The Altus Plateau, a land of golden fields and ancient ruins, hides numerous dungeons beneath its majestic landscape. From sunken tombs to winding caves, these dungeons offer powerful rewards and formidable foes guarding long-forgotten secrets. This guide covers all the dungeons in the Altus Plateau and what to expect inside them. If you’re looking for a walkthrough of Altus Plateau, head here. If you are looking for a guide on Leyndell, at the top of the Altus Plateau and a legacy dungeon in its own right, go here.
Altus Plateau Dungeons
The Unsightly Catacombs, located beneath the Perfumer’s Ruins on the Altus Plateau, are a unique dungeon without the usual imps or skeletons, instead featuring misbegotten enemies. The dungeon requires two 
Stonesword Keys to enter and is structured with narrow corridors and an open chamber filled with sleeping foes. Careful movement and stealth can help avoid unnecessary fights, particularly in the lower chamber where players can sneak past a group of resting misbegotten to collect the 
Winged Misbegotten Ashes. Further exploration rewards players with the 
Prattling Pate “Apologies” item, located near a stationary ogre.
The dungeon culminates in a boss fight against Perfumer Tricia & Misbegotten Warrior, a challenging duo battle that demands effective crowd control and strategic targeting. To reach the boss, players must pull a lever hidden beyond the sleeping misbegotten and carefully navigate back to the main chamber. If defeated en route, equipping the 
Longtail Cat Talisman allows for a shortcut drop near the boss door, reducing the need to repeat the dungeon’s longer sections.
The Sage’s Cave, hidden behind an illusory wall in the Altus Plateau, is packed with secrets, illusory walls, and skeleton enemies that require holy damage or a finishing strike to stay down. The dungeon contains multiple treasure chests with valuable items, including 
Raptor’s Black Feathers, the 
Skeletal Mask, and 
Raptor Talons. As players navigate the cave, they’ll encounter several illusory walls concealing both loot and the paths forward, as well as clusters of skeleton warriors ready to ambush. A hidden boss room houses Necromancer Garris, who drops the 
Family Heads weapon upon defeat.
The second half of the dungeon leads players through a waterfall passage to another hidden area, where a 
Black Knife Assassin awaits. This version of the assassin is even more challenging, using new tricks to make the fight particularly difficult. Defeating it rewards the 
Concealing Veil talisman. Sage’s Cave is filled with misdirection and enemy ambushes, making it a dungeon where careful exploration is rewarded with unique equipment and powerful tools.
The Wyndham Catacombs, located behind the Wyndham Ruins, are a lightning-themed dungeon featuring enemies wielding electrified attacks and several trap-based challenges. The dungeon contains multiple imps, floor traps, and two powerful Lightning Knights that can be difficult to defeat without strategic use of the environment. The dungeon’s hidden area, accessible through a Stonesword Key fog gate, holds the 
Lightning Scorpion Charm, which boosts lightning attack power at the cost of damage resistance.
Navigating the catacombs requires careful movement to avoid spike traps, floor elevators, and ambushes. The dungeon also contains useful crafting materials and upgrade items, including the 
Ancient Dragon Apostle’s Cookbook [1] and the 
Glovewort Picker’s Bell Bearing [1], which allows players to purchase unlimited lower-tier Grave Glovewort. At the end, players will face a lightning-infused version of the Erdtree Burial Watchdog, whose attacks are even more unpredictable due to the added electricity.
The Old Altus Tunnel, located in the valley leading to the Shaded Castle, is a mining dungeon requiring two Stonesword Keys to enter. It contains numerous upgrade materials, including multiple Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones, making it a worthwhile stop for those looking to improve their weapons. The dungeon is heavily populated by miners and a few heavily armored knights, with strategic use of fire-based attacks making encounters significantly easier. Notable loot includes the 
Boltdrake Talisman +1, which increases lightning resistance, and the 
Troll’s Hammer, a powerful Colossal Weapon.
