So you’ve heard whispers of Noklateo, the towering, mist-shrouded ruin tucked away in Limveld’s haunted southwest, and you want in. Good news: you’re in the right place. Bad news: getting there (and surviving it) is a whole event in itself. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through every step of unlocking, surviving, and conquering Noklateo, Elden Ring: Nightreign’s toughest Shifting Earth challenge. We’ll talk spawn conditions, prep tips, the wild route into the city, that brutal rooftop maze, and finally, how to defeat the boss that guards one of the most powerful buffs in the game, the Favor of Noklateo.
How to Find Secret Noklateo (The Shrouded City)
Noklateo isn’t just a fancy background set piece. This is a fully-fledged, multi-layered city that appears only during the rare Shifting Earth event. When active, it completely rewrites the map’s terrain, wiping out landmarks like the fortress and replacing them with soaring cathedrals, ghost-lit stairways, and an eerie silence that’s only broken by the storm closing in around you.
To put it bluntly: Noklateo is a test of speed, skill, and coordination. If you’re not ready, this place will eat you alive. If you are, it becomes one of the most rewarding and memorable runs you’ll ever complete in Nightreign.
How to Unlock Noklateo + A Heads Up
Before you even see Noklateo, you’ll need to meet a few prerequisites:
- Defeat at least 6 Nightlords (excluding Heolstor, the final boss).
- Check your matchmaking queue for the Shifting Earth event.
- Be at least Level 8–9, and ideally attempt it on Day 2 or later in your run.
If you’re not seeing the event spawn, go kill a few more bosses and keep an eye out. It doesn’t appear every match, so persistence (and maybe a lucky seed) is key.
Once you spawn in the map, you’ll immediately notice things look… off. The usual landmarks like the fortress? Gone. In their place is this massive, mist-covered city rising out of the ground like something pulled from a dream, or a nightmare. It’s honestly one of the coolest reveals in the game.
Noklateo sits tucked away in the far corner of the map, and that’s important. Because once the second circle starts closing, this place turns into a trap real fast. If you’re not in and out on a tight schedule, you’ll get caught, and the storm doesn’t play nice out here. So, I recommend that you wait until Day 2 and head into the Noklateo City as soon as you hit Level 9.
Preparing for the Shrouded City
Let me be real with you: the actual boss isn’t the hardest part here, it’s the city itself. You’ll be racing a storm, navigating a rooftop jumping puzzle, and trying not to fall behind while your teammates yell at you for missing the ledge again.
Here’s what you need:
- Level 9 minimum
- 3-person squad, fully healed and equipped
- Purple-tier gear if available
- Don’t solo unless you enjoy suffering
How to Navigate Noklateo (Route) & What to Expect
Once you finally make it to Noklateo, and trust me, just getting there feels like an achievement, you’ll notice there aren’t a ton of obvious entry points. Go straight through the center gate. From there, it’s all about following a very specific route. This place is less “open-world exploration” and more “precision platformer with cosmic punishment for stalling.”
Don’t Miss the Buff Pools & Mini-Boss
Early on, you’ll come across a mini-boss-y type enemy blocking your path. He’s carrying a shield and a flashy weapon, and he looks like bad news, but with your full squad backing you up, he’s manageable. Definitely take him down if you’re behind on power or upgrades. He drops something useful, and hey, free gear is free gear.
Along the way, you’ll see some glowing buff pools. These give you a short-term damage negation boost. We skipped them during our run, we were racing the storm, but they’re good safety nets if your healer’s out of juice or your tank keeps faceplanting into gravity spells.
Waterfall Climb & the Rooftop Run (Maze)
Eventually, you’ll hit a waterfall climb. This part threw me off the first time, mostly because I didn’t expect platforming in a place like this. Just keep your cool, find the ledges, and you’ll be fine. Once you’re up, this is a great spot to reset your flasks and dump your runes into levels. You won’t get another good break before the boss.
Now for the tricky part, the rooftop run. This section is a maze. You’ll need to hit a boost gate, hop across buildings, climb up some scaffolding, and find your way to a narrow bridge. It’s super easy to get turned around here, and every second counts because, remember, the storm is creeping in like it pays rent.
Collectibles, Lore Bits & Easter Eggs
I’m sure there are collectibles, lore bits, and cool easter eggs tucked into every corner of this city, but honestly? Don’t even look at them. Stay focused, stay fast. This is an achievement run, not a walking tour.
Eventually, you’ll find another checkpoint. Unless you’re hanging on by a thread, don’t bother resting. Momentum is your best friend here.
Right after that, there’s a drop, and surprise, there are two tough enemies waiting to say hello. One of them drops loot, but unless you’re significantly overleveled or have time to burn, I’d skip them. They hit hard and take way too long to deal with when you’ve got a boss waiting just ahead.
If you do get chunked by one of them, there’s a silver lining: you can backtrack a bit and reset your flasks at the last checkpoint before going into the boss fight. Use that time to top off, breathe, and prep, because the Naturalborn of the Void is just around the corner, and it’s ready to ruin your run if you’re not careful.
Naturalborn of the Void Boss Fight
Once you reach the cathedral, prepare for battle, and maybe your death.
Quick tips:
- Stick to its head. It’s the weak point and safest zone.
- Watch the gravity field and the giant laser can shred 90% of your health bar . If the air turns pink, run.
- Dodge its slam attacks. Big AoEs, big pain.
- Use Ultimates wisely. Offense-focused ones stagger it; support Ultimates save lives.
This boss isn’t the hardest, but if you’re underleveled or greedy with time, he can and will one-shot you. Be smart.
Claiming the Reward: Favor of Noklateo
Once the boss is down, don’t leave yet, especially if the storm’s rolling in. There’s a special item you need to pick up to trigger the achievement. If you miss it, the whole run’s wasted. After taking down the Naturalborn of the Void, head into the antechamber to grab your prize, the Favor of Noklateo, the Shrouded City.
What It Does:
- One-time revive from a downed state.
- Boosts your power temporarily upon revival.
- Doesn’t take up an item slot.
- Works for the entire team if you all go down together.
It’s like a cosmic Uno reverse card, perfect for clutching Nightlord fights, especially Heolstor.
Wrap-Up: Worth the Chaos? Absolutely.
Noklateo in Elden Ring: Nightreign is chaos. It’s pressure. It’s trying to platform under a death cloud while your squad yells directions. But it’s also unforgettable. If you’re chasing 100% completion or just want a badass edge for those final Nightlord showdowns, the Shrouded City is a must-do. Just don’t expect a leisurely walk in the mist. Up next, if you’re looking to take on another Shifting Earth event, I’ve also put together a guide for the Crater. It’s a similar walkthrough with tips to help you get through it without too much headache.
