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If you have found yourself staring at a red marker on your Elden Ring map wondering exactly how to reach it on foot â you are not alone. The Rold Route confuses a large number of players every year, and FromSoftware, being the loveable masters of mystery that they are, offers almost no hand-holding to get you there.
This guide walks you through every single step to reach the Rold Route and the Grand Lift of Rold, from defeating the required boss to hoisting the medallion. We also cover the secret Haligtree detour â because once you know it exists, you will absolutely want it.
What Is the Rold Route in Elden Ring?
The Rold Route is the main pathway that leads from Leyndell, Royal Capital, through the Forbidden Lands, and up to the Grand Lift of Rold. That lift is what transports your character to the Mountaintops of the Giants â a critical, late-game region required to complete the main story.
According to the Fextralife Elden Ring Wiki, the Grand Lift of Rold sits in the Forbidden Lands and serves as the only gate between Leyndell and the Mountaintops of the Giants. No lift, no progression. Simple as that.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Forbidden Lands (east of Leyndell, Royal Capital) |
| Required Item | Rold Medallion (given by Melina) |
| Required Boss Kill | Morgott, the Omen King |
| Where It Leads | Mountaintops of the Giants (or Consecrated Snowfield if using Haligtree Medallion) |
| Nearest Site of Grace | Avenue Balcony, Leyndell |
Prerequisites Before You Go
Before searching for the Rold Route entrance, you need to tick one very important box. No amount of exploring will unlock this path early.
MUST DO Defeat Morgott, the Omen King
Morgott is the mandatory story boss found in a courtyard in Leyndell, Royal Capital â just outside the gates leading to the Erdtree. He appears after you fight the golden spirit of Godfrey, the First Elden Lord. If Margit felt tough at the start, Morgott is essentially Margit with extra homework. Same general moveset, but significantly more aggressive and with a few new tricks.
As confirmed by Dot Esports, defeating Morgott is what opens the double doors in Leyndell that lead towards the lift. He is also a mandatory boss to complete the game, so there is no skipping this one.
Step-by-Step: How to Reach the Rold Route
Once Morgott is down, follow these steps in order. The path is straightforward once you know the starting point â but choosing the wrong Site of Grace to fast-travel to will throw you off completely.
STEP 1 Head to the Erdtree Wall and Talk to Melina
After defeating Morgott, walk towards the Erdtree. You will hit an impenetrable wall of golden thorns. Rest at the Site of Grace that appears in the boss arena. Melina will appear here and hand you the Rold Medallion. She will also make a rather dramatic request â but that is a story for another guide.
STEP 2 Fast Travel to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace
Open your map and fast travel to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace. As noted by The Escapist, this is the closest fast travel point to the Rold Route entrance â even though it feels counterintuitively placed. Do not let the map fool you into using a different grace.
STEP 3 Go Up the Stairs and Turn Left
From the Avenue Balcony grace, climb the stairs immediately to your left. At the top you will reach the main street of Leyndell â the wide road where a large Erdtree Avatar patrols. Turn left and follow the road north.
STEP 4 Follow the Road to the Big Doors
Head along the main road, passing several Demi-Human enemies and a wrecked carriage. Keep moving until you reach a large set of double doors sitting slightly ajar. Push through them. You are now entering the outer section of the capital.
STEP 5 Take the First Lift and Cross the Bridge
Once through the doors, climb the wide staircase ahead. Follow the road and look for a gate on your left â inside is a lift with a lever. Pull the lever and ride it to the top. Walk straight out across the bridge.
According to GosuNoob, after exiting the lift you will find a second, larger lift in a central tower. Stand on the activation button in the middle of the platform to ride it up.
STEP 6 Enter the Forbidden Lands
Exit the second lift via the eastern door. You are now in the Forbidden Lands. Activate the Site of Grace here immediately â it is easy to miss and you will want a nearby checkpoint.
How to Get the Rold Medallion
The Rold Medallion is the key item that actually activates the Grand Lift of Rold. Without it, you can find the lift no problem â but it will just stand there looking impressive and completely useless.
As documented on the Fextralife Rold Medallion page, Melina gives it to you after you defeat Morgott and then attempt to approach the Erdtree, only to be blocked by the wall of thorns. Rest at the Site of Grace in that area, speak to her, and it will be added to your key items.
Navigating the Forbidden Lands
The Forbidden Lands is the stretch between the capital outskirts and the Grand Lift of Rold itself. It looks desolate, and frankly it is â but there are a few things worth knowing before you sprint through.
The road heads east and then curves north. According to That Video Game Blog, several notable encounters wait along this stretch:
- Black Blade Kindred â A gargoyle boss that drops two excellent weapons: the Gargoyle's Black Axe and Gargoyle's Black Blades. It will engage you as you pass, so be ready.
