Ruined Forge Lava Intake walkthrough for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Ruined Forge Lava Intake is the dungeon found in the Gravesite Plain of Elden Ring‘S Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. You’ll find it southeast of Castle Ensis and the Castle Front Site of Grace.

Us Elden Ring The Ruined Forge Lava Intake guide will walk you through the dungeon Shadow of the Erdtree and point you to every place of grace, boss fights and important items.


Ruined Forge Lava Intake location in Elden Ring DLC

Start from the Caste Front Site of Grace, just outside Castle Ensis, and head southeast. You have to go back a bit, but there is a path that leads through (another) Messmer Soldier camp. Continue following that flat area southeast to the dungeon.


Where to find the Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

As you approach the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, you will pass a Messmer Soldier camp. On the other side you’ll pass two groups of Messmer Soldiers fighting Bloodfiends.

Just southeast of the second group, the entrance is quite hard to miss. Go down the slope inwards and hit the Ruined Forge Lava intake site from Grace.


Start from the Ruined Forge Lava Intake Site of Grace

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree first room of the Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Go down the stairs in front of you and turn right. Climb down the ladder on your left (or just jump over it). You pass on a useful comment about weaknesses. Go just past that note on the left and you’ll get your first chance to use that hint.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Golem with its weak point exposed

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

In the next room you will find a Golem with a glowing gem on its lower back. That hint just means that you do (much) more damage if you attack from behind. Take it out, then sweep the room (and the corpse) for a bunch of Smithing Stones and a Gas Stone.

Back outside, follow the path southwest, picking up Smithing Stones along the way. Watch out for slime along the ceiling. At the end of the path, turn left.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree path to the Greater Potentate's cookbook in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

When the room opens, there is a ladder at the end of the ledge you are standing on. Take it down and duck under the ledge to find a stash of Smithing Stones and Gas Stones.

On the other side of the room, run up the short stairs and turn right to find more Smithing and Gas Stones, as well as the The Cookbook of the Greater Potentate (13).


Lower the lava pump

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree path to the lever in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Before descending the stairs again, look southwest to find a slope to climb. Follow it as far as you can and jump to the ledge against the far wall. Turn right and take the ladder down.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree lever to lower the lava pump in Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

On the next ledge, throw the lever you find. Go back to where you picked up the cookbook.

Go back down the stairs and turn right. Deal with the Golem and Slime and grab any other crafting materials you see as you move through the room to the southwest.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree broken wall in Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

At the end, turn left through the broken wall. Take out the Golem and grab anything that isn’t nailed down.


Find the anvil hammer

Once you’re back outside, go to the actual doorway on the other side of the room. After the corridor you come to a landing with another Golem guarding the Smithscript Dagger.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Anvil Hammer location

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

That lever you pressed earlier lowered a pump (an Archimedes screw if you’re a nerd) into the lava. Climb that pipe – if you miss the jump, there’s a ladder on the right – all the way to the top.

Get off to the right through the narrow doorway. Go up the stairs and examine the altar at the fireplace thing to pick up the anvil hammer. When you grab this, a teleport will appear back to the entrance. Or you can go through the pump pipe a bit and drop onto the ledge on the right, and you’ll be right back at the place of grace.


Looking for more Shadow of the Erdtree Guides? Check out our guides on new Elden Ring DLC weapons, armor, map fragments, places of mercy and talismans. We also have location guides on where to find Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, and an interactive Elden Ring DLC map.