FromSoftware’s Elden Ring is a sprawling masterpiece brimming with mysterious dungeons, cryptic quests, hidden NPCs, and powerful rewards tucked away in every corner of the Lands Between. While many players conquer the main bosses and explore major landmarks, true mastery of Elden Ring lies in uncovering its secrets—some of which are well-hidden behind obscure mechanics, optional paths, or illusory walls. If you’re ready to Elden Ring Runes go beyond the surface and unlock the deeper layers of this game, here are 9 advanced tips to help you discover Elden Ring’s hidden treasures and mechanics.

1. Strike Every Suspicious Wall—Illusory Walls Hide Real Rewards
A staple of FromSoftware’s design, illusory walls often guard secret paths, treasure chests, or new areas. These walls blend in perfectly with their surroundings and can only be revealed by attacking them (or rolling into them in some cases).

Look for walls that seem oddly placed, or behind messages that read “Try attacking.”

Many catacombs, legacy dungeons, and towers hide rooms with loot or shortcuts behind these walls.

Notable examples include Volcano Manor and Academy of Raya Lucaria, where illusory walls reveal hidden bosses or powerful loot.

Pro Tip: Use light weapons or quick rolls to test walls without risking durability or stamina.

2. Revisit Old Areas with New Items
In Elden Ring, progress often unlocks retroactive content. Once you obtain key items like Imbued Sword Keys, Stonesword Keys, or medallions, revisit earlier zones—you’ll find previously inaccessible areas that now open to you.

The Four Belfries in Liurnia allow you to teleport to different timeline versions of the world using Imbued Sword Keys.

The Dectus Medallion and Haligtree Medallion unlock major map transitions—like Altus Plateau or the Consecrated Snowfield.

Some locked Evergaols and Divine Towers require specific Great Runes or items to interact with.

Backtracking after major milestones can yield Legendary Ashes, hidden NPC quests, or even optional bosses.

3. Use Nightfall for NPC and World State Changes
Some NPCs, enemies, and world events only appear at specific times of day. Resting at Sites of Grace allows you to change the time from morning to night, and this affects world behavior.

Night Cavalry bosses only spawn at night and drop powerful Ashes of War.

Certain NPCs like Bell-Bearing Hunters replace regular shopkeepers at night, offering unique challenges.

Night also amplifies some ambient effects, and stealth-based exploration becomes more effective.

Don’t ignore this mechanic—it’s a key to unlocking side quests and rare gear.

4. Pay Close Attention to Environmental Sounds
Elden Ring’s world is alive with ambient sound, but certain audio cues hint at hidden secrets.

Tinkling or faint whispers may indicate a nearby Scarabae Beetle, which drops Ashes of War or flasks.

The distinct ringing sound can lead you to invisible scarabs, which you can only hit by watching their moving tracks on the ground.

A strange crying or singing sound might indicate a mimic tear, hidden merchant, or cursed object nearby.

Exploring with the volume up and using headphones can help you locate secrets most players miss.

5. Talk to NPCs Multiple Times at Different Locations
Many NPCs have multi-stage questlines that only progress through repeated interaction across the world. Some of these quests are easy to miss if you don’t revisit them.

NPCs like Ranni, Sellen, and Boc the Seamster each have deep, layered stories and unique rewards.

You must rest or reload the area to trigger dialogue changes or phase progressions.

Some NPCs even move across the map depending on your main story progression—check back often.

Advanced players keep a mental or written log of where and when they last spoke to each important character.

6. Look Up—Secrets Are Often Vertical
Unlike previous Souls games, Elden Ring leans heavily into vertical exploration. Climbing, dropping down, or using Spirit Springs often leads to hidden caves, cliffs, or rewards.

Many rooftops in Leyndell, Caria Manor, and Stormveil Castle are accessible and contain items, shortcuts, or secret bosses.

Spirit Springs can be used both up and down—some let you drop into secret chasms or avoid boss fights entirely.

Be bold in platforming—some ledges that look unreachable may just require a precise jump.

This also applies to interior spaces—dungeons often have platforms or chandeliers you can use for hidden routes.

7. Use Message and Bloodstain Clues from Other Players
The online system in Elden Ring is more than just PvP and co-op—it also includes player messages and bloodstains, which often highlight hidden elements.

"Try jumping" or "Hidden path ahead" often marks a secret.

Bloodstains can reveal deaths caused by falls or traps—use this to avoid mimic chests or trick floors.

Community messages often cluster near illusory walls, NPCs, or rare enemies.

Use the appraisal system to reward helpful tips and avoid trolling messages.

8. Mix And Match Ashes of War to Access New Combat Paths
Ashes of War are not just combat buffs—they also offer access to unique hidden skills or utility functions that can uncover secrets.

Use the Spectral Lance to hit high-up enemies guarding cliffs.

Equip Flaming Strike or Chilling Mist to trigger elemental damage effects that reveal fire-based or frost-based secrets.

Ashes like Hoarfrost Stomp can be used to clear invisible terrain or detect traps in foggy dungeons.

Crafting a flexible loadout with multiple Ashes of War can prepare you for unexpected secret scenarios.

9. Memorize Lesser-Known NPC and Item Lore for Hidden Hints
Some of Elden Ring’s secrets are hidden in item descriptions and lore snippets that hint at locations or objectives.

Read Talisman and key item flavor texts—they often reference places or people worth investigating.

NPC dialogue, even single lines, may hint at hidden villages, underground tombs, or divine towers.

Example: The lore on the Haligtree Secret Medallion points you to an otherwise hidden lift path to Miquella’s domain.

For lore enthusiasts and treasure hunters alike, reading everything is the key to discovering the game’s best-kept secrets.

Conclusion: Go Beyond the Obvious
The surface of Elden Ring offers enough for dozens of hours of content—but the real magic is in the hidden layers that reward curiosity, patience, and bold exploration. Whether you’re searching for powerful gear, unraveling deep NPC lore, or looking for secret bosses, these 9 advanced tips will help you unlock the unseen wonders of the best site to buy elden ring items  Lands Between. Keep exploring, keep questioning, and remember—if something feels out of place in Elden Ring, it probably hides something amazing.