If you’ve spent hours wandering the misty cliffs of Liurnia’s western edge, you’ve probably stumbled on cryptic player messages referencing a hidden section players call where winds meet grand evasion. This tucked-away plateau is easy to miss if you’re only following the main quest path, but it holds some of the best early-to-mid game loot for light and medium builds, plus a tricky platforming challenge that rewards you with one of the most versatile ashes of war in the game. I spent three separate playthroughs missing this spot before a random summon pointed me in the right direction, so I’ve put together everything you need to find it, clear it, and walk away with all the rewards.
How to Find Where Winds Meet Grand Evasion Without Glitches
You don’t need any special items or glitches to reach this spot, but you do need to pay attention to the small, unmarked paths tucked between cliff faces. Many players mix up the where winds meet grand evasion plateau with the nearby Windmill Village area, but they’re completely separate spots with different loot. Start at the Fallgnast Ruins grace on Liurnia’s western coastline, facing north toward the jagged rock formations above.
Instead of following the main road up toward the Academy, turn left and hug the cliff wall until you spot a narrow, overgrown path half-hidden by ivy. You’ll have to jump over a small broken stone barrier to access it, and you’ll face three weak skeleton mages along the way, so have a holy weapon or fire pots handy if you don’t want them respawning mid-climb. That path will wind up the cliff for about 2 minutes of walking, and you’ll know you’re in the right spot when you hit a wide, flat plateau with constant, whistling wind effects that don’t let up even when you stand still.
If you hit a dead end or run into a giant crab, you’ve gone too far west, so backtrack a few steps and look for the ivy-covered opening you missed. For reference, this spot sits directly above the submerged sunken village you may have explored earlier, so if you can see the half-broken rooftops below you, you’re on the correct elevation.
Key Loot and Rewards You’ll Unlock at This Hidden Spot
The where winds meet grand evasion plateau only has 4 permanent non-respawning enemies, so you can clear it in under 10 minutes once you know the route. It’s small, but it’s packed with rewards that make the climb worth it even if you’re already overleveled for the area. I’ve listed all the permanent, non-respawning loot you can grab here, plus notes on which builds benefit most from each:
There’s also a respawning group of wind revenants that spawn every time you rest at the hidden grace here, which are great for farming runes if you’re between level 50 and 70. They drop rare ghost gloveworts too, so it’s a solid farming spot if you’re upgrading your spirit summons. If you’re having trouble with the revenants, use a weapon with holy damage and keep your distance — their sweep attacks have deceptively long range, so don’t get greedy with hits.
How to Master the Grand Evasion Ash for Boss Fights
The Grand Evasion ash you get from where winds meet grand evasion is far more versatile than most dodge-focused ashes, because it works with every weapon type from daggers to colossal swords. Once you grab it, you’ll want to test it out on regular enemies first before bringing it to tough boss fights, because it has a slightly different timing than regular dodge rolls. The first thing to note is that it uses 8 FP per activation if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor, so you’ll want to invest a few points into mind if you plan to use it constantly, or equip the FP-regenerating Cerulean Amber Talisman to cut down on flask use.
For light armor builds, the FP cost drops to 0, which makes it completely broken for fast, aggressive playstyles. I used this ash for my entire recent RL1 playthrough, and it saved me from more Malenia waterfowl dance attacks than I can count. You can also pair it with the Bloodhound Step ash if you want even more mobility, but I’ve found that Grand Evasion works better for most fights because it doesn’t leave a visible trail that enemies can track. If you’re a caster, you can use the extra distance from Grand Evasion to cast larger, slower spells like Comet Azur without worrying about getting interrupted mid-cast.
The biggest mistake new players make with this ash is rolling too early. The invulnerability frames kick in 0.2 seconds later than a regular roll, so you’ll want to wait half a beat longer than you normally would to trigger it, especially for fast, sweeping boss attacks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting This Area
Even if you follow the path to the plateau perfectly, there are a few easy mistakes that can make your trip way more frustrating than it needs to be. First, don’t forget to activate the hidden Plateau Overlook grace as soon as you reach the top. There’s no fast travel point near this area otherwise, so if you die while fighting the banished knight or revenants, you’ll have to climb all the way back up from the Fallgnast Ruins grace, which is a huge waste of time. I learned this the hard way on my first visit, when I ran straight for the loot and got one-shot by the banished knight’s greatsword swing, forcing me to redo the entire climb.
Second, don’t try to jump down from the plateau to the sunken village below. It looks like a short drop, but it’s actually far enough to kill you instantly, even if you have the Longtail Cat Talisman equipped to negate fall damage. The wind effects in the area mess with your fall trajectory, so you’ll always land on a sharp rock outcrop that deals extra damage no matter how you angle your jump. Most players find where winds meet grand evasion by accident after wandering off the main path, so don’t feel bad if you missed it on your first few playthroughs.
Third, don’t sell or discard the Grand Evasion ash if you don’t think you’ll use it right away. You can’t get a second copy of it in a single playthrough, and it’s required for one of the hidden side quests for the wandering samurai NPC you meet near Limgrave’s first step grace. If you want a reference for all the quests that require specific ashes of war, check the Fextralife Elden Ring ash of war database for a full breakdown of quest requirements and drop locations. Finally, don’t ignore the small glowing messages left by other players in this area. Most of them are jokes, but a few point out hidden items you might miss, like the extra golden rune [10] tucked behind the large stone pillar near the grace.
At the end of the day, where winds meet grand evasion is one of those small, hidden spots that makes open-world games like Elden Ring so rewarding to explore. It doesn’t tie into the main quest, and you can beat the entire game without ever finding it, but the loot and quality of life upgrades you get from it make almost any build way more fun to play. Take your time on the climb, watch out for the banished knight’s surprise attacks, and don’t be afraid to test out the Grand Evasion ash on random enemies as you make your way back to the main road. If you stumble on any other hidden spots near this area, drop a note in the comments below so other players can find them too.
