Introduction
Elden Ring's main story path takes you across the entirety of the Lands Between, from the tutorial cave in Limgrave to the final confrontation inside the Erdtree. This walkthrough covers every mandatory boss, critical decision point, and optimal route for completing the main storyline efficiently. Whether you're a first-time Tarnished or returning for another playthrough, this guide ensures you won't miss any essential story beats.
The critical path requires defeating 12 mandatory bosses across six major regions. You'll need to claim at least two Great Runes, enter Leyndell Royal Capital, burn the Erdtree thorns at the Mountaintops of the Giants, and ultimately become Elden Lord. While numerous optional areas exist, this walkthrough focuses on the essential route.
Pre-Game: Choosing Your Starting Class
Your starting class determines your initial stat spread and equipment but does not lock you into any build. For a smooth main-story experience, here are the recommended choices:
| Class | Level | Vigor | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagabond | 9 | 15 | Melee builds, highest starting Vigor |
| Samurai | 9 | 12 | Dexterity builds, comes with Uchigatana |
| Astrologer | 6 | 9 | Intelligence/Sorcery builds |
| Confessor | 10 | 10 | Faith/Incantation hybrid builds |
| Prisoner | 9 | 11 | Dex/Int spellblade builds |
Keepsake recommendation: Golden Seed for an extra Flask charge immediately, or Stonesword Key for unlocking imp statue seals early.
Chapter 1: Limgrave — The Journey Begins
Stranded Graveyard & Tutorial
After the Grafted Scion (optional, you can die or defeat it), you wake up in the Stranded Graveyard. Proceed through the tutorial cave to learn basic controls. At the exit, interact with the Site of Grace at The First Step.
Immediately speak with White-Faced Varre near the first Site of Grace. Exhaust his dialogue — he provides critical lore context and later becomes the gateway to Mohgwyn Palace.
Church of Elleh & Melina
Head northwest to the Church of Elleh (Site of Grace). Here you meet Renna (Ranni's alias) who gives you the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes — crucial for summoning spirit allies. She only appears at night. If you miss her, purchase these from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold later.
Rest at the Gatefront Site of Grace (north along the road from Elleh). Melina appears and offers to become your Maiden, granting you the ability to level up and the spectral steed Torrent.
Stormveil Castle Approach
Follow the main road northeast past Gatefront Ruins. You'll encounter your first giant at Stormhill. The recommended route: grab the Map Fragment at the Gatefront pillar, then proceed through the Stormhill Shack (Site of Grace) where Roderika sits. Exhaust her dialogue to start her quest — she later becomes your Spirit Tuner.
Margit, the Fell Omen
- Location: Stormveil Castle entrance
- HP: ~4,200
- Runes on defeat: 12,000
- Weakness: Bleed, Heavy Jump Attacks, Parry
- Key attacks:
- Holy Hammer slam (phase 2, dodge sideways)
- Dagger throw (roll forward)
- Twin-blade spin combo (back away)
- Tail sweep (jump over)
Strategy: Purchase Margit's Shackle from Patches in Murkwater Cave for 5,000 runes. This item stuns Margit twice during phase 1, giving free damage windows. Summon Sorcerer Rogier (gold sign outside fog gate) and use Lone Wolf Ashes. Apply Bleed with the Uchigatana or Reduvia dagger. At 60% HP he transitions to phase 2 — back away from the hammer slam and punish during recovery.
Godrick the Grafted
- Location: Stormveil Castle, Secluded Cell
- HP: ~6,000
- Runes on defeat: 20,000 + Godrick's Great Rune + Remembrance of the Grafted
- Weakness: Bleed, Fire, Poison
- NPC Summon: Nepheli Loux (must speak to her in the room before the boss)
Phase 1 (100%–50%): Godrick swings his massive axe in wide arcs. Stay close to his left side (your right) and roll through his attacks. His ground-slam earthquake can be jumped over. When he does the whirlwind charge (Stormcaller), sprint away.
