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Sacred Tears are one of the most important survival items in Elden Ring since they increase the flasks' recovery amount. Along with Golden Seeds, they act as some form of insurance against mistakes that deplete the HP bar too much. Unlike Golden Seeds, though, they're easier to find since all of them are located in the overworld churches. Here are all the churches:
- Third Church of Marika
- Callu Baptismal Church
- Church of Pilgrimage
- Fourth Church of Marika
- Church of Irith
- Bellum Church
- Church of Inhibition
- Church of the Plague
- Second Church of Marika
- Stormcaller Church
- First Church of Marika
- Church of Repose
All of them appear on the map as rectangular or square ruins with domes or circular structures in them. Then again, not all of these ruined churches are accessible simply by following the road or being happy-go-lucky with Torrent. So players are advised to read on for more details on how to get to these churches for Sacred Tears.
Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula
Third Church of Marika
Getting to the Third Church of Marika is simple enough. From the Agheel Lake North Site of Grace, just follow the big road to the southeast. After crossing the bridge, take the road that forks north and then keep following the road. The church should be there along the way, hard to miss.
Callu Baptismal Church
Callu Baptismal Church is in the Weeping Peninsula. It's in a forest that juts to the south of a big road where the South of the Lookout Tower Site of Grace is located. The church is right next to the Ailing Village, full of weak enemies. Traversal and getting the sacred tear are easy, and players don't even need to fight.
Church of Pilgrimage
Along the same road where the South of the Lookout Tower Site of Grace is located, keep following the path westward across a rope bridge and then northward once the players reach the hills. If they keep heading up the road to the hill, they'll come upon the Church of Pilgrimage. It's a pretty straightforward Sacred Tear grab.
Fourth Church of Marika
Southwest of the Church of Pilgrimmage in the Weeping Peninsula is the Fourth Church of Marika. It's near the field where the giant walking mausoleum roams around. Be advised that several Mausoleum Knights are guarding the entrance to the Fourth Church of Marika, so it's better to approach the church ruins from the side to avoid attracting them.
Liurnia of the Lakes
Church of Irith
After players defeat Godrick (or went around Stormveil Castle) and unlocked the Lake-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace, there should be a church nearby to the southwest with no roof. Simply walk inside and grab the Sacred Tear. Make sure to talk to the crestfallen sorcerer inside the church to get a clue regarding passage to Raya Lucaria Academy.
Bellum Church
Northeast from the East Raya Lucaria Gate Site of Grace lies Bellum Church. It's easy to get there if players already have the Glintstone Key. Just use the blue insignia barriers to teleport there instead of manually riding Torrent to the east of Liurnia of the Lakes to get there. Bellum Church is just on the edge of the small forest around the big road.
Church of Inhibition
Arguably the most difficult church to visit, the Church of Inhibition requires some decent Torrent riding skills. Start from Bellum Church Site of Grace, then head east, immediately looking for a natural ramp up a hill, avoiding the catapult fire. Follow that ramp to the northeast and then turn southeast near the edge.
Keep going until a suspicious tower looms over the horizon, and don't slow down; run past this tower into the trees to the south down to the village full of mad denizens nearby.
Players will have to enter this village and look for another natural ramp that will take them past the walls and up a hill to the northeast. There are lots of dangerous enemies in the area, and it's advisable to just ride past them to reach the Church of Inhibition on top of the hill.
A powerful NPC invader might also appear as players approach the church.
Caelid - Church of the Plague
There's only one Marika's church in Caelid, and it's quite tedious to reach. The fastest method, however, is just jumping down from Fort Faroth. To get to Forth Faroth even at low-level, follow these instructions:
- Head to the Third Church of Marika.
- Step outside to the north, into the pond, and look for a teleporter among the plants.
- This will take players to the Bestial Sanctum (there's a Site of Grace inside).
- Head south from the Bestial Sanctum and ignore all the enemies (even the dragon on the bridge).
- Keep heading south until a Minor Erdtress is visible (circle around to the left of the Erdtree to avoid the mean Erdtree Avatar boss), look for a Spirit Spring jumping pad near the tree.
- Jump up and head to the Site of Grace in front of Fort Faroth.
Head southeast from the fort's Site of Grace and traverse the cliff edge until a Spirit Spring is visible. Jump down that Spirit Spring to avoid damage. From up there, the Church of the Plague should be visible.
Altus Plateau
Second Church of Marika
Getting here assumes that players have already unlocked the Grand Lift of Dectus. To unlock it, just grab the medallion on top of Fort Faroth in Caelid and Fort Haight in Limgrave.
From the Grand Lift of Dectus (once it goes up), players simply need to follow the big road until they see the Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace. From the north of this Site of Grace is the Second Church of Marika.
Stormcaller Church
Stormcaller Church appears accessible from the Altus Highway Junction Grace, but it's not. It's up high on a hill. Players will have to go south from the northern part of Altus Plateau. The easiest way is pictured in the image above, starting from the Outer Wall Battleground Site of Grace.
That means going inside Leyndell's walls (which is easy enough --just run past all the enemies if in a rush).
Mountaintops of the Giants
First Church of Marika
The First Church of Marika is just at the southern edge of the big frozen lake to the northeast of the Mountaintops of the Giants. Players can follow the frozen river to get to the lake. Just be careful of the giant lobsters outside the church.
Church of Repose
The Church of Repose is the farthest Sacred Tear location, and it's just outside the Fire Giant boss arena. Outside that arena, head to the southeast part of the frozen plateau to look for the church. There's an invader there if players haven't killed the Fire Giant yet --be careful, as always.
Elden Ring is out for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.