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This guide provides all the details you need to know about the legendary Sword of Darkness.
Searching for the Sword of Darkness in Elden Ring? This powerful weapon can be transformed into the Sword of Light at a designated altar. But how do you obtain it? To get started, you'll need the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and the Stone-Sheathed Sword, which is found following this guide. While you can find the Stone-Sheathed Sword at three different altar locations, it doesn't matter which altar you visit first. The altars’ functions shift based on the ones you’ve already activated. Once you possess the Stone-Sheathed Sword, you can convert it into either the Sword of Light or the Sword of Darkness at one of the remaining altars. This guide will walk you through the process to easily acquire the Sword of Darkness and explore its features.
How to Quickly Obtain the Sword of Darkness
- Obtain the Stone-Sheathed Sword from one of the three altars, then head to the Darkness Altar.
- Since each altar can only convert the sword once, you must choose between the Sword of Darkness and the Sword of Light.
- While the altars' locations remain fixed, their functions change depending on which altar you visited to acquire the Stone-Sheathed Sword.
Steps
Stone-Sheathed Sword (Ruins of Unte)
Begin at the Gravesite Plain and travel northeast toward a dilapidated house. On your map, aim for an area just north of the bridge.
- You’ll know you’re in the right place when you encounter a series of graves along the cliffside.
- Be sure you have two essential items in your inventory: 2 Redflesh Mushrooms and 2 Embers of Messmer.
- Follow these instructions to obtain the Stone-Sheathed Sword, which you’ll need to get the Sword of Darkness.
Enter the crumbling house and collect Furnace Visage (x2) along with a cookbook. A message will pop up informing you that you’ve entered the Run-Down Traveler's Rest.
- After collecting all three items from the shack, you’re free to leave.
Make your way to Moorth Ruins and descend underground. The entrance to the underground area is directly east of the Site of Grace.
- If you haven’t unlocked that Site of Grace, head to the Fort of Reprimand and use two wind vortexes to rise. Once you reach the top, proceed north to the ruins. Alternatively, if you haven’t unlocked that Site, start at Castle Enis and follow the dark path southward on your map.
- You’ll need to break rocks blocking the vortex holes to activate them.
Reach Bonny Village. To find Bonny Village, continue through Moorth Ruins. Once you’re underground, follow the tunnels and jump down. A ladder will lead you up to the village.
Locate and collect 2 Hefty Cracked Pots. One can be found on the edge of the broken bridge, while the other is located beyond the bridge, surrounded by enemies, and inside a shed.
- You can easily leap across the gap where the bridge once stood by double-jumping with Torrent.
Travel north from Moorth Ruins to Shadow Keep. This area contains bosses, so make sure you're well-prepared, especially if you haven’t already dealt with the Keep's threats!
Turn left at the statue. Upon entering the Keep, you'll notice a massive statue in the courtyard. Turn left to enter the first room.
Head straight, then turn right and go up. Climb the stairs to your right until you reach a large dining room. Proceed to the back and exit through the gaping hole in the wall.
Run across the roof, then descend the ladder. You'll pass burning boats, and the ladder is located to your left, taking you down into ankle-deep water.
Go behind the waterfall and descend another ladder. There's a hidden room behind the waterfall with an additional ladder.
Approach the painting and strike the wall to your right. The wall will vanish, revealing a secret passage.
- Walk through this passage and use the coffin at the end.
- Upon using the coffin, a brief cutscene will play, and you’ll be transported to a new area, Scadu Altus.
Go to the fallen giant near the debris. This is the Ruins of Unte.
- With Torrent, you can climb, leap, and navigate the rooftops to gain a vantage point, directly facing the dormant Furnace Golem.
Craft a Hefty Furnace Pot. Access your crafting menu and navigate to the "Throwing Pots" section, then choose Hefty Furnace Pot. You'll need 2 Redflesh Mushrooms, 2 Embers of Messmer, and 1 Furnace Visage.
Throw the Hefty Furnace Pot at the dormant Furnace Golem. His head will ignite, awakening him as an active enemy.
- You can either run into the room he was guarding to avoid combat, or stand your ground and face this mini-boss.
- The Furnace Golem’s legs are unprotected, making it easy to strike them, causing him to fall, and then deliver a powerful blow to his face for significant damage.
Run towards the right side of the room. You will find an altar there.
- The Stone-Sheathed Sword is placed on that altar.
Darkness Altar (Fog Rift Catacombs)
Teleport to Castle Front and head north. You'll pass through crags and cliffs on a lower level.
- Your goal is to find a mausoleum-like structure located in a small graveyard.
Open the doors to enter the Fog Rift Catacombs. This complex dungeon is trickier to navigate, but follow this guide to reach the altar efficiently.
Continue forward and take a left at the dead-end. The path ahead is blocked by collapsed debris, so take the left path to proceed.
- In the next room, you'll encounter spiked platforms that can crush you. Stay alert as you move through this area to the other side.
- You can hide in the cubbyholes along the sides of the room to avoid the spikes.
Continue down the path and take a left to avoid a fireball. After a small downward slope, turning left will lead you to more stairs.
- Don’t leap into the next room right away; there’s another large platform below with spikes that will crush you.
Drop into the room after the spikes slam into the ground. Quickly turn around and take cover under the archway until the spikes retract.
- Once the spikes drop and rise again, sprint across the room.
Head down by using the lift. After crossing the room with the spikes, descend some stairs and then take the lift to move further down.
Continue straight and downward. Once you exit the lift, keep going forward, descend more stairs, and follow the path.
