Locations & Map Guide
Explore the floating castle of Aincrad — from the bustling Town of Beginnings on the 1st Floor to the shifting halls of the Citadel Ruins. This guide covers every known location, monster territories, and exploration strategies to help you navigate the death game's deadly world.
Aincrad — an immense realm of breathtaking beauty, uncharted exploration, and unforgiving danger spanning 100 floors.
About Aincrad
Aincrad is an immense floating castle of steel and stone, comprising 100 floors stacked high above the clouds. Each floor is a self-contained ecosystem — vast fields, dense forests, sprawling cities, and hidden dungeons. The lower floors are relatively tame, home to beginner-friendly monsters and basic resources, while the upper reaches hold legendary creatures and treasures beyond imagination.
Players begin their journey trapped on the 1st Floor alongside 10,000 other souls. The path to freedom lies upward — through the Labyrinth connecting each floor, past guardian bosses, and into the unknown dangers that await above. The world is dangerous but beautiful, with each floor offering a distinct visual identity and environmental challenges.
Progression through Aincrad is tied to the main story. Key floors are fully explorable with cities, quests, and wilderness zones, while the Labyrinth serves as the gatekeeper between them. Once a floor is unlocked, you can freely return via the teleport network — making backtracking for side content always an option.
Floor Overview
Town of Beginnings
City HubThe Largest Town in Aincrad
4 highlights
1st Floor — The Plains
Field ZoneAincrad's Largest Floor
4 highlights
2nd Floor — The Savanna
Field ZoneGrasslands, Plateaus, and Hidden Caves
5 highlights
Citadel Ruins
DungeonAncient Elven Fortress
4 highlights
Labyrinth
Key LocationThe Tower of Heaven
4 highlights
Tolbana
City HubThe Town of Culture
4 highlights
Town of Beginnings
City HubOverview
The Town of Beginnings is the main residential hub of the 1st Floor and the largest town in all of Aincrad. Its extravagant streetscape recalls ancient European cities, with cobblestone avenues, towering cathedrals, and bustling market squares. Every player begins their journey here, and it serves as the central hub for questing, shopping, and preparing expeditions into the wilds.
Key Highlights
- ·Main quest givers and NPC vendors are concentrated in the central square
- ·The Smithy, item shops, and inn are located within walking distance of the teleport gate
- ·Safe zone — no monsters spawn inside the city walls
- ·Multiple side quests originate from townspeople in the residential districts
1st Floor — The Plains
Field ZoneOverview
As the largest floor in Aincrad, the 1st Floor demands thorough exploration. The surrounding plains are home to animal-type monsters like boars and wolves, as well as insect-type monsters such as giant wasps. Beyond the grasslands, adventurers will find lakes and wetlands, ancient ruins, and isolated villages. Mapping is especially important here — the sheer scale of the terrain makes it easy to lose your bearings without careful navigation.
Key Highlights
- ·Boar, wolf, and wasp-type monsters populate the open fields
- ·Lakes and wetlands offer rare fishing spots and hidden treasure caches
- ·Ruins scattered across the floor contain valuable loot and lore fragments
- ·Multiple smaller villages serve as rest points between expeditions
2nd Floor — The Savanna
Field ZoneOverview
The 2nd Floor transitions to a savanna field dominated by golden grasslands and rocky terrain. Plateaus rise across the area, offering vantage points over the landscape below. Small caves dot the terrain, some with underground water sources flowing through hidden chambers. This floor introduces higher-level monsters, including giant cows, making it a significant step up in danger from the 1st Floor.
Key Highlights
- ·Giant cow-type monsters roam the open plains — avoid pulling more than one at a time
- ·Underground caves contain rare ore deposits for weapon upgrades
- ·Plateaus provide strategic high ground and shortcut paths to save travel time
- ·Like the 1st Floor, it has a main city and merchant-run villages for gear refreshes
- ·Upgrade your gear at the 1st Floor Smithy before venturing here
Citadel Ruins
DungeonOverview
An underground fortress that once served as a vital stronghold for the Alliance of the Nine Kingdoms before its collapse a millennia ago. Its structure runs deep and vast beneath the surface, with passageways that twist through multiple levels. The ruins are imbued with elven magic that causes the layout to shift every time someone enters, meaning no two expeditions through the Citadel Ruins are ever the same.
