MOUNTAINTOPS OF THE GIANTS

Overview

The Mountaintops of the Giants is the coldest and most desolate region in Elden Ring, reached by riding the Grand Lift of Rold after defeating Morgott in Leyndell. Two enormous chains stretch across the frozen plateau — relics of a war against the giants that the Erdtree narrowly won. Visibility drops to almost nothing during blizzards, enemies hit hard and have generous poise, and the region's ambient chill means you'll often be fighting at reduced stamina efficiency if you're not dressed for it.

Threat level is high but manageable. The open plateau is punishing mainly because of how spread out everything is and how easily you can stumble into the Consecrated Snowfield before you're ready. The mandatory boss, the Fire Giant, is a spectacle more than a genuine wall, but the optional content hidden behind the Haligtree Secret Medallion escalates sharply.

Recommended Approach

Before anything else, grab both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion if you plan to visit the Consecrated Snowfield. The right half is sold by Albus, the pot NPC disguised as a pile of pots in Liurnia's Village of the Albinaurics. The left half is found in Castle Sol, in the northeast corner of the Mountaintops. If you arrive here without the right half, you'll need to backtrack through the Grand Lift of Rold — annoying enough to mention upfront.

Ride northeast along the frozen lake immediately after the lift. The Ancient Snow Valley Ruins site of grace is an early anchor point. From there, sweep west toward the Giants' Gravepost grace and pick up the map fragment, which you'll desperately need — the snowfields blur together without it.

Resist the urge to beeline for the Fire Giant. First, clear Castle Sol in the far northeast. It's a compact legacy dungeon with good loot and the second Medallion half. Expect Banished Knight variants and a surprisingly aggressive Commander Niall boss fight (he summons two knights simultaneously — kill the duelists first, then the crucible knight). Niall is not listed as a featured boss here but he's the actual toughest fight in the area for many builds.

After Castle Sol, circle south to activate the Freezing Lake site of grace and engage Borealis when ready, then push to the Forge plateau for the Fire Giant.

Key Items

• Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left Half) — Found in Castle Sol after defeating Commander Niall. Without this and the right half, you cannot access the Consecrated Snowfield or anything beyond it.
• Fire Giant's Remembrance — Obtained after killing the Fire Giant. Trade with Enia at Roundtable Hold for the Giant's Red Braid (whip) or Burn, O Flame! incantation. The incantation is strong for Faith builds.
• Smithing Stone (8) Bell Bearing — Dropped by the Golem guarding the Chain near the Foot of the Forge. Lets you buy Smithing Stone [8]s infinitely from the Twin Maiden Husks, which largely removes the late-game upgrade bottleneck.
• Ancient Dragon Apostle's Cookbook [4] — Found in a chest near the Whiteridge Road grace. Unlocks Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike and related bolt crafting recipes.
• Freezing Lake Map Fragment — On a stele at the southeast corner of the frozen lake. Grab this immediately; navigation here without the map is genuinely painful.

Boss Order

1. Borealis the Freezing Fog (Field Dragon, Freezing Lake) — Wait for Borealis to land and target its head. The Freezing Lake's open space makes it easy to stay on horseback and bait the breath attacks. Torrent the whole fight. Drops a Dragon Heart and opens the path south with less ambient dread. Difficulty: 3/10.

2. Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree (Consecrated Snowfield, after using the Grand Lift of Rold with the Secret Medallion) — A rematch with the sorcerer-knight from Caria Manor, but faster and with a wider spell selection. Stay aggressive and punish her horse-mounted casts. Defeating her opens Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. Difficulty: 3/10.

3. Fire Giant (Forge of the Giants) — Two-phase fight. Phase one: attack the chained ankle, not the chest. Phase two begins when he tears his own upper body off — switch to his new core on the torso. Stay left relative to his body to avoid the rolling fire. Summons are effective here. Killing him progresses the main story and locks you into a point of no return shortly after. Difficulty: 4/10.

4. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree) — Entirely optional but one of the most technically demanding fights in the game. Her lifesteal on every hit, including blocked hits, makes turtle strategies fail. Bleed builds or Rivers of Blood perform well in this fight. Bring Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche. Difficulty: 5/10 (higher for many players in practice).

Exit Path

After the Fire Giant, interact with the Forge of the Giants and speak to Melina. This triggers the burning of the Erdtree and transports you to Crumbling Farum Azula, the game's penultimate region. If you have not yet cleared Nokron, Volcano Manor, or the Consecrated Snowfield, now is your last practical window before the endgame tightens. The Mountaintops have no return trip — the Forge site of grace remains accessible, but make sure you've looted Castle Sol and activated the Haligtree route before you sit at the flame.