- Night's Cavalry â Only appears at night. An optional but rewarding fight.
- Divine Tower of East Altus â Accessible from this route. You need it to fortify Morgott's Great Rune or Mohg's Great Rune.
- Golden Seed â Look for the glowing sapling about halfway along the path. Easy to miss, very worth grabbing.
Activating the Grand Lift of Rold
At the northern end of the Forbidden Lands, you will arrive at the Grand Lift of Rold. There is a Site of Grace on your right side â activate it before you do anything else.
To activate the lift, stand on the centre platform and select "Hoist Medallion" when prompted. A short cutscene plays as the lift carries you up to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
According to Game8's Grand Lift of Rold guide, the lift will not respond until you actually have the Rold Medallion in your inventory â even if you reach it early by some creative routing.
đŽ Into gaming guides and entertainment content? Check out more articles on BigWriteHook â including the Snowrider Glitch complete guide and the best Manhwa to read in 2026.
Bonus: The Secret Haligtree Route
Here is the part most guides bury at the bottom â and it is genuinely one of the coolest secrets in the game. The Grand Lift of Rold can take you to a completely different, hidden location if you have the right medallion.
Instead of using the standard Rold Medallion, you can use the Haligtree Secret Medallion â assembled from two halves â to activate the lift's secondary destination: the Consecrated Snowfield, which eventually leads to Miquella's Haligtree and the optional boss Malenia, Blade of Miquella.
As detailed by eXputer, here is how to get both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion:
đ´ Right Half â Village of the Albinaurics
Head to the Village of the Albinaurics in the swamp caves west of Liurnia of the Lakes. Near a perfumer enemy at the top of the village, you will find a large pot that looks slightly suspicious. Attack it. A disguised NPC named Albus emerges and hands you the right half before he dies. Dark, yes. Effective, absolutely.
đĩ Left Half â Castle Sol
Castle Sol is located in the Mountaintops of the Giants â the very region you will reach after using the regular Rold Medallion. Defeat Commander Niall, the boss inside, then access the tower roof in the northeast of the castle to collect the left medallion half.
Once you have both halves, return to the Grand Lift of Rold. At the lift prompt, press the directional button to switch from the standard Rold Medallion to the Hoist Secret Medallion option. A lot of players miss this step and accidentally take the wrong route â it pays to be deliberate.
Quick Tips and Common Mistakes
A few things that catch players off guard when attempting the Rold Route for the first time:
- Wrong Site of Grace. Almost every site of grace near the map marker will send you in the wrong direction. Always start from Avenue Balcony.
- Skipping Melina's dialogue. If you press through her post-Morgott conversation too quickly, you may miss receiving the medallion. If that happens, try resting at various Sites of Grace near the Erdtree area to trigger her appearance.
- Choosing the wrong medallion at the lift. If you already have both Haligtree halves by this point, the game may default to the wrong option. Take your time at the prompt and select deliberately.
- The Black Blade Kindred is not optional if you want the loot. You can sprint past it, but the Gargoyle's Black Axe and Gargoyle's Black Blades are genuinely excellent weapons for certain builds.
- Grab the Golden Seed. It sits halfway along the Forbidden Lands road as a glowing sapling. Free Sacred Flask upgrade â never skip it.
Summary: How to Get to the Rold Route in Elden Ring
Getting to the Rold Route comes down to a clear sequence. Defeat Morgott in Leyndell. Talk to Melina at the Erdtree wall to get the Rold Medallion. Fast travel to Avenue Balcony, head up and turn left, follow the road through the double doors, take two lifts, activate the Forbidden Lands Site of Grace, deal with the Black Blade Kindred, and reach the Grand Lift of Rold at the end. Hoist the medallion. You are in the Mountaintops.
It sounds long. In practice it takes about ten minutes once you know where you are going. It is one of those FromSoftware moments where the explanation sounds like a fever dream, but the actual navigation is surprisingly logical once you start moving.
And if you want to unlock the secret Haligtree path? Collect both medallion halves, return to the same lift, and choose the alternate option. Just know what is waiting for you at the end of that road.
đšī¸ Looking for more gaming and entertainment content? Browse our full Entertainment section at BigWriteHook for guides, reviews, and everything in between.
Sources & References
- Fextralife Wiki â Grand Lift of Rold
- Fextralife Wiki â Rold Medallion
- Dot Esports â How to Get to the Rold Route
- The Escapist â How to Get to the Rold Route
- eXputer â Rold Route Step-by-Step Guide
- GosuNoob â Rold Route & Grand Lift of Rold
- Game8 â Grand Lift of Rold Location and What to Do
- That Video Game Blog â The Rold Route Elden Ring
đ Jump to a Section
If you have found yourself staring at a red marker on your Elden Ring map wondering exactly how to reach it on foot â you are not alone. The Rold Route confuses a large number of players every year, and FromSoftware, being the loveable masters of mystery that they are, offers almost no hand-holding to get you there.
