Where to get the Imbued Sword Key in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree
Here's where to get the Imbued Sword Key in Castle Ensis, and where to use it!
Wondering where to get the Imbued Sword Key in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree? Just like the base Elden Ring game, Shadow Of The Erdtree features an Imbued Sword Key, which you can collect and use to unlock a secret portal in the Land of Shadow.
To find where to get the Imbued Sword Key you'll have to travel through Castle Ensis in the Gravesite Plain and beyond into Scadu Altus. We have the exact Imbued Sword Key location listed below, along with a walkthrough on where to use the Imbued Sword Key afterwards.
Shadow Of The Erdtree Imbued Sword Key location
The Imbued Sword Key in Shadow Of The Erdtree is found in Castle Ensis, the legacy dungeon across the Ensis Greatbridge to the north of where you begin the DLC. Starting from the Castle Ensis Checkpoint Site Of Grace, head up the nearby stairs and defeat the four guards on the bridge. Follow the path right, and head up the next set of stairs. Turn left, and you'll see an entrance guarded by Carian Knight Moonrithyll.
Defeat Moonrithyll, head into the main altar room and take the right-hand exit. Follow the main path out of the building, then keep following the main path along the castle ramparts until you reach some curving wooden stairs around a tower. The stairs are guarded by a spear-wielding soldier, so be careful you don't get knocked off.
After dispatching the spear soldier, head to the top of the stairs and immediately turn left. Through the doorway is a chest containing the Imbued Sword Key.
Where to use the Imbued Sword Key
All Imbued Sword Keys are used to open portals elsewhere in the world. Fortunately, this Imbued Sword Key's portal is found just after Castle Ensis.
Technically this portal is found inside the next region, Scadu Altus, which you can enter after defeating the main boss of Castle Ensis. There is another way into Scadu Altus which involves taking a path via Spiritsprings underneath the Fort of Reprimand to the east, so if you're hard-stuck on the Castle Ensis boss then you might want to opt for this route. Honestly though, it's probably best to just forge ahead through Castle Ensis.
Once you reach the Highroad Cross Site Of Grace just beyond Castle Ensis, turn left and follow the edge of the river around until you can dive into the river itself (watch out for the headless giant phantom in the process or defeat him for a Smithing Stone 8). From there, you can jump up the rocks to the tall white stone structure. The Imbued Sword Key portal sits at the base of this structure.
To activate the portal, interact with the imp statue next to it. This will use up your Imbued Sword Key, and allow you to teleport through the portal into a new region known as the Ancient Ruins Of Rauh. This area is only a closed off portion of the entire region, but it does contain a powerful Divine Bird Warrior miniboss and the Verdigris Discus Talisman. This region is actually separated further into the upper Ancient Ruins of Rauh and the lower Rauh Base. If you want to explore this region fully, see our guide to all Map Fragment locations.
Verdigris Discus Talisman
The main reason to venture into this cornered-off region is to pick up the Verdigris Discus Talisman. This is one of the new Talismans to feature in the DLC and mostly raises defence the higher your equip load is (players take 10% less damage with a 'heavy' load and 20% less with an 'overloaded' status). It pairs well with the Verdigris armor of the same name if you have ventured far enough into Moore's questline to acquire it.
To get the Talisman for yourself, travel from the initial spawn area northeast, past the large body of water where the Divine Bird Warrior spawns. Defeat them and continue forwards to the large statue/altar area where the Talisman awaits.
Other than the Talisman and Divine Bird Warrior, there isn't much else to explore here. You can farm the Divine Bird Warrior for a possible drop of the Horned Warrior's Sword and Divine Bird (armor) Set.
That wraps up this quick guide on how to get the Imbued Sword Key in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.For more Elden Ring tips and tricks, check out our guide to the best early weapons in Shadow Of The Erdtree to get you started. Or, if you're further along in the DLC, see our best weapons guide that goes through the best of the bunch. Be sure to also check out our boss locations guide so you dont miss a single one.