Key Highlights
- ·Procedurally shifting layout — each visit presents a different floor plan
- ·Elven magic traps and ancient guardians protect the deepest chambers
- ·High-value loot including rare crafting materials and unique equipment
- ·Recommended minimum level and upgraded gear before attempting solo runs
Labyrinth
Key LocationOverview
A giant tower that connects Aincrad's many floors together. The residents of Aincrad call it the 'Tower of Heaven' — a name that speaks to its sacred significance and daunting height. Overworlders (trapped players) have taken to calling it simply 'the Maze.' Each floor of the Labyrinth is a gauntlet of monsters, traps, and puzzles that must be cleared to unlock passage to the next floor of Aincrad above.
Key Highlights
- ·Clearing the Labyrinth boss room is required to unlock the next floor
- ·Each labyrinth floor has unique enemy compositions and environmental hazards
- ·Treasure rooms are hidden off the main path — thorough exploration pays off
- ·Co-op with your partner is essential; enemy density is significantly higher than open fields
Tolbana
City HubOverview
Tolbana is a bustling town known for its rich history and cultural heritage. While not as large as the Town of Beginnings, it carries a refined atmosphere shaped by centuries of tradition. Thanks to its extensive history, Tolbana is regarded as a town of culture — home to artisans, scholars, and merchants who trade in rare goods. It serves as an important mid-game hub for players progressing beyond the early floors.
Key Highlights
- ·Specialty vendors stock unique items not available in the Town of Beginnings
- ·Cultural district features lore-rich NPCs with world-building dialogue
- ·Artisan workshops offer higher-tier crafting options
- ·Serves as a staging point for expeditions into the Citadel Ruins
Exploration Tips
Map Every Corner
Aincrad floors are vast, especially the 1st Floor — the largest in the castle. Take time to explore every path, as hidden caves, treasure caches, and side quests are tucked away in places the main quest won't lead you.
Upgrade Before Ascending
The jump from the 1st Floor to the 2nd Floor is significant. Visit the Smithy in the Town of Beginnings to upgrade your weapon and armor before taking on the savanna's tougher monsters.
Learn the Landmarks
Each floor has distinct environmental features — plateaus, lakes, ruins, and villages — that serve as natural navigation aids. Learn these landmarks to move efficiently without relying solely on the map.
Return to Town Often
Quest acceptance, gear upgrades, and difficulty adjustments all require being in a town. Make a habit of returning to the Town of Beginnings or Tolbana regularly to refresh supplies and check for new quests.
Partner Up for Dungeons
The Citadel Ruins and Labyrinth are significantly more dangerous than open-field zones. Bring your AI partner with appropriate tactics, support skills, and upgraded gear before entering these high-risk areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many floors are in Echoes of Aincrad?
Echoes of Aincrad features the iconic 100-floor floating castle of Aincrad as its setting. The game's story progresses through select floors, with new areas unlocking as you advance through the main questline.
Can I return to previous floors?
Yes. Once a floor is unlocked, you can freely return to it via the teleport gate system. This allows revisiting vendors, completing missed side quests, and farming resources from earlier zones at any time.
What is the Labyrinth's purpose?
The Labyrinth, also called the Tower of Heaven, connects Aincrad's floors. Each floor of the Labyrinth must be cleared — culminating in a boss fight — to unlock passage to the next floor. It is the only way to ascend through the castle.
Are there hidden or secret areas?
Yes. Many floors contain hidden caves, secret rooms, and optional dungeons off the main path. The Citadel Ruins feature a procedurally shifting layout, ensuring each visit reveals new secrets and rewards thorough exploration.
What is the Town of Beginnings?
The Town of Beginnings is the largest settlement on the 1st Floor — the main hub for all trapped players. It features an extravagant European-style streetscape, shops, smithies, quest boards, and essential NPCs. It serves as your home base through the early game.
How do I unlock new floors?
Floor progression is tied to main story quest completion. You must clear the Labyrinth and defeat its guardian boss to unlock the next floor. Once unlocked, you can freely travel between all previously visited floors via teleport gates.