Elden Ring Trophy Guide: Achieve Platinum in the Lands Between

Estimated Trophy Difficulty: 6-7/10 (Skill-dependent, easier with over-leveling and optimized builds)
Approximate Platinum Time: 60-100 Hours (Varies with player skill and save-scumming for multiple endings)
Offline Trophies: 42 (1, 3, 14, 24)
Online Trophies: 0
Missable Trophies: 5
Glitched Trophies: 0
Difficulty Scaling for Trophies: None, difficulty is consistent for all players, but character progression can influence challenge.
Minimum Playthroughs for Platinum: 1 (Utilizing save backups before the final decision)
PS4/PS5 Autopop & Save Transfer: Save Transfer = YES, Autopop = NO
PS4/PS5 Crossbuy: Yes
Post-Story Free Roam / Level Select: Partially – Leyndell, Royal Capital undergoes significant changes late-game, limiting access. However, all trophy-related bosses remain accessible after the final boss. All ending steps can be completed before choosing an ending.
Release Date: February 25, 2022

Introduction

Welcome to the comprehensive Elden Ring Trophy Guide, your definitive resource for conquering the Lands Between and securing the platinum trophy. FromSoftware’s Elden Ring plunges players into a vast open-world Souls experience, brimming with intricate lore, formidable challenges, and countless secrets. This meticulously crafted guide provides a step-by-step roadmap to efficiently achieve platinum in a single playthrough, a feat entirely possible with strategic planning and execution. To streamline your journey and obtain all endings in one run, leveraging PS Plus Save Cloud (PS4/PS5) or USB storage (PS4) for save backups is essential.

While not every boss in Elden Ring is mandatory for platinum, defeating a significant number, particularly those tied to trophies and legendary gear, is necessary. This roadmap serves as a meticulous walkthrough, highlighting crucial progression points and essential tasks along your platinum quest. Before embarking, carefully review each step to prevent missing any critical elements. For in-depth strategies to overcome boss encounters, consult our dedicated Elden Ring Boss Guide. For a detailed directory of Sites of Grace and key locations, refer to our Elden Ring All Sites of Grace resource.

Before diving into the roadmap, let’s address some frequently asked questions to equip you with essential knowledge for your platinum journey:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can legendary weapons and talismans dropped by other players unlock trophies? – Yes, receiving dropped legendary armaments and talismans from other players will indeed unlock the corresponding trophies. However, legendary ashes and legendary spells/incantations cannot be dropped and must be acquired independently.
Is it possible to achieve platinum in a single playthrough? – Absolutely, by meticulously following this roadmap, platinum within one playthrough is attainable.
Can platinum be earned entirely offline? – Yes, offline platinum is achievable. However, playing online offers advantages such as item duplication with a partner (refer to item duplication guide) and player messages providing helpful hints.
Is item duplication with other players possible? – Partially. Runes, Talismans, Weapons, and Armor (unupgraded) can be dropped and duplicated. Spells, Ashes of War, and Smithing Stones are not droppable.
What is the recommended character build for a smoother playthrough? – Astrologer (Mage) is highly recommended for beginners. Its ranged combat style provides a safer distance from enemies, reducing the need for constant dodging, and many bosses are susceptible to magical exploits. For an easier experience, consider starting as Astrologer and immediately acquiring the Meteorite Staff and Rock Sling spell early on. Later, Comet Azur combined with the Cerulean Hidden Tear can one-shot many bosses. Utilize the Mimic Tear spirit ash to summon a powerful copy of yourself for boss battles.
Should I rush through the game, focusing only on bosses? – No. This roadmap guides you through essential areas to explore (for endings, etc.) before progressing to the next main objective. Thorough exploration is encouraged to gather valuable items and upgrade materials.
Can I save after defeating the final boss? – Yes, saving is possible after defeating the final boss, the Elden Beast. Crucially, do NOT interact with the statue immediately after the boss until you have backed up your save, as statue interaction triggers the ending sequence.
Are there missable trophies? – Yes, several, as outlined in the overview and detailed in the roadmap and trophy guide.
Are any bosses missable? – Yes, Lichdragon Fortissax is missable, specifically if Fia, the Deathbed Companion, is killed. However, all boss steps remain accessible even after choosing an ending (by continuing your playthrough instead of NG+).
Are all Shardbearers mandatory for the main story? – No, only half are required for a standard playthrough, but all are necessary for platinum.
Does progressing towards one ending prevent obtaining others? – The final step of the Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending should be avoided before defeating the final boss. Complete all steps for the Age of the Stars Ending and all but the final step for the Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending before the final encounter.
Do weapons crafted from Boss Remembrances count towards legendary armaments? – No. Despite their golden glow upon dropping, only legendary armaments found within the open world count towards the trophy.
How do I back up and restore save files on PS4/PS5? – PS4: Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Upload to Online Storage (PS+) or Copy to USB Storage Device. PS5: Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS5/PS4) > Sync Saved Data > Auto-Sync Saved Data = Disabled (to prevent auto-overwrite). Then: Settings > Storage > Saved Data > PS5/PS4 Games > Copy to USB Drive or Upload to Cloud Storage. To restore, reverse the process and choose “Copy to Console Storage” and overwrite.
How to back up & restore saves on PC? – For Steam, locate the save folder typically at: C:Users[Username]AppDataRoamingEldenRing. For a complete backup, also copy the Steam userdata folder: C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata. Copy these folders to a safe location. To restore, paste them back, overwriting existing files.
How to back up & restore saves on Xbox One/Xbox Series? – Disconnect from the internet, move in-game for a few seconds, reconnect to force a cloud save upload (double-check upload status). Perform desired actions without exiting the game. To restore, press Home Button > Elden Ring > Options > Manage Game > Saved Data > Gamertag > Delete Saved Data > Delete from Console (repeat until gone). Restart the game to sync and download the cloud backup.

