Elden Ring: Black Knife Catacombs Dungeon Walkthrough

There are dozens of dungeons spread across the Lands Between in Elden Ring. Some are more straightforward than others, offering paths directly to key locations and bosses. Progressing the Black Knife Catacombs in northeastern Liurnia of the Lakes, however, can be a bit confusing. There are two bosses to fight here — one hidden — and finding either proves somewhat tricky.

In this Elden Ring walkthrough guide, we’ll show you how to complete the Black Knife Catacombs Dungeon and take on its two bosses: the Cemetary Shade and the Black Knife Assassin. 

How to Progress & Complete Black Knife Catacombs in Elden Ring

The Black Knife Catacombs can be found in northeastern Liurnia of the Lakes, beyond the maze of canyons around the area’s Minor Edrtree. You’ll need to navigate this area and actually pass the Erdtree to find this dungeon, which is guarded by a knight that can fade into a mist before reappearing. 

You can either defeat this knight or run past them and rest at the Site of Grace in the Black Knife Catacombs, sending them back to guard the entrance well above you.

Either way, descend the stairs from the Black Knife Catacombs Site of Grace, and kill the skeleton on the left side of the stairs along the way. At the bottom, turn left, and go down another set of stairs.

Here, you’ll see Stonesword Key room on the left. It guards Rosus’ Axe. If you choose to retrieve the weapon, there are two skeletons that spawn in this room, so be careful. 

Either way, continue down the hallway, and run past the two skeletons that spawn as you do. Another will spawn on your left at the end. Don’t worry about them. Turn right to see a larger room with three guillotine blades dropping and rising.

Go toward the room, and turn left as soon as you enter it to kill the “necromancer” in the corner commanding the skeletons behind you. Doing so is the only way to permanently destroy the skeletons.

Now, mind the two skeleton archers in the guillotine room, and ride the middle guillotine blade up to a platform on the left side of the room. Kill another necromancer to destroy the skeleton archers below and one skeleton soldier that’s spawned in the hallway in front of you (behind the necromancer).

Continue down the hallway into a larger room with two skeleton archers. Go past the archers to the back of the room, and follow the path right. The third and final necromancer of the Black Knife Catacombs, along with a skeleton soldier, will be here. Again, kill the necromancer to defeat the three skeletons in this room. 

Go into the next room of the Black Knife Catacombs, and defeat the skeleton archer on the right, then the skeleton warrior that spawns on the left. Drop down the hole inside the archway on the right side of the room, where the skeleton archer was. Turn around when you land, and pull the lever at the statue to open the door to the Cemetary Shade boss near the beginning of the Black Knife Catacombs. 

Turn around, and pull the lever to the right of the iron gate blocking your way out to open it. Two skeleton soldiers will spawn near the gate on either side. Defeat them, and exit into a room full of crabs. There are some good items in this area of the Black Knife Catacombs, including a Rune Arc, but be wary of the two giant crabs that spawn. 

Use the ladder on the eastern side of the room to exit, and kill the skeleton warrior in the room at the top. Go up the stairs, and you’ll find yourself back in the guillotine room. Follow the path back to the doors below the Site of Grace to take on the Cemetary Shade and get a Deathroot and the Twinsage Sorcerer Ashes as a reward. 

To fight the Black Knife Assasin secret boss in the Black Knife Catacombs, go back to the room with the hole you used to drop down behind the iron gate. Attack the illusory wall at the end of this room to reveal a fog gate. Defeat the Black Knife Assassin in the incredibly-small chapel for the Assassin’s Cerulean Dagge and Black Knifeprint. You can give the latter to Rogier, but be careful of its consequences for Ranni’s Questline. 

And that’s how you progress and complete the Black Knife Catacombs in Elden Ring. With this walkthrough, you’ll be able to navigate the dungeon and take on both of its bosses for some fairly good rewards. Having the Sword of Night and Flame makes these foes a breeze, as does having leveled Spirit Summons. For more tips and walkthroughs, like how to find Fia and finish her questline, head over to our Elden Ring guides hub.