Navigating the tunnel involves clearing out mining shacks, avoiding explosive barrels, and dropping down strategically placed ledges to reach new areas. The final section of the dungeon houses a tunnel leading to the boss chamber, where players will face a Stonedigger Troll, a familiar but formidable foe. Upon defeat, the boss drops the 
Great Club, a heavy weapon ideal for strength-based builds.
- Unique Rewards:
- Questlines:
The Shaded Castle is a sizable and treacherous fortress, covered in poison and filled with dangerous foes. The castle is surrounded by murky, toxic waters and home to slow but lethal enemies that spew deathblight and grab unsuspecting players. Its ramparts and inner courtyards are occupied by perfumers, heavily armored knights, and the ever-dreaded deathblight basilisk. Players should bring 
Preserving Boluses or high Immunity gear to mitigate the poison effects. Exploring thoroughly yields powerful rewards, including the 
Antspur Rapier, 
Marais Executioner’s Sword, and 
Valkyrie’s Prosthesis — an item required for 
Millicent’s questline.
Progressing through the castle involves navigating its outer walls, where perfumers and rottens lurk, as well as leaping across rooftops and wading through poison-filled pits. The castle is designed to be explored vertically, with ladders, wooden walkways, and crumbling sections of the ramparts leading deeper into its decayed halls. In addition to valuable smithing stones, players will find rare items such as the 
Perfumer’s Cookbook [2].
The final section of the castle houses one last Cleanrot Knight guarding the elevator to the boss chamber. Players can sneak past this knight or engage it for additional rewards. The dungeon culminates in a battle against Elemer of the Briar, a powerful enemy wielding telekinetic weaponry, whose defeat grants the coveted Marais Executioner’s Sword and 
Briar Greatshield. With its intricate level design, hidden treasures, and brutal enemies, the Shaded Castle is a challenging yet rewarding dungeon for those willing to brave its poison-soaked ruins.
Perfumer’s Grotto is a small cave filled with perfume-related crafting materials and minor enemies. The dungeon’s layout is straightforward, with perfumers and large flowers scattered throughout. Players will find multiple 
Perfume Bottles and 
Living Jar Shards while exploring, as well as a vantage point overlooking the Altus Tunnel. The cave is also home to a single ancestral follower spirit casting gravity magic, which can be bypassed or defeated to make item collection easier.
The dungeon ends with a fight against Omenkiller and Miranda, the Blighted Bloom, which is one of the easiest duo bosses in the game. Miranda’s attacks are slow and predictable, while Omenkiller is a standard enemy with high damage but limited mobility. Defeating them grants the 
Great Omenkiller Cleaver, making this a quick and low-risk dungeon for useful rewards.
Altus Tunnel is a compact but valuable dungeon, offering a powerful talisman and a Bell Bearing for unlimited upgrade materials. The mine is populated with avionettes, sorcerers, and miners, with the occasional crystal snail lying in wait. A hidden path leads to a cavern with a dangerous rock-flinging ancestral follower, but it guards the highly useful 
Arsenal Charm +1. Players should be cautious in the large open chamber, as multiple enemies on the upper walkway will aggro if not dealt with carefully.
After clearing out the main mining chamber, players can proceed toward the boss through a tunnel guarded by more crystal snails. The final encounter is a duo boss fight against two Crystalians, which can be challenging for solo players due to their stagger resistance. Since these enemies are highly vulnerable to strike damage, bringing a blunt weapon is recommended. The nearby summoning pool makes co-op a viable option for this fight. Defeating the bosses rewards the Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2], allowing players to purchase unlimited 
Somber Smithing Stone [3] and 
[4].
Sainted Hero’s Grave is a challenging dungeon, offering some of the best defensive talismans in the game and a unique light-based enemy mechanic. Shadow enemies in this dungeon can only be damaged when led into circles of light, making positioning crucial in combat. At the start of the dungeon, a Stonesword Key-locked room to the right of the site of grace holds the 
Crimson Seed Talisman, which boosts healing from flasks. Further in, players will encounter multiple dangerous foes, including a pair of Royal Revenants, a Grave Warden, and a spectral mounted knight. The dungeon requires careful navigation through traps, falling floor sections, and ambushes from shadow imps while collecting valuable upgrade materials such as Ghost and Grave Gloveworts.
