The Mountaintops of the Giants is the snowy late-game region in the far north-east of the Lands Between. You cannot walk or ride there: the only way up is the Grand Lift of Rold, and it stays dead until you carry the Rold Medallion. This guide shows exactly when you get the medallion, how to reach the lift from Leyndell, and what to do once you arrive.
| Key item | Rold Medallion |
| Who gives it | Melina, after you beat Morgott, the Omen King |
| Where to use it | Grand Lift of Rold, Forbidden Lands (east of Leyndell) |
| Nearest grace | Avenue Balcony (Leyndell, Royal Capital) |
| Optional boss on the way | Black Blade Kindred, Forbidden Lands (you can ride past it) |
| Arrival | Rold Route grace, Finger Reader Crone next to it |
| Required boss in the region | Fire Giant, which opens the way to Crumbling Farum Azula |
Step 1: Beat Morgott and get the Rold Medallion
- Enter Leyndell, Royal Capital. You need two Great Runes for the gate, explained in our Great Runes guide. If you are not on the plateau yet, see how to get to Altus Plateau first.
- Beat Morgott, the Omen King at the foot of the Erdtree.
- Walk to the Erdtree entrance. It is sealed by thorns, so you cannot go in.
- Rest at the grace in Morgott’s arena and talk to Melina. She hands you the Rold Medallion.
The lift is blocked by golden light before Morgott falls, and even if you reach it early, it will not move without the medallion.
Step 2: Where is the Grand Lift of Rold?
- Fast travel to the Avenue Balcony grace in Leyndell.
- Climb the stairs, turn left and follow the road east to a large door that leads out of the city.
- Keep following the long road through the Forbidden Lands. Partway along, a Black Blade Kindred drops in. It is optional; you can ride straight past it.
- The Grand Lift of Rold is on your left near the end of the road.
Step 3: Use the Rold Medallion on the lift
Step into the circle between the two spear-holding statues and choose “Hoist medallion”. A cutscene carries you up to the Rold Route, where a grace waits on your right and the Finger Reader Crone on your left. If you later hold both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion, the same lift has a second setting that leads to the Consecrated Snowfield instead; see our how to get to the Haligtree guide.
What to do in the Mountaintops of the Giants
- Grab the map: follow the path ahead from the lift and read the stone monument on the right for the west map fragment. The east fragment is past the Freezing Lake. All locations are in our map fragment guide.
- Watch the first corridor: Vulgar Militiamen and a Giant Land Octopus wait on a narrow path with drops on both sides.
- Castle Sol (optional): in the north, Commander Niall guards the left half of the Haligtree Secret Medallion.
- Fire Giant (required): he guards the way to the Forge of the Giants. Read our Fire Giant boss guide before the fight.
- Other bosses: Borealis the Freezing Fog, the Ancient Hero of Zamor, a Death Rite Bird, an Erdtree Avatar and the Godskin Apostle and Noble pair all live in this region.
How to get from the Mountaintops to Crumbling Farum Azula
- Beat the Fire Giant.
- Climb the giant chains and the ramp up the mountain, then use the frozen chain as a bridge to the top of the forge. Do not drop into the middle of the forge: it kills you instantly.
- Rest at the Forge of the Giants grace on the left edge and talk to Melina.
- Accept her offer. The cutscenes send you to Crumbling Farum Azula. If you quit during them, rest at the grace again to restart the trip.
After this, the Roundtable Hold looks burned for the rest of the game, but the smith and spirit tuning stay open. Some NPC questlines can lock if they are not far enough along, so finish the side quests you care about before you talk to Melina at the forge.
Mountaintops checklist
- Collect two Great Runes and enter Leyndell.
- Beat Morgott and get the Rold Medallion from Melina.
- Ride east from Avenue Balcony through the Forbidden Lands.
- “Hoist medallion” at the Grand Lift of Rold.
- Pick up the west map fragment on the Rold Route.
- Beat the Fire Giant and talk to Melina at the Forge of the Giants.
FAQ
Where do I get the Rold Medallion?
Melina gives it to you at the grace in Morgott’s arena after you beat him and find the Erdtree sealed.
Why won’t the Grand Lift of Rold work?
You have not beaten Morgott yet, so you do not have the Rold Medallion. The lift does not move without it, even if you reach it early.
Do I have to fight the Black Blade Kindred?
No. It is optional, and you can ride past it on Torrent to reach the lift.
Is the Fire Giant optional?
No. Beating him is the only way to reach the Forge of the Giants and Crumbling Farum Azula, so he is required to finish the game.
Source: route checked against Fextralife’s Elden Ring wiki (Grand Lift of Rold, Mountaintops of the Giants, Forge of the Giants and Fire Giant pages) plus DualShockers and Dot Esports. We left out a recommended level because the sources do not agree on one.
Further reading: Grand Lift of Rold on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.