The vertical labyrinth of The Forsaken Hollows presents a completely different challenge from Limveld. This sprawling, multi-layered map demands spatial awareness, efficient routing, and strategic timing. If you've been struggling with the confusing elevation changes, dead ends, and tight time constraints, this guide breaks down everything you need to dominate this Shifting Earth.
Why The Forsaken Hollows Feels So Different
The Great Hollow isn't just another map in Elden Ring Nightreign. It's a vertical maze where one wrong turn sends you plummeting into the void or traps you behind impassable cliffs. Unlike Limveld's relatively flat terrain, this map stacks locations on top of each other, making your minimap nearly useless without understanding the layer system.
The map features two massive towers (north and south), a central crystal shrine, and countless branching paths that loop back on themselves. Your spawn location dramatically affects your opening strategy, and the storm circle forces you upward as the night progresses.
Important
Switch between map layers using the elevation toggle. The cathedral and several key locations only appear on the lower layer view.
Day One
Your first priority after landing should be reaching level 3 immediately. Don't experiment with new Nightfarers here unless you've already mastered them in Limveld, as the map's complexity punishes unfamiliarity. Stick with characters you know.
Adapting Strategy with Various Spawn Locations
Your spawn determines your opening moves. If you land near Kaiden Soldiers, engage them immediately for fast Runes and early weapons. These enemies are manageable at level 1 and provide excellent starter loot.
Cathedral spawns place you near Abductor Virgins. While intimidating at low levels, these enemies often fight each other, granting you free Runes. After they weaken themselves, finish them off for weapons like Ghiza's Wheel or Varre's Bouquet. Search every chest here, especially if you're playing Balancer, as the area contains abundant Sleep Grease.
Cathedral Abductor Virgin encounter
Blue crystals scattered throughout the map unlock the Power of the Shifting Earth when you activate four of them. This buff is essential for tower access, as it removes the health-draining curse inside both fortresses.
Crystals don't appear on your map until day two, but collecting them on day one saves massive time. As you clear your initial ruins or point of interest, actively scan for these glowing blue formations. They're impossible to miss once you know what to look for.
The central shrine where you claim the power sits in the map's middle section. Every team member must visit this location personally to receive the buff, so coordinate with your group.
Tip
The buff also increases your Art Gauge refill rate after depleting Sacred Flasks, making it valuable beyond just tower access.
After securing your first few levels, move toward the nearest ruins (poison or blood variants). Clear these areas for weapons and passive buffs while maintaining awareness of your surroundings.
Field bosses provide the majority of your Runes on day one. They don't appear on your map initially, so look for open terrain where fights typically occur. Avoid high-difficulty encounters like Deathbird at level 5, but engage anything you can reasonably handle.
Churches should be your secondary priority. Grab one or two on day one for extra flasks, but don't go out of your way. Day two offers better opportunities for church runs.
Metal chests in The Forsaken Hollows drop legendary weapons and powerful passive buffs far more frequently than in Limveld. Open every single one you encounter. These aren't optional loot, they're build-defining items that can carry your entire run.
Steel chest legendary drops
Stay away from both towers during day one. Approaching them triggers a curse that cuts your maximum HP, making you extremely vulnerable. The towers become your primary objective on day two after obtaining the Shifting Earth power.
If you accidentally enter a cursed zone, retreat immediately and focus on other areas.
Day Two
Start day two by completing any remaining crystals. With them marked on your map, this becomes straightforward. Rush to the central shrine, claim your buff, and prepare for the tower climb.
Behind the central shrine sits a Spirit Spring that launches you directly into one of the towers. This shortcut saves precious minutes. Each tower contains three consecutive boss fights leading to the False Vision of a Great Rune at the summit.
This Great Rune accelerates your ultimate Art charging and provides bonus Merits after your run. Grab it even if the storm is closing in. A few ticks of storm damage won't kill you, but missing this power spike severely weakens your endgame.
Tower access Spirit Spring
Boss Encounter Tips
The day one final boss often features Cursed Blade and Divine Beast Warrior as a duo. Have one player kite Divine Beast Warrior while two focus down Cursed Blade. The blade wielder has lower HP and dies faster, making the cleanup much easier.
For day two bosses, if Mohg appears and Libra sells the Wondrous Physick, purchase it immediately. This crystal tear negates his Nihil blood attack, preventing massive damage and healing. Blood camps also drop this physick from red Albinaurics, so check those locations if you find them.
Warning
The physick is called "Wondrous Physick" not "physique." Don't confuse the two when searching Libra's inventory.
Map Management
The map's verticality creates natural dead ends. If you find yourself stuck with the storm approaching, look for Spirit Springs or alternate paths. The circular arena for night two can be accessed by jumping from an adjacent hill, saving you from storm damage if you're positioned poorly.
Toggle between upper and lower map views to see hidden locations. The cathedral, certain churches, and key shortcuts only appear on specific layers. This feature works identically to the Crater and Mines view in Limveld.
Class-Specific Tips for The Forsaken Hollows
Scholar players should hold their ultimate for Mohg's Nihil if you lack the physick. The analysis explosion can save teammates from the blood curse.
Undertaker has a hidden ability: hold the skill button when both skill and ultimate are full to automatically dodge all attacks while consuming Art Gauge. Use this during overwhelming pressure or when maintaining aggression.
Guardian trivializes the new Balancers boss fight by blocking nearly all attacks. If you're struggling with this encounter, Guardian provides the easiest clear.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't chase churches on day two. Your time is better spent on towers and remaining field bosses. Churches become low-priority once you have adequate flasks.
Avoid fighting the hippo or Dancing Lion Warrior at the southeast fort until you're properly leveled. These enemies hit hard and waste time if you're underleveled.
Never ignore corpses and chests. The Forsaken Hollows has dramatically increased legendary drop rates from environmental loot. What would be vendor trash in Limveld might be Godslayer Greatsword here.
Before You Head Back Into The Hollow
Mastering The Forsaken Hollows comes down to knowing the routes, timing your tower push, and never letting the map's vertical tricks catch you off guard. Once you're comfortable here, you’ll find every future Shifting Earth run feels smoother and more controlled. Thanks for reading, and if you want to sharpen your fundamentals even more, check out our Elden Ring Nightreign Beginners Guide for a solid foundation before your next climb.