This guide walks you through every single step to reach the Rold Route and the Grand Lift of Rold, from defeating the required boss to hoisting the medallion. We also cover the secret Haligtree detour â because once you know it exists, you will absolutely want it.
What Is the Rold Route in Elden Ring?
The Rold Route is the main pathway that leads from Leyndell, Royal Capital, through the Forbidden Lands, and up to the Grand Lift of Rold. That lift is what transports your character to the Mountaintops of the Giants â a critical, late-game region required to complete the main story.
According to the Fextralife Elden Ring Wiki, the Grand Lift of Rold sits in the Forbidden Lands and serves as the only gate between Leyndell and the Mountaintops of the Giants. No lift, no progression. Simple as that.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Forbidden Lands (east of Leyndell, Royal Capital) |
| Required Item | Rold Medallion (given by Melina) |
| Required Boss Kill | Morgott, the Omen King |
| Where It Leads | Mountaintops of the Giants (or Consecrated Snowfield if using Haligtree Medallion) |
| Nearest Site of Grace | Avenue Balcony, Leyndell |
Prerequisites Before You Go
Before searching for the Rold Route entrance, you need to tick one very important box. No amount of exploring will unlock this path early.
MUST DO Defeat Morgott, the Omen King
Morgott is the mandatory story boss found in a courtyard in Leyndell, Royal Capital â just outside the gates leading to the Erdtree. He appears after you fight the golden spirit of Godfrey, the First Elden Lord. If Margit felt tough at the start, Morgott is essentially Margit with extra homework. Same general moveset, but significantly more aggressive and with a few new tricks.
As confirmed by Dot Esports, defeating Morgott is what opens the double doors in Leyndell that lead towards the lift. He is also a mandatory boss to complete the game, so there is no skipping this one.
Step-by-Step: How to Reach the Rold Route
Once Morgott is down, follow these steps in order. The path is straightforward once you know the starting point â but choosing the wrong Site of Grace to fast-travel to will throw you off completely.
STEP 1 Head to the Erdtree Wall and Talk to Melina
After defeating Morgott, walk towards the Erdtree. You will hit an impenetrable wall of golden thorns. Rest at the Site of Grace that appears in the boss arena. Melina will appear here and hand you the Rold Medallion. She will also make a rather dramatic request â but that is a story for another guide.
STEP 2 Fast Travel to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace
Open your map and fast travel to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace. As noted by The Escapist, this is the closest fast travel point to the Rold Route entrance â even though it feels counterintuitively placed. Do not let the map fool you into using a different grace.
STEP 3 Go Up the Stairs and Turn Left
From the Avenue Balcony grace, climb the stairs immediately to your left. At the top you will reach the main street of Leyndell â the wide road where a large Erdtree Avatar patrols. Turn left and follow the road north.
STEP 4 Follow the Road to the Big Doors
Head along the main road, passing several Demi-Human enemies and a wrecked carriage. Keep moving until you reach a large set of double doors sitting slightly ajar. Push through them. You are now entering the outer section of the capital.
STEP 5 Take the First Lift and Cross the Bridge
Once through the doors, climb the wide staircase ahead. Follow the road and look for a gate on your left â inside is a lift with a lever. Pull the lever and ride it to the top. Walk straight out across the bridge.
According to GosuNoob, after exiting the lift you will find a second, larger lift in a central tower. Stand on the activation button in the middle of the platform to ride it up.
STEP 6 Enter the Forbidden Lands
Exit the second lift via the eastern door. You are now in the Forbidden Lands. Activate the Site of Grace here immediately â it is easy to miss and you will want a nearby checkpoint.
How to Get the Rold Medallion
The Rold Medallion is the key item that actually activates the Grand Lift of Rold. Without it, you can find the lift no problem â but it will just stand there looking impressive and completely useless.
As documented on the Fextralife Rold Medallion page, Melina gives it to you after you defeat Morgott and then attempt to approach the Erdtree, only to be blocked by the wall of thorns. Rest at the Site of Grace in that area, speak to her, and it will be added to your key items.
Navigating the Forbidden Lands
The Forbidden Lands is the stretch between the capital outskirts and the Grand Lift of Rold itself. It looks desolate, and frankly it is â but there are a few things worth knowing before you sprint through.
The road heads east and then curves north. According to That Video Game Blog, several notable encounters wait along this stretch:
- Black Blade Kindred â A gargoyle boss that drops two excellent weapons: the Gargoyle's Black Axe and Gargoyle's Black Blades. It will engage you as you pass, so be ready.