Phase 2 (50%–0%): Godrick grafts a dragon head onto his arm. The dragon fire sweep covers nearly the entire arena — sprint to his back side. New attacks include a grab that kills at low Vigor. Punish heavily after the fire breath as he has long recovery frames.
Post-fight: Activate Godrick's Great Rune at the Divine Tower of Limgrave (cross the bridge east of Stormveil, guarded by three Lion Guardians). Use a Rune Arc to activate the +5 to all attributes buff.
Chapter 2: Liurnia of the Lakes
Academy Gate Town & Glintstone Key
After Stormveil, proceed through Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace. The main road leads through the sunken Academy Gate Town. Watch for Glintstone Sorcerers on rooftops — their projectiles track aggressively.
To enter Raya Lucaria Academy, you need the Academy Glintstone Key. It's held by a Glintstone Dragon, Smarag, sleeping behind the academy near the Temple Quarter. You don't need to fight the dragon — grab the key from behind its left wing while crouched and using stealth.
Red Wolf of Radagon
- Location: Raya Lucaria Academy, Debate Parlor
- HP: ~3,200
- Runes: 14,000
- Weakness: Physical damage, high poise damage
This aggressive wolf uses rapid melee combos and Glintstone sorceries. Stay mid-range to bait its jumping sword attack — roll forward to end up behind it for 2–3 free hits. When it casts Glintblade Phalanx (multiple floating swords), sprint laterally. The boss has low poise — heavy jump attacks from a Greatsword or Colossal weapon can stagger it in 3–4 hits.
Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
- Location: Raya Lucaria Grand Library
- HP: ~3,500 (phase 1 shield) + ~3,500 (phase 2)
- Runes: 40,000 + Remembrance of the Full Moon Queen + Great Rune of the Unborn
- Weakness: Physical damage, Bleed
Phase 1: The arena is filled with crawling scholars. Attack the ones with a golden aura (Rennala's shield). Three golden-aura scholars must be hit to drop Rennala to the ground, making her vulnerable for 5–8 seconds. Ignore other enemies. After dropping her shield twice, phase 2 begins.
Phase 2 (Ranni's illusion): Rennala floats and spams sorceries: Comet Azur (beam), Full Moon (slow-moving orb), and spirit summons (Wolves, Bloodhound Knight, Dragon, Troll). Sprint toward her immediately and stay aggressive. Summoned spirits despawn after ~10 seconds. Punish her after Full Moon casts, as she has long recovery. Bleed procs stagger her out of cast animations.
Post-fight: Rennala becomes a vendor for Rebirth (respec) using Larval Tears. You don't need to activate this Great Rune — it's always active for respeccing.
Chapter 3: Altus Plateau & Leyndell
Gathering the Dectus Medallions
To reach Altus Plateau via the Grand Lift of Dectus, you need two medallion halves:
- Left half: Fort Haight, southeast Limgrave (kill the Knight Commander)
- Right half: Fort Faroth, northeast Caelid (run past bats, grab from chest)
Alternatively, take the Ruin-Strewn Precipice path through the ravine north of Liurnia (requires defeating Magma Wyrm Makar, 15,000 HP, drops Moonveil-adjacent path to Altus).
Draconic Tree Sentinel
- Location: Capital Outskirts, guarding Leyndell entrance
- HP: ~8,000
- Runes: 50,000
- Weakness: Poison, Scarlet Rot (slow cheese)
This mounted sentinel wields a massive hammer that shoots red lightning. His horse breathes fireballs (phase 2). Stay on horseback and fight using hit-and-run tactics. If you have Poison Mist or Rotten Breath, apply the status and let the DoT tick while dodging. His lightning slam sends shockwaves — double-jump with Torrent.
Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade)
- Location: Leyndell Royal Capital, Erdtree Sanctuary
- HP: ~6,500
- Runes: 80,000
- Weakness: Lightning, Physical
This golden projection of Godfrey uses axe sweeps and ground stomps. The stomp creates a shockwave — jump to avoid it. Stay close to bait his slow overhead slam, roll behind, and punish. At 50% HP he begins two-handing his axe with extended combos. His grab (earthquake AoE) is deadly — sprint away immediately.
