Elden Ring Deeproot Depths Access Guide: Routes & Bosses

Looking for a no-nonsense Deeproot Depths access guide? You're definitely not the only Tarnished who got lost trying to find this place. Deeproot Depths is one of Elden Ring's sneakiest side areas to unlock, mostly because there isn't a cave entrance waiting for you. Instead, you'll need to take a coffin ride after a mandatory boss fight.

There are two main Deeproot Depths access routes: the Nokron path through the Valiant Gargoyles, or the Lake of Rot path through Astel. Both work, but they come with different setup requirements. Here's the full rundown, all the bosses you'll face, and the dumb mistakes I see players make all the time.

Route 1: The Nokron Path

The most common route goes through Nokron, Eternal City. You'll fight the Valiant Gargoyles at the end of the Siofra Aqueduct, then take the coffin behind their boss arena. This is the route most people use for Fia's questline, and it's the one I'd pick if you're already exploring around Nokron.

Step-by-Step Through the Nokron Route

1. Beat Starscourge Radahn first.
If you haven't beaten Radahn in Caelid, the meteor crater won't appear. That's non-negotiable. You need Nokron to open up, and that only happens after Radahn's big meteor crash.

2. Find the crater near Mistwood in Limgrave.
After the Radahn fight, a huge glowing crater opens up in the Mistwood area, near the forest and the Siofra River well. Head toward the giant tree roots and drop down carefully. Don't use the Siofra River elevator with the wooden lift—it goes to a different underground area with no direct path to Deeproot Depths.

3. Reach the “Nokron, Eternal City” site of grace.
Once you drop into the crater, follow the main path forward. You'll cross roots and ruined buildings before hitting the first site of grace.

4. Make your way to the Siofra Aqueduct.
Explore Nokron until you find the “Ancestral Woods” site of grace. From there, keep heading forward and look for a big river-like corridor that leads into the aqueduct. If you see a huge waterfall, you're on the right track.

5. Fight the Valiant Gargoyles.
At the end of the aqueduct, you'll hit the boss fog. This is a two-phase fight: after you damage the first gargoyle enough, a second one with twinblades jumps in. It gets chaotic, and the poison breath can be annoying. Bring a strong spirit summon and don't be afraid to kite them around the arena.

6. Enter the coffin behind the boss room.
After the Valiant Gargoyles die, walk to the far end of the arena. You'll see a large stone coffin sitting there. Walk up to it and press interact to sleep inside. Your screen fades, and you wake up at the “Deeproot Depths” site of grace.

That's the basic Deeproot Depths access route from Nokron. If you're already doing Ranni's questline, the second route might feel more natural.

Route 2: The Lake of Rot Path

The second route takes you through Ranni's quest and the dreaded Lake of Rot. It skips the Valiant Gargoyles, but you'll have to beat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. That's a much later-game fight, and for some builds it can be rougher than the gargoyles.

Step-by-Step Through the Lake of Rot Route

1. Progress Ranni’s questline.
You need to reach the point where you've given Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade and she's left her tower. That's pretty deep into her quest. If you haven't started it, go talk to Ranni at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia first.

2. Use the waygate at Renna’s Rise.
Once Ranni leaves, travel to the top of Renna's Rise. The broken teleporter there now works, and it'll send you all the way to Ainsel River Main.

3. Follow the river until you hit the Lake of Rot.
This is a long underground trip. You'll pass through Nokstella, Eternal City, and fight plenty of ant-like enemies. Eventually, you'll reach the “Lake of Rot” site of grace. The lake is covered in scarlet rot, so bring a cleanse spell, carry some preserving boluses, or cross using the stone pillars sticking out of the rot.

4. Find the Grand Cloister.
On the far side of the lake, look for the entrance to Grand Cloister and grab the site of grace inside. From there, keep descending toward the lower cave area. You'll see a path leading to Astel's boss fog.

5. Defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
This fight is brutal. Astel teleports around, throws gravity magic, and has a grab attack that can one-shot you. Try to hug its sides when you can, and stay close after its big telegraphed explosion attacks.

6. Take the coffin in Astel’s boss room.
After Astel dies, look for another coffin in the back of the arena. Interact with it to trigger the same transport cutscene, and you'll wake up in Deeproot Depths. Yep, that's still valid Deeproot Depths access, even though you never touched the Valiant Gargoyles.

Common Mistakes That Mess Up Your Deeproot Depths Access

I've seen players mess this up a ton, and I've definitely made a few of these mistakes myself. Let these be your new player warnings.

• Going to the wrong crater.
  The meteor crater from Radahn is not the same as the Siofra River elevator shaft. That elevator in Mistwood just takes you down to Siofra River. It's easy to ride it down and then spend forever trying to find a route into Nokron. Save yourself the time and only use the crater that appears after Radahn.

• Missing the coffin because it looks like scenery.
  After I beat the Valiant Gargoyles, I thought the coffin in the back was just decoration. I spent a solid 10 minutes checking for hidden doors and trying to jump across a root that looked important. The coffin is interactive, so stand right in front of it and the prompt will appear.

• Trying to cross the Lake of Rot without scarlet rot protection.
  This isn't a direct access issue, but it'll wreck your run if you're not careful. You don't want to chug flasks every two seconds just to reach the other side. Use the pillars as stepping stones, and bring boluses even if you think you won't need them.

• Killing Fia when you first see her in Deeproot Depths.
  Deeproot Depths has a creepy vibe, and Fia looks vulnerable sitting near that giant skeleton. Don't attack her. If you want to finish her quest, just talk to her. You'll eventually fight Fia's Champions and Lichdragon Fortissax. Attack her early, and you'll lock yourself out of that content.

Deeproot Depths Bosses and What to Expect

Once you've got your Deeproot Depths access sorted, you're not done yet. The area has some serious fights, but none of them are required just to explore the map.

• Fia’s Champions – This is a gang fight against several NPC phantoms. It triggers when you approach Fia in the lower area of Deeproot Depths. It's not as tough as a main boss, but multiple opponents can overwhelm you if you try to trade blows. Use crowd control and try to separate them near the entrance.

• Lichdragon Fortissax – This is the real boss of Deeproot Depths, and it's tied to Fia's ending. After you beat Fia's Champions, talk to Fia, rest at the nearby site of grace, then talk to her again. She'll eventually ask you for something related to the death root. Once you help her, you get to enter a dreamlike arena and fight Fortissax. He's a lightning dragon with a massive health pool. Stay behind him when you can, and watch out for the double lightning spear attacks.

There are also some lesser enemies like giant ants and ancestral followers, but they aren't boss fights.

FAQ

Can I reach Deeproot Depths without defeating Valiant Gargoyles?
Yes. The Lake of Rot route lets you take the coffin after Astel instead. You still need to beat Radahn earlier if you plan to hit Nokron, but you can skip the Valiant Gargoyles by following Ranni's quest far enough.

Which Deeproot Depths access route is easier?
For most players, the Valiant Gargoyles route feels easier because you can reach it earlier and use a strong spirit summon. Astel is a late-game boss with a lot of teleport spam and AoE attacks. But if you're already deep into Ranni's quest, the Lake of Rot route might feel more natural.

Do I need to beat Fia in Deeproot Depths?
No. Fia's a friendly NPC, even if she looks creepy. Let her quest play out if you want to fight Lichdragon Fortissax and get the Death-Prince ending rune. Killing her just cuts that questline off early.

Is Deeproot Depths connected to the main story?
Not directly. You can beat the entire game without ever going there. But if you care about Fia's quest, the Prince of Death lore, or the Lichdragon boss, you'll want that Deeproot Depths access. It's one of those hidden corners of Elden Ring that rewards you for leaving the critical path.