Needle Knight Leda

Miquella’s cocoon

Mohgwyn Palace · Enter the Realm of Shadow

Starting Site of Grace: Cocoon of the Empyrean

1. Defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Rest at the cocoon grace after the Mohg battle.
2. Speak to Leda beside the withered arm, then touch the arm to enter the Realm of Shadow.

Cross beyond Castle Ensis

Scadu Altus · Highroad Cross

Starting Site of Grace: Highroad Cross

1. From Castle Ensis, defeat Rellana and leave through the rear doorway onto Scadu Altus.
2. Follow the road to Highroad Cross grace and speak to the followers beside the cross. The mountain route around Castle Ensis can also reach this region.

Burning-boat rampart

Shadow Keep · Hornsent signs

When available: After Leda names Hornsent as her target and before entering Messmer’s encounter.

Starting Site of Grace: Main Gate Plaza

1. From Highroad Cross in Scadu Altus, follow the main road north to Shadow Keep's southern gate. Ride the entrance lift and activate Shadow Keep Main Gate grace.
2. Defeat Golden Hippopotamus in the plaza. This is the front-door route; the flooded Church District provides a different way into the keep.
3. From Main Gate Plaza, leave through the west-northwest doorway, pass through the armory and climb the stairs. Continue up the wooden steps to the dining hall, where two Black Knights guard the route.
4. Leave the dining hall through its southeastern exit to the upper rampart. Follow the rampart past the burning boats and watch for the small Shadow Militiamen hiding beside them.
5. On the burning-boat walkway, look on the right beside the stairs leading down for the two summon signs. Do this before entering Messmer's encounter, while the confrontation remains available.

First-floor side room

Shadow Keep · Storehouse room

When available: After the charm breaks and Ansbach leaves his first camp.

Starting Site of Grace: Storehouse, First Floor

1. From Highroad Cross in Scadu Altus, follow the main road north to Shadow Keep's southern gate. Ride the entrance lift and activate Shadow Keep Main Gate grace.
2. Defeat Golden Hippopotamus in the plaza. This is the front-door route; the flooded Church District provides a different way into the keep.
3. From Main Gate Plaza, leave through the west-northwest doorway, pass through the armory and climb the stairs. Continue up the wooden steps to the dining hall, where two Black Knights guard the route.
4. Leave the dining hall through its southeastern exit to the upper rampart. Follow the rampart past the burning boats and watch for the small Shadow Militiamen hiding beside them.
5. Take the stairs leading north-northeast toward the large lift, passing the Fire Knight in front of it. Ride up and activate Storehouse, First Floor grace.
6. From Storehouse, First Floor, take the stairs beside the large horned specimen and follow the shelves toward the northern side. Before climbing to the next level, take the right-hand passage down into the side room with the altar and skeletons.
7. Ansbach is in the corner of this room. Finish his dialogue about his investigation, but hold on to Secret Rite Scroll until you have spoken to Freyja upstairs if you want her shield.

Chamber above Cleansing Chamber Anteroom

Enir-Ilim · Companion battle

When available: After burning the Sealing Tree behind Romina.

Starting Site of Grace: Cleansing Chamber Anteroom

1. Defeat Messmer in Shadow Keep for his kindling and Romina at Church of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
2. Finish the companion quest steps you want before burning the Sealing Tree behind Romina with Messmer's Kindling. This advances their quests and carries you to Enir-Ilim: Outer Wall.
3. From Outer Wall, climb northeast to the large balcony, then southwest up the next stairs. Turn southeast toward the Divine Bird Warrior and enter the building beyond it. Climb the broken ledges and cross the balcony to First Rise grace.
4. From First Rise, take the stairs upward through the building and use the southwest doorway toward the courtyard route. Continue through to the courtyard with the large patrolling inquisitor and the smaller enemies praying below.
5. Take the upward stairs on the courtyard's southeastern side, rather than the lower tree detour. Use the stone railings for cover from the inquisitors' rapid spells, then continue up beside the large tree to the Divine Beast Warrior.
6. Get past the warrior and climb northwest. Keep moving when the upper inquisitors cast attacks beneath your feet. Open the large double doors at the top of the stairs and activate Spiral Rise grace.
7. Climb the spiral stairs and leave through the window before the broken floor. Follow the roof southwest around the building, then jump west to the wider roof. Draw out the Gravebirds one at a time instead of fighting all three at the corner.
8. Continue northwest from the roofs onto the platform with another bird and stairs. Climb the northern stairs, then the next flight toward the frost-wielding Divine Beast Warrior. The drop over the railing is an optional Spirit Ash detour.
9. Get past the warrior. From the small structure northwest of it, go east to the corpse with Sunwarmth Stones and climb the roof beside it. Enter the tower through its southeastern windows.
10. Climb the stairs inside the tower and clear the inquisitors around the lift. This is the lift above the large altar, before the final wind-wielding warrior and Cleansing Chamber Anteroom.
11. Continue south-southwest up the tower's stairs and go outside. Get past the wind-wielding Divine Beast Warrior on the large platform and enter the building above it for Cleansing Chamber Anteroom grace. The lift down to the altar is an optional helmet detour.
12. Climb the stairs east from Cleansing Chamber Anteroom and enter the sandy chamber. Finish Leda's dialogue. Use any available gold ally signs if you want help, then interact with the red sign to begin the battle against her and her allies.
13. Defeat the group and return to your world. Loot the bodies left around the chamber before taking the eastern exit.
14. After winning Leda's battle and returning to your world, search her corpse in the chamber for Leda's Sword and her distinctive chest armor. The final boss is farther ahead and is unnecessary for this pickup.