Elden Ring Road’s End Catacombs guide

Road’s End Catacombs is a dungeon in Elden Ring’s Liurnia of the Lakes region, where you can find the Watchdog’s Staff, Raya Lucaria Soldier Ashes, and Glintstone Sorcerer Ashes. In this Elden Ring Road’s End Catacombs guide, we’ll tell you where to find the dungeon, what loot to expect, and where to locate the illusory walls that hide the path to the Spirit-Caller Snail boss.

Road’s End Catacombs location

Grid View

• Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Ash of War: Sword Dance scarab along the path to the Road’s End Catacombs. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Road’s End Catacombs entrance. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Road’s End Catacombs location. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Road’s End Catacombs is located near the western edge of the western landmass in the Liurnia of the Lakes region. Just north of the minor Erdtree in western Liurnia, head west along the road to find a statue on a ledge. The statue points toward a trail leading south along the cliffside. Follow that road and defeat the scarab you encounter along the way to acquire the Ash of War: Sword Dance. Continue through the ravine to reach the entrance to the catacombs along the rock wall.

Road’s End Catacombs loot

Road’s End Catacombs hold assorted materials (including various Grave Glovewort plants), along with the Watchdog’s Staff, the Raya Lucaria Soldier Ashes, and the Glintstone Sorcerer Ashes. Any destination with two separate sets of ashes is well worth a visit for that reason alone, and the Ash of War: Sword Dance you find on the trail leading to the catacombs is a delightful bonus.

Imps and illusory walls

Grid View

• Fanged Imps in the Road’s End Catacombs. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Lever to open a door deeper in the Road’s End Catacombs. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

The catacombs are occupied by goblins. Counter them as usual with magic-imbued weapons and sorcery. Don’t let them surprise you and jump onto your back, or they may inflict severe blood loss. The environment may seem extremely small at first, but you will discover several illusory walls once you look more closely. There also is a lever you should pull to unlock some hidden doors. It’s positioned ahead of a statue resting on a ledge leading left from the top of the first flight of stairs you encounter.

Grid View

• Illusory wall in the Road’s End Catacombs. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Raya Lucaria Soldier Ashes location. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Start your exploration by descending to the apparent end of the area while battling goblins. At the lowest point in the catacombs, hit the wall to reveal a doorway. The door leads into a room with more goblins. One waits directly ahead of you, near the chest that contains the Raya Lucaria Soldier Ashes. The other two goblins are positioned on either side of the archway as you enter.

Grid View

• Another illusory wall. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Watchdog’s Staff location. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Now head back toward the area’s entrance and discover the environment’s true size. Near the base of the lowest set of stairs, hit the archway to reveal a hidden door that grants access to a room with more goblins. It also holds the Grave Glovewort [3], the Human Bone Shard, and the Watchdog’s Staff.

Grid View

• Another illusory wall. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Rune Arc location. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Boss chamber entrance. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

Leave that chamber and climb the adjacent staircase. Near the base of the next set of stairs, you’ll notice several archways along the wall. Hit the one nearest the steps to reveal an opening guarded by another goblin. Find the Ghost Glovewort [2] and a Rune Arc in this area. Along the corridor, a narrow hallway leads left down some stairs. You will find the Root Resin near their base. Hit the wall behind it to find another chamber with the Grave Glovewort [2]. Then hit the next wall to find a larger chamber with doors leading to the boss chamber. If you neglected to pull the lever near the start of the area, they will be closed and you’ll need to backtrack.

Grid View

• The summoned spirits can hurt you, but they’re not the real boss. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
• Look for a faint glow to find the Spirit-Caller Snail. Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

The Spirit-Caller Snail wouldn’t prove so difficult to defeat, except that it summons powerful spirits. Also, it’s invisible. Summon a spirit of your own, and tear through the summoned foe with a series of melee strikes while it is distracted. Quickly rush to the far corner of the room to find your true foe, the Spirit-Caller Snail. Hack the snail apart with more melee strikes, and repeat the process as necessary. You’ll be able to track its movement around the room by looking for a faint glow that indicates where it is currently located. Any damage to the soldiers the snail summons don’t work against its life meter, and those soldiers are capable of dealing significant damage with their weapons and projectiles. Dodge accordingly. Once you defeat the snail, you’ll acquire the Glintstone Sorcerer Ashes as your reward.