Elden Ring presents a vast and captivating open world, but for newcomers, it can feel overwhelming. Knowing what to do first and where to go first is key to a successful beginning. This guide will provide you with essential tips to navigate the early stages of the game.
After selecting your starting class and Keepsake item, you emerge in Limgrave, a region brimming with possibilities. From hidden caves concealing challenging dungeons to powerful dragons, trolls, and other creatures roaming the landscape, Elden Ring offers a wealth of exploration.
While the main storyline directs you to a specific destination, rushing there is not advised. Instead, invest time in understanding the game’s mechanics and strengthening your character.
Initial Steps in Elden Ring
Your initial objective is Castle Stormveil. The Sites of Grace (Elden Ring’s version of bonfires) guide you with beams of light, pointing the way. Varre, an NPC you’ll encounter early, confirms the Castle as your primary destination. Looking west, you’ll spot it perched atop the cliffs.
However, resist the urge to head straight to Castle Stormveil. Although the path holds valuable upgrades, delay your arrival for a few hours.
Here’s a suggested checklist of what you should do first in Elden Ring:
- Explore Limgrave: Familiarize yourself with the environment. Discover hidden areas, fight enemies, and gather resources. Limgrave is filled with secrets and valuable items to help you in your journey.
- Find Sites of Grace: These act as checkpoints and allow you to level up, rest, and manage your character. They also provide direction on your main quest.
- Gather Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears: These are crucial for upgrading your Flasks, increasing their healing potency and number of uses. Look for them at the base of glowing Erdtree saplings.
- Crafting is key: Use the crafting kit and gather resources to craft items to help you survive.
At this point, you should possess a decent weapon, a reasonably leveled character, and a solid grasp of the game’s mechanics.
Navigating to Castle Stormveil
When you feel prepared, reaching Castle Stormveil involves heading west through the gate by the Gatefront Ruins and following the winding path uphill until you reach the castle gates.
The path is riddled with enemies, both at the gate and near the castle.
With Torrent, your spectral steed, you can simply ride past them to the castle walls. Don’t hesitate to run past groups of enemies!
However, a major obstacle stands before Castle Stormveil: Margit, the Fell Omen.
This is a challenging boss fight requiring a leveled character (around level 20 is recommended), good offensive options, and summons for assistance.
If you’re struggling, explore more of Limgrave (and beyond) to strengthen your character. Unlike other FromSoftware games, you have the freedom to explore vast areas even when blocked by a main boss. Take your time, explore, and Margit can wait.
For further assistance, consult an Elden Ring walkthrough or a list of the main bosses in order to help you achieve one of the game’s many endings.
