You’re riding Torrent across the mist-choked shallow waters of Liurnia of the Lakes, probably just trying to find a shortcut to Raya Lucaria, when the Laskyar Ruins just... happen. They’re sprawling. They're damp. Honestly, they’re a bit of a nightmare if you hate those weird, bell-ringing Wraith Callers that keep spawning out of thin air to pelt you with golden magic. Most people just gallop through, grab the first shiny item they see, and never look back. That is a massive mistake.
Laskyar Ruins is basically the gateway to the rest of Liurnia. If you don't understand how to navigate this place, you're going to feel underpowered for the rest of the zone. It’s not just a bunch of crumbling stone; it’s a strategic hub.
What’s Actually Hiding in the Laskyar Ruins?
Let's get real for a second. Most ruins in Elden Ring follow a pattern: find the stairs, kill the mini-boss, open the chest. Laskyar is different because it’s spread out. It’s messy. You’ve got the standard Liurnian nobles hanging around, looking miserable, but the real threats are the Royal Revenants and their smaller cousins.
If you’re looking for the big prize, you’re looking for the Glintstone Craftsman's Cookbook [2]. This is huge. If you're running a magic build—or even if you just want some utility—this cookbook lets you craft Freeze Grease. Why does that matter? Because some of the toughest bosses in the early to mid-game are surprisingly weak to Frostbite. You’ll find it in a chest surrounded by those annoying nobles. Don't just ignore them; they’ll poke you in the back while you’re looting. It’s embarrassing.
But wait. There’s more.
The site of grace right next to the ruins is a perfect staging ground. From here, you can see the gazebo-like structure. Inside, there's a portal. If you’re brave (or just impatient), that portal takes you straight to the outskirts of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. It’s a shortcut that saves you about ten minutes of dodging giant lobsters.
Dealing with the Wraith Callers
These guys are the worst. They have zero poise, which is great, but they love to teleport. You’ll be swinging at thin air while they reappear ten feet away to summon those homing gold streaks.
- Use a fast weapon.
- Don't let them finish the bell-ringing animation.
- If you see them glowing, dodge-roll toward them, not away.
Seriously, dodging away just puts you in the perfect strike zone for their projectiles. Get in their face. It’s the only way to stay sane in the Laskyar Ruins.
The Secret Basement Everyone Walks Over
If you haven't found the underground portion, have you even really visited the Laskyar Ruins? Look for the set of stairs tucked away behind some crumbling walls. It’s guarded by a few more enemies, but the reward is the Ritual Pot.
For the uninitiated, Ritual Pots are precious. Unlike regular Cracked Pots, these allow you to craft much more powerful consumables. It’s the difference between throwing a wet firecracker and a literal magical grenade. If you’re planning on taking down some of the heftier field bosses in Liurnia, you need every Ritual Pot you can get your hands on.
Lore Fragments and Environmental Storytelling
The architecture here tells a story that FromSoftware fans love to overanalyze. You can see the remnants of the Carian influence everywhere. The way the ruins are sinking into the lake suggests that Liurnia wasn't always this swampy. It’s a tragedy in stone. You’ve got these "Wraith Callers" who are basically obsessed with the spirits of the dead. It’s a grim contrast to the scholarly, high-brow magic happening just a few miles north at the Academy.
Laskyar feels forgotten. It feels like the "old" Liurnia that got left behind when the moon and the stars became the only thing anyone cared about.
Why the Map Fragment is the Real Goal
Technically, the Liurnia North map fragment isn't in the ruins, but the Laskyar Ruins site of grace is the closest landmark to where you start finding your bearings. You go north from the ruins, following the sunken road. If you don't stop at Laskyar to reset your flasks and spend your runes, you’re asking for a bad time.
The area is also home to some decent crafting materials. If you’re into the crafting system—which, let's be honest, most of us forget exists until we need a specific grease—you can find plenty of Rowa Berries and Crystal Cave Moss nearby.
The Revenant Problem
Look, we need to talk about the Royal Revenant that can spawn nearby. These things are the stuff of nightmares. Multiple arms, screaming, teleporting, and a flurry attack that can delete your health bar in two seconds.
- Pro Tip: Use Heal spells. Even if you aren't a Faith build, the basic "Heal" incantation deals massive AOE damage to Revenants and stuns them. It's an absolute game-changer.
If you try to fight them with just a sword, you’re going to have a stressful afternoon. Just cast a quick heal near them and watch their health bar vanish. It feels like cheating, but in Elden Ring, we call that "strategy."
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Navigating the Terrain Without Dying
The biggest threat in the Laskyar Ruins isn't actually the enemies—it's the geography. It’s easy to get turned around in the fog.
- Keep the Academy in the distance as your North Star.
- The ruins are mostly flat, but there are holes in the floor.
- Don't fight the lobsters. Just don't.
Those Giant Crayfish (everyone calls them lobsters) have a sniper-shot spit attack that can hit you from across the map. If you agro one while exploring the ruins, don't try to outrun it in a straight line. Zig-zag. Serpentine. Pray.
Essential Checklist for Laskyar Ruins
Don't leave this area until you've checked these off. Seriously.
- Find the Glintstone Craftsman's Cookbook [2].
- Grab the Ritual Pot from the underground chest.
- Activate the Site of Grace (it's your safety net).
- Use the portal if you’re ready to skip the swamp trek.
- Pick up any Smithing Stones lying around the perimeter.
It's easy to dismiss these early ruins as "tutorial" content, but Laskyar sets the tone for the rest of the lake. It's a place of transition. You move from the solid earth of Limgrave into the soggy, magical mystery of Liurnia.
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Final Strategic Takeaway
Laskyar Ruins is the litmus test for your build. If you're struggling with the mobs here, the Academy is going to wreck you. Take the time to farm a few levels if you need to. The enemies here drop a decent amount of runes for how easy they are to kill (once you figure out the Wraith Callers).
Most importantly, don't rush. The beauty of Elden Ring is in the stuff you find when you’re not looking for it. There’s a sense of melancholy in Laskyar that you just don’t get in the more "action-packed" areas. Sit at the grace, watch the ghost-light flicker over the water, and prepare yourself. The lake is big, and it only gets weirder from here.
Your Next Steps in Liurnia
Once you’ve cleared out the Laskyar Ruins and grabbed the cookbook, your next logical move is to head Northwest. You're looking for the Scenic Isle site of grace. This will lead you toward Patches (everyone’s favorite "friend") and the start of the Rya questline, which is essential if you want an easy ticket to Volcano Manor later. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the Rose Church to the west if you’re interested in White Mask Varre’s questline and early-game rune farming.