True to any souls-like, Lies of P has its very own swamp level, and the Barren Swamp is an area you won’t want to underestimate. The unholy love child of Dark Souls’ Blighttown and Sen’s Fortress, this map will test your patience as you venture back and forth from your nearest Stargazer to the last trap that felled you.
However, your efforts will be rewarded in mountains of hidden treasures and exciting fights. If you’re hoping to find every one of these little treasures, you’ll need to get your hands on a guide that’s collected them all. And look! You’re in the right place.
The Barren Swamp Entrance: How To Unlock The First Shortcut
To begin your journey to the swamp, you must have beaten the Champion Victor and used the tram beyond his room. Speak with Fox and Cat first if you have not already.
The tram will require you to speak with Venigni first. After exhausting his dialogue, you can climb aboard.
In the swamp, you can enter the building on the right freely. There are no enemies, so collect the Resplendent Ergo Fragment and the “Venigni’s Krat Landmark Guide IV” inside.
The Entrance Stargazer for the Barren Swamp is through the other door.
Continue down the path ahead to take a Gemini’s Iron Protection and encounter a strong firekeeper puppet. This is the same miniboss you encountered at Venigni Works.
After defeating it, follow the path under the bridge.
Along the way, you’ll encounter a new enemy: a mine dog. This puppet creature will turn red and explode.
The best way to deal with this enemy is to dash in and kill it quickly before it can activate.
Take the Radiant Ergo Fragment on the right side.
In the next encounter, there is another mine dog. However, the real threat is a rifle puppet behind the cart on the right side. He stands next to an explosive barrel.
A third enemy, a blade dog, is patrolling far to the right.
After destroying all three, you can open the chest in the corner for a Belford Superior Insulation Converter.
Further down the path, you’ll see a road that curves by a bluff and has a sharp cliff drop on the right into Corruption.
Look up to see two rifle puppets standing on the cliff above and across the Corruption. You can’t fight them yet, but you can race through this area. Keep an eye out, though, as there is a Dim Ergo Fragment on the way.
Keep your camera positioned downward to see the two bear traps on the path that will catch you and hold you still for the rifle puppets’ shots.
As the path bends into the Corruption, there are two mine dogs in this area.
Use an Attribute Resistance Ampoule (one you can find on the left side in the Corruption), and you can destroy both dogs and take the Dim Ergo Fragment near the pipe.
Up the hill, be careful as you approach a collection of boxes hiding an item. There is a flaming ball that will rush past you as you get near.
Wait for the ball to pass and take the Special Purification Ampoule.
At the top of the hill is a Mad Clown puppet. This is the same as the Mad Clown boss from Rosa Isabelle Street, but with lower health and fewer Fury attacks. If you need a refresher on this boss, please refer to our guide on this enemy.
While fighting the Mad Clown, beware of the sword puppets near the bridge that can join the fight.
Additionally, you can find the two rifle puppets on the cliff nearby. Beware, however, of the bear traps beside them that can ruin your stealthy approach.
Defeating the Mad Clown will reward you with a Legion Caliber.
A Legion Magazine sits on the ground under a tree beside the rifle puppets.
As you cross the bridge into the next area, sprint across. The bottom of the bridge will fall out in the middle as you cross. Enter the tower.
Inside, there is a sword puppet immediately off to the left. After defeating it, begin taking the stairs down.
At the bottom of the tower is another strong firekeeper puppet. You must defeat it to claim:
- Cluster Grenade
- Radiant Ergo Fragment x2
- Throwing Cell
Ascend the tower with caution, as there are several sword and rifle puppets along the way.
While there are a few items on the way up, we recommend only taking them once you’ve defeated all enemies. These items include:
- A Special Resistance Ampoule
- Half Moonstone (on the wooden beam)
Exiting the tower, operate the lever on the left to send the mine cart of explosives down the track.
This will open a door shortcut back to the Entrance Stargazer.
A chain can be found in the shack ahead.
Stop at the Stargazer if you please, but there is one more thing in this area. To reach it, you must climb the ladder to the right of the tower exit as you leave it.
At the top, there is a very strong sword puppet that can use a Fire Grindstone.
Defeat it, and you’ll have the ability to open the chest inside for the Recharged Amulet.
This Amulet will allow you to slowly recover health over a period of time.
How To Repair The Second Stargazer: Barren Swamp
From the Entrance Stargazer, travel back toward the mine cart and down the path to the right.
You’ll find Alidoro here. We recommend speaking with him, progressing his quest with Eugenie, and purchasing your preferred item with Champion Victor’s Ergo.
Past Alidoro, there is a puppet patrolling down the hill. It will lure you out as a mine dog will appear behind you to catch you unawares.
Defeat both and proceed down the hill where several pitchfork puppets and dogs are waiting. There is also a Crescent Moonstone on the way.
Beware of the several bear traps lying around on the path here.
The next area is incredibly dangerous. As you enter, you’ll be targeted by a large machine firing explosive rounds.
Rather than pick any items in the swamp area or fight enemies, you’ll want to sprint through to the other side and up the hill to the right, passing a strong constable enemy on the way.
