Navigating the sprawling, rain-slicked corridors of the City of Tears can be overwhelming for players exploring Hallownest. Finding Cornifer early in this region is crucial because acquiring his area map simplifies exploration and reveals key pathways through the city. This guide provides a clear walkthrough on where to locate the friendly cartographer and how to reach his hiding spot safely.
Reaching the Main Elevator Shaft
After unlocking the main entrance to the metropolis using the City Crest, head to the right and descend through the initial vertical chambers. You will eventually encounter a large central elevator shaft that transports players toward the lower levels of the city. Pay close attention to the surrounding platforms as you ride or descend alongside the elevator.
Instead of taking the elevator all the way to the bottom, look for platforms along the upper-right section of the shaft. Wall-jumping and dashing across these platforms will lead you toward an upper exit on the right side of the room.
Navigating the Upper Platforms and Arena
Passing through the upper-right exit brings you into a series of rooms containing hostile Sentries. Follow the path upward past the bench sign toward a large combat arena. Defeating the waves of Heavy, Lance, and Winged Sentries inside the arena will unlock the doors and allow you to proceed forward.
After clearing the arena encounter, exit through the left side and wall-jump into the next vertical chamber above. Listen closely for Cornifer's distinct humming, which signals that you are in the correct location.
Purchasing the Map and Next Steps
You will find Cornifer seated safely near the top of this chamber. He will offer to sell you the City of Tears map for 90 Geo. Buying the map immediately updates your layout, making it much easier to navigate toward the Soul Sanctum and other landmarks.
If you defeat the main boss of the area before finding Cornifer, he will leave a small card behind. In that scenario, you can purchase the local map at Iselda's shop back in Dirtmouth.