You’ve probably seen it from the cliffs of Limgrave. A tiny, swirling speck in the distance, barely a smudge against the horizon. But when you finally wake up there—after basically setting the world on fire at the Forge of the Giants—it’s something else entirely. Crumbling Farum Azula is easily the most stressful, beautiful, and lore-heavy legacy dungeon in all of Elden Ring. Honestly, it’s where the game stops playing around.
The scale is just weird. You aren't just in a castle; you're in a city that’s literally falling apart in a timeless storm. Huge chunks of rock just hang there. Gravity? Not a thing here. It feels like the end of the world because, well, it kinda is.
Getting to Farum Azula Without the Headache
Most people get here by making a choice. You beat the Fire Giant, you rest at the Forge, and you talk to Melina. Or, if you’ve been hanging out with the Three Fingers, you just "listen to the flames." Boom. You’re teleported to a bridge.
There’s a small catch, though. If you use the Four Belfries waygate in Liurnia to "preview" the area, you’re stuck on a tiny island. You can’t reach the main city from there. Don't waste your time trying to jump; it won't work. The real entry point is always the Forge.
Once you arrive, it’s a straight shot to the first Grace. Sorta.
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Survival 101: The Beastmen and Those Damned Birds
The Beastmen of Farum Azula are fast. Like, way faster than they look. They use curved swords and have this annoying habit of throwing lightning at you when you’re trying to heal.
- Watch the floor: Skeletons here don't stay dead unless you hit them again while they’re glowing on the ground.
- The Birds: I hate them. You hate them. Everyone hates them. The Warhawks with blades on their feet are back, and they have fire-breathing cousins now.
- Ancient Dragons: There are several just hanging out. You can run past most of them, but they drop Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, so it's usually worth the struggle.
The Bosses That Make People Quit
Farum Azula doesn't just have one final boss. It’s a gauntlet. You have the Godskin Duo, which is basically the community's collective nightmare. Fighting a fat noble and a skinny apostle at the same time is just mean. Pro tip: use Sleep Pots. Seriously. It makes the fight a joke because they have zero resistance to sleep. One nap and you can focus on the other one.
Then there’s the big one. Maliketh, the Black Blade.
He starts as the Beast Clergyman. He’s throwing rocks and digging up the floor. But phase two? That’s where it gets real. He becomes a vertical nightmare, jumping off pillars and firing red beams that drain your max HP. It’s brutal. You need the Blasphemous Claw if you want to parry his gold-glowing attacks. It’s an item you get from defeating Recusant Bernahl nearby. Use it.
The Hidden Dragon Lord
You can actually miss the coolest boss in the game here. Dragonlord Placidusax is hidden behind a literal leap of faith. Near the "Beside the Great Bridge" Site of Grace, you have to take the elevator down, go outside, and look for a specific spot on the cliff where you can drop down to some floating rocks.
Follow those rocks to a large platform and "Lie Down."
The cutscene is incredible. You're suddenly in the center of the storm, facing a two-headed dragon that can turn into a cloud of red lightning. It’s arguably the most cinematic fight FromSoftware has ever made.
Why Farum Azula Matters (The Lore Bit)
This place wasn't always a mess. Before the Erdtree, before Marika, the Dragons ruled. Placidusax was the Elden Lord of that age. The city was likely the seat of their power, a "Seat of the Sun" that got hit by a meteorite and started crumbling through time.
Notice the statues. You’ll see a woman surrounded by three wolves. Some people think it’s a young Marika, others think it’s an Empyrean from the age of dragons. The game doesn't explicitly say. It just lets you look at the ruins and wonder.
What we do know is that Maliketh is here guarding Destined Death. By killing him, you release death back into the world. That’s why Leyndell turns into the Capital of Ash afterward. You’re finishing the job you started at the Forge.
Gear You Can't Leave Without
If you’re rushing through, you’re going to miss the best loot in the game. Farum Azula is basically a giant treasure chest for endgame builds.
- Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing (4) and (5): These let you buy the highest level upgrade stones. One is right after the Godskin Duo, the other is near the end.
- Old Lord's Talisman: Extends the duration of spells. Huge for buff builds.
- Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +2: Massive physical damage reduction. It's on a corpse on a floating piece of ruin you have to jump to.
- Alexander’s Shard: If you’ve been following Iron Fist Alexander’s quest, his story ends here. You have to duel him. It’s sad, but the talisman he drops is the best in the game for weapon arts.
Actionable Next Steps
If you've just arrived or are feeling stuck, do these three things immediately. First, hunt down the Blasphemous Claw so you aren't defenseless against Maliketh. Second, craft about 10 Sleep Pots for the Godskin Duo; it will save you hours of frustration. Lastly, make sure you have at least 50 Vigor. Everything in this zone hits like a truck, and if you're running around with 30-40 HP, the Beastmen will one-shot you with their jump attacks.
Once you clear Maliketh, there is no going back to the old Leyndell. Make sure you’ve grabbed the Bolt of Gransax and finished any business in the capital before you deliver the final blow. After that, the path to the Elden Throne is finally open.