Guides / ELDEN RING

Altus Plateau

ELDEN RING guide · The central region reached via the Grand Lift ✓ Checked against sources
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The Altus Plateau is an amber-hued highland basin situated beneath the Erdtree, accessed primarily via the Grand Lift of Dectus or the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Players traverse this region to reach the outer moat and ramparts of Leyndell, explore crumbling ruins and windmill pastures, and advance several major character questlines. Key activities include hunting Great Horned Tragoth, recovering Shindig and Perfume recipes, challenging roaming dragons, and gathering high-tier Smithing Stones.

Region
Altus Plateau
Levels
Level 60-80
Getting there
North of Liurnia of the Lakes, accessed either by hoisting both halves of the Dectus Medallion at the Grand Lift of Dectus or by scaling the Ruin-Strewn Precipice and defeating Magma Wyrm Makar
Connects to
Liurnia of the Lakes, Mt. Gelmir, Capital Outskirts, Shaded Castle, Leyndell, Royal Capital
Related quests
Brother Corhyn and Goldmask · Millicent · Rya · Boc the Seamster · Volcano Manor assassination targets
Enemy types
Leyndell Soldiers · Leyndell Knights · Perfumers · Misbegotten · Sanguine Nobles · Dominula Celebrants · Wormfaces

Services and people

Merchants 2

  • Nomadic Merchant (Altus Plateau) · Sells wares while campingNext to the Forest-Spanning Greatbridge Site of Grace
  • Hermit Merchant (Capital Outskirts) · Sells waresHermit Merchant's Shack on the northwestern cliffs within the Capital Outskirts outer walls

Quest NPCs 4

  • Bloody Finger Hunter Yura · Has final interaction and dialogue before dyingSecond Church of Marika
  • Millicent · Appears during her questlineErdtree-Gazing Hill and later at Windmill Heights
  • Brother Corhyn · Stands on roadside during questlineRoadside next to the road monument/map pillar north of the Altus Highway Junction
  • Goldmask · Stands motionlessNorthern end of the collapsed Forest-Spanning Greatbridge

Invaders and enemies 5

  • Ancient Dragon Lansseax · Ambushes the playerPath near the Abandoned Coffin / Erdtree-Gazing Hill
  • Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger · Invades the playerSecond Church of Marika
  • Godskin Apostle · Boss encounterTop of Dominula, Windmill Village
  • Godefroy the Grafted · Evergaol bossGolden Lineage Evergaol
  • Omenkiller and Miranda the Blighted Bloom · Dungeon boss encounterEnd of Perfumer's Grotto

Services 5

  • Erdtree-Gazing Hill Site of Grace · Key save point and resting spotErdtree-Gazing Hill
  • Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace · Key save point and resting spotAltus Highway Junction
  • Shaded Castle Ramparts / Inner Gate Sites of Grace · Key save points and resting spotsThe Shaded Castle
  • Outer Wall Battleground Site of Grace · Save point and resting spotCapital Outskirts
  • Boc the Seamster · Offers free garment tailoring servicesAltus Highway Junction Site of Grace

The short version

What matters

  • •Map: Altus Plateau on the roadside stone stele north of the Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace
  • •Godfrey Icon gained by opening the Golden Lineage Evergaol with a Stonesword Key and defeating Godefroy the Grafted
  • •Eleonora’s Poleblade and Purifying Crystal Tear obtained by defeating the invading Eleonora at the Second Church of Marika
  • •Valkyrie's Prosthesis found in a chest in the northwestern tower of The Shaded Castle

Common mistakes

  • •Venturing far into the Mountaintops of the Giants before visiting the Second Church of Marika, which causes Shabriri to possess Yura and skips his final dialogue
  • •Handing over the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni before turning in the Amber Starlight to Preceptor Seluvis, permanently locking out that exchange

Walkthrough May be incomplete

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

  1. 1

    Western Entrances and the Erdtree-Gazing Hill

    When you enter Altus Plateau, you can ride the Grand Lift of Dectus after finding both Dectus Medallion halves, climb out from the Ruin-Strewn Precipice past Magma Wyrm Makar, or take the secret subterranean passage through Volcano Manor from Raya Lucaria Academy. Rest at the Erdtree-Gazing Hill Site of Grace outside the cliff exit, where you can speak with Millicent. Be on your guard along the path near Erdtree-Gazing Hill and the Abandoned Coffin, as Ancient Dragon Lansseax ambushes you here.

    Key fight: Ancient Dragon Lansseax

    Tip: Lansseax strikes unexpectedly near the Abandoned Coffin road, so stay mounted and ready to react.

