The Imbued Sword Key is a stone key shaped like a sword that breaks the seal on an imp statue at a sending gate. Most of those gates sit at The Four Belfries in western Liurnia, and each one drops you into a corner of the map you cannot reach any other way. Every key stays in the statue once you use it, so with only three keys in the base game you need to know which portal is worth it. This guide covers where all four keys are, how to reach them, and what waits on the other side of each gate.
| Keys in the game | 4 (3 in the base game, 1 in Shadow of the Erdtree) |
| First key | Chest at the top of The Four Belfries, Liurnia |
| Where you use them | Imp statues at sending gates (3 at The Four Belfries, 1 near Castle Ensis) |
| Reusable? | No, the key stays embedded in the statue |
| Best base-game portal | Chapel of Anticipation (boss rematch and a Spirit Ash) |
| Way back | Teleport out with a Site of Grace or by fast travel |
Where to find every Imbued Sword Key in Elden Ring
| # | Where | Region | What you need first |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Four Belfries: chest at the highest belfry on the hill | Liurnia of the Lakes | Nothing, just climb the hill |
| 2 | Raya Lucaria Academy: corpse on the eastern rooftops | Liurnia of the Lakes | Beat the Red Wolf of Radagon (Debate Parlor grace) |
| 3 | Sellia, Town of Sorcery: building in the north-east, behind a magic barrier | Caelid | Light the braziers on top of the town’s towers |
| 4 | Castle Ensis: chest in a tower room | Shadow of the Erdtree (Realm of Shadow) | The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion |
How to get each key
Key 1: The Four Belfries (Liurnia)
- Ride to the hill in the far west of Liurnia where four bell towers stand in a row.
- Walk past the three lower belfries; each holds one of the sending gates.
- At the fourth and highest belfry, open the chest for your first key.
Key 2: Raya Lucaria Academy rooftops
- Defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon and rest at the Debate Parlor grace.
- Go out to the courtyard, then climb the rubble slopes and balconies up to the roofs.
- Follow the rooftops east until you find the key on a corpse.
The same trip is a good moment to grab the Glintstone Whetblade in the academy; see our whetblade locations guide.
Key 3: Sellia, Town of Sorcery (Caelid)
- Enter Sellia, Town of Sorcery in north-east Caelid.
- Climb the towers around town and light the brazier on top of each one.
- Once every brazier burns, the blue barrier in the north-east of town fades. The key is in the small building behind it.
Key 4: Castle Ensis (Shadow of the Erdtree)
- Reach Castle Ensis in the Realm of Shadow.
- Inside the castle, find the tower room lined with armor.
- Open the chest there for the expansion’s only Imbued Sword Key.
The road to Castle Ensis also passes several Scadutree Fragment locations, including the soldier camp and the Checkpoint cross.
Where do the Four Belfries portals go?
Each of the three lower belfries holds one sending gate. You arrive in a small, closed-off area, so the only way out is to teleport.
| Belfry | Leads to | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Crumbling Lands (first belfry) | A cut-off section of Crumbling Farum Azula | Pearldrake Talisman and strong late-game enemies |
| Precipice of Anticipation (second belfry) | Chapel of Anticipation, the tutorial area | Grafted Scion rematch (Ornamental Straight Sword, Golden Beast Crest Shield) and the Stormhawk Deenh Spirit Ash |
| Night Sky Unceasing (third belfry) | A cliff in Nokron, Eternal City that you cannot reach on foot | Mottled Necklace and a Crucible Knight |
The fourth gate is in the expansion: a sending gate near Castle Ensis that drops you into an isolated part of the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
Which portal should you use your keys on?
- Chapel of Anticipation is the best value: a second weapon and shield from the Grafted Scion plus a Spirit Ash, and you can do it early.
- Nokron is worth it for the Mottled Necklace, but the Crucible Knight hits hard at low level. You reach the rest of Nokron later after Starscourge Radahn.
- Crumbling Farum Azula only gives a Pearldrake Talisman and the enemies there are tuned for the end game. Leave it for last, or skip it if you plan to reach Farum Azula normally.
Related: Talisman Pouch and Memory Stone locations if you want room for the Pearldrake Talisman and Mottled Necklace.
FAQ
How many Imbued Sword Keys are there in Elden Ring?
Four: three in the base game (The Four Belfries, Raya Lucaria Academy and Sellia) and one in Shadow of the Erdtree at Castle Ensis.
Can you reuse an Imbued Sword Key?
No. The key stays in the imp statue after you use it, and each gate needs its own key.
Is the Imbued Sword Key the same as a Stonesword Key?
No. Stonesword Keys clear the fog on regular imp statues and can be bought from merchants. Imbued Sword Keys are a separate item that only open sending gates.
Source: key locations and portal rewards checked against Fextralife’s Elden Ring wiki, the Elden Ring wiki.gg and RPG Site.
Further reading: Imbued Sword Key on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.