Enter the tower and ignore all enemies as you race for the ladder. Climb it to send away any enemies that may have chased you.
Sneak up on the puppet controlling the device and destroy it. Then, take the Live Puppet’s Axe (Motivity B) out of the chest to the left.
Descend the tower and clear it of enemies. Beware, however, of the explosive barrels inside.
Then, you can begin fighting the constable puppet just outside.
This puppet is the same enemy you first fought in Krat Central Station at the beginning of the game. It only carries a longer, electrified weapon.
Down in the swamp area, there are several dummy puppets and dummy torsos. Take care as you walk around.
On the ground, you can find these items in the area:
- Vivid Ergo Fragment
- Radiant Ergo Fragment
- Half Moonstone
- Fable Catalyst
- Sharp Pipe
To leave this area, climb the small hill across from the tower where a dummy puppet is standing near a cliff edge.
Grab the Dim Ergo fragment and drop from the edge into the Corruption.
Continue right into a cave where another constable puppet is patrolling.
Defeat it and take the Gemini’s Emergency Protection.
The Barren Swamp Stargazer is just ahead. Repair it.
In this cave, there is a Broken Puppet you can speak with. Progressing his questline will require you to show him gestures earned from other quests.
There is also a Crescent Moonstone in the far back corner of the Stargazer’s room.
How To Repair The Third Barren Swamp Stargazer: The Ravine
As you prepare to leave the cave, wait just at the edge of the cave and peek around.
Another machine will begin firing at you in this swamp with two Puppets of the Future.
Now is not the time to do this area, so like the last swamp area, dash through to the other side and up a hill to the right. This will take you to the Ravine.
Entering this area, you’ll spy a carcass down the ramp to the right. Do down, but beware of the second carcass hiding behind the barrels.
Defeat both and continue down to an area where you must cross a thin, wooden beam.
Ignore the ladder and continue to an item at the end of the path: a Crescent Moonstone.
Take the thin wooden beam beside it and jump off onto the hanging platform for one Fire Canister. You can then jump off again to the next platform near a ladder.
Ignore this ladder too and continue across a board. You can see a carcass hanging on the ledge to the left ahead.
Defeat it and the two other carcasses ahead. Take the Star Fragment at the end and double back.
Going across the wooden beam to the area you dropped onto, take the ladder down now to spy a bridge.
Sprint across this bridge to avoid the bottom falling out under you. A carcass is at the very end as well as another (and a Radiant Ergo Fragment) inside the house.
On the other side of the house, there is a long bridge. However, this section is very dangerous, so we’ll return to it after we’ve gotten the Stargazer. Turn around and spy the ladder leading to the top of the house.
You may see a platform with an item on it. Don’t drop onto this as only the middle beam will stay intact, and you’ll most likely plummet to your death.
Continue up the ramp to discover your Ravine Stargazer. Open the shortcut door beside it and then exit out the door you first entered.
You can drop from here on the side to gain a Special Resistance Ampoule.
How To Complete The Ravine And Open The Ravine Shortcut
Climbing down the ladder from the Stargazer building, you may now return to the long bridge with several explosive barrels.
Two carcass torsos are hanging on the right side of this bridge. A strong carcass will be walking across it.
You can use the barrels to your advantage, detonating them near the strong carcass with a Sawtoothed Wheel or other ranged options. If you can’t get a good shot, we recommend baiting the strong carcass off the bridge to defeat it.
At the end of the bridge where you defeated the strong carcass, you can take a Legion Caliber from the chest.
From the bridge, go up the ramp on the other side to enter a cave. This cave is the equivalent of Dark Souls’ Sen’s Fortress with its many rolling ball traps.
The first will come from the right side. After it passes, you can take the Attribute Resistance Ampoule on the left and turn around for safety.
Continue up the hill, taking a break in the large area to the right of the path until the ball passes again.
There is one carcass that will leap from the ledge on the left on your way. Additionally, there is a Dimensional Butterfly on the path.
Defeat the carcass first and then the butterfly for one Advance Crank. Sprint back to the large platform to safety.
After the ball passes, sprint up the hill and to the left. A second rolling ball will go across your screen from left to right.
Pass it for the Vivid Ergo Fragment on the next side and wait for the next rotation. Then, sprint ahead and to the left again.
Another Dimensional Butterfly with a Half Moonstone can be found on the path alongside two carcasses.
A third rolling ball can be found just beyond the tall rocky pillar. Hide behind the rocky pillar. When the ball passes, take the Electric Blitz Abrasive and sprint ahead.
There is a Dim Ergo Fragment at the top.
Walk along the wall on your left and drop onto a ledge. Pause and look down.
The first rolling ball from earlier will pass by. Drop when it does and race to the ledge on the other side for a Fire Abrasive.
Wait for the ball to pass again and go slightly down the ramp to encounter another Dimensional Butterfly.
Defeat this butterfly to take a Half Moonstone and return to the ledge for safety.
Sprint up the path when the opportunity presents itself.
