In the vast and perilous Lands Between, the Walking Mausoleums stand as colossal, ambulatory monuments that serve a critical function beyond their awe-inspiring presence. These massive stone creatures are integral to the game's reward system, allowing players to duplicate the precious Remembrances dropped by major bosses. Each Remembrance can be exchanged for a vast sum of runes or transformed into one of two powerful weapons or spells, forcing a difficult choice. The Mausoleums offer a rare reprieve from this dilemma, permitting a single duplication per mausoleum, thereby expanding a player's arsenal. However, this service is not freely given; each giant must first be subdued, forced to a standstill by overcoming its unique defensive mechanics before its inner sanctum can be accessed.
Scattered across the realm, the seven Walking Mausoleums vary dramatically in accessibility, challenge, and strategic value. Some are straightforward encounters, while others demand precision, patience, and traversal of late-game horrors. With the advent of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion introducing new Remembrances, the strategic importance of these duplicating behemoths has only grown, making an understanding of their hierarchies more crucial than ever for Tarnished seeking to maximize their power.
7. The Deeproot Depths Mausoleum: A Lethal Gauntlet
This mausoleum is arguably the most treacherous to engage, a true deathtrap nestled in a late-game area. Access itself is a formidable challenge, requiring players to first defeat the Valiant Gargoyles. To halt its march, one must perform a perilous platforming jump onto its back from a narrow runway—a task as delicate as balancing on a frayed tightrope over a chasm. The approach is a chaotic nightmare, swarming with Basilisks that spew deadly deathblight mist and archers taking potshots from the shadows. The entire area feels like a meticulously designed snare, making this mausoleum one most players wisely avoid unless absolutely necessary.
6. The Liurnia of the Lakes Mausoleum: A Test of Patience
Located in an early-game region, this mausoleum requires a jump aided by a Spirit Spring. While non-lethal, the execution is maddeningly finicky. The spring's placement demands near-perfect timing and alignment as the mausoleum lumbers by, turning the encounter into a repetitive exercise in frustration. It presents a rare scenario of high failure chance with minimal danger, akin to trying to thread a moving needle while riding a unicycle. With two superior and more accessible mausoleums nearby in the Mausoleum Compound, this one often becomes an ignored relic.
5. The Consecrated Snowfield Mausoleum: A Magical Barrage
Found in the end-game Consecrated Snowfield, this variant employs a unique and visually striking attack: it rains down magical artillery from its peak. While these glowing projectiles are dodgeable, they add a layer of complexity to the approach. Its primary drawback is its lateness; by the time players reach it, their builds are often finalized, reducing the immediate need for duplication. Its unique gimmick is like a spectacular but final firework in a long show—impressive but of limited utility.
4. The Mountaintops of the Giants Mausoleum: The Forgettable Giant
This mausoleum is defined by its lack of distinction. Accessible in the mid-to-late game, it is subdued by the standard method of attacking the glowing skulls on its legs. It reuses attack patterns from earlier variants, making it a straightforward but utterly forgettable encounter. For players simply seeking a duplication point for late-game Remembrances, its ease is a benefit, but it offers nothing to make it memorable beside its more exceptional brethren.
3. & 2. The Mausoleum Compound Duo: Guardians of Exclusive Rewards
The third and second-best mausoleums are found together in the Mausoleum Compound, near Liurnia. Both lack a bell, making them visually distinct. Their true value lies in their exclusive function: they are the only mausoleums that can duplicate the Remembrances of non-demigod bosses. This includes legends like Lichdragon Fortissax, Maliketh the Black Blade, and the Regal Ancestor Spirit. With the DLC adding more such bosses, these twins have become more valuable than ever. They are strategic keystones, as essential to a completionist's arsenal as a master key to a vault of treasures.
1. The Weeping Peninsula Mausoleum: The Iconic First Step
Crowned as the best, the Weeping Peninsula mausoleum is often a player's first encounter with these giants, creating one of the game's most visually iconic moments. Its vast roaming ground is visible from afar, a silent titan shaping the early-game landscape. It is supremely accessible, easily stopped by attacking its legs or waiting for its nocturnal slumber. It serves as the perfect, hassle-free introduction to the duplication mechanic, remaining useful even in subsequent playthroughs. It is the reliable workhorse of the group, a steadfast ally in a world of betrayals and decay.
Strategic Summary for the Modern Tarnished (2026)
With the full scope of the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC now clear, planning Mausoleum use is key. Each can only be used once per playthrough. A prudent strategy involves:
| Priority | Mausoleum | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| High | Weeping Peninsula | Early-game duplication; easy access for any Remembrance. |
| Critical | Mausoleum Compound (Both) | Exclusively for non-demigod Remembrances (Base Game & DLC). |
| Situational | Mountaintops of the Giants | Late-game duplications when easier options are spent. |
| Low | Others | Use only if all others are expended for specific needs. |
The Walking Mausoleums are more than mere obstacles; they are pivotal resource hubs. Choosing which giant to awaken—and which precious memory to double—is a strategic decision that echoes throughout a Tarnished's journey toward the Elden Throne.