History ThatOneLevel / EldenRing

In the Lands Between, you will explore lots of places, but you will also find places that will test your patience.

* There are four types of mini-dungeons around the world map: mines, caves, catacombs, and hero's graves. Of these four, '''hero's graves''' are the most consistently annoying. There are two gimmicks, but the most notorious one involves dodging a mechanical chariot that winds up and down long sloped hallways. You have to duck into cubbyholes to dodge it, since it [[OneHitKill kills you instantly on contact]] even if it [[HitboxDissonance so much as scrapes against you while jutting out a bit from a safe spot]], all the while dealing with enemies constantly harassing you. The other mini-dungeon types are fairly easy to deal with, but don't be surprised if even skilled players shy away from graves, even despite the overall better loot they contain in comparison to other mini-dungeon types.

* For players that are new to the game, '''Sellia Crystal Tunnel''' is an absolute nightmare to go through. While the dungeon may be optional and is intended for players to attempt around the midway point of the game, it is ''very easy'' to end up in there by accident within the first couple hours of gameplay. Specifically, [[spoiler:should the player open a rigged chest where Flying Dragon Agheel spawns, which is not helped that it's also conveniently place by a Twinblade]], they'll get teleported to the dungeon, where they'll meet with the incredibly durable Miners and the absolutely dangerous Kindred of Rot, both of which can easily OneHitKill a low-levelled player. To make matters worse, if players get transported here via the [[spoiler:aforementioned boobytrapped chest]], they cannot teleport out of the cave until they rest at a site of grace. Get too turned around and go the wrong way, and you might end up at your first encounter with a [[ThatOneBoss Fallingstar Beast]], who is highly resistant to almost ''any'' form of damage you can dish out early on. The only saving grace is that it contains a decent amount of materials found later in the game which savvy players can get early, but considering the dungeon poses a formidable challenge even to players who have defeated an Elden Lord or two, newer players often opt to bolt from the cave at their first chance and never look back.

* For players that are new to the game, '''Sellia Crystal Tunnel''' is an absolute nightmare to go through. While the dungeon may be optional and is intended for players to attempt around the midway point of the game, it is ''very easy'' to end up in there by accident within the first couple hours of gameplay. Specifically, [[spoiler:should the player open a rigged chest where Flying Dragon Agheel spawns, which is not helped that it's also conveniently place by a Twinblade]], they'll get teleported to the dungeon, where they'll meet with the incredibly durable Miners and the absolutely dangerous Kindred of Rot, both of which can easily OneHitKill a low-levelled player. To make matters worse, if players get transported here via the [[spoiler:aforementioned boobytrapped chest]], they cannot teleport out of the cave until they rest at a site of grace. Get too turned around and go the wrong way, and you might end up at your first encounter with a [[ThatOneBoss Fallingstar Beast]], who is highly resistant to almost ''any'' form of damage you can dish out early on. The only saving grace is that it contains a decent amount of materials found later in the game which savvy players can get early, but considering the dungeon poses a considerable challenge even to players who have defeated an Elden Lord or two, newer players often opt to bolt from the cave at their first chance and never look back.

* The '''Abandoned Cave''' is a very short dungeon, but it's almost entirely a miniature Scarlet Rot swamp, complete with rot geysers that can eat your health while you're forced to wade in rot-inducing water. It's also annoying to reach, requiring the player to go to a specific spot in Caelid, cross a fallen tree that is easy to slide off, and fall to death. The cave is also populated with Servants of Rot, whose own attacks can inflict poison. You'll have to rush through the cavern before the Rot eats you alive and your healing supplies run out, and you still have to contend with a [[DualBoss pair of Cleanrot Knights]] at the end. And if you ever need to farm runes for any reason, you'll have to resign yourself to doing this cave at least once since the talisman that increases rune acquisition from enemies is the reward for clearing it.
* For players that are new to the game, '''Sellia Crystal Tunnel''' is an absolute nightmare to go through. While the dungeon may be optional and is mid-game, it is ''very easy'' to wonder in by accident from the first hours of gameplay. [[spoiler:Should the player open a rigged chest where Flying Dragon Agheel spawns, which is not helped that it's also conveniently place by a Twinblade]], they'll get teleported to the dungeon, where not only they'll meet with the incredibly durable Miners and the absolutely dangerous Kindred of Rot, both of which can OneHitKill a low-levelled player. To make matters worse, the players cannot teleport out of the cave until they rest at a site of grace if they enter it this way, and if they go the wrong way, they'll meet with an [[ThatOneBoss Fallingstar Beast]], who ''will'' make your life hell. The only saving grace is that it contains a decent amount of materials found later in the game which savvy players can get early, but expect some who won't go back to this for the aforementioned reasons.
* There are four types of mini-dungeons around the world map: mines, caves, catacombs, and hero's graves. Of these four, '''hero's graves''' are the most consistently annoying. There are two gimmicks, but the most notorious one has to dodge a mechanical chariot that winds up and down long sloped hallways. You have to duck into cubbyholes to dodge the instant kill constantly dogging at your heels while dealing with enemies constantly harassing you. The chariot also has downright malicious HitboxDissonance, so you might accidentally stand too close to the thing in your safe spot and get clipped, dying ''instantly''. The other mini-dungeon types are fairly easy to deal with, but don't be surprised if even skilled players shy away from graves. However, it's likely because of how difficult they are that they often contain a wealth of loot or valuable resources within them, so it's not that they aren't worth it in the end, but they tend to be extremely annoying to deal with.

