02
   Enter Renna’s Rise and use the sending gate.
3. 03
   Activate Ainsel River Main.
4. 04
   Collect the Miniature Ranni if continuing the quest.
5. 05
   Follow the river and inspect the ruin edges.
6. 06
   Use walls and pillars to avoid unnecessary Malformed Star fire.
7. 07
   Locate the Hermit Merchant.
8. 08
   Collect Map: Ainsel River from the nearby guide stele.
9. 09
   Search the upper and side ledges for Ghost Glovewort and other fixed pickups.
10. 10
    Continue onward towards Nokstella or return to the grace before pushing deeper.

Verticality and misleading ledges

Uhl Palace Ruins was designed around vertical exploration. Items visible on ledges are not always reachable from the room where they appear. Some require approaching from a higher route or from a neighbouring section of the cavern.

Do not jump towards every visible item. Several drops are fatal, and the apparent ledge may be decorative geometry rather than a valid route. Instead, search for:

Gravity attacks

The Malformed Star’s attacks are the most distinctive environmental threat. Cover is more reliable than rolling repeatedly in open ground. If you must cross exposed terrain, sprint at an angle and move from one solid obstruction to the next.

Water and narrow passages

The water itself is not the principal danger, but it limits movement and makes enemy spacing harder to judge. Claymen can surround the player while the camera is obstructed by pillars or hanging architecture.

Light sources

A lantern or torch is useful in the lower river routes. The ruins are not uniformly dark, but item glints and side passages can disappear into the blue-grey lighting.

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Uhl Palace Ruins belongs to the wider group of underground monuments attributed to an ancient dynasty that flourished before the Erdtree’s dominance. The same broad architectural language appears in Siofra River, the Hallowhorn Grounds, the Uld Palace Ruins and other subterranean remains.

The Claymen are especially important to this reading. Their item descriptions present them as servants of the ancient dynasty, and their presence throughout the ruins suggests that they were not ordinary scavengers who moved in after the civilisation collapsed. They appear to be remnants of the original population or servants, still occupying the ruined palace long after its rulers disappeared.

The relationship between Uhl and Uld remains partly unresolved. The game presents the names as distinct in English, but the similarity of architecture and the fact that the Uld Palace Ruins stand above the underground Uhl complex strongly invite comparison. It is reasonable to discuss them as related dynastic remains. It is not safe to claim, without qualification, that they are definitively the same palace, the same city or two precisely defined administrative districts.

The ruins also help establish a progression from the underground rivers towards more specialised regions. The northern section leads into the Ainsel River route associated with Ranni, Nokstella and the Lake of Rot. This makes Uhl Palace Ruins both an archaeological landmark and a transition point in one of the game’s major questlines.

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Ranni’s quest

The northern section is progression-gated through Renna’s Rise and Ranni’s questline. Players who have not reached the relevant stage cannot use the sending gate to enter the northern ruins by that route.

The southern section does not require Ranni’s quest and can be visited much earlier through the Ainsel River Well.

Map fragment

The Map: Ainsel River is a fixed collectible in the northern section. It is easy to miss if the player follows the river directly towards the next objective without checking the chamber near the Hermit Merchant.

Withered Astel

The Withered Astel is optional and does not respawn after defeat. Its reward is therefore a one-time acquisition rather than a repeatable farming opportunity.

Is Uhl Palace Ruins the same as Uld Palace Ruins?

No. Uhl Palace Ruins is the underground complex in Ainsel River. Uld Palace Ruins is the separate above-ground ruin area in north-eastern Liurnia. They share ancient-dynasty architecture and are located one above the other in the broader landscape, but they should be listed as separate locations.

Can I reach the northern ruins from the southern ruins?

Not through an ordinary direct route. The southern section is entered from the Ainsel River Well, while the northern section is normally reached through the sending gate in Renna’s Rise after progressing Ranni’s quest.

Is the Malformed Star a required boss?

No. It is a major hostile encounter and can be defeated, but it is not the main mandatory boss of the area.

What does the Withered Astel drop?

The Withered Astel encounter gives access to the Wing of Astel, a unique weapon associated with the ruins. The encounter is optional and does not respawn.

Where is the Ainsel River map?

It is in the northern Ainsel River section, near a guide stele and the Hermit Merchant. The nearby Ainsel River Main grace makes it easy to return if you initially pass it.

Is there a shop in Uhl Palace Ruins?

Yes. The Hermit Merchant is a functional merchant in the northern section. The ruins do not otherwise contain a standard settlement, blacksmith or general service hub.

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Sources

• Uhl Palace Ruins | Elden Ring Wiki | Fandom — eldenring.fandom.com
• Ainsel River Interactive Map and Region Guide | Elden Ring｜Game8 — game8.co