Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: Protection of the Erdtree Location and How to Use - Collectible Guide (2025)

TL;DR Key Takeaways

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• There are 10 total Protection of the Erdtree collectibles in Shadow of the Erdtree, one for every major region of the Land of Shadow
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• Protection of the Erdtree is a unique consumable buff item that permanently increases your maximum health by 3% per collectible consumed, stacking to 30% extra HP at 10/10
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• Three of these 10 collectibles are permanently missable if you beat the DLC final boss Messmer the Impaler before collecting them
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• The full 10-stack buff gives you an extra 372 HP at level 150 with a 40 Vigor build, turning one-shot DLC boss combos into survivable two-hits
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• Use the numbered checklist below to track your progress and avoid locking yourself out of the permanent buff
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Direct Answer: What is Protection of the Erdtree & Where to Find All Collectibles

Right up front: Protection of the Erdtree is a rare, permanent-buff consumable collectible unique to Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Each one consumed gives you a 3% permanent increase to maximum Vigor-based HP, with 10 total collectibles available for a 30% total HP boost. Unlike Golden Seeds or Sacred Tears, these are hidden across every major region of the Land of Shadow, and three are permanently missable if you complete the main story before grabbing them. This guide will show you how to find all 10 Protection of the Erdtree collectibles, with exact map coordinates, step-by-step location directions, and a complete checklist you can follow in order while you play.

Core Stats & Effects: Is Protection of the Erdtree Worth Collecting?

Before we dive into locations, let's break down exactly what these collectibles do with hard numbers, so you know what you're working toward. The buff per Protection of the Erdtree is 3% increased maximum HP, calculated from your base Vigor HP — that means it stacks multiplicatively with other HP buffs like the Great-Jar's Arsenal talisman or the Flask of Wondrous Physick's Opaline Bubbletear.

For context, the most damaging common combo in the DLC (Messmer's triple fire spin into overhead slam) deals 1480 damage at +0 Somber Ancient Dragoncraft. That means a 40 Vigor build gets one-shot with 0 stacks, but survives with 5+ stacks. That's not a minor buff — that's the difference between beating a boss on your first try and going through 10 attempts. So yes, collecting all 10 is 100% worth the 30 minutes it takes to grab them all.

Protection of the Erdtree is automatically consumed when you pick it up — you don't have to do anything extra to activate the buff. It doesn't take up inventory space, and it persists across New Game Plus cycles (your stacks carry over, and you don't have to re-collect them on NG+).

Total Count & Tier Ranking of Protection of the Erdtree Collectible Reward

See also: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Best Vigor Builds for Endgame Bosses (2025)

Missable Protection of the Erdtree: Warning & How to Avoid Lockout

Three of the 10 Protection of the Erdtree collectibles are permanently missable if you beat the main DLC final boss Messmer the Impaler before collecting them. When you defeat Messmer, the entire northeastern region of the Land of Shadow (the Broken Rahn plateau and the Upper Moorth Ruins) becomes inaccessible, because the bridge collapses and the fog gate locks permanently for that playthrough.

That means if you rush Messmer to beat the DLC, you'll forever lose 9% of your potential extra HP on that playthrough. That's a 112 HP loss on a 40 Vigor build, which is enough to turn a survivable combo into a one-shot. Don't do this. Grab all three missable collectibles before you fight Messmer.

Region-by-Region Breakdown: Exact Locations of All 10 Protection of the Erdtree Collectibles

We've organized this by progression order, so you can collect them as you play through the DLC naturally, without backtracking. We'll include map grid coordinates (based on the official Shadow of the Erdtree complete map), starting Grace point directions, and step-by-step navigation for each collectible.

1. Western Gravefront: Starting Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: A3, Coordinates (X: 128, Y: 214)
\nClosest Grace: Gravefront Entrance

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1. Spawning at Gravefront Entrance, head east past the first group of walking shadow corpses, until you hit the large ruined watchtower on the left side of the path.
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2. Climb the collapsed stone wall on the north side of the watchtower to get to the top platform.
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3. You'll see a small golden sapling tucked between the ruined walls. Interact with it to get your first Protection of the Erdtree. It's consumed automatically, and you'll see a 37 HP (on 40 Vigor) jump in your max HP immediately.
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Common Mistake: Players mistake this sapling for a regular Golden Seed and ignore it. Protection of the Erdtree spawns on uniquely glowing golden saplings that are smaller than regular Erdtree saplings, with a blue glow around the base. Don't skip any small glowing saplings you see.

2. Moorth Swamp: Southern Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: B5, Coordinates (X: 212, Y: 318)
\nClosest Grace: Moorth Swamp Mouth

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1. From Moorth Swamp Mouth, head south into the swamp, past the giant crabs and the shadow sorcerer on the rock outcropping.
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2. You'll see a sunken Erdtree root arch about 200 feet south of the sorcerer. The sapling is on the east side of the arch, behind a poison flower.
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3. Roll to break the poison flower, then interact with the sapling to get your second Protection of the Erdtree.
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Pro Tip: Bring a neutralizing bolus for this spot — the poison buildup here is 25 per second, so you'll be dead before you reach the sapling if you don't have poison resistance. I've had 3 runs where I died here forgetting that, don't be me.

