The Minor Erdtree Catacombs are built into the base of the Minor Erdtree in Caelid, and they hold Smoldering Butterfly, the crafting material used to make fire pots. The dungeon is short and guarded by Imps. The lower level is flooded with scarlet rot, so this is a route to run deliberately rather than stumble into.
- Start at
- Minor Erdtree, Caelid
- Region
- Caelid
- Edition
- Base game · PC
Before you set out
- Reach the Minor Erdtree in Caelid and activate the grace inside the catacombs.
- The lower level is flooded with scarlet rot. Do not run this dungeon at low level with no remedy.
- Imps guard the catacombs and fire from range.
Follow the route
1. Reach the Minor Erdtree in Caelid
Travel to the Minor Erdtree in Caelid. The catacombs are at its foot, so the tree itself is the landmark to aim for once you are in the region.
2. Activate the grace inside
There is a Site of Grace inside the Minor Erdtree Catacombs. Activate it before you go deeper, so the run is a quick return if scarlet rot gets the better of you.
3. Deal with the Imps on the way down
The catacombs are patrolled by Imps. They fire from range and the lower corridors are tight, so clear them as you move rather than letting several line up in front of you.
4. Watch your rot on the lower level
The lower level is flooded with scarlet rot. This is the part of the route that catches people out: the rot builds as you remain in it, so pick a window to come down, take what you need, and leave rather than exploring the whole level in one go.
5. Collect the Smoldering Butterflies
Loot the Smoldering Butterflies from the catacombs and confirm the count in your inventory. You need several to craft fire pots, and the material is also used for other fire-ash crafts.
Common wrong turns and restrictions
Do not attempt this dungeon at low level or with no rot remedy. The Imps are manageable, but the flooded lower level will take your scarlet rot past the point of no return faster than the fight itself.
Scarlet rot is not a damage-over-time effect that wears off. It builds in stages and each stage makes you take more damage and take it more often, so leaving the area is the real fix, not waiting.
There are several Minor Erdtree Catacombs in the game. This guide is for the one at the Minor Erdtree in Caelid, in the southern part of the region, not the Dragonbarrow or Liurnia ones.
If you only need fire pots, check your crafting materials first. Smoldering Butterfly is not the only fire material in the game, so you may not need this route on your first pass through Caelid.