Stone-Sheathed Sword

Gravesite Plain

Starting Site of Grace: Fog Rift Catacombs

Before you go

• To enter the Realm of Shadow, defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then touch the withered arm in Mohg's arena at Mohgwyn Palace.
• Do not collect the sword from Ruins of Unte or Ancient Ruins of Rauh first if you want this altar to hold it.

1. From Castle Front, follow the road north beneath the fort's wooden structures into the foggy woodland. Continue past the Shadow Militiamen to the catacomb doors between two pale braziers. Enter, take the lift down, and activate the grace.
2. Follow the passage past the first Imp. Approach each spike-ceiling room cautiously, trigger the ceiling from the doorway, then retreat. Cross only after it hits the floor and begins rising.
3. Continue past the first trap and down the stairs to the next spike-ceiling chamber. Drop to its lower floor and move into the recess beneath the ledge. Time another crossing to reach the lift leading farther down.
4. Follow the lower passage through the Imp rooms to the long hall with three falling ceiling sections. Move between the side alcoves one at a time as the traps rise. Do not drop into the hole in the second alcove.
5. Reach the spellcaster's platform and stand on its railing to trigger the nearest trap. When it drops, jump into the open compartment in its side and ride it upward.
6. Jump off to the platform with the Blinkbolt chest. Turn back toward the hall, bait the trap down again and jump onto its top.
7. Run across the tops of the ceiling traps to the opening at the far right side of the hall. Follow the short passage to the altar and collect the sword.

Scadu Altus

Starting Site of Grace: Castle Watering Hole

Before you go

• Reach the Realm of Shadow.
• Do not collect the Stone-Sheathed Sword at another altar first.
• Bring a Hefty Furnace Pot for the dormant golem.

1. To enter the Realm of Shadow, defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then touch the withered arm in Mohg's arena at Mohgwyn Palace.
2. For the main Shadow Keep approach, defeat the Golden Hippopotamus and activate Main Gate Plaza grace. Follow the left-hand route through the keep to the upper courtyard lined with burning boats. Watch for the Militiamen hiding beside them.
3. At the southeastern end of the boat courtyard, find the ladder beside the outer railing and descend to the water. Walk behind the waterfall and take the second ladder down to the painting room.
4. Strike the false wall beside the Domain of Dragons painting. Follow the revealed passage and rest in the stone coffin to arrive at Castle Watering Hole.
5. Go southeast to Ruins of Unte. Climb the neighboring ruined building so you can throw a Hefty Furnace Pot into the basket of the dormant Furnace Golem blocking the entrance.
6. Once the golem wakes and moves, enter the courtyard and search the altar on the right. If this is your first of the three altars, collect Stone-Sheathed Sword here; otherwise it is a transformation point instead.

Ancient Ruins of Rauh

Starting Site of Grace: Rauh Ancient Ruins, West

Before you go

• Reach the upper Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
• Do not collect the Stone-Sheathed Sword at another altar first.

1. Enter the Realm of Shadow after defeating Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, by touching the withered arm in Mohg's arena.
2. 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.
3. Defeat Golden Hippopotamus in the plaza. This is the front-door route; the flooded Church District provides a different way into the keep.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. At Storehouse, First Floor, take the western side passage and lift down to the lower jar rooms. This is the West Rampart branch, rather than the stairs climbing toward Messmer.
8. Follow the hallway through the rooms with living jars and the larger jar-filled ward. Watch for the smaller enemies waiting beside doorways, then use the western exit and stairs to reach West Rampart grace.
9. Cross the long bridge west toward the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. Salza waits at the far end and calls down fire as you approach. Use the bridge's sheltered sections to interrupt his view, or ride Torrent to close the distance.
10. Defeat Salza at the western gate to receive Rain of Fire and Salza's Hood together. Messmer and Romina are not required for this selected route.
11. Go through the doorway behind Salza. Take the doorway on the right, follow the stairs to the lift and ride down to Viaduct Minor Tower grace.
12. Leave by the southwestern stairs and follow the path west as it curves downhill. Turn northwest between the lit braziers and large pillars to enter the covered ruins. This is the upper ruin route, separate from Rauh Base below.
13. Watch for the Curseblade beside the pillar near the pot-carrying shadow enemy. Continue northwest, look right for the large double doors and open them.
14. Descend the stairs into the scorpion chamber. Draw the large scorpion away from the smaller ones dropping from the ceiling, then clear the next corner. More scorpions drop beside the corpse there.
15. Continue west, then southwest down the ramp to the next chamber. Open the second set of double doors on its southwestern wall.
16. Pass the fixed material pickup behind the doors and follow the corridor northwest past the snails. Drop through the large square opening over the spiritspring; this is the intended descent into the lower hall.
17. From the lower landing, go northwest to the statue junction, then continue southwest rather than taking the northeastern root room. Pass under the arch and follow the corridor as it bends southeast.
18. Watch for the caster behind you near the northwestern side. Continue southeast through the arches toward daylight. A Crucible Knight waits on the rocks outside; circle past for now to reach Rauh Ancient Ruins, East grace beside the cross.
19. From Rauh Ancient Ruins, East, head west and drop onto the broad bridge. A Furnace Golem wakes at its far end; keep moving and use the bridge rather than dropping into the valley.
20. Cross southwest and drop from the right near the far end onto the lower path. Continue southwest up the stairs, then turn left and ride south past the golem. Rauh Ancient Ruins, West grace is just southeast beyond the low rise.
21. From Rauh Ancient Ruins, West, climb the stairs past the spellcasters. Turn left in the large room and take the lift up.
22. Cross the shallow-water garden with the Horned Warrior and pass the stone gazebo into the scarlet rot ruins on the far side.
23. Turn right inside and take the lift down. Turn left and follow the corridor into the long room with Kindred of Rot and a statue at the far end.
24. Leave through that far end and face the detached stone tower across the gap. An invisible bridge runs straight from the broken bridge toward the tower; keep directly aligned with it as you cross.
25. At the tower's altar, collect Stone-Sheathed Sword if this is your first of the three altars. Picking it up at another altar first changes this into a transformation point.