- Night's Cavalry â Only appears at night. An optional but rewarding fight.
- Divine Tower of East Altus â Accessible from this route. You need it to fortify Morgott's Great Rune or Mohg's Great Rune.
- Golden Seed â Look for the glowing sapling about halfway along the path. Easy to miss, very worth grabbing.
Activating the Grand Lift of Rold
At the northern end of the Forbidden Lands, you will arrive at the Grand Lift of Rold. There is a Site of Grace on your right side â activate it before you do anything else.
To activate the lift, stand on the centre platform and select "Hoist Medallion" when prompted. A short cutscene plays as the lift carries you up to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
According to Game8's Grand Lift of Rold guide, the lift will not respond until you actually have the Rold Medallion in your inventory â even if you reach it early by some creative routing.
đŽ Into gaming guides and entertainment content? Check out more articles on BigWriteHook â including the Snowrider Glitch complete guide and the best Manhwa to read in 2026.
Bonus: The Secret Haligtree Route
Here is the part most guides bury at the bottom â and it is genuinely one of the coolest secrets in the game. The Grand Lift of Rold can take you to a completely different, hidden location if you have the right medallion.
Instead of using the standard Rold Medallion, you can use the Haligtree Secret Medallion â assembled from two halves â to activate the lift's secondary destination: the Consecrated Snowfield, which eventually leads to Miquella's Haligtree and the optional boss Malenia, Blade of Miquella.
As detailed by eXputer, here is how to get both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion:
đ´ Right Half â Village of the Albinaurics
Head to the Village of the Albinaurics in the swamp caves west of Liurnia of the Lakes. Near a perfumer enemy at the top of the village, you will find a large pot that looks slightly suspicious. Attack it. A disguised NPC named Albus emerges and hands you the right half before he dies. Dark, yes. Effective, absolutely.
đĩ Left Half â Castle Sol
Castle Sol is located in the Mountaintops of the Giants â the very region you will reach after using the regular Rold Medallion. Defeat Commander Niall, the boss inside, then access the tower roof in the northeast of the castle to collect the left medallion half.
Once you have both halves, return to the Grand Lift of Rold. At the lift prompt, press the directional button to switch from the standard Rold Medallion to the Hoist Secret Medallion option. A lot of players miss this step and accidentally take the wrong route â it pays to be deliberate.
Quick Tips and Common Mistakes
A few things that catch players off guard when attempting the Rold Route for the first time:
- Wrong Site of Grace. Almost every site of grace near the map marker will send you in the wrong direction. Always start from Avenue Balcony.
- Skipping Melina's dialogue. If you press through her post-Morgott conversation too quickly, you may miss receiving the medallion. If that happens, try resting at various Sites of Grace near the Erdtree area to trigger her appearance.
- Choosing the wrong medallion at the lift. If you already have both Haligtree halves by this point, the game may default to the wrong option. Take your time at the prompt and select deliberately.
- The Black Blade Kindred is not optional if you want the loot. You can sprint past it, but the Gargoyle's Black Axe and Gargoyle's Black Blades are genuinely excellent weapons for certain builds.
- Grab the Golden Seed. It sits halfway along the Forbidden Lands road as a glowing sapling. Free Sacred Flask upgrade â never skip it.
Summary: How to Get to the Rold Route in Elden Ring
Getting to the Rold Route comes down to a clear sequence. Defeat Morgott in Leyndell. Talk to Melina at the Erdtree wall to get the Rold Medallion. Fast travel to Avenue Balcony, head up and turn left, follow the road through the double doors, take two lifts, activate the Forbidden Lands Site of Grace, deal with the Black Blade Kindred, and reach the Grand Lift of Rold at the end. Hoist the medallion. You are in the Mountaintops.
It sounds long. In practice it takes about ten minutes once you know where you are going. It is one of those FromSoftware moments where the explanation sounds like a fever dream, but the actual navigation is surprisingly logical once you start moving.
And if you want to unlock the secret Haligtree path? Collect both medallion halves, return to the same lift, and choose the alternate option. Just know what is waiting for you at the end of that road.
đšī¸ Looking for more gaming and entertainment content? Browse our full Entertainment section at BigWriteHook for guides, reviews, and everything in between.
Sources & References
- Fextralife Wiki â Grand Lift of Rold
- Fextralife Wiki â Rold Medallion
- Dot Esports â How to Get to the Rold Route
- The Escapist â How to Get to the Rold Route
- eXputer â Rold Route Step-by-Step Guide
- GosuNoob â Rold Route & Grand Lift of Rold
- Game8 â Grand Lift of Rold Location and What to Do
- That Video Game Blog â The Rold Route Elden Ring