* '''Crumbling Farum Azula''', the penultimate area explored in the main game. Painful platforming sections between crumbling architecture suspended above a looming BottomlessPit, droves of some of the [[DemonicSpider toughest]] (and [[GoddamnedBats most annoying]]) foes the game can throw at you, including beefy versions of the above-mentioned Banished Knights and Warhawks as well as several lightning-spewing ''dragons'' (each and every one a BossInMookClothing), no clear path of progression towards the end goal with next to no frame of reference to where you even ''are'' half the time, and several painful boss encounters, a couple of which are mandatory, including ThatOneBoss fight with the loathsome Godskin Duo. You get a FinalDungeonPreview of this area from one of the portals you can take at the Four Belfries, and you'll soon know what's in store for you when you get demolished by the two Beastmen prowling about the area.

* '''Lake of Rot'''. Take the traditional poison swamp, have it inflict Scarlet Rot (essentially Poison on ''steroids''), and make it so that the only respite from the Rot is various platforms you need to book it towards. It also inflicts Rot the fastest of any of the swamp locations. Unlike the Scarlet Rot swamp in the Caelid Wilds, you cannot use Torrent to avoid the status.

* '''Lake of Rot'''. Take the traditional poison swamp, have it inflict Scarlet Rot (essentially Poison on ''steroids''), and make it so that the only respite from the Rot is various platforms you need to book it towards. It also inflicts the Rot the fastest of any of the swamp locations. Unlike the Scarlet Rot swamp in the Caelid Wilds, you cannot use Torrent to avoid the status. And there's a (thankfully optional) boss. [[SarcasmMode Have fun.]]
* The '''Abandoned Cave''' is a very short dungeon, but it's almost entirely a miniature Scarlet Rot swamp, complete with rot geysers that can eat your health while you're forced to wade in rot-inducing water. It's also annoying to reach, requiring the player to go to a very specific spot in Caelid, cross a fallen tree that is easy to slide off and fall to your death. The cave is also populated with Servants of Rot whose own attacks can inflict poison. You'll have to rush through the cavern before the Rot eats you alive and before your healing supplies run out, and you still have to contend with a [[DualBoss pair of Cleanrot Knights]] at the end! And if you ever need to farm runes for any reason, you'll have to resign yourself to doing this cave at least once, since the talisman that increases rune acquisition from enemies is the reward for clearing it.
* There are four types of mini-dungeons around the world map: mines, caves, catacombs, and hero's graves. Of these four, '''hero's graves''' are the most consistently annoying. There are two gimmicks, but the most notorious one is having to dodge a mechanical chariot that winds up and down long sloped hallways. You have to duck into cubbyholes to dodge the instant-kill constantly dogging at your heels, all the while dealing with enemies constantly harassing you. The chariot also has downright malicious HitboxDissonance, so you might accidentally stand too close to the thing in your safe spot and get clipped, dying ''instantly''. The other mini-dungeon types are fairly easy to deal with, but don't be surprised if even skilled players shy away from graves. However, it's likely because of how difficult they are that they often contain a wealth of loot or valuable resources within them, so it's not that they aren't worth it in the end, but they tend to be extremely annoying to deal with.