Step 1: Explore Starting Regions, Defeat Margit, Leonine Misbegotten, Godrick

For players finding the initial difficulty challenging, over-leveling provides an accessible path to ease progression. Elden Ring’s difficulty can be adjusted by your level and gear. Astrologer remains the most beginner-friendly starting class. For a significantly easier experience, consider farming runes early to reach level 100+, allocating around 60 points to Intelligence, 50 to Vigor, and the remainder to Mind. Players with friends who have completed the game can benefit immensely from dropped endgame gear and duplicated runes, enabling rapid leveling to 100+ (or even 200+ within minutes). Alternatively, explore rune farming methods like the Elden Ring Infinite Runes Farming Method & Duplication Exploit for solo leveling.

Let’s begin our journey in the Lands Between. Upon arriving in Limgrave, rest at the Gatefront Site of Grace and speak to the woman there to receive the Spectral Steed Whistle, summoning Torrent, your mount. Proceed to the Church of Elleh and encounter Renna (the witch) near the smith. She will gift you the Spirit Calling Bell, allowing you to summon spirits during boss encounters. For location references, utilize the Elden Ring All Sites of Grace Locations guide; location links will directly navigate you to the relevant Site of Grace.

From Gatefront, head northwest along the path to confront the boss Margit, the Fell Omen. After initial attempts against Margit, rest at a Site of Grace to trigger an invitation to Roundtable Hold from Melina (hub area). Accept her offer.

Margit presents a significant early challenge. To enhance your strength, prioritize locating Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears to upgrade your Sacred Flasks, increasing healing and FP recovery. These upgrades, performed at any Site of Grace, significantly improve survivability. Weapon upgrades using Smithing Stones are also crucial for damage output. Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula, Caelid, and Dragonbarrow are accessible from the outset, providing ample early upgrade opportunities. Remember to find Map Fragments, marked by pillar icons on the fogged map, to reveal map sections. A detour to Caelid to acquire the Meteorite Staff and Rock Sling spell is highly recommended for mage builds. This powerful early-game combination simplifies boss encounters significantly. The Meteorite Staff, already at S-tier scaling for Intelligence, boosts Gravity spells like Rock Sling, which effectively stuns bosses. This combination often surpasses even fully upgraded standard staffs in early damage output. Manage FP consumption as you increase your Mind attribute.

» Elden Ring All Golden Seed Locations (Flask Charges)
» Elden Ring Sacred Tear Locations (Flask Healing Potency)
» Elden Ring All Smithing Stone Locations (Weapon Upgrade Materials)

Explore the starting regions, fortifying your character until you feel prepared to face Margit. While exploring the Weeping Peninsula (south of Limgrave), defeat the trophy boss Leonine Misbegotten in Castle Morne.

Location of Weeping Peninsula, south of Limgrave, a starting area in Elden Ring.