Morgott, the Omen King
- Location: Leyndell, base of the Erdtree
- HP: ~10,500
- Runes: 120,000 + Remembrance of the Omen King + Morgott's Great Rune
- Weakness: Bleed, Frost, Sleep
Morgott is an upgraded Margit with additional holy weapon attacks:
- Holy sword rain (phase 2, sprint to avoid)
- Cursed blood slash (dodge sideways)
- Spear charge (roll through, punish)
- Hammer slam (AoE, back away)
Strategy: Use Morgott's Shackle (purchased from Patches for 5,000 runes) — works identically to Margit's Shackle, stunning him twice. Summon Melina (gold sign outside fog gate). Apply Bleed/Frost with fast weapons. At 30% HP he uses Cursed Blood explosion — back away completely.
Chapter 4: Mountaintops of the Giants
After Morgott, Melina gives you the Rold Medallion to access the Grand Lift of Rold. Enter the Forbidden Lands and ascend.
Fire Giant
- Location: Flame Peak, Mountaintops of the Giants
- HP: ~22,000
- Runes: 180,000 + Remembrance of the Fire Giant
- Weakness: Bleed, Frost, hitting his weak points
Phase 1: The Fire Giant uses snow shovel attacks and fire breath that lingers. Target his left ankle (wrapped in rope). Heavy charged attacks break the rope, causing massive damage and stagger. Use Torrent for mobility. His fire breath sweeps — ride perpendicular.
Phase 2: The giant's left leg becomes a flaming eye. Now target his hands and eye (on his chest) with ranged attacks. His volcano rain drops fireballs over the entire arena — sprint and roll continuously. Stay behind him whenever possible. Alexander the Warrior Jar can be summoned if you advanced his questline.
Chapter 5: Crumbling Farum Azula
Godskin Duo
- Location: Dragon Temple, Farum Azula
- HP: Godskin Apostle (~6,200) + Godskin Noble (~6,500), shared health pool of ~26,000
- Runes: 170,000
- Weakness: Sleep (both are extremely susceptible)
Critical strategy: Craft Sleep Pots (1x Trina's Lily + 1x Mushroom). One Sleep Pot applies the Sleep status immediately. Sleep one, focus the other. When one dies, the other eventually resummons — but the summons share the reduced health pool. Use Spirit Ashes (Mimic Tear +10 recommended) to split aggro.
Maliketh, the Black Blade
- Location: Beside the Great Bridge
- HP: ~10,000
- Runes: 220,000 + Remembrance of the Black Blade
- Weakness: Bleed, parrying with Blasphemous Claw
Phase 1 (Beast Clergyman): Gurranq uses bestial incantations — rock sling, beast claw, and pocket sand. Stay close and strafe right. His dagger swipes are fast but low damage.
Phase 2 (Maliketh): Maliketh's destined death attacks apply max HP reduction and DoT. Key attacks:
- Overhead slam with explosion (dodge into him)
- Destined Death flurry (run away, then roll through the final beam)
- Spinning blade AoE (back away to edge)
- Pillar jump (he lands with AoE, dodge then punish)
Strategy: Obtain the Blasphemous Claw from Recusant Bernahl in Farum Azula (requires Volcano Manor questline). This item parries Maliketh's golden attacks, stunning him for 4–5 seconds. Without the claw, the safest approach is to keep pillars between you and him, baiting jump attacks and punishing.
Chapter 6: Leyndell, Ashen Capital
After defeating Maliketh, Leyndell transforms into the Ashen Capital. Fast-travel to the Capital of Ash Site of Grace.
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing
- Location: Erdtree Sanctuary, Ashen Capital
- HP: ~6,200
- Runes: 150,000
- Weakness: Aggression (interrupt his monologue!)
