Since its reveal in the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer, we've all been searching for the source of the lava pipe shown during the in-game footage. Much to anyone's surprise, this iconic location is easily accessible from the very beginning area of the DLC and requires no preparation to start.
Furthermore, this area features no bosses and can easily be explored with very little resistance from enemies. Granted, you might need to storm a heavily-guarded bridge and a mini-battle outside the forge's gates, but once inside, you'll find that this mysterious location is more a puzzle and less a challenge. And thankfully, solving that puzzle will be easy with our little guide.
Where To Find The Ruined Forge Lava Intake Dungeon
The Ruined Forge is located in the Gravesite Plain's northeastern corner. To reach it, you must have crossed the Ellac Greatbridge.
Take a right in the camp and then stick to the descending right path when the road forks. It will lead you to the forge where several strong enemies are engaged in combat with one another.
This is a short dungeon, and there are only two types of enemies. There is no boss .
How To Lower The Ruined Forge Lava Intake Pipe
There are only two enemies in the entirety of the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, but one of these new enemies will provide you with far more hassle: the stone golems.
All you need to know about the stone golems are:
- They have a slight vulnerability to Strike damage.
- If you want to do meaningful damage, strike the gem on its back.
- They drop guaranteed smithing stones.
- Unless you're farming smithing stones, fighting these golems isn't worth the headache.
With that final point, this guide will mostly be avoiding them.
Beyond the hassle of fighting, how could one justify killing one of these golems when you can see them lovingly pet their little lava-dog bubbles in their downtime? We're not animals here.
Beginning this dungeon, you'll want to jump off the first ladder on your left.
Ahead, there's a split in the path. To your left is a golem and a
Smithing Stone [6] , so we'll ignore this area and instead go right.
There's a lava bubble on the ceiling that will drop down on the way, so defeat it and the two in the room ahead.
Taking the stairs down past the room with the two bubbles, the first meaningful area of choices can be found.
We'll make all the hard decisions for you, so jump down on the small platform over the ledge and then onto the stairs.
Circle around behind you and to the right to find a
Greater Potentate’s Cookbook [13] ] tucked against the back corner.
From here, climb the stairs and up the sloping rubble (the golems really need a housekeeper).
Another lava bubble will drop up here next to the doorway. Defeat it, and back up to grab both the:
- x3
Smithing Stone [7] — on the ledge.
- x2
Smithing Stone [4] — jumping off the ledge onto another above the golem.
- x1
Somber Smithing Stone [6] — jumping off the rubble down into a side alcove on the right, guarded by a golem.
You'll likely trigger the golem here if you jump off. Just ignore it and run up to the top; it can't follow you.
You'll have to circle around to the doorway where the lava bubble fell. The golem should have noticed you by now, but he's nothing you can't outrun with your speedy Tarnished legs.
Through the doorway up top, you'll eventually come to a ledge with a lever. Pulling the lever will lower the Lava Intake Pipe.
How To Get The Anvil Hammer
From the ledge, jump down and sprint for the special item across the room. It's guarded by a golem, but a faster sprinter and adept dodger can handle it easily.
This item is the
Smithscript Dagger .
With a new dagger in your pocket, jump down (or take the ladder) onto the platform in the lava just over the ledge (near the exit door).
Run over and jump onto the intake pipe.
Up the pipe, several lava bubbles will fall and begin firing their lava lances at you.
Cha-cha real smooth up the pipe, dodging forward through their attacks and defeating them as you go, until you reach the top.
A door can be found to your right, so jump onto the next ledge.
Do not jump to the ledge on the left of the pipe. This will bring you back to the start of the area near the Site of Grace. You will have to run all the way around back and through the entire dungeon to the anvil if you do this.
In this room, interact with the forge to receive the
Anvil Hammer and an
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone .
You can "take it back now, y'all" into the exit portal behind you and to the right to exit this speedy dungeon.
