There’s a lone imp statue in a remote forest at Altus Plateau in Elden Ring. Interacting with the imp statue tells you that you need to touch three phantom crests.

Additionally, you’ll also receive an item called the Mirage Riddle. This is a simple map depicting three blue Xs that hint at where to find the way to break the magic seal.

Just like opening Oridys’s Rise and getting into Lenne’s Rise, solving the Mirage Riddle is a unique puzzle tied to unlocking Mirage Rise. And to unlock Mirage Rise, you need to touch these phantom crests.

This guide will show you where to find the three phantom crests in Elden Ring.

Mirage Rise Location

The imp statue telling you to touch three phantom crests is located in a forest in Altus Plateau.

Mirage Rise

The easiest way to get there is to start from the Grand Lift of Dectus, north of Liurnia of the Lakes. You can activate the Grand Lift of Dectus by collecting two halves of the Dectus Medallion.

The first one is in Fort Haight in the southeastern part of Limgrave. Taking back the fort is also an essential step in Kenneth Haight’s quest line.

The second half is obtained from a treasure chest inside Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow, north of Caelid. The fastest way to get there is by taking the waygate north of the Third Church of Marika in Limgrave to teleport directly inside Bestial Sanctum.

From there, you can follow the main path south to Fort Faroth. You’ll know you’re heading the right way when you spot a giant immobile dragon named Elder Dragon Greyoll. While you’re there, you could also spend some time defeating Elden Dragon Greyoll for a massive amount of runes.

Alternatively, you can also follow the river north of Liurnia to find the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Then, climb all the way to the top to defeat Magma Wyrm Makar to unlock the lift to Altus Plateau. 

Once you’re at the top, head east to find the Grand Lift of Dectus. There will be two hostile giants guarding the area. 

Additionally, if you helped Rya get her necklace back from Blackguard Big Boggart (peacefully, hopefully), she’ll be waiting for you at the Grand Lift of Dectus. Another location she can appear would be near Lux Ruins if you went through the alternative path.

She’ll offer you an invitation to the Volcano Manor if you interact with her in either of these locations. There are a ton of friendly NPCs, quests, and even armaments like the Ghiza’s Wheel inside the Volcano Manor.

Anyway, follow the main path north of Altus Plateau from the Grand Lift of Dectus. Don’t head east at that goes toward Leyndell Royal Capital. 

However, stop by the Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace, located a bit to the east. Boc the Seamster makes his camp at that Site of Grace to alter your armor for free.

Afterward, keep heading north and follow the path. You’ll also find Brother Corhyn right next to where you can grab the map for the Altus Plateau region.

Eventually, you’ll come across a beaten path littered with a few enemies here and there. But, follow the natural curve of the mountain road, and you won’t stray far away.

You’re almost there to Mirage Rise when you reach the broken bridge. You know you’re in the right place when there’s a Nomadic Merchant and a Finger Reader on the bridge.

Don’t take the waygate as it teleports you right next to the Noble Goldmask. Instead, drop down the broken bridge and head west.

Be careful as the forest is filled with enemies. Watch out for the Lesser Wormface, as their attacks can quickly build up a curse status effect. At a full bar, you’ll receive the Death Blight effect and immediately die.

Rest at the Bower of Bounty Site of Grace and set the time to night time. The three phantom crests have a distinct blue glow and it’s way easier to find them in the dark.

Then, continue west. Open your map and mark the rough circle on the western end of the forest. In due course, you’ll find the imp statue which will task you to touch three phantom crests.

Mirage Riddle

Interact with the imp statue to begin the riddle and receive the map for hints. You have to touch three phantom crests in any order to unlock the Mirage Rise tower.

If you’re wondering how does one phantom crest looks like, Elden Ring practically gives one for free. Right next to the imp statue is the first blue phantom crest.

First crest

Walk up next to it, then interact with it to touch the first phantom crest. Afterward, it will disappear.

Using the Mirage Riddle map reveals the other two phantom crests. However, the map is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. For the sake of the guide, we’ll be using the world map for directions.

For the second phantom crest, head southwest of your current location.

Second crest

You’re near the phantom crest if ghostly imps, the ones commonly found in catacombs, start attacking you. They respawn infinitely and the only way to stop them is by touching the phantom crest.

Second phantom crest

For the last phantom crest, teleport back to the Bower of Bounty Site of Grace. Head up the slope on the southeast, just below the broken bridge. Again, a ghostly imp would spawn near the phantom crest to defend it.

Third crest

The last phantom crest is hidden from plain sight, disguised as a rock. If you’re playing online it’s easy to find the rock because of all the messages near it.

If playing offline to disable messages, look for the faint blue light under the rock. Again, it’s easier to spot the phantom crest during the night.

Rock

Once you broke the illusion, touch the third phantom crest to unlock Mirage Rise.

After you touch three phantom crests, head back to the imp statue. If you done everything successfully, the Mirage Rise tower would have appeared.

Climb to the top to claim two sorceries as your reward: Unseen Form and Unseen Blade.

Unseen Form is Elden Ring’s reincarnation of Hidden Body, a spell from previous Dark Souls titles. Using the spell turns the caster (and your horse) semi-invisible, useful for sneaking around enemies.

Unseen Blade is another rebirth of a spell from previous games, Hidden Blade. The Unseen Blade sorcery turns your right-hand armament invisible.

While its applications for PvE are near useless, it’s a tricky tool to confuse your opponents during PvP. Unfortunately, since it counts as a weapon buff, you can’t augment unique weapons or weapons previously imbued with an element, further diminishing its practical use.