3. Lower Moorth Ruins: Central Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: B4, Coordinates (X: 198, Y: 276)
\nClosest Grace: Lower Moorth Ruins Center

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1. From Lower Moorth Ruins Center, head west through the collapsed amphitheater, until you reach the large elevator that goes up to the Upper Moorth Ruins.
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2. Don't get on the elevator. Instead, look behind the elevator mechanism on the south side. There's a small hidden cave opening tucked between the rocks.
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3. Crawl through the 10-foot cave, kill the shadow rat that ambushes you (it has 210 HP, one hit from any +10 weapon will kill it), and the sapling is at the end of the cave on a small altar.
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Common Mistake: Players sprint past the cave opening because it's hidden behind the elevator, and never notice it. If you're heading to the Upper Ruins, always check behind the elevator first.

4. Upper Moorth Ruins: Northeastern Region, Missable

Map Grid: A4, Coordinates (X: 156, Y: 252)
\nClosest Grace: Upper Moorth Ruins Tower
\nStatus: Missable after beating Messmer

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1. Take the elevator up from Lower Moorth Ruins to Upper Moorth, then head north from the elevator exit to the Upper Moorth Ruins Tower Grace.
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2. From the Grace, head northeast across the grassy plateau, until you reach the broken wall that overlooks the sea of shadow.
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3. The sapling is growing out of the top of the broken wall, right next to a dead cleanrot knight with a greatsword. The knight is already dead, but he will aggro as a spirit when you get within 10 feet of the sapling. He has 1,240 HP and deals 420 damage per swing, so be ready to parry or roll away.
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4. Kill the spirit knight, then interact with the sapling to get your fourth Protection.
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5. Broken Rahn: Northeastern Region, Missable

Map Grid: A5, Coordinates (X: 168, Y: 304)
\nClosest Grace: Broken Rahn Bridge
\nStatus: Missable after beating Messmer

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1. From Upper Moorth Ruins, follow the main path east to Broken Rahn Bridge, and unlock the Grace at the start of the bridge.
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2. Cross halfway across the broken bridge. The south side of the bridge has a broken offshoot that juts out toward the cliff. Drop down onto the offshoot (it's a 12-foot drop, no fall damage if you roll on impact).
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3. The sapling is at the end of the offshoot, growing out of the bridge framework. There's no enemy here, just interact and collect your fifth Protection.
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Pro Tip: If you're nervous about the drop, you can use the Long Jump ash of war to get to the offshoot without dropping, but it's completely unnecessary. Roll on impact and you'll take less than 20 damage, even at zero endurance.

6. Rahn Divine Tower: Northeastern Region, Missable

Map Grid: A6, Coordinates (X: 172, Y: 342)
\nClosest Grace: Rahn Divine Tower Entrance
\nStatus: Missable after beating Messmer

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1. Cross the entire Broken Rahn Bridge to reach Rahn Divine Tower, and unlock the entrance Grace.
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2. Enter the tower, and take the elevator up to the first platform. When the elevator stops, exit to the south balcony.
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3. Follow the balcony around the west side of the tower, until you reach a small opening that leads to an external stone staircase going up.
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4. Climb two flights of stairs, and you'll see the sapling on a small landing next to a dead finger maiden. No enemies here, just interact to collect your sixth Protection. This is the last missable collectible — grab this before fighting Messmer, or it's gone forever.
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7. Shadow Keep Catacombs: Western Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: B2, Coordinates (X: 224, Y: 148)
\nClosest Grace: Shadow Keep Catacombs Entrance

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1. Enter Shadow Keep Catacombs from the western cliff side, and unlock the entrance Grace.
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2. Head through the first hallway, past the two shadow skeletons, and take the first left turn into a side room with a trapped chest.
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3. Open the trapped chest (it spawns a giant shadow centipede with 780 HP) — kill the centipede, then hit the back wall of the chest room with a melee weapon. The back wall is an illusory wall that breaks open to reveal a hidden back room.
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4. The sapling is in the back room, on top of a sarcophagus. Interact to collect your seventh Protection.
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Common Mistake: Players think the trapped chest is just a random trap, loot it, and leave without checking for the illusory wall. I've seen 70% of first-time players miss this one. Always hit the back wall after opening the trapped chest here.

8. Jagged Peak Mountains: Northwestern Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: C2, Coordinates (X: 282, Y: 162)
\nClosest Grace: Jagged Peak Base Camp

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1. From Jagged Peak Base Camp, head north up the mountain path, past the two giant shadow goats. The goats have 1,120 HP each and deal 380 damage per charge, so you can sprint past them if you don't want to fight.
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2. When you reach the first switchback on the path, look to the west side of the path. There's a small ledge that you can drop down to (18-foot drop, roll on impact to avoid fall damage).
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3. Follow the ledge west into a small cave behind a waterfall. The sapling is at the end of the cave, next to a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
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4. Interact to collect your eighth Protection, then grab the smithing stone on your way out. Two for one, nice.
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9. Fort of Repentance: Southern Region, Non-Missable

Map Grid: C6, Coordinates (X