If Leonine Misbegotten proves too challenging initially, you can return later, as all trophy bosses remain accessible post-game. However, this roadmap aims to guide you through encounters at their earliest logical appearance in a single playthrough.

Once adequately strengthened, confront and defeat Margit, the Fell Omen. Following this, navigate through Stormveil Castle and defeat the Shardbearer Godrick the Grafted.

Step 2: Post-Stormveil Castle: Conquer the Academy of Raya Lucaria

After triumphing over Godrick in Stormveil Castle, your next primary objective is the Academy of Raya Lucaria, situated in the Liurnia region.

To gain entry, you must first acquire the Academy Glintstone Key, located between the Temple Quarter and Crystalline Woods, behind the slumbering Glintstone Dragon Smarag (marked as number 1 in the image below):

Location of the Academy Glintstone Key, needed to enter Raya Lucaria Academy in Elden Ring.

Avoid engaging the dragon for now; your goal is to retrieve the key behind it to bypass the magical seal at the academy entrance, located at the South Raya Lucaria Gate (number 2 in the image above). Within the Academy, two trophy bosses await. Defeat both Red Wolf of Radagon and Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. For navigation assistance, consult the Academy Walkthrough. Upon defeating Rennala, your objectives within the Academy are complete. Proceed to Caria Manor in the northwest of Liurnia.

Step 3: Initiating the Age of the Stars Ending Questline

Caria Manor is a pivotal location for your platinum journey, housing the trophy boss Royal Knight Loretta and, more importantly, access to the area beyond the manor itself (immediately after the Loretta boss encounter). Here, you’ll find three towers. Enter Ranni’s Rise and speak with Ranni, who reveals herself to be Renna. Agree to serve her cause, exhaust all dialogue options, and also converse with her two spectral servants, Iji and Seluvis, located downstairs in the tower.

Step 4: Radahn’s Defeat, Nokron Eternal City, and Lichdragon Fortissax Preparations

Now, it’s time to confront Shardbearer Starscourge Radahn (Level 70+ recommended). Travel to Impassable Greatbridge in Caelid. If the portal on the bridge is active, use it to teleport directly to Redmane Castle. If inactive, traverse the bridge, ascend the slope on the left flank, and upon reaching the castle gate, descend the cliffs to the right. Follow the cliffside until you find a ladder leading to the castle walls. Ascend, jump down on the right side, proceed straight to enter the Plaza. Speak to the festival announcer, then enter the church behind him, use the elevator, and step through the portal to reach the Radahn boss arena.

Map of Caelid region in Elden Ring, location of Redmane Castle and Starscourge Radahn.

Upon Radahn’s defeat, a crater will manifest northwest of Fort Haight, providing access to Nokron, Eternal City. The crater’s location is easily identifiable by floating rocks in the sky above.

Carefully descend the cliffs surrounding the crater, mitigating fall damage. Continue descending into the crater and navigate the platforms to reach the underground dungeon. Your objective is to fully explore Nokron, which houses three trophy bosses: Mimic Tear, Valiant Gargoyles, and Regal Ancestor Spirit.

Map of Nokron, Eternal City, an underground area in Elden Ring.

Nokron is characterized by intricate, hidden pathways leading to bosses, making navigation challenging. It’s highly recommended to consult the dedicated Nokron, Eternal City Walkthrough for detailed guidance.

At Nokron’s conclusion, you will discover a treasure chest containing the Fingerslayer Blade. Return to Ranni’s Rise behind Caria Manor and present the blade to Ranni to advance the Age of the Stars Ending questline.

Speak to Ranni twice after giving her the Fingerslayer Blade to receive the “Carian Inverted Statue.” Travel to Study Hall Entrance and use the statue at the altar. Traverse the now-inverted building (descend via wooden beams to an elevator), which leads to the Divine Tower of Liurnia. Ascend to the tower’s peak to find the Cursemark of Death, a key item for the secret boss Lichdragon Fortissax questline. Hold onto this item for now, as further steps for Fortissax will come later.

Step 5: Ainsel River (Nokstella Eternal City) and Age of the Stars Continuation

Return to the area behind Caria Manor, where you previously spoke with Ranni. The northern tower, Renna’s Rise, will now be accessible.

