Guides / ELDEN RING

Lake of Rot

ELDEN RING guide · An underground area accessed via the Ainsel River questline ✓ Checked against sources
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The Lake of Rot is an underground subterranean basin heavily contaminated with Scarlet Rot that must be traversed to progress Ranni the Witch's questline. Players must raise stone platforms using floor switches across the lake to avoid rotting before reaching the Grand Cloister and descending into Astel's arena.

Region
Underground
Levels
80-100
Getting there
South-west from Nokstella Waterfall Basin via an elevator past the Baleful Shadow invader
Connects to
Nokstella, Eternal City, Moonlight Altar
Related quests
Ranni the Witch
Enemy types
Basilisks · Kindred of Rot · Claymen · Ancestral Follower

Services and people

Invaders and enemies 2

  • Dragonkin Soldier · Field boss encounterMiddle of the lake
  • Putrid / Ulcerated Tree Spirit · Ambushing field bossBottom of the rot waterfall in Grand Cloister

Services 3

  • Lake of Rot Shoreside · Site of GraceNorthern shoreline
  • Grand Cloister Site of Grace · Site of GraceNear the top stairs inside the Grand Cloister
  • Stone Coffin · Transports the player to Astel, Naturalborn of the VoidEdge of the waterfall in Grand Cloister

The short version

What matters

  • •Map: Lake of Rot on the northern shore right next to the first Site of Grace.
  • •Dragonscale Blade from the Dragonkin Soldier in the middle of the lake and Scorpion's Stinger from the chest inside the Grand Cloister temple pavilion.
  • •Activating the stone coffin at the edge of the waterfall to access Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.

Common mistakes

  • •Running through the lake without stepping on the pedestal buttons next to obelisks; standing on them raises permanent stone platforms to keep you safe from scarlet rot.
  • •Looking for Ranni or Blaidd in the Lake of Rot itself, as they are not physically located in this area.

What you can skip

  • •Searching the area for vendors or friendly quest characters, as no NPCs or merchants reside here.

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

    Arrival at the Northern Shoreline

    When you arrive via the elevator coming down from Nokstella Waterfall Basin, rest at the Lake of Rot Shoreside Site of Grace right on the northern shoreline. Then, walk immediately beside the grace to loot Map: Lake of Rot from an exposed corpse lying at the edge of the shore.

    Tip: Activate the grace immediately so you have a safe northern foothold.

  2. 2

    Traversing the Rot Swamp and Raising Platforms

    Step out into the wide swamp hazard, watching out for Scarlet Rot buildup and hostile Basilisks lurking in the water. Look for obelisks with interactive floor buttons on submerged pedestals, which permanently raise elevated stone platforms to give you safe resting spots above the rot.

    Tip: Step directly onto the floor switches near obelisks to make safe paths rise permanently.

    Watch out: Do not linger in the red water without watching your scarlet rot meter.

  3. 3

    South-West Ruins

  4. 4

    Confronting the Dragonkin Soldier

    Head into the middle of the lake to confront the dormant Dragonkin Soldier resting in the rot water. Slay this field boss to earn 58,000 Runes along with the Dragonscale Blade.

    Key fight: Dragonkin Soldier

    Watch out: The rot swamp surrounds the boss, so rely on nearby raised platforms for solid footing.

  5. 5

    Southeastern Shallows

    Move into the southeastern portion of the lake to hunt down an Ancestral Follower walking in the rot water, who drops the Immunizing Horn Charm +1. Nearby in this southeastern sector, find a corpse hanging over the ledge of a raised ruin pillar to claim the Mushroom Crown.

  6. 6

    Entering the Grand Cloister

    Travel downstream to the southern end of the lake and enter the Grand Cloister sub-location, where you can rest at the Grand Cloister Site of Grace located near the top stairs.

    Watch out: Watch out for the ambushing Putrid / Ulcerated Tree Spirit near the waterfall base.

  7. 7

    Cloister Depths and Departure

    Descend to the lowest level of the Grand Cloister to find a temple pavilion where Lesser Kindred of Rot gather, and open the sealed chest in front of the grand statue altar to obtain the Scorpion's Stinger. Finally, proceed to the edge of the waterfall and climb into the interactive stone coffin to travel down into the boss arena past Lake of Rot, where you must defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void for the Remembrance of the Naturalborn and 80,000 Runes.

Checklists

Items

0/1

Secrets May be incomplete

0/1

Key fights May be incomplete
Dragonkin Soldier

Enemies: Dragonkin Soldier

Threats: Massive reach, sweeping arm swipes, ground slams

Tactics: Raise the platforms surrounding it using pressure plates to create solid footing, then attack its legs while avoiding rot exposure

Rewards: Dragonscale Blade

Enemies
Basilisks
Weak to Holy

Emit Death Blight fog across the shallow rot pools.

Kindred of Rot
Weak to Fire, Physical

Attack with homing pest threads and polearms; guard the Grand Cloister.

Tips
  • Equip the "Flame, Cleanse Me" incantation and stock up on Preserving Boluses to quickly purge Scarlet Rot buildup when crossing the liquid.
  • Resting in the stone coffin at the edge of the waterfall in the Grand Cloister will transport you to the arena of Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Deeproot Depths
Next →
Mountaintops of the Giants

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Sources checked: fextralife.com, gamepur.com, rockpapershotgun.com, eurogamer.net, game-checklists.com, fandom.com, pushsquare.com

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