The Fog Rift Catacombs stands as one of the most challenging yet rewarding dungeons in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Since its release in early 2024, players have been both cursing and praising this deviously designed location that perfectly embodies FromSoftware's approach to dungeon design.

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Finding Your Way to the Catacombs

Located in the southeast Rauh Ruins region of the Shadow Realm, accessing the Fog Rift Catacombs requires some exploration. From the Castle Front Site of Grace, head northwest past the small army stationed under wooden scaffolding. Continue along the path behind them, following the trail of gravestones. Eventually, you'll spot two lit braziers marking the entrance to this notorious dungeon.

As one player on Reddit put it, "I don't know where else to go in this catacomb:(" to which another replied, "Miyazaki: OH HO HO DID YOU LOOK FOR A LITTLE HIDEY ROOM INSIIIIDE THE FALLING SPIKE TRAP?" This exchange perfectly captures the experience awaiting you.

The Dungeon of Despair and Delight

What makes the Fog Rift Catacombs so memorable is its fiendish combination of deadly traps, ambushing enemies, and hidden pathways. The dungeon features massive spike traps descending from ceilings, which serve both as deadly obstacles and, surprisingly, as platforms to reach secret areas.

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"I spent an entire evening stuck in this place," shares veteran player Jake Thompson. "It's like the designers were sitting around thinking 'How can we make players throw their controllers across the room?' But darn it if I didn't feel amazing when I finally figured it out."

The catacombs are populated by various enemies including Stone Imps (affectionately called "Lion Head Goblins" by some guides), Undead Spellcasters, Messmer Soldiers, and the intimidating Black Knights. Each enemy is strategically placed to ambush unsuspecting players at the worst possible moments.

The signature feature of this dungeon is undoubtedly the massive spike traps. In one particularly notorious section, players must navigate a lengthy hallway with a spike trap covering the entire distance while dodging magic projectiles from a wizard at the far end.

"You have to sprint between the drops of the spike trap, rolling into alcoves for safety," explains YouTuber EldenMaster. "But watch out—one of those 'safe' alcoves is actually a hole that drops you into what can only be described as a sewer filled with sentient piles of... well, you know what."

This kind of "gotcha" moment is what has led some players to joke about wanting to "cage fight" the designers, while others praise it as "the funniest location in FromSoftware history."

Hidden Treasures Worth the Pain

Despite the frustration, the catacombs offer valuable rewards for those persistent enough to uncover them:

  • Ancient Dragon Knight's Cookbook (1)

  • Dragonbolt Grease

  • Shadow Realm Rune (3)

  • Broken Rune

  • Glass Shard

  • Messmer Soldier Gauntlets

  • Stone-Sheathed Sword (which can be transformed into the Sword of Light or Sword of Darkness)

  • Ash of War: Blinkbolt

  • Electrocharge incantation

  • Crimson Amber Medallion +3 (from the boss)

  • Death Knight's Twin Axes (from the boss)

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Facing the Death Knight

The final challenge awaiting players is the appropriately named Death Knight boss. This dual axe-wielding enemy employs a variety of electrical attacks and a particularly nasty grab move that drains your health to restore its own.

"The Death Knight is no joke," warns PVP expert RingLord22. "But here's the inside scoop—it's surprisingly easy to stunlock with heavy attacks, especially jumping heavy attacks. It's also very susceptible to Bleed builds. You're welcome, y'all."

Community Reactions

The Fog Rift Catacombs has elicited strong reactions from the Elden Ring community. As one player colorfully put it on a message within the game: "This is honestly the funniest location in FromSoftware history. Basically just a series of patented FromSoft pranks with you the player as the punchline."

Another player wrote: "I don't know if FromSoft forgot, but the reason you don't put stakes of Marika in the middle of a catacomb is because it incentivizes you to kill yourself to get your flasks back."

Yet despite the frustration, many consider it among the best-designed dungeons in the game. "The catacombs in the DLC are so superbly designed, so much fun exploring this area!" wrote one enthusiastic fan.

Final Thoughts

Whether you view the Fog Rift Catacombs as a masterpiece of level design or a torture chamber depends largely on your perspective and patience. What's undeniable is that it represents FromSoftware at their most devious and creative.

As one Reddit user perfectly summarized: "It's not particularly difficult, especially compared to the rest of the DLC, but holy smokes is it good. You can just feel the level designers laughing at you to a point where it's honestly kind of endearing."

So grab your controller, stock up on patience, and prepare to both curse and laugh your way through one of Elden Ring's most memorable locations. The Fog Rift Catacombs awaits, and as they say in the Lands Between, "praise the sun... if you can find it in this nightmare dungeon."