Direct answer: Leyndell, Royal Capital sits at the foot of the Erdtree in the east of Altus, behind double ramparts and a moat that has mostly dried to shallow water. There are two main ways in: the south-western highway, which is the main road and the heavily guarded one, and a second approach from the north-west. The Elden Throne is in the south-eastern part of the city.
Before you go
- Leyndell is not optional. It gates the Mountaintops and the endgame.
- The inner wall has never been breached in the game’s history — it is a siege, not a dungeon you sneak past.
- Levy the Ashes of War change here, so bring enough of a weapon to cover the swords you have not levelled.
- Expect holy damage from the capital’s defenders and blood loss from enemies inside. A fire-resistant build will feel good here; a rot or bleed-resistant one will not.
Getting in
The south-western highway is the main road, well maintained and lined with statues of Marika’s soldiers. It is the most obvious approach and also the most heavily defended. Just outside the outer wall, on an outcroppting to the north of this highway, sits the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave, the resting place of a hero who fought the Giants — worth clearing on the way in.
Once through the outer rampart, a Minor Erdtree stands to the north-east. Past the inner wall the city proper is bounded by a lake, and the Elden Throne sits in the south-eastern area. Morgott guards it.
Below the city is the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, a network of sewers and waterways. The Leyndell Catacombs branch off it, and deeper still is the Cathedral of the Forsaken. The Shunning-Grounds are also where Dung Eater is imprisoned, which matters for the Morgott fight.
Sites of Grace inside
There are several, spread across the city: East Capital Rampart, West Capital Rampart, Avenue Balcony, Lower Capital Church, Divine Bridge, Queen’s Bedchamber, Fortified Manor First Floor, and Elden Throne. The rampart graces are the practical ones for clearing the approach; Divine Bridge is the closest to the throne.
Wrong turns worth knowing
- Going round the outside. There is no way into the capital that bypasses the ramparts. The city is enclosed.
- Confusing the two approaches. The south-western highway is the main road. A north-western approach also exists, but it is not a shortcut past the siege.
- Forgetting the ley. Bringing Ashes of War here and finding nothing levelled is a common late mistake.
Evidence status
Research-reviewed. Rampart layout, approach directions, the Minor Erdtree position, the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave, and the underground chain are stated from current game data. Not gameplay-verified.