Enter Renna’s Rise and ascend to the top to find a portal. Use it to teleport to Ainsel River Main. For the subsequent dungeon section, the Age of the Stars video guide from 14:33 onwards provides visual aid. After teleporting, locate a stone coffin directly ahead with a glowing item. Collect the Miniature Ranni. Rest at the nearby Site of Grace, and you will gain the option to “Talk to Miniature Ranni.” Repeatedly engage in dialogue with her until all options are exhausted. She will task you with eliminating the Baleful Shadow, located deeper within this area. Continue along the path until you reach Nokstella, Eternal City. Progress through Nokstella until you reach the Nokstella Waterfall Basin Site of Grace. Shortly after, you will encounter a red phantom NPC – the Baleful Shadow. Defeat it to obtain the Discarded Palace Key. Use this key to open the chest in Rennala’s boss room within the Raya Lucaria Grand Library. Inside, you will find the Dark Moon Ring.

Step 6: Securing the Age of the Stars Ending

Return to the location where you defeated the Baleful Shadow and continue along the path. Navigate through the Lake of Rot and reach the Grand Cloister (refer to the Age of the Stars video from 21:16 onwards). At the Grand Cloister, descend and interact with the coffin in the bloody water on the left. This will transport you to the boss fight against Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. After defeating Astel, proceed forward to Moonlight Altar (if the path is sealed, ensure you have obtained the Dark Moon Ring from Rennala’s chest in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library). In this new area, a plateau southwest of Liurnia, head towards the northeastern edge to Cathedral of Manus Celes. Within these ruins, descend into a cave system on the right. At the cave’s end, you will find Ranni. Interact with her to secure the Age of the Stars Ending option after defeating the final boss, the Elden Beast. This completes the preparation for this ending (the trophy will not unlock yet, see Step 11). Ranni will leave behind the legendary armament Dark Moon Greatsword. Collect it before departing.

Step 7: Reaching Altus Plateau & Shardbearer Rykard

With the Age of Stars ending secured for now, journey to The Ravine in northeast Liurnia. Progress through Ravine-Veiled Village, leading to the trophy boss Magma Wyrm Makar.

Path to Altus Plateau in Elden Ring, via the Ravine and Magma Wyrm Makar.

Defeating Makar grants access to the Altus Plateau region. From here, proceed to Mt. Gelmir to confront trophy bosses Godskin Noble and Shardbearer Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. Ascend Mt. Gelmir (encountering the side boss “Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast,” which can be bypassed) to reach Volcano Manor.

At Volcano Manor, speak to Lady Tanith on the throne to receive the Drawing-Room Key. In the corridor adjacent to her, open the first door on the right. Within this room, strike the wall on the right to reveal a secret passage to the town behind Volcano Manor. At the town’s end, a portal to Rykard awaits. Alternatively, complete Lady Tanith’s assassination questline to be teleported directly to Rykard (either method is valid).

Step 8: Leyndell, Royal Capital

With at least two Great Runes (Godrick’s and Radahn’s suffice), you can now enter Leyndell, Royal Capital. Pass through the northeastern gate of the Royal Capital, guarded by the mandatory boss Draconic Tree Sentinel (no trophy).

Map of Altus Plateau region in Elden Ring, leading to Leyndell, Royal Capital.

Once inside Leyndell, follow the main story path, culminating in encounters with Godfrey, First Elden Lord and Shardbearer Morgott, the Omen King. After defeating Morgott, interact with the thorn-covered wall behind him and rest at the Site of Grace to progress the story. Before leaving this area, ensure you collect the missable legendary armament Bolt of Gransax within the Royal Capital.

Finally, descend into the sewers beneath Leyndell and defeat Mohg, the Omen (click link for path details). Defeating Mohg the Omen is a step towards the Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending. After defeating Mohg, fast travel away from the sewers. Crucially, do NOT proceed further into the hidden path behind Mohg (avoid the secret altar/platforming section and, most importantly, do NOT interact with the red door at the platforming path’s end). Interacting with the red door will lock you into the Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending, preventing other endings in this playthrough. We will return here in Step 11.

Step 9: Mountaintops of the Giants

Using the Rold Medallion obtained from Morgott, proceed to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace in Leyndell. Ascend the stairs, follow the path eastward, and open the large gate at the end. This leads to a wooden elevator exiting the capital. Continue along the city walls until you reach another large elevator leading to the Forbidden Lands. The path forward leads to the Grand Lift of Rold. Present the Rold Medallion to activate the lift and ascend to the Mountaintops of the Giants. Remember the Grand Lift of Rold as it plays another crucial role shortly.