The deeper sections of the dungeon feature a complex multi-level layout, including a room where players can fall through the floor into an ambush. Beyond this area, a Stonesword Key-locked room holds the 
Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +1, an excellent defensive item. After navigating the final traps and leading the Grave Warden into the light to unlock the boss door, players will face the Ancient Hero of Zamor. Unlike its Evergaol counterpart, this version of the boss allows summons, making the fight easier. Defeating it rewards players with the Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff ashes, a powerful spirit summon.
Sealed Tunnel, found in the Capital Outskirts of the Altus Plateau, is packed with Smithing Stones and hidden paths. The entrance itself is an illusory wall, and more secret passages throughout the dungeon lead to upgrade materials and loot. Early on, you’ll find the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2] behind another illusory wall. Navigating through wooden platforms and roots, you’ll encounter vulgar militiamen, an Iron Maiden, and explosive stone enemies.
The tunnel eventually leads to the Onyx Lord, a gravity sorcerer that rewards the 
Onyx Lord’s Greatsword upon defeat. A hidden Stonesword Key and various 
Smithing Stone locations make the dungeon worth a thorough exploration. Be prepared for tight spaces, ambushes, and multiple illusory walls concealing the way forward.
Auriza Hero’s Grave, located in the Capital Outskirts of the Altus Plateau, is another chariot-infested dungeon filled with skeletons, basilisks, and deadly traps. It features a complex chariot puzzle that, when solved, destroys all the chariots and rewards players with the 
Tree Sentinel armor set and 
Ash of War: Holy Ground. The Golden Epitaph is found behind a Stonesword Key fog gate near the entrance, but beware of the basilisks waiting to ambush you. The 
Crucible Feather Talisman is guarded by an ogre in the lower part of the dungeon.
Navigating the ramps with multiple chariots requires careful timing, dodging into alcoves while avoiding skeletons and basilisks. By triggering a hidden chariot spawn via a fire trap puzzle, players can clear the paths safely. The dungeon culminates in a Crucible Knight duo boss fight, making it one of the toughest encounters in the game—summoning help is highly recommended.
Auriza Side Tomb, located just north of Auriza Hero’s Grave, is a trap-filled dungeon that challenges players not with enemies, but with transporting chests that move you between two near-identical versions of the dungeon. To navigate this tricky layout, remember that each chest leads to a mirrored location, and you can always return through a chest to reset your path. Living pots, imps, and explosive enemies fill the dungeon, making it dangerous despite the lack of major foes. The unique rewards include 
Ritual Pots, 
Cracked Pots, and the Perfumer’s Cookbook [3], making this an excellent stop for players using thrown items.
After solving the dungeon’s puzzles and pulling a hidden lever, players unlock the boss room, where they face a Grave Warden Duelist, assisted by smaller living pots. It’s best to eliminate the pots first while dodging the Duelist’s attacks. Upon victory, players earn the 
Soldjars of Fortune Ashes. For one final chest puzzle, players must backtrack through the teleporting chests to reach a final room containing a Ritual Pot before exiting the dungeon.
Note: This dungoen is actually in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds, but has been included here for brevity.
Leyndell Catacombs, located in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds, is a maze-like dungeon designed to confuse players by repeating similar-looking areas. The dungeon is filled with fire traps, explosive enemies, and powerful Omen foes, making careful navigation crucial. Players can find valuable items such as the 
Crucible Scale Talisman, Ghost Gloveworts, and Golden Runes, though many are guarded by tough enemies. Key mechanics include using fire traps as elevators and recognizing subtle differences between repeated rooms to avoid getting lost.
Progressing through the dungeon requires backtracking, using familiar landmarks, and dealing with ambushes, culminating in a lever that unlocks the boss door. The final encounter is Esgar, Priest of Blood, a relatively small but aggressive foe who fights alongside his bleed-inflicting hounds. Defeating him rewards players with 
Lord of Blood’s Exultation, a powerful talisman that boosts attack power when blood loss occurs nearby.
