If you’re banging your head against the wall trying to find the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace in Elden Ring, you aren't alone. Honestly, it’s one of those spots in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC that feels like it’s mocking you. You see it on the map—or you think you see where it should be—but the verticality of the Land of Shadow is a nightmare. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about realizing point B is actually three hundred feet below you inside a cave you walked past four times.
Most players stumble into this area while exploring the Rauh Base. This isn't the lush, green Rauh Ancient Ruins you see in the trailers with the pretty stone bridges. No, this is the swampy, bug-infested basement of that region. It’s grim. It’s dark. And if you aren't careful, the Kindred of Rot will snipe you with those annoying white threads before you even touch the gold light of the grace.
Finding the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace Without Losing Your Mind
To get here, you basically need to start from the Temple Town Ruins. Most people try to drop down from the top of the plateau, but that’s a one-way ticket to a "You Died" screen. Gravity in Elden Ring remains the final boss. Instead, you have to hug the northern cliffside from the Rauh Base Site of Grace.
Follow the shallow water heading southeast. You’ll know you’re on the right track when the sky starts looking a bit more claustrophobic and the pillars of the ruins begin to loom over you. There’s a specific ravine. It looks like a dead end, but it opens up into a cavernous area where the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace sits waiting.
It’s a checkpoint. A breather. You’ll need it because the area immediately following this is a gauntlet.
Why This Specific Spot Matters for Your Build
You aren't just coming here for the scenery. The Ancient Grounds serve as the gateway to some pretty specific loot that can define a "poison" or "rot" build. Nearby, you’ll find the Scadutree Fragments—which, let's be real, are the only reason we're all doing this anyway—but also specific smithing stones that are rare in the early-to-mid DLC stages.
The enemy density here is high. You’ve got those scorpion-spider hybrids and the aforementioned Kindred of Rot. If you’re running a glass cannon build, this place is a death trap. I personally recommend bringing a 100% physical damage negation shield or enough Boluses to keep your rot meter from popping.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rauh Base Navigation
There is a huge misconception that the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace connects directly to the upper Enir-Ilim or the main Rauh Ancient Ruins. It doesn't. Not really.
The Land of Shadow is built like a stack of pancakes, but the pancakes are skewed. You can stand at the Ancient Grounds and look up at a bridge where you were two hours ago, but there is no ladder. There is no elevator. To get "up," you usually have to fast travel back to a completely different region like the Shadow Keep and take the back exit. It's confusing. It's frustrating. It's classic FromSoftware.
- The Map Lie: The 2D map makes it look like the grace is right next to the Viaduct Minor Tower.
- The Reality: There is a massive vertical gap.
- The Solution: Stop looking for a spiritspring jump; there isn't one that leads directly to the grace from the bottom. You have to walk.
Tactical Advice for the Surrounding Ruins
Once you’ve rested at the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace, don't just sprint forward. The enemies here have incredible tracking. If you’ve played the base game, you remember the Lake of Rot. This is like the "dry" version of that, where the enemies move faster and you have less room to dodge.
📖 Related: Finding Every Mario Odyssey Mushroom Kingdom Moon Without Losing Your Mind
- Check the corners. There is a Crucible Knight in the general vicinity of the Rauh ruins that will absolutely wreck your day if you pull him along with the smaller mobs.
- Use Fire. Almost everything in this damp, dark corner of the map hates fire. Whether it's Blasphemous Blade or just some Fire Grease, use it.
- Look for the Spiritsprings. While they won't take you from the very bottom to the very top, there are several hidden behind "stone piles" (the small cairns you have to hit to activate the jump). One is located just west of the Ancient Grounds area.
The Lore Connection (Sorta)
We don't get a lot of direct dialogue about the Ancient Grounds. However, the architecture suggests this was part of the original civilization that predates the Erdtree—the people who built the massive divine towers. The "Ancient Grounds" likely served as a ritual site before the "Crusade" led by Messmer turned the whole place into a graveyard. You can see the shift in the stonework; the older, weathered blocks are being overtaken by the jagged, newer fortifications of Messmer’s army.
It's a somber place. It feels heavy.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re currently stuck or planning your route through the Rauh Base, here is exactly what you should do to optimize your run:
- Equip the Flame, Cleanse Me incantation. Even if you aren't a faith build, find a way to hit the 12 Faith requirement. It saves you from wasting limited consumables in the ruins surrounding the grace.
- Mark the Map. Once you find the Ancient Grounds Site of Grace, place a marker on your map for the nearby Scadutree Fragment located in the altar room to the east. It’s easy to miss in the dark.
- Farm the Kindred. If you need the Pest's Glaive or their specific armor set, this is one of the best spots to farm them because the grace is so close to their spawn points.
- Reset the Aggro. If you get chased by the massive birds or the golems further out, run back to this grace. The doorway to the cavern acts as a natural "leash" for enemy AI—most large enemies can't fit inside or will tether back to their original position.
The Ancient Grounds aren't just a save point; they are your staging area for the hardest platforming and environmental navigation in the entire expansion. Take a second. Level up your Scadutree blessing. Make sure your flasks are set. The climb through the rest of the ruins doesn't get any easier from here.