Ah, the Four Belfries. Tarnished, you've probably seen them standing tall in Liurnia of the Lakes, those mysterious stone towers that look like they hold the secrets to the Lands Between itself. And you'd be right! In 2026, with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC fully integrated into the Elden Ring experience, understanding these ancient gateways is more crucial than ever for completionists and lore hunters. They serve as a unique crossroads, using magical portals to warp you to isolated fragments of the world you thought you knew... or to places you thought you'd never see again. But here's the catch: you can't just waltz up and use them. Each portal is locked tight, guarded by a blue Imp Statue, and the only keys that fit are the legendary Imbued Sword Keys. Let's break it all down.

🔑 Imbued Sword Keys: Your Ticket to Adventure

First things first, you gotta get the keys. You'll need three for the main game's Belfries, plus a special fourth one introduced in the DLC. It's a scavenger hunt, folks!

• Key #1 (Freebie): The easiest one is just sitting there, waiting for you. Head to the highest point of the Four Belfries mountain. You'll find a Site of Grace and your first Imbued Sword Key right there. One down!

• Key #2 & #3 (The Hunt): The other two base-game keys are hidden elsewhere in the Lands Between. You'll have to explore to find them. Pro tip: check out areas with a lot of magical history or imp-related shenanigans. (If you're truly stuck, veteran content creators like Gaming with Griff Griffin have your back with detailed guides).

• Key #4 (The DLC Key - Shadow of the Erdtree): This one's a game-changer. You cannot find it in the base game. To get it, you must venture into the Realm of Shadow and conquer Castle Ensis. After defeating the formidable boss Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, explore the tower near an Exile Soldier. At the top of the stairs, the fourth Imbued Sword Key awaits. This key unlocks a portal not at the Four Belfries, but to a new hidden area!

How to Use Them: Simple! Take your shiny key back to any Belfry with an inactive portal (the blue Imp Statue is your sign). Activate the key at the statue, and watch as a shimmering gateway to mystery opens before you. Each tower has a cryptic clue inscribed on it, giving you a vague hint about your destination. 🤔

🗺️ The Three Main Belfry Portals: Where Do They Go?

Alright, you've got your keys. Let's talk destinations. Each portal leads to a sealed-off snippet of a major area, often packed with unique loot you can't get anywhere else.

1. Bottom Belfry Portal: "Crumbling Lands"

This portal, the lowest of the three, dumps you into a severed chunk of Crumbling Farum Azula. Yeah, that storm-ravaged, dragon-infested end-game zone. But this isn't the main area you'll visit later. It's a lonely, isolated platform floating in the storm. Why go? For the Pearldrake Talisman, of course! This handy item grants a solid 5% non-physical damage negation. It's a must-grab for any build looking to boost survivability against magic and holy attacks.

2. Middle Belfry Portal: "Night Sky Unceasing"

The middle tower sends you to a forgotten corner of Nokron, Eternal City. Again, it's disconnected from the main, explorable city. This spot is a treasure trove for stat-boosting gear. Your main prize here is the Mottled Necklace, a talisman that significantly boosts your Focus, Robustness, and Immunity. That's a huge help against status effects like Madness, Frost, and Poison. Be warned, though—a Lesser Crucible Knight stands guard. While he won't drop his iconic incantations, he can reward you with runes and the Crucible Hornshield, a fantastic shield for any warrior embracing the ancient crucible arts.

3. Top Belfry Portal: "Precipice of Anticipation"

This is the big one. The uppermost portal is arguably the most exciting. It takes you back to the Chapel of Anticipation—the very first area of the game where you got utterly wrecked by the Grafted Scion. Normally, there's no way back here. It's a pure nostalgia (and revenge) trip.

• Get Your Revenge: Now you can style on that multi-armed freak and claim your victory rewards: runes, a Golden Beast Crest Shield, and the elegant Ornamental Straight Sword.

• Missed Loot Galore: This is your only chance to scoop up key items you skipped at the start:

  • Stormhawk King: Critical for advancing Nepheli Loux's questline.

  • Stormhawk Deenh: A powerful spirit ash summon.

If you only have one Imbued Sword Key early on, most veterans in 2026 will tell you to use it on this top portal. The loot here is unique and quest-critical.

🌳 The Shadow of the Erdtree Portal: A New Journey

With the DLC now a core part of the journey, there's a fourth portal activated by the Imbued Sword Key, but it's not at the Liurnia Belfries.

After defeating Rellana in Castle Ensis and exiting, you'll arrive at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace in Scadu Altus. Look to the west, and you'll spot a lone, familiar-looking Belfry. Approach it and use your DLC Imbued Sword Key.

This portal transports you to an isolated section within the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. Your main find here is the Verdigris Discus, a talisman that boosts your damage negation the heavier your equipment load is. It's a game-changer for tank builds! As a bonus, you'll get to battle the Divine Bird Warrior, who has a chance to drop pieces of the Divine Bird Warrior Armor set—a fantastic fit for any Faith-based character rocking those holy incantations.

🎯 Final Tips for the Aspiring Lord

So, there you have it! The Four Belfries (plus one) are more than just scenic landmarks; they're direct flights to exclusive content. To summarize:

Portal Location	Clue Inscription	Destination	Key Loot / Encounter
Bottom Belfry	"Crumbling Lands"	Isolated Crumbling Farum Azula	Pearldrake Talisman
Middle Belfry	"Night Sky Unceasing"	Isolated Nokron, Eternal City	Mottled Necklace, Lesser Crucible Knight
Top Belfry	"Precipice of Anticipation"	Chapel of Anticipation	Ornamental Straight Sword, Stormhawk King/Deenh
Scadu Altus Belfry	N/A	Ancient Ruins of Rauh (Isolated)	Verdigris Discus, Divine Bird Warrior

Remember, Tarnished: exploration is key. Those Imbued Sword Keys are your invitation to peel back the hidden layers of this world. Whether you're seeking vengeance, powerful talismans, or essential quest items, these timeless portals hold the answer. Now go forth, unlock the gates, and claim what is yours! 💀🔥