You’ve finally done it. You beat Morgott. You stood at the foot of the Erdtree, realizing the path is blocked by thorns, and Melina gave you the Rold Medallion. Then you step out of the Grand Lift of Rold and everything changes. The lush, golden hues of Leyndell vanish, replaced by a blinding, oppressive white. This is the Mountaintops of the Giants. Honestly, it’s the moment where Elden Ring stops being a power fantasy and starts feeling like a survival horror game.
The transition is jarring. One minute you're a god-slayer, the next you're getting one-shotted by a bird with a beak made of knives. This zone is arguably the most controversial area FromSoftware has ever designed, mostly because it represents a massive leap in enemy scaling that catches even veteran players off guard. It’s a frozen graveyard. It’s beautiful, lonely, and incredibly punishing.
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The Massive Scaling Wall Nobody Warns You About
When you hit the Mountaintops of the Giants, the game’s math changes. If you’ve been coasting with 40 Vigor, you’re about to have a very bad time. Basically, the HP pools and damage outputs of standard mobs—Zamora Knights, those terrifying Borealis fog-breathers, and the oversized crows—skyrocket compared to the Royal Capital.
It’s a deliberate design choice. FromSoftware wants you to feel the weight of the "Forbidden Lands." It’s not just another zone; it’s the edge of the world. Players often complain that the area feels "unfinished" or "empty," but that emptiness is the point. You are walking through a site of a literal genocide—the war where Marika’s forces wiped out the Giants to suppress the Flame of Ruin. The silence is supposed to be heavy.
But let's be real: the dogs. The giant, skeletal dogs with the massive heads are a nightmare. They have more health than some early-game bosses. If you aren't using Spirit Ashes or a very optimized build, the Mountaintops can feel like hitting a brick wall at 100 miles per hour. You have to adapt. You have to change your talismans. If you aren't wearing the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +2 or higher, you’re basically walking around in pajamas.
Navigating the Whiteout: Visuals and Layout
The first half of the zone is dominated by the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins. Navigation here is a pain because of the fog. It isn't just cosmetic; it’s a gameplay mechanic. Borealis the Freezing Fog creates a literal whiteout condition that makes it impossible to see the cliffs or the enemies stalking you.
Survival Tips for the Fog
- Follow the lights. Look for the glowing statues or site of grace trails.
- Listen. The sound design in Elden Ring is incredible. You can hear the heavy breathing of the Golems long before you see them.
- Don't fight everything. Seriously. Torrent is your best friend here. If a fight looks lopsided, just ride past it.
The geography is vertical. You’re constantly crossing narrow, precarious chains that span massive chasms. Looking down is a mistake. These chains aren't just for show—they connect the various peaks and lead you toward the Forge of the Giants. The sense of scale is unmatched. When you stand on a chain and look back at the Erdtree, you realize how far you've actually climbed. It’s one of the few places in the game where the world feels truly gargantuan.
The Fire Giant: A Lesson in Patience and Ankle-Hacking
Eventually, you reach the big one. The Fire Giant. This boss is the gatekeeper to the endgame, and he is a massive spike in difficulty. He’s huge. So huge that the camera often becomes your biggest enemy. Most players spend the first half of the fight hacking at his left ankle—the one with the braid wrapping.
Then phase two happens.
He rips his own leg off. It’s metal. It’s gruesome. And suddenly, he’s rolling around like a giant flaming bowling ball. This is where most people lose it. The Fire Giant has a massive health pool, maybe the largest in the game outside of the DLC bosses. If you try to play it safe, the fight lasts ten minutes, increasing the chance you'll make one fatal mistake. You have to be aggressive but smart. Using Alexander the Warrior Jar is a literal lifesaver here, not just for the damage, but because he can tank the Giant’s massive shield slams while you get behind him.
Hidden Secrets and the Path to the Haligtree
Most people think the Mountaintops are just a linear path to the Forge. They’re wrong. The "Consecrated Snowfield" is the hidden secondary part of this region, and getting there is an ordeal in itself. You need both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. One is in a village in Liurnia, hidden by a guy pretending to be a pot. The other is at the top of Castle Sol.
Castle Sol is brutal. Commander Niall? He’s arguably harder than the Fire Giant. His dual-wielding knight summons are the stuff of nightmares. But beating him is the only way to reach the most "prestigious" area of the game: Miquella’s Haligtree.
The Mountaintops also house the Heretical Rise. To get inside, you have to walk across an invisible bridge. No, really. An invisible bridge over a massive ravine. You have to watch for the faint snowflakes landing on the "floor" to guide your steps. It’s classic FromSoftware—equal parts brilliant and frustrating.
Why the Atmosphere Matters More Than the Combat
If you just rush through, you miss the lore. The Mountaintops of the Giants is where the story of Elden Ring becomes a tragedy. You see the frozen corpses of the giants, impaled by black thorns. This wasn't a clean war. This was a massacre. The Fire Giant is the lone survivor, cursed by Marika to tend the flame for eternity. He’s not even a villain, really. He’s a janitor guarding a fire that he didn't want, but can't leave.
The music shifts here too. It’s minimalist. It’s cold. In Limgrave, the music is adventurous. In the Mountaintops, it feels like a funeral march. If you're feeling burnt out by the time you reach this area, take a second to just look at the Forge from a distance. It’s a massive, rusted bucket of primordial fire hanging over the world. It’s iconic.
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How to Not Hate This Zone
If you’re struggling, it’s usually one of three things. First, your Vigor is too low. Aim for 50-60. Seriously. Second, you’re using Holy damage. Stop. Almost everything here resists Holy because they are tied to the Erdtree or ancient gods. Switch to Fire or Bleed. Fire is ironic, but it works surprisingly well against the icy enemies. Bleed is just universally broken in this game.
Third, you’re trying to kill everything. You don't have to. The Mountaintops are meant to be traversed. Explore the nooks, find the smithing stones (there are a ton of [7] and [8] stones here), but don't feel obligated to duel every single crow you see. They aren't worth the stress.
Actionable Next Steps for Players
To actually survive and clear the Mountaintops of the Giants efficiently, you need a checklist that isn't just "get good."
- Upgrade your Flasks: If you haven't found the Golden Seeds in Leyndell, go back. You need maximum healing capacity here.
- Locate the Stargazer’s Ruins: There’s a jellyfish there. If you have the Spirit Jellyfish ashes, summon them. It’s a sad, beautiful little side quest that grants you a powerful talisman.
- Farm the Zamor Ruins: If you need runes to level up that Vigor, the knights here are tough but offer great XP. They also drop the Zamor curved sword, which has an incredible frostbite-inducing weapon art.
- Check your Resistance: Use the Flamedrake Talisman +2 and the Boltdrake Talisman. The enemies here use a weird mix of elemental attacks.
- Go to Castle Sol last: Don't bang your head against Niall until you've cleared the rest of the mountain. You need the levels.
The Mountaintops of the Giants is the final test before the "real" endgame. It’s where your build is finalized. It’s where you decide if you’re actually ready to become Elden Lord. It’s harsh, it’s cold, and it’s unapologetic. But once you stand at the rim of the Forge and look down into the fire, the struggle feels worth it. Just watch out for the dogs on your way back. They never stop chasing.