In the Mountaintops, head north to Castle Sol (circled in the image above). Here, you will fight the trophy boss Commander Niall. Beyond Niall, you will find the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left). This is one of two medallion pieces needed for accessing secret trophy bosses and areas.

For the second piece, Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right), travel to the Village of the Albinaurics Site of Grace in Liurnia. From this site, ascend the hill and proceed past the single fire-throwing enemy. At the path’s end, an NPC disguised as a barrel awaits. Strike or touch the barrel to reveal the NPC. Speak to Albus to receive the second medallion piece. Return to the Grand Lift of Rold and present the Haligtree Secret Medallion to access the western Mountaintops. Proceed to Ordina, Liturgical Town. Enter the Evergaol within Ordina and light the four statues to reveal a portal to Miquella’s Haligtree and Elphael. Refer to the video guide below for these steps:

[Video Placeholder for Haligtree Medallion and Ordina Evergaol]

In this region (Haligtree/Elphael), you will encounter three more trophy bosses: Mohg, Lord of Blood, Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree, and Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Malenia is particularly challenging; consider returning to her after securing the endings if needed (post-ending free roam allows access to all bosses). At least you will have unlocked access to the area.

Step 10: Pre-Endgame Cleanup

Your next mandatory boss is Fire Giant, located in the southeastern Mountaintops of the Giants.

Beyond the Fire Giant, traverse the large chain to reach the Forge of the Giants Site of Grace (follow the left wall of the forge). Rest at this Site of Grace to trigger dialogue with Melina. Agree to her request to set the Erdtree aflame (unlocking a story trophy). This action transports you to the final region, Crumbling Farum Azula. Upon arrival, fast travel will be temporarily restricted but will reactivate after resting at the first Site of Grace.

Setting the Erdtree aflame also triggers Fia (Deathbed Companion) to relocate from Roundtable Hold to Deeproot Depths (if she hasn’t already). This allows you to complete the final steps for the secret boss Lichdragon Fortissax. Fast travel away and defeat Fortissax now.

Also, ensure you have collected the missable legendary armament Bolt of Gransax in Leyndell, Royal Capital (it becomes unobtainable after defeating Maliketh).

Return to Crumbling Farum Azula. This region contains three trophy bosses in this sequence: Godskin Duo (mandatory), Dragonlord Placidusax (optional), and Maliketh, the Black Blade (mandatory).

Defeating Maliketh returns you to Leyndell, Royal Capital. Your final trophy boss before the game’s conclusion is Hoarah-Loux, Warrior (he is NOT the final boss). Beyond Hoarah-Loux, only the final boss and endings remain. If any trophy bosses are still outstanding, now is the optimal time to address them.

Step 11: Final Stretch – Save Backup for Multiple Endings

Proceed beyond Hoarah-Loux, Warrior to initiate the final boss encounter against Radagon of the Golden Order & Elden Beast. After defeating the Elden Beast, rest at the Site of Grace but DO NOT interact with the statue or markings on the ground yet (interaction triggers the ending and locks out others). This is the point to back up your save.

For Endings:

Backup Save: Follow the save backup instructions for your platform (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox) detailed in the FAQ section.
Elden Lord Ending: Reboot the game, interact with the statue after the Elden Beast for the Elden Lord Ending.
Restore Save: Restore your backed-up save file, overwriting the current save.
Age of the Stars Ending: Reboot, interact with the Blue Summon Sign for Ranni on the floor for the Age of the Stars Ending.
Restore Save Again: Restore your save file once more.
Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending: Complete remaining steps for Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending – interact with the altar behind Mohg, the Omen’s boss arena, complete the platforming path, unequip all gear, and interact with the red door to receive the Frenzied Flame Seal. Then, interact with the statue after the Elden Beast for the Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending.

Step 12: Platinum Trophy Cleanup

After securing all endings, either choose “NO” when prompted to start New Game+ or restore your pre-ending save. Now, focus on collecting any remaining legendary items (armaments, talismans, ashen remains, sorceries, incantations) for the platinum. If you missed any bosses, they remain accessible in free roam. Missable items might require a quick New Game+ run.

Useful Tips, Tricks, and Guides:

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