A Shifting Earth is the biggest surprise an Elden Ring Nightreign expedition can throw at you: one whole region of Limveld is replaced by a new biome with its own enemies, hazards and a unique reward. They stop being rare once you beat a few Nightlords, so knowing what each one wants from you saves a lot of wasted Day 1 time. This guide explains how the system works, then goes through all five events, including the Great Hollow from The Forsaken Hollows DLC.
Quick facts
| What it is | A region of Limveld rebuilt for the run, with new enemies and a special reward |
| Events | Crater, Mountaintop, Rotted Woods, Noklateo, the Shrouded City; Great Hollow (DLC) |
| How they unlock | By defeating Nightlords at the end of expeditions; the Crater is the first one you get |
| How long they last | An active Shifting Earth stays for several expeditions |
| How to clear one | Sleep in the bed at the Roundtable Hold |
| Achievements | Each event has a hidden goal tied to an achievement |
What is a Shifting Earth in Nightreign?
Normally Limveld keeps the same shape and only the camps, castles and bosses on it change. A Shifting Earth goes further and swaps a region for a different landscape: a volcanic pit, a snowy peak, a rotting forest or a sunken city. Everything else on the map still works as usual, so you still need levels and gear for the Night bosses and the Nightlord. The new area is optional, but its reward is usually strong enough to be worth a detour on Day 1 or early Day 2.
- Beat your first Nightlord. Shifting Earths start appearing after that, with the Crater first.
- Keep clearing Nightlords to add the other events to the pool.
- Once active, an event shows up on the map at the start of the expedition and stays for several runs.
- If you do not want it, sleep in the bed at the Roundtable Hold to clear it before your next expedition.
All Shifting Earth events and rewards
| Event | Hazard | Main goal | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crater | Lava and fire enemies | Reach the underground forge and kill the Magma Wyrm | Upgrade one weapon to Legendary |
| Mountaintop | Blizzard and Frostbite | Climb to the highest peak | Favor of the Mountaintop; optional Ice Dragon drops a Legendary weapon |
| Rotted Woods | Constant Scarlet Rot | Find the flower and drink its nectar | Favor of the Rotted Woods |
| Noklateo, the Shrouded City | Magic enemies, Mausoleum Knights | Beat the Naturalborn of the Void in the grand hall | Favor of Noklateo, the Shrouded City |
| Great Hollow (DLC) | HP loss curses | Break crystals to open the Great Crystal | Favor of the Great Hollow |
Crater: how to get a Legendary weapon
- Enter the Crater and work toward the underground temple. You can drop in from the west near the spirit hawk tree or take the drops from the north and northeast onto the lava path.
- Fight the Fire Prelates guarding the fog gate on the way down. Bring Fire resistance if you have it.
- At the end of the path the Magma Wyrm bursts out of the floor. It is mandatory for the reward.
- Use the special smithing table behind it to raise one weapon to Legendary, whatever its rarity. You only get one upgrade per run, so pick the weapon you will use against the Nightlord.
The upgrade does not add a Legendary passive, it raises the weapon’s level. Your first Legendary upgrade here unlocks the Crater achievement.
Mountaintop: Favor and Ice Dragon
The Mountaintop turns a region into a frozen peak where blizzards build Frostbite quickly. The Favor of the Mountaintop sits on the highest point, past a chamber on the climb; you may have to jump down from a rock spur to reach the platform below it. Picking it up the first time gives the Mountaintop achievement, and its frost resistance makes the optional Mountaintop Ice Dragon far easier. The dragon is the reason most teams come here, because it drops a guaranteed Legendary weapon. None of the fights here are required, so skip them if your levels are low.
Rotted Woods: where is the flower?
- Expect Scarlet Rot to build up the whole time you are in the woods. Eat the healing plants (Sacramental Buds) you pass, or touch a Site of Grace, to clear it.
- Head for the Fort. A large fire inside keeps the rot away, and a Lordsworn Captain waits at the top.
- Read the scroll in the Fort. It marks which of the three possible spots holds the flower for everyone in the team.
- Go to the marked tree, climb it and drink the nectar for the Favor of the Rotted Woods. The first time also gives the Rotted Woods achievement.
The scroll is optional, but without it you are checking three areas at random while the rot ticks.
Noklateo, the Shrouded City
Noklateo raises a ruined city full of magic enemies. Two Mausoleum Knights patrol outside the grand hall, and the Favor of Noklateo sits at the back of that hall. The Naturalborn of the Void only appears as you approach the reward and has to be beaten to take it, so walk in with full flasks rather than mid-way through a fight with the knights.
Great Hollow (The Forsaken Hollows DLC)
The Great Hollow is the largest Shifting Earth and only appears for owners of The Forsaken Hollows. Instead of one corner, it reshapes Limveld into a huge sinkhole with temples, underground forts and curses that drain HP. Break the smaller crystals spread around the area to open the Great Crystal in the middle, which holds the Favor of the Great Hollow. Patch 1.03.1 made the temple curses and the HP loss curse stronger, so do not linger near the temples without a reason. If you have not unlocked the DLC characters yet, see how to unlock the Scholar and Undertaker first.
Is a Shifting Earth worth doing?
- Almost always: the Crater, since a Legendary main weapon helps against every Nightlord, from Gladius to Heolstor.
- Yes, once your team is geared on Day 2: the Mountaintop Ice Dragon.
- When it is on your route: the Rotted Woods and Noklateo favors, which are quick once you know where to go.
- Skip: any event that pulls you away from the Night circle late on Day 1 or Day 2.
Related: the bosses waiting at the end of each expedition are on our Elden Ring Nightreign hub, and the Adel, Baron of Night guide is a good first target for a Crater-upgraded weapon. The relics you earn from these runs are covered in Nightreign relics explained.
FAQ
How do you get a Shifting Earth in Nightreign?
Beat Nightlords. The first win unlocks the Crater, and further Nightlord wins add the others to the pool. After that they appear on their own at the start of expeditions.
How do you get rid of a Shifting Earth?
Sleep in the bed at the Roundtable Hold. That clears the active event so your next expedition starts on the normal map or rolls a different one.
Can the Crater upgrade more than one weapon?
No. The forge upgrades one weapon to Legendary per expedition, so choose before you touch it.
Do you need the DLC for Shifting Earths?
Only for the Great Hollow. The Crater, Mountaintop, Rotted Woods and Noklateo are all in the base game.
Event details checked against the Fextralife Nightreign wiki and the Elden Ring wiki.gg.
Further reading: Shifting Earth on the Fextralife Nightreign wiki.