Abyssal Woods is a secret area that you will get to unlock in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree where you will need to stay hidden and avoid being seen to have an easier time in progression. You unlock this part of the map by reaching the Ruins of Unte from the Shadow Keep.
There is a painting you will have to strike to and then a coffin to lay in, if you wish to reach the ruins. From there, you complete the Darklight Catacombs dungeon to unlock the hidden area.
The Woods is perpetually covered in a fog, and you will encounter “Mushroom-Clickers” which are mutated enemies with spores growing on their heads. They are pretty hard to take down and if they grab you, they will build up the Madness status effect and keep inflicting Madness on you till you die.
It’s next to impossible to run away from them as these enemies will keep following you till you die or reach a Site of Grace. So this is where a stealth approach comes in. It’s best to avoid these enemies altogether
How to avoid being seen and stay hidden in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree’s Abyssal Woods
1) Crouch and stick to the reeds
You will find a lot of tall reads growing throughout the Abyssal Woods. So you will need to crouch and use them to avoid getting detected by the enemy. Crouching will silence your footsteps, while the reeds themselves will block the enemy from visually detecting you.
2) Avoid plants that make noise
Unlike the reeds, there are certain foliage that will make noise once you move through it. This will give away your position, and you will draw aggro from the clickers. So make sure you identify these patches when exploring the area and make a mental note of where they are located.
3) Use the Crepus’s Vial Talisman
If you have done most of the Volcano Manor tasks you will have the Crepus’s Vial Talisman in your inventory. You can use this as it will deafen all noise that you make. So as long as you are staying out of sight you will be able to move through the area and avoid being seen.
4) Equip the Black Knife armor
If you have completed exploring the Consecrated Snowfields and have made your way to the Haligtree then you will have the Black Knife set in your inventory. Equip the chest armor which works like the Crepus’s Vial Talisman and will muffle all sounds that you make even while running.
What to do if you are detected in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree’s Abyssal Woods?
If you are detected there is honestly only one thing that you can do, which is to run away and reset at the nearest Site of Grace. They are mostly invulnerable and will keep chasing you once you draw aggro. So if they are on your tail, just reset the environment at the nearest Grace.
However, you can parry them and get a Rispote off. Once they are parried they will start taking damage. Unfortunately, it’s a very risky strategy and you will keep dying over and over again if you mess up your timings.
The Abyssal Woods is by far the hardest region to explore and conquer in FromSoftware‘s RPG.
