How to Access the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

In Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate is a pivotal location, serving as the sole entrance to the Hinterlands. This guide will walk you through reaching the Back Gate and navigating your way to the Hinterlands, including the essential landmarks such as the Scaduview Chalice and the Ruins Map (2nd) for the Count Ymir questline.

How to Reach the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate Site of Grace

1. Teleport to the Church District Entrance: Begin by teleporting to the Church District Entrance Site of Grace, located northwest of the Cathedral of Manus Metyr.

2. Traverse the Rooftops: From the Site of Grace, jump onto the nearby building's rooftop and proceed right towards the next structure. Use the pointed rooftops to make a running jump to the building to the northwest.

3. Navigate the Rooftop Path: Follow the edge of the building to the northern corner and jump across to a platform. Quickly move to the building northwest to avoid newly-spawned enemies.

4. Confront or Evade the Fire Knight: On this building, you’ll encounter a Fire Knight. You can defeat it or sprint past. Proceed south to the lower roof and look southeast for a buttress. Jump onto it and continue to the roof with a large hole.
   
   

   
   
   

5. Descend Through the Hole: Drop into the hole to reach the arches below. Move to the southwest to find another hole in the floor. Drop down and navigate through this area, dealing with or avoiding Fire Knights. Enter the third door on your left, ride the elevator to the top, and you’ll arrive at the Specimen Storehouse.

6. Activate the Storehouse, Backsection Site of Grace: Proceed left to find the Backsection Site of Grace and activate it. Climb the ladder ahead, avoiding a Fire Knight with its back turned. Go up the stairs to the east, and behind a bookshelf, you’ll find a hole leading to a wooden path around the Shadow Keep’s outer wall.

7. Locate the Storehouse, Loft Site of Grace: Follow the wooden path to the Storehouse, Loft Site of Grace. Ride the elevator up to the archways and follow the path left to find a ladder. Climb it and head towards the large wooden gear. Drop down onto the gear and jump to the wooden platform.

8. Reach the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate: Continue to the edge of the platform, drop down, and proceed through the door to the north. Take the elevator down, follow the pathway, and ride the next elevator down to find the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate Site of Grace.
   
   

How to Access the Hinterlands

1. From the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate Site of Grace: Enter the corridor on your right to find a Statue of Marika.

2. Unlock the Secret Entrance: Stand in front of the statue and perform the “O Mother” gesture. This action will reveal the hidden entrance to the Hinterlands.
   
   

   
   
   

You can now proceed to locate the Ruins Map, which is necessary for continuing the Count Ymir questline.

This route will guide you seamlessly from the Church District to the Shadow Keep’s Back Gate and on to the Hinterlands, unlocking new areas and advancing your questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.