Summary
A land named the Realm of Shadow may not sound like the ideal holiday destination, but the new region introduced byElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC is resplendent with sweeping alien vistas and charming locales. For Tarnished worn out by all the dying and killing, or simply sick of trudging through yet another of Miyazaki’s poison swamps,there’s one especially picturesque area in the expansion that’s perfect for some R&R: the Cerulean Coast.
Navigating the Realm of Shadow can be tricky. The new map is denser and more layered than the Lands Between,with plenty of secret areasand high-altitude regions obscuring lower-lying lands. Consequently, finding this magnificent location requires a keen eye and a good deal of patience. The route is long and labyrinthine -players should begin their search at the Castle Front Site of Grace outside Castle Ensis, and from there look for a way down to the river.
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Elden Ring’s Cerulean Coast Is One Of Its Best Locations
Enemies Are Passive & There Are Only Two Dungeons
One of the prettiest locations in the entirety ofElden RingisShadow of the Erdtree’s Cerulean Coast.Situated to the southwest of the island and reached via the Ellac River that runs alongside the Gravesite Plain, the region is a rolling meadow of blue spectral flowers. The gentle landscape is interrupted by vast gray blocks - stone sarcophagi that are so large they resemble beached ships.
The Cerulean Coast is a mysterious and eerily quiet corner of the map.Besides two field bosses,enemies are oddly passive andthere are only two marked dungeons. A tiny island lies off the western shore, accessible by a quaint underwater tunnel that’s home to some rare crustaceous wildlife. At the southern tip of the region is a winding peninsula that culminates in a deep crater. The local demi-humans aren’t very friendly, and there are some creepy ghost witches that have a rude habit of phasing in and out of reality to stab tourists in the back.
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The Cerulean Coast Hides An Important Figure From Elden Ring Lore
Where To Find Charo’s Hidden Grave
Aside from its fluorescent lilies,the Cerulean Coast’s most striking feature is its bizarre giant coffins.The item description forCongealed Putrescenceimplies that the coffins “drift” to the area, presumably from across the sea. Entombed within them were not giants, but many “impure lives”, implying that the coffins were mass graves - or prisons - for an ancient culture’s undesirable dead. Perhaps they were intentionally sent away over the sea, either out of punishment or because the contained bodies were afflicted by theDeathrootcurse.
Once players reach the Shadow Keep and receive the“Somewhere a great rune has broken” message, a doorway deep within the Cerulean Coast will become accessible. Inside is a brief but visually stunning dungeon that ends with one of the toughest optional bosses in the DLC.This subterranean area is also home to an important lore figurewho, like Miquella, is mentioned frequently throughout the base game but never actually encountered. Charo’s Hidden Grave, is striking too, butfinding it will require a little more perseverance.
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Emerging into the Cerulean Coast for the first time is one of the most memorable moments fromShadow of the Erdtree.Elden Ringwas already a very pretty game, but this area might beat out Liurnia of the Lakes for its most scenic region. Getting to see Charo’s HIdden Grave is also an excellent example of how wellElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehides cool lore in small places.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
