Elden Ring:How to Solve the Flightless Bird Painting Puzzle
Among Elden Ring many hidden treasures are its mystical paintings—visions of the past captured in art that point toward real-world secrets. The Flightless Bird Painting is one such enigma, offering players the chance to track a phantom and uncover a powerful reward. This guide breaks down everything you need to know, from finding the painting to earning the Fire Deadly Sin incantation.
Where to Find the Flightless Bird Painting
Your journey begins with discovering the Flightless Bird Painting itself. You’ll find it tucked away in the Shaded Castle, located in the northern Altus Plateau. Explore the upper levels of the castle to spot the painting resting on an easel.
Once collected, examine the painting to see a haunting depiction of windmills silhouetted by a blood-red sky. Your goal? Track down the location where this image was painted. Your adventure awaits - Get your Elden Ring Runes today with MMOexp!
Heading to Dominula, Windmill Village
The scene in the painting points to Dominula, Windmill Village, perched on the Altus Plateau. If you haven’t discovered this area yet, here's how to get there:
Start from the Outer Wall Battleground Site of Grace.
Travel northwest up the main path, but beware: enemies are operating trebuchets along the road. Either engage them or sprint past.
As you continue, you'll spot the iconic windmills in the distance—you're on the right track.
Keep moving until you reach Dominula, Windmill Village, then push forward through the village to reach the Windmill Heights Site of Grace.
The Godskin Apostle Awaits
To fully explore the area, you’ll need to face off against the Godskin Apostle, a deadly and agile foe who stands between you and the painting reward.
Want to skip the fight?
You actually can. It’s possible to run past the Apostle and still access the cliff where the ghost appears. But if you're up for the challenge…
Boss Strategy:
The Apostle fights fast and furious, especially in Phase 2, where his aggression spikes below 50% HP.
Keep your distance with spells or ranged weapons.
Use Spirit Ashes to draw aggro and buy time to heal.
Watch the terrain—rocks and structures can offer cover and opportunities to reset the fight.
Defeating him grants the Godskin Peeler, a twinblade weapon with excellent scaling and strong potential for Dex or bleed builds.
Solving the Puzzle: Where to Find the Ghost
With or without the Apostle down, make your way to the Windmill Heights Grace, then:
Walk southeast, past a massive windmill and a nearby building.
Look for three dancing NPC—a creepy and oddly peaceful sight.
Head toward the cliffside behind them. A ghostly figure will appear briefly as you approach.
This phantom is the painter himself. Once you reach the correct spot, he’ll vanish—and in his place, you’ll receive Fire Deadly Sin.
This unique incantation sets you ablaze, dealing constant AoE fire damage around your character. It also causes damage to you, which synergizes with certain builds (especially those using Flame of the Fell God, Deathblight, or Madness procs). A great tool for PvP and creative PvE builds alike.
The Flightless Bird Painting is more than just a scavenger hunt—it’s a window into the lore-rich tapestry of Elden Ring. Upgrade your gaming experience - Buy your cheap Elden Ring Items now at MMOexp! Whether you sprinted past the Apostle or took him head-on, you’ve earned a powerful spell and uncovered a haunting story told in whispers and ash.
If you're eager to dive deeper into hidden puzzles, obscure spells, or optional bosses, keep exploring—there's always more in the Lands Between.