Shadow Keep

Services and people

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

   Shadow Keep Main Gate & Courtyard

   When you arrive via the main southern highway from Scadu Altus, take the entrance lift up to rest at the Shadow Keep Main Gate Site of Grace. Step into the lower courtyard of the Main Gate Plaza to confront the Golden Hippopotamus, which yields two Scadutree Fragments along with the Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns incantation. Note that this fortress contains no merchants, blacksmiths, or upgrade services.

   Key fight: Golden Hippopotamus
   2x Scadutree Fragments: Shadow Keep Main Gate CourtyardHow: Defeat the Golden Hippopotamus

   Tip: Use the spacious courtyard to dodge wide charges.

2. 2

   Plaza Ramparts & Hidden Canal

   Look for summon and invasion signs on the high bridge pathway where Needle Knight Leda confronts Hornsent, then drop through a rampart window into a small enclosed courtyard beneath a glowing tree. At the eastern edge, descend a ladder into a canal, enter the chamber housing the "Domain of Dragons" Painting, and hit the blank stone illusory wall to reveal a coffin that drifts to the Castle Watering Hole.

   Tip: Check every blank wall in the canal painting room to find the hidden coffin.

   Watch out: Defeating Messmer prematurely or failing to intervene on the highroad ramparts permanently misses the Ash of War: Swift Slash or the Lacerating Crossed-Tree Talisman.

3. 3

   Lower Specimen Storehouse

   Seek out Sir Ansbach resting near the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace, where another conflict between him and Needle Knight Leda can occur. While battling through these levels, keep an eye out for greatsword-wielding Fire Knights that drop the Fire Knight's Greatsword.

   Tip: Farm the greatsword-wielding Fire Knights here if you want their weapon.

4. 4

   Upper Specimen Storehouse

   On the 4th floor, inspect the side room hidden behind a bookshelf guarded by a Fire Knight to collect the Secret Rite Scroll. Before pushing onward to the dark chamber, cross the long elevated bridge heading west toward the Ancient Ruins of Rauh to defeat High Priest Salza for Salza's Hood.

   Tip: Defeat High Priest Salza at range on the long bridge to safely claim his hood.

   Watch out: The Secret Rite Scroll must be delivered to Sir Ansbach before burning the Sealing Tree or finishing keep quests, or the turn-in will be permanently locked out.

5. 5

   Messmer's Dark Chamber

   Push into Messmer's Dark Chamber at the peak of the Specimen Storehouse to take on Messmer the Impaler, optionally calling upon Hornsent via his summon sign inside the arena. Upon his defeat, you will obtain the Remembrance of the Impaler along with the mandatory Messmer's Kindling. This item is an unavoidable story drop essential for eventually burning the Sealing Tree.

   Key fight: Messmer the Impaler

   Tip: Bring Hornsent into the arena to help distract the boss during heavy combos.

   Watch out: Slaying Messmer immediately locks out the rampart confrontation rewards between Leda and Hornsent.

6. 6

   Flooded Church District

   Approach the alternate eastern route from Scadu Altus to reach the flooded Church District and rest at the Church District Entrance Site of Grace. Platform across the flooded rooftops and buttresses until you reach a terrace housing a stone wheel mechanism lever, which you can turn to drain all the floodwaters. Once the water recedes, head down to claim the Death Mask Helm from a Fire Knight miniboss in the sunken courtyard, grab the treasure from the hands of the large drowned Marika statue, and enter the Prayer Room to find Fire Knight Queelign's physical body.

   Fire Knight Queelign Spirit Ash: Prayer Room in the Church DistrictHow: give the Iris of Grace to Fire Knight QueelignMissable because: permanently missed if you give him the Iris of Occultation instead Don't miss NewQueelign's Greatsword: Prayer Room in the Church DistrictHow: give the Iris of Occultation to Fire Knight QueelignMissable because: permanently missed if you give him the Iris of Grace instead Don't miss New

   Tip: Carefully plan your roof jumps before pulling the lever, as the floodwaters conceal dangerous drops.

   Watch out: Choosing to offer Queelign the Iris of Grace grants his Spirit Ashes but locks you out of Queelign's Greatsword, while the Iris of Occultation grants the Greatsword but permanently misses the ashes.

7. 7

   Storehouse Back Section & Shadow Keep Back Gate

   Continue through to the Shadow Keep, Back Gate Site of Grace, where you can pick up a Scadutree Fragment right in front of the Marika statue in the adjacent room.

   Passage to the Hinterland: beside the "Shadow Keep, Back Gate" Site of Grace, approach the statue of Marika in the small side room to the right and use the "O Mother" gesture in front of it to open a secret doorway.

   Tip: Collect the "O Mother" gesture north of Bonny Village beforehand to unlock the statue passage without delay.

What you decide here and what it leads to.