* If you check around the '''Cathedral of the Forsaken located deep beneath Leyndell''', you find a hidden passage that leads towards the Frenzied Flame Proscription, the location required for the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending. Getting down there is a huge challenge, as it involves hopping across tiny platforms, and the slightest mistake is a lethal drop. There's even some good loot on the way down just to make things even more tempting. This platforming puzzle has claimed countless lives, and you're likely to see the place painted with bloodstains in online mode.
* If you intend to go to Caelid early, you'll quickly find out that [[SceneryGorn it has one of the most apocalyptic settings in fantasy games]], not being helped by the presence of nightmarish enemies. However, most of them are nothing compared to the northern part of Caelid, called '''Dragonbarrow'''. [[https://twitter.com/king_bore_haha/status/1514493723647766529?t=ygH0X2cnnCu_3Xf3uBnRlg&s=19 Due to wonky scaling shenanigans]], Dragonbarrow is ''much harder'' compared to all other places in Caelid, because every enemy over there is capable of either one-hitting you if you're only leveled for the other areas of Caelid, and taking a good quarter of your health otherwise if you're properly leveled. Not to mention, D's sidequest has a teleporter you can use to get there much earlier, though thankfully, this only teleports you inside of the Bestial Sanctum.

* '''The Haligtree''', being the BrutalBonusLevel, is notoriously hard for many reasons as the other levels on this list. Accessing the Haligtree itself is straightforward, but painful [[spoiler:due to the invisible Black Knife Assassins and Albinauric Archers that guard the way to access it in the first place]]. Once you're in the Haligtree proper, you're navigating narrow branches over a BottomlessPit which makes dodging the projectiles of the Oracle Envoys very difficult. It doesn't get better when you reach '''Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree''', as you encounter beefed-up versions of the toughest enemies in the game who soak up a ton of damage and can easily one-shot even high Vigor players. Worse, many of the enemies inflict the Scarlet Rot status ailment, which makes traversing the dungeon all the more tedious and painful. This culminates in Malenia, who many consider to be [[{{Superboss}} the most difficult boss fight in the game.]]

* '''Raya Lucaria''' can become this if you don't have good ranged options. Most enemies here are sorcerers, making it easy for them to harass you at a distance while you fruitlessly charge forward into them. They're often positioned in difficult or advantageous spots, requiring you to run through an artillery barrage of glintstones. Raya Lucaria is also one of the game's worst offenders of CheckpointStarvation — sites of grace are spread out quite far apart from one another, and you commonly have to endure hordes of enemies or traps before you get a moment of respite or can reach the area's bosses. [[spoiler:Sorcery players get the short end of the stick here too — even though the stage becomes a bit easier, the area's main questline ''boss'', Queen Rennala, becomes extremely difficult as she has huge resistance to magic, what with her being TheArchmage and all. Switching from a ranged playstyle to a melee one can be difficult, and that's if you even had a good weapon to switch over to to damage her. Hope you didn't make all your most powerful weapons ones that deal Magic damage.]]