If you told Gideon about every optional boss (Malenia, Mohg, Rykard), he gains access to their abilities — making the fight much harder. The optimal approach: attack him during his opening speech. Rush him down with heavy weapons and poise-breaking attacks. If he completes his speech, he spams Comet Azur, Scarlet Aeonia, Bloodboon, and Rings of Light. Inescapable Frenzy (Madness) is his primary threat — sprint sideways to avoid.
Godfrey, First Elden Lord / Hoarah Loux
- Location: Queen's Bedchamber, Ashen Capital
- HP: ~14,000 (phase 1) + ~8,000 (phase 2)
- Runes: 300,000 + Remembrance of Hoarah Loux
- Weakness: Lightning, Bleed, Jump attacks
Phase 1 (Godfrey): Uses the same axe moveset as the golden shade but with extended range and new earthquake stomps. His Regal Roar buffs his attacks — back away during the animation. Jump over ground-stomp shockwaves.
Phase 2 (Hoarah Loux): Abandons his axe for pure wrestling. Grabs are instant-kill at low Vigor:
- Powerbomb grab (dodge backward)
- Charging grab (dodge sideways, he tracks aggressively)
- Earthquake roar spam (jump over each shockwave)
- Repeating ground pounds (sprint away)
Stay at mid-range, bait grabs, roll behind, punish with 1–2 hits max. He's vulnerable after missed powerbombs. His phase 2 health is lower — be patient.
Radagon of the Golden Order & Elden Beast
- Location: Inside the Erdtree
- HP: Radagon ~13,000 | Elden Beast ~22,000
- Runes: 500,000 + Elden Remembrance
- Weakness: Radagon — Fire, Strike, Frost | Elden Beast — Physical, Black Flame
Radagon: Uses Golden Order incantations and hammer strikes. His teleport follows every 2–3 attacks. Key moves:
- Triple hammer slam (AoE on final hit, back away)
- Lightning spear throw (dodge sideways)
- Golden Order ground eruption (jump or dodge laterally)
- Grab (dodge backward, he raises his left hand before telegraphing)
Strategy for Radagon: Apply Flame Art or fire-based weapons. Frostbite also works well. He's immune to Bleed. Lord's Divine Fortification incantation (found in Leyndell) provides 60% holy damage reduction for 70 seconds — this is game-changing for both phases.
Elden Beast: A massive celestial dragon that swims through the arena. Key attacks:
- Golden breath (sprint perpendicular)
- Elden Stars (slow homing orb — sprint away then serpentine)
- Sword beams (dodge through them)
- Ring explosion (run out of the closing ring immediately)
- Crucible grab (avoid being in front)
The Elden Beast constantly swims away, making melee frustrating. Use Black Flame Tornado (Godskin Peeler weapon art) for massive percentage-based damage. Pest Threads incantation shreds large bosses. Torrent is now available to use in this fight as of Patch 1.12 — use him to close distance quickly.
Endings Decision Point
After defeating the Elden Beast, interact with the fractured Marika to choose your ending:
- Age of Fracture (default): Simply interact with Marika
- Age of Stars: Requires completing Ranni's questline; summon her via blue sign
- Age of Order: Requires completing Goldmask's questline; use the Mending Rune of Perfect Order
- Age of Duskborn: Requires completing Fia's questline; use the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince
- Blessing of Despair: Requires completing the Dung Eater's questline; use the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse
- Lord of Frenzied Flame: Requires inheriting the Frenzied Flame below Leyndell (locks all other endings unless you use Miquella's Needle)
Essential Items Checklist Before NG+
- All Golden Seeds (max Flask +14 charges at 30 seeds)
- All Sacred Tears (max Flask level at +12)
- Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearings 1–4 (unlimited upgrade materials)
- Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearings 1–3 (unlimited Spirit Ash upgrades)
- All Memory Stones (max 10 spell slots)
- All Talisman Pouches (4 total)
Congratulations, Tarnished. You've become Elden Lord.
