How to Get to Altus Plateau

In Elden Ring, the aftermath of the Shattering has left The Lands Between in ruins, creating a world of destruction and despair. As a Tarnished, your journey begins in the rather peaceful Limgrave region, surrounded by the rotten Caelid to the east and the flooded Liurnia of the Lakes to the north. After exploring all three of these regions, the next leg of your journey is the Altus Plateau, situated north of Liurnia.

Altus Plateau, the land of gold, is one of the largest regions and is home to some of the strongest bosses and best gear in Elden Ring. Reaching the Altus Plateau is no easy task, and if unprepared, players must be ready for multiple deaths, as enemies in this region are quite tanky and powerful. In this guide, players can learn about three different ways to reach the Altus Plateau in Elden Ring.

How to Get to Altus Plateau using Grand Lift of Dectus

Grand Lift of Dectus, Liurnia

In Elden Ring, the easiest way to reach Altus Plateau is by using the Grand Lift of Dectus, located at the very north of Liurnia of the Lakes. To use this lift, collect two Dectus medallions—one in Limgrave’s Fort Haight and the other in Caelid’s Fort Faroth. Here’s how you can obtain both Dectus medallions right from the start of the game.

Firstly, head to the Third Church of Marika in the far east of Limgrave and activate the site of grace. Players can reach the Third Church of Marika by following the path going southeast of the Gatefront grace site and proceeding northeast after crossing the bridge. Be sure to collect the Flask of Wondrous Physick from the Third Church of Marika if you haven't already.

Flask of Wondrous Physick

From the Third Church of Marika, head south to discover Fort Haight. The left half of the Dectus medallion is located at the top of Fort Haight. After collecting the left half, teleport to the Third Church of Marika and go to the north of the church to discover a portal hidden in the bushes. Take this portal to reach the Bestial Sanctum in Greyoll's Dragonbarrow.

Activate the grace site in Bestial Sanctum and start your journey towards the Minor Erdtree located in the south. Be careful of the dragon guarding the bridge. Players can simply run past it and avoid the fight. After reaching the Minor Erdtree, go behind it to find a Spiritspring Jump. Take the jump to reach Fort Faroth. Like the first half, players can find the second half in the top area of Fort Faroth. Instead of fighting enemies inside the fort, it is recommended to sprint past them and take the ladder to find the treasure chest.

After obtaining both halves of the Dectus Medallion, go to the East Raya Lucaria Gate and start heading north to reach the Grand Lift of Dectus. Enter the giant building and use both medallions on the center platform to activate the lift and reach the Altus Plateau. Congratulations. You have reached the Altus Plateau. Now, head a little northwest past the golems to find the Altus Plateau grace site.

How to Get to Altus Plateau using Magma Wyrm Makar

Ruin-Strewn Precipice, Liurnia

Collecting both Dectus medallions might feel hectic and boring to some players in Elden Ring. For players seeking a challenge, defeating the Magma Wyrm Makar boss atop Ruin-Strewn Precipice in Liurnia unlocks a lift to Altus Plateau.

To reach Ruin-Strewn Precipice, players will have to get to East Raya Lucaria Gate. From here, go northwest to find Bellum Church, which has a path leading straight to Ravine-Veiled Village. Climb a series of ladders and go through the caves to reach the end of Ruin-Strewn Precipice. From there, players will have to keep going up using lifts and fighting bat-like creatures to discover the fog wall leading to Magma Wyrm Makar.

Makar hits like a truck, and magma is sticky. Avoid staying in front of their face for too long.

After defeating Magma Wyrm Makar, players will gain access to a lift connected to the Altus Plateau. Take the lift and activate the Abandoned Coffin grace site to gain access to the Altus Plateau in Elden Ring.

How to Get to Altus Plateau using Abductor Virgin [Secret Method]

Raya Lucaria, Liurnia

During Patches' quest, players discover an Abductor Virgin at the bottom of the Raya Lucaria waterwheel. As he explained, this unique iron virgin, possessing "transpositional powers," allows players to be swallowed, leading them to Volcano Manor, a secret dungeon in Altus Plateau.

To find the Abductor Virgin in Raya Lucaria, teleport to the Schoolhouse Classroom site of grace and take the exit leading to the waterwheel. Go to the far-left side of the cliff and jump onto the platform of the waterwheel going down. At the bottom of the waterwheel, players will find a solo Abductor Virgin roaming around. Die to the Abductor Virgin’s swallowing attack to get teleported to Altus Plateau.

Before dying, players might want to pick up the Longtail Cat Talisman near the Abductor Virgin. This talisman lowers fall damage, which can be helpful while leaving Volcano Manor. After reaching Volcano Manor, players can explore the manor and clear this dungeon to gain access to the rest of the Altus Plateau.