* Lake of Rot. Take the traditional poison swamp, have it inflict Scarlet Rot (essentially Poison on ''steroids''), and make it so that the only respite from the Rot is various platforms you need to book it towards. It also inflicts the Rot the fastest of any of the swamp locations. Unlike the Scarlet Rot swamp in the Caelid Wilds, you cannot use Torrent to avoid the status. And there's a (thankfully optional) boss. [[SarcasmMode Have fun.]]
* The Abandoned Cave is a very short dungeon, but it's almost entirely a miniature Scarlet Rot swamp, complete with rot geysers that can eat your health while you're forced to wade in rot-inducing water. It's also annoying to reach, requiring the player to go to a very specific spot in Caelid, cross a fallen tree that is easy to slide off and fall to your death. The cave is also populated with Servants of Rot whose own attacks can inflict poison. You'll have to rush through the cavern before the Rot eats you alive and before your healing supplies run out, and you still have to contend with a [[DualBoss pair of Cleanrot Knights]] at the end! And if you ever need to farm runes for any reason, you'll have to resign yourself to doing this cave at least once, since the talisman that increases rune acquisition from enemies is the reward for clearing it.
* There are four types of mini-dungeons around the world map: mines, caves, catacombs, and hero's graves. Of these four, hero's graves are the most consistently annoying. There are two gimmicks, but the most notorious one is having to dodge a mechanical chariot that winds up and down long sloped hallways. You have to duck into cubbyholes to dodge the instant-kill constantly dogging at your heels, all the while dealing with enemies constantly harassing you. The chariot also has downright malicious HitboxDissonance, so you might accidentally stand too close to the thing in your safe spot and get clipped, dying ''instantly''. The other mini-dungeon types are fairly easy to deal with, but don't be surprised if even skilled players shy away from graves. However, it's likely because of how difficult they are that they often contain a wealth of loot or valuable resources within them, so it's not that they aren't worth it in the end, but they tend to be extremely annoying to deal with.
* Raya Lucaria can become this if you don't have good ranged options. Most enemies here are sorcerers, making it easy for them to harass you at a distance while you fruitlessly charge forward into them. They're often positioned in difficult or advantageous spots, requiring you to run through an artillery barrage of glintstones. Raya Lucaria is also one of the game's worst offenders of CheckpointStarvation — sites of grace are spread out quite far apart from one another, and you commonly have to endure hordes of enemies or traps before you get a moment of respite or can reach the area's bosses. [[spoiler:Sorcery players get the short end of the stick here too — even though the stage becomes a bit easier, the area's main questline ''boss'', Queen Rennala, becomes extremely difficult as she has huge resistance to magic, what with her being TheArchmage and all. Switching from a ranged playstyle to a melee one can be difficult, and that's if you even had a good weapon to switch over to to damage her. Hope you didn't make all your most powerful weapons ones that deal Magic damage.]]
* If you check around the Cathedral of the Forsaken located deep beneath Leyndell, you find a hidden passage that leads towards the Frenzied Flame Proscription, the location required for the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending. Getting down there is a huge challenge, as it involves hopping across tiny platforms, and the slightest mistake is a lethal drop. There's even some good loot on the way down just to make things even more tempting. This platforming puzzle has claimed countless lives, and you're likely to see the place painted with bloodstains in online mode.
* If you intend to go to Caelid early, you'll quickly find out that [[SceneryGorn it has one of the most apocalyptic settings in fantasy games]], not being helped by the presence of nightmarish enemies. However, most of them are nothing compared to the northern part of Caelid, called Dragonbarrow. [[https://twitter.com/king_bore_haha/status/1514493723647766529?t=ygH0X2cnnCu_3Xf3uBnRlg&s=19 Due to wonky scaling shenanigans]], Dragonbarrow is ''much harder'' compared to all other places in Caelid, because every enemy over there is capable of either one-hitting you if you're only leveled for the other areas of Caelid, and taking a good quarter of your health otherwise if you're properly leveled. Not to mention, D's sidequest has a teleporter you can use to get there much earlier, though thankfully, this only teleports you inside of the Bestial Sanctum.
* The Haligtree, being the BrutalBonusLevel, is notoriously hard for many reasons as the other levels on this list. Accessing the Haligtree itself is straightforward, but painful [[spoiler:due to the invisible Black Knife Assassins and Albinauric Archers that guard the way to access it in the first place]]. Once you're in the Haligtree proper, you're navigating narrow branches over a BottomlessPit which makes dodging the projectiles of the Oracle Envoys very difficult. It doesn't get better when you reach Elphael, as you encounter beefed-up versions of the toughest enemies in the game who soak up a ton of damage and can easily one-shot even high Vigor players. Worse, many of the enemies inflict the Scarlet Rot status ailment, which makes traversing the dungeon all the more tedious and painful. This culminates in Malenia, who many consider to be [[{{Superboss}} the most difficult boss fight in the game.]]
* Crumbling Farum Azula, the penultimate area explored in the main game. Painful platforming sections between crumbling architecture suspended above a looming BottomlessPit, droves of some of the [[DemonicSpider toughest]] (and [[GoddamnedBats most annoying]]) foes the game can throw at you, including beefy versions of the above-mentioned Banished Knights and Warhawks as well as several lightning-spewing ''dragons'' (each and every one a BossInMookClothing), no clear path of progression towards the end goal with next to no frame of reference to where you even ''are'' half the time, and several painful boss encounters, a couple of which are mandatory, including ThatOneBoss fight with the loathsome Godskin Duo. You get a FinalDungeonPreview of this area from one of the portals you can take at the Four Belfries, and you'll soon know what's in store for you when you get demolished by the two Beastmen prowling about the area.

Caelid can be this for those who are coming in at a low level as the enemies such as the crows and dogs can do massive damage, and can easily kill the player with just one hit.

Caelid can be this for those who are coming in a at low level as the enemies such as the crows and dogs can do massive damage, and can easily kill the player with just one hit.