Elden Ring: Walkthrough and Guide

Elden Ring offers a rich and immersive experience with its expansive open world, complex lore, and challenging combat. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to conquering the game, from the main story to side quests, dungeons, and boss battles. Here's a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect and some tips for navigating the Lands Between:

1. Main Story Progression

The core story of Elden Ring revolves around your journey to become Elden Lord by reuniting the shards of the shattered Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. As a Tarnished, you are called back to the Lands Between to seek out the shattered pieces, defeat the demigods who hold them, and ultimately restore the Elden Ring or break free from its influence.

The First Step: After leaving the tutorial area (the Cave of Knowledge), you'll reach the Roundtable Hold, where you can meet NPCs and start your journey.

Legacy Dungeons: These are large, interconnected dungeons scattered across the world. They often have significant bosses that drive the story forward, such as the Stormveil Castle and Leyndell, Royal Capital.

Endgame: After acquiring the Great Runes, you'll face a series of trials that lead you to the final bosses. Your choices along the way will influence the multiple possible endings.

2. Optional Content and Exploration

One of the main draws of Elden Ring is the vast open world and the freedom it offers. Many optional dungeons, secret areas, and NPC quests are scattered across the map, rewarding players with powerful gear, weapons, and lore.

Subzones: Each region has hidden caves, catacombs, and even legacy dungeons. The Siofra River and the Ainsel River are good examples of subterranean areas with their lore and challenges.

NPC Quests: You'll meet a variety of NPCs with their own stories, and completing their quests can yield significant rewards. Be sure to check in with characters like Blaidd, Ranni, and Patches for storylines that can unlock new areas and bosses.

3. Boss Battles

Elden Ring is notorious for its tough boss encounters, requiring players to learn attack patterns, manage resources, and adapt strategies.

Regular Bosses: Each area has a set of "main" bosses, but there are plenty of mini-bosses and optional encounters as well. Learning when to be aggressive and when to back off is key.

Shardbearers: These are the demigods who hold the Great Runes. Each one has unique abilities, and defeating them progresses the main storyline.

Endgame Bosses: The final sequence of bosses is some of the most challenging content in the game, often requiring precise tactics and optimal builds to defeat.

4. Character Builds

There are a variety of ways to build your character in Elden Ring, and which route you take will depend on your preferred playstyle.

Strength and Dexterity: For those who want to wield heavy weapons or swords, focusing on Strength or Dexterity with a focus on melee combat is great.

Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane: Spellcasters will likely invest in Intelligence for powerful sorceries, Faith for healing and buffs, or Arcane for unique magic.

Hybrid Builds: A combination of weapons and magic can also be highly effective, allowing flexibility in combat situations.

5. Tips and Strategies

Use the Map: Elden Ring's open world is vast and can be overwhelming. Regularly check your map, and mark locations for points of interest, such as dungeons, NPCs, or interesting landmarks.

Prepare for PvP: While PvP is optional, it's still an integral part of Elden Ring. Be ready for invasions and make sure your character can handle the challenge.

Stealth and Ambushes: In many areas, especially catacombs and dungeons, stealth and ambushing enemies can save a lot of resources.

Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon: Elden Ring encourages exploration with its minimalistic quest log. Pay attention to environmental storytelling and NPC dialogue for clues about where to go next.

6. Key NPCs to Know

Blaidd the Half-Wolf: A warrior with ties to the moon, he's part of a questline that connects to Ranni's storyline.

Ranni the Witch: The powerful witch who plays a key role in one of the most important storylines in Elden Ring. Her quesquestolves a deep dive into the lore of the game.

Patches: The infamous trickster NPC who can be both a friend and foe, depending on your interactions.

7. Final Thoughts

Elden Ring is designed to reward patience, perseverance, and a willingness to explore. With over 100 hours of gameplay and hidden surprises around every corner, it's easy to get lost in the world.

Whether you focus on the main story, engage in every side quest, or delve into the lore-heavy areas of the game, Elden Ring's depth will keep you coming back for more.

If you have Elden Ring runes and Elden Ring items, you've got plenty of options to explore, whether you're upgrading weapons, tackling tough bosses, or just diving into the lore-rich areas. Are you thinking of working on a new build or gearing up for something specific like a boss fight or challenging area?