  2. 2

    Altus Highway Junction and the Central Highway

    Follow the road to the Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace, which sits at the central crossroads of the plateau. If his quest is underway, Boc the Seamster rests here to provide free tailoring services. Head along the main highway going north to locate Brother Corhyn standing beside a stone stele, then grab the Map: Altus Plateau from the base of this monument.

    Tip: Speak with Boc at the crossroads to adjust your garments without spending runes.

  3. 3

    Golden Lineage Evergaol and Second Church of Marika

    Travel southwest from the main highway beneath the southern cliff to locate the Golden Lineage Evergaol. Spend a Stonesword Key to unlock the seal, defeat Godefroy the Grafted inside, and claim the Godfrey Icon. Head northwest from the junction into the open plateau to reach the Second Church of Marika, where Bloody Finger Hunter Yura dies; defeat the invading Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger to secure Eleonora's Poleblade and the Purifying Crystal Tear.

    Watch out: Yura's final words and interaction at the Second Church of Marika will be missed if you venture too far into the Mountaintops of the Giants and allow Shabriri to take his form.

  4. 4

    Forest-Spanning Greatbridge and Perfumer's Grotto

    Follow the road toward the Forest-Spanning Greatbridge, where you can find the Nomadic Merchant camping beside the site of grace. Inspect the northern end of the broken bridge span to find Goldmask standing motionless. Nearby in the region, you can also explore Perfumer's Grotto and delve to its end to battle the duo of Omenkiller and Miranda the Blighted Bloom for the Great Omenkiller Cleaver.

    Tip: Keep an eye out for the merchant near the bridge site of grace to stock up on travel supplies.

  5. 5

    The Shaded Castle

    Journey north into the poison marsh valley to breach The Shaded Castle, resting at the Shaded Castle Ramparts or Inner Gate Sites of Grace. Wade through the toxic moat into the fortress and make your way to the northwestern corner. Ascend the tower guarded by a Cleanrot Knight and open the treasure chest within to recover the Valkyrie's Prosthesis.

    Tip: Prepare poison recovery items before dropping down into the surrounding marsh.

  6. 6

    Dominula, Windmill Village to the Eastern Boundary

    Head east across the northern terrace ridge to Dominula, Windmill Village, where Millicent can be encountered again at Windmill Heights. Climb to the village summit to challenge and defeat the Godskin Apostle to earn the Godskin Peeler. Finally, continue toward the eastern boundary where the Capital Outskirts and western outer ramparts lead onward toward Leyndell.

    Key fight: Godskin Apostle

    Tip: Defeating the apostle at the top of the village frees the summit and allows you to find Millicent at Windmill Heights.

Checklists

Items May be incomplete

0/6

Key fights May be incomplete
Godskin Apostle

Enemies: Godskin Apostle

Threats: Black Flame incantations, leaping plunge attacks, stretching torso swings

Tactics: Throw Sleep Pots to render him unconscious instantly, then execute critical hits and heavy charge attacks while avoiding close contact during his spinning torso phase

Ancient Dragon Lansseax

Enemies: Ancient Dragon Lansseax

Threats: Red Lightning Glaive sweep, lightning breath, aerial red lightning slams

Tactics: Fight mounted or on foot near her back ankles, avoiding locked-on combat beneath her body, and roll forward through the sweeping lightning blade strike

Enemies
Wormface
Weak to Fire, Holy

Wandering tall aberrations around the Minor Erdtree that spew deadly clouds inducing rapid Death Blight buildup

Leyndell Knight
Weak to Lightning, PierceSteal / drop Leyndell Knight Armor set, Greatbolt

Armored elite soldiers using Greatbows, lightning-infused swords, and heavy tower shields

Celebrant
Weak to Slash, HemorrhageSteal / drop Celebrant's Cleaver, Celebrant's Rib-Rake

Dancing villagers in Dominula that attack with festival implements; largely passive until provoked

Shops and people
  • Hermit Merchant (Hermit Merchant's Shack): Sells Ancient Dragon Apostle's Cookbook [1], Golden Centipede, Perfume Bottle, Prophet starting armor set, and Arrow variants

Tips
  • Keep Boluses or the "Order Healing" incantation readily accessible around the central woods, as the Wormface creatures in the fog can inflict Death Blight in seconds.
  • The Windmill Village villagers will dance and remain non-hostile unless you attack them, run through their circle, or reach the village crest.

Not listed for this area: secrets.

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Leyndell, Royal Capital

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Sources checked: fextralife.com, hardcoregamer.com, ign.com, screenrant.com, endgameviable.com, shacknews.com, mapgenie.io, eurogamer.net, rockpapershotgun.com, eldenguide.wiki

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