Evade the spiked platform by taking shelter in the cubbies to the left. Enter the first cubby, wait for the spikes to fall, then dash to the second cubby.
- Use as many cubbies as necessary to cross the room safely. Those spikes deal heavy damage!
Climb to the top of the platform and head to the edge. You need to activate the spiked platforms so they drop.
- As they crash down, you will notice another cubby on the platform.
Jump into the cubby on the spiked platform and then leap off at the top. It might take a few attempts to successfully land on and jump off the platform due to its fast movement!
Open the chest in the room on top of the spiked platforms. You will find an archway at the back near the start of the room, which is only accessible by being on top of the platforms.
Run to the opposite balcony and discover another altar. It is located on the right side.
Examine the altar and raise your sword towards the dark. This will grant you the Sword of Darkness. To switch to the Sword of Light, visit the other altar in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
Light Altar (Ancient Ruins of Ruah)
Teleport to the Storehouse, First Floor. This area is located within the Shadow Keep. Proceed straight until you reach a platform with a pile of books in the center, then take a sharp left into another room.
- Follow the hallway until you reach a lift that takes you down.
Take the first right and follow it all the way to the end. Be cautious of the enemy that will appear from the window on your left.
Turn right, descend the stairs, then continue straight and turn left. Expect to encounter a number of enemies in your path.
- Turn left into the room filled with pots, then head right toward a gold decoration hanging on the wall.
- Turn left again down a hallway and descend further stairs.
Exit outside and mount Torrent to cross the bridge. There are enemies scattered across the bridge, with one at the far end. You can choose to fight them or sprint past.
- A large wall blocks the main bridge path, but you can pass through a small archway on the side to continue across the bridge with Torrent.
Turn right and ascend the stairs to reach a lift that takes you higher. After crossing the bridge and entering the area, immediately turn right and climb a spiral staircase that leads to a lift, taking you to an even higher level.
Rest at the Site of Grace if necessary. Move forward a few steps, and you'll receive a notification indicating that you've entered the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
Get to ground level and ride Torrent to the right. Follow the path heading west and descend underground.
Head straight and follow the path leading down into a hole. Once underground, stay on Torrent, run toward the back wall, and turn right to face a large set of doors. Turn left once at the doors to pass through an archway and find a large fiery plinth surrounded by an open space that leads to another level.
- Jump to the left side of the plinth, as it's a direct path from the drop to another set of doors.
Proceed through the doors on the left. After the drop, you'll encounter a pair of large doors that must be opened to continue.
- It takes a moment to open them, so be ready to mount Torrent again once the doors are open.
Traverse the tunnel and drop down another hole. You can double-jump with Torrent to soften the landing, or you can rely on the wind vortex to save you from a fatal fall.
Go straight ahead and take a left turn. After the fall, proceed forward to the carving in the wall and turn left.
Turn left beneath the bridge and continue straight toward the light. You'll pass under more arches as you approach the daylight.
Keep moving straight toward another Site of Grace. On your right, you'll spot a building resembling a Coliseum.
- Take the opportunity to rest at the Site of Grace before pressing on.
Follow the aqueduct and then veer to the right path. This will help you avoid the fire beam from the approaching Golem.
- Use Torrent’s double-jump to leap from the aqueduct to the path on the right.
Move behind the Golem to find another route. This path heads southeast, leading you up to a cliff where you'll find a Site of Grace.
- Watch out for the Golem's slam attacks; re-mount Torrent if you fall off.
- Rest at the Site of Grace if needed.
Ride Torrent under the arches heading southwest. Stay to the left side.
- You'll need to ride up several sets of stairs.
Exit the room to the right and proceed northwest. You'll pass a stone gazebo and enter another set of ruins.
- Go straight and take a right at the dead-end.
Exit to the left and move towards a ledge. Leave the ruins through the archway on the far left, which will lead you to what seems like a crumbled stone bridge.
Run across the gap. An invisible bridge will keep you from falling as you head towards the tower.
Inspect the altar and raise the Stone-Sheathed Sword towards the light. This will transform the Stone-Sheathed Sword into the Sword of Light.
You can freely switch between the Sword of Darkness and Sword of Light. To change the effects, visit the corresponding altars:
- If you found the Stone-Sheathed Sword in the Ruins of Unte (as described in this guide), the Darkness Altar is located in the Fog Rift Catacombs, while the Light Altar is in the Ancient Ruins of Ruah.
- If you go to the Fog Rift Catacombs first to acquire the Stone-Sheathed Sword, the Darkness Altar is at the Ruins of Unte, and the Light Altar is in the Ancient Ruins of Ruah.
You cannot hold both the Sword of Darkness and Sword of Light simultaneously. It's not possible during your solo journey, but another player can drop the sword you don't possess.
Any upgrades you apply to the sword will remain even when you switch it. For example, if you upgrade the sword, those improvements will carry over even if you change from Stone-Sheathed Sword to Sword of Darkness or Sword of Light.
- If you convert a +10 Sword of Light, it will become a +10 Sword of Darkness.
The Sword of Darkness has default holy damage. When you raise it to envelop your enemies in darkness, they will take holy damage. The skill costs 30 FP, and the sword cannot be imbued with Ashes of War, food/drink buffs, or grease.
Enhance the sword using your faith and Somber Smithing Stones. The sword's holy damage depends on your faith; the higher your faith, the greater the sword's power.
- To upgrade the weapon, use Somber Smithing Stones at a blacksmith.
