When you first arrive in the Church District of the Shadow Keep in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the entire place is going to be flooded. There is a way to lower the water and get access to a new area, as well as some interesting new items.
How to lower the water level in the Church District
Lowering the water in the Church District is a pretty involved process, and it will involve some dangerous jumping. First, run straight ahead and jump down onto the roof below you. Take a right, and follow around to the end of the building you are on. You can ignore the grab enemies that are on the roof, as they are not much of a threat.
You will find some raised windows here that you can run along the top of, then jump off to the top of the next building. You can jump a little earlier than you think here, so try to get the timing right. When you land on the other side, keep to the right again. You will come to an incline in the crumbling brickwork that you can climb up.
You will need to be careful around here, as some flaming enemies are here that can explode, although you should be able to just run past them. If you decide to fight them, make sure you jump back after killing them, as they will still explode, doing tremendous damage. At the top of the crumbling brick, jump to the right and land on the ledge. Once again, beware of the exploding enemies and run forward, then jump onto the next building.
Now, you will turn left and run all the way down to the lower roof at the end, but be careful, as there is a fire-casting enemy to your right. Take them out before you move forward, or they will likely knock you into the water at some point. These guys are a real pain, so be careful when fighting them.
When you drop down to the lower roof, you need to make the most awkward jump in this run and land on the beam running up toward the roof on the left. When you land, make your way up to the roof and then proceed forward until you reach the massive hole that has been smashed in it. It’s a good idea to land and quickly dodge roll up the beam so that you don’t accidentally fall of the other side.
Drop down on the beams below, then proceed forward and to the right. There will be a large crack in the platform ahead that you can drop down through, ending up in a corridor.
Make your way up the corridor, and you will come to yet another fire-caster to deal with. These guys are awkward, so play it safe by swarming him because they are weak at melee combat. Once he is dead, you will notice a door to the left of the way you came that leads out to a path that crosses the top of the water.
Follow this path all the way around, but watch out for various flying enemies that are waiting to ambush you. There are also a few holes in the floor of the ledge on the far side, so be careful of them as well.
You will eventually come to a metal ladder that you can climb, and doing so will bring you to a huge lever you can pull, and this will cause all the water to drain. Once that is done, you are free to continue to explore the area as you see fit. The Shadow Keep and the adjoining buildings are all huge and intricate, and it is quite easy to get lost.
When you get to the Storeroom, First Floor, make sure you grab the Iris of Grace, which is an important item for picking up a special Ash of War. If you are wondering how to get down to the lower area that you have just revealed, you will need to take the ladder back down and then go directly through the door on your right. There are no stairs here; you just need to drop carefully to the platform below. This will bring you into the Sunken Chapel area, and a nearby Site of Grace will offer some comfort.