In the cave ahead, there are several normal carcasses. Defeat them all and take the Attribute Purification Ampoule on the far side.
Turn right to hit the switch and open the shortcut ladder back to the Ravine Stargazer.
Before descending the ladder, however, you can go to the far side of the cave where a bear carcass guards a chest.
Defeat it to take an Arch Disruption Cartridge.
We recommend using the bear traps in the cave corridor to the bear’s chamber. Walk around them and then bait the carcass forward to have the traps damage it.
How To Disable The Second Swamp Machine And Open The Second Swamp Shortcut
From the Ravine Stargazer, continue up the path toward a wooden building. Step over to the right, and carefully approach the doors.
When you near, the doors will burst open as a carcass ambushes you. Defeat it, and enter the building.
While the chest is tempting, there is a Fire Canister carcass on the right side. She’s laying in a ball in the corner across from the chest.
Defeat her before attempting to open the chest for a City Longspear (Technique B).
Take the Vivid Ergo Fragment outside and then return to the hill.
Climbing the hill, you’ll encounter the Little Boy Puppet miniboss.
This miniboss is not particularly challenging, but he is frustrating for his wacky moveset and reliance on grabs.
Thankfully, he staggers decently and has a very telegraphed moveset. Many of his combo moves also leave him very wide open.
With a bit of practice, he’ll go down easily without a need for items. He rewards you with a Leaping Amulet (max Stamina increased) and a Dark moon Moonstone of the Covenant.
Continue to the tower and ignore the inside for now. Look right of the entrance to spy a ladder.
This ladder will take you to the machine that had been firing at you in the swamp. It is being used by a sword puppet, so make sure to backstab it.
Go down the ladder nearby and walk to the far end of the path to drop onto the wooden staircase spiraling to the tower’s bottom.
Down here, there are two enemies and explosive barrels. Take them all out, pick up the Dim Ergo Fragment, and operate the chain to open the Second Swamp door.
Completing The Second Swamp (Optional): Puppets Of The Future And The Owl Doctor
Although this area is not required for completing the Barren Swamp, you’ll want to explore it completely for all the items it offers.
There are two Puppets of the Future patrolling here. Each will reward you with a Quartz.
Their movesets are mostly the same from your encounter at Venigni Works, so refer to our official guide on this enemy if you’re having trouble.
These puppets do, however, have additions to their attacks. Namely, their double foot-stomp attack will hit three times instead of once. This is not a big deal as long as you stay out of the way.
There are several items in this swamp as well as four Dimensional Butterflies (one gold). Refer to the table below for a full list.
The most notable thing in this area other than the Puppets of the Future and the many items is a third, optional boss inside the shack on the far side of the swamp.
Across from the tower, climb the short hill to a wooden shack. Enter and take the ladder inside down.
There is a man standing in the corner wearing a mask. After you speak with him, he’ll attack you.
The Owl Doctor is not much of a fight. However, he does have a ranged, thrown dagger attack that can stagger you.
Nonetheless, he doesn’t deal much damage with his attacks, and he often leaves himself open to backstabs. He’s easy to flank, much like with the White Lady, by sprinting around him.
The cramped arena does make things hard sometimes, but just wait for his dagger throws. He takes a full second to pull out a second dagger, leaving him wide open to attacks. After defeating him, you’ll be awarded his mask.
How To Reach The Barren Swamp Boss: Barren Swamp Bridge Stargazer
Enter the tower again, climb the ladder to the machine, and take the ladder on the other side again.
Instead of dropping onto the wooden stairs on the other side, you’ll now leave through the exit toward a wooden bridge. Across the series of bridges, you’ll discover the Bridge Stargazer.
Grab the Sentry’s Notebook nearby and turn around to spy a barred gate in the cliffside.
There is a man standing next to it known as the Rookie Explorer, Hugo. Speak with him to receive the Old Cryptic Vessel and further progress Alidoro’s questline.
You cannot open the door to the Hermit’s Cave at this time. Doing so will require the Rusty Cryptic Vessel.
Prepare yourself now for the boss at the bottom of the path ahead.
We recommend equipping your Fire-based gear.
Your next fight is the Green Monster of the Swamp. This two-stage boss has two separate healthbars.
It is a very aggressive fight with several tricks up its sleeves and a mixed assortment of powerful melee and ranged options. Some of its attacks will also deal Decay.
When fighting this boss, we recommend the following tips:
- Use Flamberge liberally.
- Block more than dodge, especially against its Fury Attacks.
- Start sprinting away when it tunnels underground and when it dashes during Phase Two.
- Don’t underestimate the reach of its physical attacks.
- Carry Attribute Purification Ampoules for if inflicted with Decay.
- Roll under it when it does its jump attacks in Phase Two.
Defeating the monster will reward you with a Golden Ergo Fragment and the boss’s ergo.
Repair the Stargazer and speak with Alidoro nearby.
At this time, you can return to Hotel Krat to speak with several of the NPC’s there, especially:
- Venigni
- Antonia
- Alidoro
- Belle
Visiting all of these characters will set you up for success in your return to Krat Central Station.