The Minor Erdtree Catacombs are, unsurprisingly, right beside a Minor Erdtree. Head to Caelid via the northeastern path from Limgrave, past Smouldering Church. The road will take you straight to the Minor Erdtree, and unless you've already visited - and are strong - there will be a Putrid Avatar waiting at the base of the Erdtree. Sweep past it and gallop along the right side of the Minor Erdtree. Between the broken pots and built into the cliff wall is a door. Pop it open to find the Minor Erdtree Catacombs.
A point of warning: The Putrid Avatar here is quite strong, and can inflict Scarlet Rot with some of its attacks. It will pursue you to the door and do its best to obliterate you. Get inside the catacombs as quickly as you can or it will probably succeed. (On the plus side, this Site of Grace is a great spot to respawn if you want to practice fighting the Putrid Avatar.)
Minor Erdtree Catacombs
Head down the stairs from the Site of Grace. Pay attention to the ceiling, as there's an Imp clinging to it ahead. Knock it down and kill it. To the right is the summoning pool for the area and the elevator that will take you into the dungeon.
Head west off of the elevator. There's an Imp waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs ahead, and when you enter the next larger room there will be two more waiting to ambush you beyond the doorway. Circle this room to find a path to another chamber and a Grave Glovewort [3] opposite the door. The last chamber ahead has two more Imps, one around the corner from the entrance, the other on the ceiling. Take them both out, then pull the lever at the far end of the room.
Turn around and head back to the elevator. You'll notice that there's another passage behind the elevator, and a Grave Glovewort [4] sits in the entrance. (No, the lever didn't open a path here.) At the end of the passage you'll come to an open room filled with ooze that triggers Scarlet Rot buildup. Lovely. If you run into the ooze a slew of blobs will try to drop onto you from above, and Imps on the upper levels will hurl Fire Pots.
Run straight across the ooze to find an Aeonian Butterfly, and check the right side of the room for a Grave Glovewort [3] and a Grave Glovewort [5]. Run back to the elevator before the Scarlet Rot sets in and trigger the elevator to rise. Hop off of it before it carries you back to the surface, then look down the hole beneath the elevator. For once you can jump below the elevator. Leap down and demolish the Imp that's patrolling at the bottom.
Head down the stairs. You'll find a room with more Scarlet Rot ooze and more blobs that fall from the ceiling. Check the sides of the corridor for a Grave Glovewort [4] and three Grave Violets. If you check the right side of the corridor you'll find a narrow side tunnel leading to a dead-end room populated by small crabs. At the far end are a Grave Glovewort [4] and a Golden Rune [4], and on your right is a ladder.
At the top of the ladder is a long, candlelit hallway that looks dangerous - and of course it is. There's an Imp straight ahead and one on the left side of the entrance, so take care of them first. A third Imp will charge down the hallway at you as you approach the item at the far end. Grab the Grave Glovewort [3] as you walk down the hall, and the Imp Head (Wolf) off of the coffin. Turn right at the end of the hall and you'll be on the upper level of the first sludge room, where Imps were hitting you with Fire Pots. Kill them off to collect a Grave Glovewort [5] and two Sacramental Buds.
Return to the oozy hallway from earlier and sprint down the right hallway. You'll find the boss door at the end, opened thanks to the lever you pulled earlier. Get ready for a rough fight.
Head down the stairs from the Site of Grace. Pay attention to the ceiling, as there's an Imp clinging to it ahead. Knock it down and kill it. To the right is the summoning pool for the area and the elevator that will take you into the dungeon.
Head west off of the elevator. There's an Imp waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs ahead, and when you enter the next larger room there will be two more waiting to ambush you beyond the doorway. Circle this room to find a path to another chamber and a Grave Glovewort [3] opposite the door. The last chamber ahead has two more Imps, one around the corner from the entrance, the other on the ceiling. Take them both out, then pull the lever at the far end of the room.
Turn around and head back to the elevator. You'll notice that there's another passage behind the elevator, and a Grave Glovewort [4] sits in the entrance. (No, the lever didn't open a path here.) At the end of the passage you'll come to an open room filled with ooze that triggers Scarlet Rot buildup. Lovely. If you run into the ooze a slew of blobs will try to drop onto you from above, and Imps on the upper levels will hurl Fire Pots.
Run straight across the ooze to find an Aeonian Butterfly, and check the right side of the room for a Grave Glovewort [3] and a Grave Glovewort [5]. Run back to the elevator before the Scarlet Rot sets in and trigger the elevator to rise. Hop off of it before it carries you back to the surface, then look down the hole beneath the elevator. For once you can jump below the elevator. Leap down and demolish the Imp that's patrolling at the bottom.
Head down the stairs. You'll find a room with more Scarlet Rot ooze and more blobs that fall from the ceiling. Check the sides of the corridor for a Grave Glovewort [4] and three Grave Violets. If you check the right side of the corridor you'll find a narrow side tunnel leading to a dead-end room populated by small crabs. At the far end are a Grave Glovewort [4] and a Golden Rune [4], and on your right is a ladder.
At the top of the ladder is a long, candlelit hallway that looks dangerous - and of course it is. There's an Imp straight ahead and one on the left side of the entrance, so take care of them first. A third Imp will charge down the hallway at you as you approach the item at the far end. Grab the Grave Glovewort [3] as you walk down the hall, and the Imp Head (Wolf) off of the coffin. Turn right at the end of the hall and you'll be on the upper level of the first sludge room, where Imps were hitting you with Fire Pots. Kill them off to collect a Grave Glovewort [5] and two Sacramental Buds.
Return to the oozy hallway from earlier and sprint down the right hallway. You'll find the boss door at the end, opened thanks to the lever you pulled earlier. Get ready for a rough fight.
Watchdog Burial Watchdogs
Watchdogs? As in plural? Yes, you have to fight two of these things this time, and they're just as relentless and cruel as usual. They don't have a ton of health, fortunately, but that won't mean much if they manage to back you into a corner and slam you to death. Here are some tips for completing this fight:
Watchdogs? As in plural? Yes, you have to fight two of these things this time, and they're just as relentless and cruel as usual. They don't have a ton of health, fortunately, but that won't mean much if they manage to back you into a corner and slam you to death. Here are some tips for completing this fight:
- Pick one Watchdog and focus on it. Ignore the other one as best you can, which isn't always easy since they're constantly following you around. You should only switch targets if your chosen Watchdog is breathing fire and you're on the wrong side of it. Wait for it to stop, then switch back. Which Watchdog you target first may depend on your choice of weapon, though going after the Watchdog with the staff that uses magic will simplify matters.
- Never stop moving. You should be circling the periphery of the room constantly, avoiding attacks and staying away from corners. If you stop for too long the Watchdogs will gang up on you and take you out within a few attacks. They also like to perform ground slamming attacks, which are most easily avoided by walking or running out of the way before they even get a chance to land.
- If you're using a ranged weapon, rely on fast spells or shots. You can't use anything that requires much charge up or cool down, at least while there are two Watchdogs wandering around. Only go for one or two hits before moving.
- Get help. This one's a no-brainer, and if you're wandering through Catacombs you're probably well acquainted with Spirit Ashes already. Let your summon distract one Watchdog while you take out the other one. The Grave Gloveworts found throughout this dungeon will go a long way towards leveling the playing field if you can't beat the Watchdogs with your current summons.