Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is on the horizon, and for many players eager to jump into the new content, there’s a significant hurdle: Mohg, Lord of Blood. This optional boss, residing in a hidden and challenging location, is a gatekeeper to the DLC. While FromSoftware’s decision to lock expansion access behind such a boss might seem daunting, overcoming this challenge is part of the Elden Ring experience.
You’ll actually need to defeat two bosses to prepare for the DLC, with the first being Starscourge Radahn. However, Radahn is a mandatory boss in the main storyline. The real gatekeeper is Mohg, Lord of Blood, an entirely optional encounter tucked away in a difficult-to-reach zone. This guide will walk you through the quickest and most efficient way to get to Mohg, bypassing a lengthy and less direct method.
Why You Need to Find Mohg
Mohg, Lord of Blood, is not just another challenging boss in Elden Ring; he’s a crucial step to accessing the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Located deep within Mohgwyn Palace, Mohg guards a mysterious cocoon, implied to be the gateway to the expansion content. Defeating him is essential to unlock this new chapter in the Lands Between. Beyond DLC access, Mohg is a formidable foe with a rich lore significance, making him a worthwhile encounter for any dedicated Elden Ring player.
The Fast Track to Mohgwyn Palace: The Haligtree Medallion Method
There are two primary ways to reach Mohgwyn Palace, Mohg’s domain. The first involves following White Mask Varre’s questline, a lengthy series of tasks that begins very early in the game. However, for players focused on reaching Mohg quickly to prepare for the DLC, this method is far too time-consuming. We’ll focus on the faster, more direct route: utilizing the Haligtree Secret Medallion.
This method involves collecting the Haligtree Secret Medallion halves and using them to access the Consecrated Snowfield, which ultimately leads to Mohgwyn Palace. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Gather the Haligtree Secret Medallion Halves
The Haligtree Secret Medallion is split into two halves, scattered across the Lands Between. Collecting both is the first crucial step in reaching Mohgwyn Palace via this efficient route.
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Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right): This half is located in the Village of the Albinaurics in Liurnia of the Lakes. To find it, you’ll need to navigate through the village until you encounter Albus, an Albinauric disguised as a pot. Striking the pot will reveal Albus, who will entrust you with the right half of the medallion.
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Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left): The left half is found in Castle Sol, located in the Mountaintops of the Giants. You’ll need to progress through Castle Sol, a challenging legacy dungeon, until you reach the rooftop area. Defeat Commander Niall, the boss of Castle Sol, and the left half of the Haligtree Secret Medallion will be your reward, found in the church behind the boss arena.
Step 2: Ascend the Grand Lift of Rold
Once you possess both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion, your next destination is the Grand Lift of Rold. This lift, located in the eastern part of Leyndell, Royal Capital, is initially used to reach the Mountaintops of the Giants as part of the main story progression.
Return to the Grand Lift of Rold. Instead of using the regular medallion, switch to the Haligtree Secret Medallion by pressing the “Switch Action” button (usually bound to the Triangle or Y button). Activating the lift with the Haligtree Secret Medallion will transport you to the Consecrated Snowfield, a hidden area beyond the Mountaintops of the Giants.
Step 3: Navigate to Mohgwyn Palace via Teleporter
The Consecrated Snowfield is a vast, snow-covered region with its own set of challenges. To reach Mohgwyn Palace, you need to locate a specific teleporter hidden on the western edge of the map.
Head west across the Consecrated Snowfield. Be mindful of the environment and enemies, including invisible Black Knife Assassins. Continue towards the far western edge of the zone, near a cliffside. You’ll encounter a hostile NPC invader in this area. You don’t need to defeat this invader to proceed.
Near the invader spawn point, search for an unmarked teleporter located on a ledge overlooking the western edge of the map. Activating this teleporter will transport you directly to Mohgwyn Palace.
Surviving Mohgwyn Palace
Mohgwyn Palace is a visually striking but incredibly challenging area. It’s recommended to be at least level 80 or higher before venturing into this zone. Enemies here are aggressive and can inflict heavy blood loss buildup.
The palace is characterized by blood-soaked swamps and numerous Albinauric enemies. When traversing the swampy areas, prioritize swift movement. Avoid prolonged engagements in the blood swamps, as they can significantly slow you down and leave you vulnerable. Focus on reaching the palace proper, which is located at the westernmost part of the map. Once you ascend the stairs leading up to the palace, the environment becomes slightly less treacherous, though enemies remain formidable.
Confronting Mohg, Lord of Blood
Mohg, Lord of Blood, is the final challenge awaiting you at the peak of Mohgwyn Palace. He is a Demigod boss renowned for his aggressive attack patterns and blood-based incantations. Prepare for a tough fight, as Mohg is considered one of the more difficult optional bosses in Elden Ring.
Mohg’s attacks are a mix of physical and fire damage, often accompanied by rapid blood loss buildup. Equipping armor and talismans that boost fire resistance and robustness (resistance to blood loss) can be helpful. Breaking his stance is crucial for dealing significant damage.
Consider utilizing Mohg’s Shackle, an item found in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell. This item can temporarily restrain Mohg twice during the first phase of the fight, providing valuable openings for attack. However, Mohg’s Shackle is ineffective during his second phase.
Adapt your combat strategy to your build, but common tactics include:
- Exploiting openings: Mohg has distinct attack patterns. Learn to recognize these patterns and dodge effectively to create openings for counter-attacks.
- Stance breaking: Use jump attacks and heavy attacks to break Mohg’s stance, leaving him vulnerable to critical attacks.
- Managing Blood Loss: Be acutely aware of your blood loss meter and take steps to mitigate buildup, either through talismans, consumables, or quick dodges.
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Rewards and Moving Forward
Upon defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood, you will be rewarded with a significant amount of runes and Mohg’s Great Rune. More importantly, a Site of Grace will appear in the boss arena, allowing for fast travel back to this location, eliminating the need to re-traverse Mohgwyn Palace.
Behind Mohg’s boss arena, you’ll find a large, cracked cocoon with an arm extending from it. This is believed to be the entrance to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. With Mohg defeated, you are now prepared to journey into the new content when the expansion releases.
Good luck, Tarnished. Mohg is a formidable challenge, but overcoming him is a necessary step to experience all that Elden Ring and the Shadow of the Erdtree have to offer.
