Elden Ring: Crumbling Farum Azula Walkthrough
Crumbling Farum Azula is one of Elden Ring's most awe-inspiring yet perilous locations. Floating platforms, precarious paths, and ancient ruins filled with formidable foes make navigating this area a challenge. But overcoming the obstacles here will reward you with valuable gear and progress toward facing one of the game's final bosses: Maliketh, the Black Blade. Here's a thorough guide to help you tackle this region, including key item locations, enemy encounters, and the route to the boss arena.
1. Reach Crumbling Farum Azula
You can access Crumbling Farum Azula after defeating the Fire Giant at the Flame Peak. Afterward, a cutscene with Melina will trigger, and you'll be transported to this floating area.
Important Items: When you first arrive, you'll find a Smithing Stone [8] on a corpse at the end of the path. You'll need to jump to a platform below and grab a Golden Rune [9] from the last platform.
Proceed through a narrow corridor and descend the stairs to face five beastmen. Be cautious: most of them won't engage immediately, but one patrols the area. You can lure it out to avoid dealing with all five at once.
Item Drop: An Old Fang from a corpse in this room.
2. Crumbling Beast Grave Depths
After clearing the room, head left to find the Crumbling Beast Grave Site of Grace. Rest here to save progress.
Proceed forward through a corridor and down some stairs into an open area with a tornado. You'll find Smithing Stones and Dragonwound Grease along the way.
Ancient Dragon Encounter: A massive Ancient Dragon appears in the open area. Defeating it is optional, but it's a tough fight, immune to elemental damage and resistant to physical attacks. Strategy: Stay beneath the dragon and target its hind legs to avoid most attacks. If you find it overwhelming, run past it to reach an entrance on the left side leading to a corpse with a Smithing Stone [8] and the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths Site of Grace.
3. Dealing with the Beastmen
Leave the site of grace and continue to the next room. Here, you'll find two beastmen and a Lightningproof Dried Liver. Before progressing, turn left and grab a Smithing Stone [7] and other goodies.
You can explore two routes: a corridor leading to the lower floor or a window on the left that allows you to climb the roof to an upper floor. It's advisable to climb the roof first for better loot.
On the upper floor, you'll find six beastmen and more loot, including a Gravel Stone and a Great Grave Glovewort.
4. The Dragon Temple Altar
After dealing with the beastmen, proceed to the Dragon Temple Altar area. On the right side of the room, you'll find an elevator. On the left, go through an area with Lesser Wormfaces (be careful of Blight).
Important Item: In the small lake area filled with Lesser Wormfaces, you'll find a Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing [3].
5. Tempest-Facing Balcony
After resting at the Tempest-Facing Balcony Site of Grace, proceed down the path, and you'll traverse a series of floating platforms. As you progress, you'll find several skeletons to fight (or avoid).
Items to Collect:
Somber Smithing Stone [7]
Golden Rune [9]
At the end of the path, you'll encounter a Banished Knight guarding a ladder. Climb it and proceed to face more enemies.
Ambush Alert: When you grab a Great Grave Glovewort, be prepared for an ambush from three skeletons.
6. Dragon Temple Transept & Boss Arena
After descending the stairs, proceed to the Dragon Temple Transept Site of Grace, located near the boss arena. From here, you'll face tougher foes like the Banished Knights, each with their unique abilities: dual blades, lancers, and sword & shield.
Boss Fight: Proceed down the path to the Dragon Temple Site of Grace, where you'll face Maliketh, the Black Blade, one of the most difficult bosses in the game.
Maliketh, the Black Blade Boss Fight
Location: The fight against Maliketh happens at the Dragon Temple.
Strategy: Maliketh uses a combination of powerful dark magic and physical attacks. His first phase involves devastating slashes and ranged attacks. His second phase introduces even more intense dark magic. Be prepared to dodge frequently, and focus on evading his area-of-effect dark attacks. Use Spirit Ashes to assist in distracting him during the fight.
Reward: Defeating Maliketh rewards you with the Great Rune of the Beast and the Remembrance of the Black Blade, both crucial for progressing toward Elden Ring's endings.
By following this guide, you can navigate Crumbling Farum Azula with efficiency and collect all the essential Elden Ring items and Elden Ring runes before facing the monumental challenge of Maliketh, the Black Blade. Prepare yourself for tough fights, but the rewards and progression will make it all worthwhile.