Revision 7

Overview

Mistshard Cave is a hidden waterfall cave located in the Smoking Lands area of the Demeniss region, north of Deadfire Mountain. A massive rock blocks the cave entrance behind a cascading waterfall, and through the hazy air, occasional glints of gold spark curiosity about what lies beyond. The cave is one of the most rewarding exploration targets in Demeniss because it holds the Frostcursed Plate Armor, a chest piece with the highest Ice Resistance value of any single armor piece in the game, along with plentiful Gold Ore deposits and a Refined Palmar Pill.

Reaching the treasure requires two specific combat skills. Players must use Stab to pierce through the waterfall and then Force Palm to shatter the rock wall blocking the inner chamber. Both skills are available by default for all three playable characters, so there is no prerequisite beyond knowing the cave exists.

Quick Reference

Location

Mistshard Cave sits in the northern reaches of Demeniss, within the Smoking Lands. The Smoking Lands are characterized by volcanic haze, reduced visibility, and jagged terrain. To find the cave, head north past Deadfire Mountain and look for a waterfall flowing down the rocky cliffside. The cave entrance is concealed directly behind this waterfall.

The area around the cave falls within the snow biome of Demeniss, where cold temperatures and ice-themed enemies are common. Having some level of Ice Resistance before venturing here is recommended, though the irony is that the cave itself contains one of the best Ice Resistance armor pieces in the game.

A fast travel point exists nearby and becomes available after reaching a certain point in the main story. This makes return trips to mine Gold Ore significantly more convenient.

How to Enter

Entering Mistshard Cave requires two steps, each using a specific combat skill. Both skills are unlocked by default for Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka.

Step 1: Pass Through the Waterfall

Approach the waterfall and stand at the edge of the water. Use the Stab skill (hold the armed skill button and release) to lunge through the waterfall. This is the same technique used to enter other waterfall caves throughout Pywel. If you have not entered a waterfall cave before, the key is to face the waterfall directly and execute the Stab while standing close to the falling water.

Step 2: Break the Rock Wall

After passing through the waterfall, you will find yourself in a narrow passage blocked by a large stone formation. Use Force Palm to shatter this rock. The rubble clears instantly, revealing the main chamber of the cave beyond.

Contents and Loot

The inner chamber of Mistshard Cave contains a treasure chest and several mineable ore deposits scattered across the room.

Frostcursed Plate Armor

The treasure chest holds the Frostcursed Plate Armor, a unique chest armor piece and one of the five components of the Frost Cursed Plate set. This armor provides the single largest boost to Ice Resistance of any individual armor piece in the game.

Because the Frostcursed Plate Armor is classified as Unique, it cannot be upgraded at a blacksmith and has no Abyss Gear slots. Despite these limitations, the raw Ice Resistance value of +7 makes it extremely valuable for surviving in Demeniss and other cold areas. Pairing it with additional pieces from the Frost Cursed Plate set further increases cold-weather survivability.

Gold Ore

The cave interior is lined with Gold Ore nodes. Multiple deposits are spread across the chamber walls and floor, making Mistshard Cave one of the best single locations in the game for collecting Gold Ore. Gold Ore can be smelted into Gold Bars at a crafting station, which are used in various high-value recipes and can be sold for a significant amount of currency.

Because a fast travel point is accessible nearby, players can return to Mistshard Cave repeatedly to farm Gold Ore. The deposits respawn over time, making this a reliable long-term source of gold for crafting and trading.

Refined Palmar Pill

In addition to the armor and ore, the cave contains a Refined Palmar Pill. This consumable fully restores your health when used, making it a valuable pickup for any explorer. Refined Palmar Pills are rare and typically difficult to craft, so finding one here is a welcome bonus.

The Frost Cursed Plate Set

The Frostcursed Plate Armor found here is one of five pieces in the complete Frost Cursed Plate set. All five pieces are scattered across the Demeniss region in similar hidden locations. Collecting the full set provides substantial Ice Resistance and makes exploring the frozen northern territories far more manageable.

Each piece requires interacting with the environment to access, whether through breaking walls, burning vines, or passing through waterfalls. None of the pieces require defeating a boss, making the full set one of the most accessible high-tier armor collections in the game.

Tips

• Bring a pickaxe or mining tool to harvest the Gold Ore deposits. There are enough nodes in the cave to fill a large portion of your inventory.

• The Stab skill works on all waterfall entrances throughout Pywel. If you have trouble entering, make sure you are facing the waterfall directly and standing close to the falling water before executing the skill.

• Force Palm is also used to break destructible walls in other locations. Look for cracks or unusual stone formations as visual cues.

• If you are building for Ice Resistance, prioritize picking up the Frostcursed Plate Armor early. Its +7 Ice Resistance is the highest single-piece value in the game and makes a noticeable difference when exploring cold regions.

• The Frostcursed Plate Armor cannot be refined or slotted with Abyss Gears, so treat it as a specialized piece for cold-weather exploration rather than a general-purpose chest piece.

• Consider collecting all five Frost Cursed Plate pieces in one trip through Demeniss. The locations are spread across the region but can be visited in a loop without too much backtracking.

• The Smoking Lands have reduced visibility from volcanic haze. Listen for the sound of the waterfall to locate the cave entrance when visual navigation is difficult.

Chest Contents (Frostcursed Plate Armor)

The hidden chest tucked inside Mist Shard Cave is the open-world source of the chest piece in the Frost Cursed Plate set. The cave entrance is behind a waterfall on the far side of a wide body of water adjacent to the Spire of Frost, and a fake rock just inside the entry needs to be broken with Force Palm (R3) before the path to the chest opens.

Loot Found In The Cave

• Frostcursed Plate Armor with level 7 ice resistance. Note that this piece is stat-fixed and cannot be refined; later you can upgrade it into Cuckoo Armor to recover refining and slot value.

• A loose Refined Palmar Pill pickup near the chest, the same passive consumable that drops in the gloves and boots grottos.

• Several gold ore mining nodes scattered around the cave walls. Worth a quick mining detour after looting the chest.

Entry Reminder

Look for the small stone stack on the riverbank to confirm the waterfall is enterable. Stab through with R1 and Triangle, then break the fake rock just inside with Force Palm. The chest is around the next corner and lights up the chamber.