Pick Whetstone Knife from Gatefront Ruins

Rest in Gatefront Site of Grace to get Torrent

Teleport to the Church of Elleh Site of Grace and talk to Ranni to get Spirit Calling Bell and Wolves spirit summon. Feel free to upgrade the wolves before you get whatever spirit summon you will use in the end game

Let Magrit kill you to access Roundtable Hold

Get Flask of Wondrous Physick and Sacred Tear from the Third Church of Marika

Decide how you want to reach Altus Plateau later in the game: A) With the two halves of the Dectus medallion, B) Through the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, accessible going north past the Bellum church, north of the path toward the Dectus Lift, C) By letting the Abductor Virgin at the bottom of Raya Lucaria telport you to Volcano Manor, and defeating the Abductor Virgin duo. (option A is the easiest one, option C is possibly the fastest one)

If you choose to access Altus Plateau with the Dectus Medallion, you need to grab both halves of the Dectus Medallion

Get the Dectus Medallion (Left) from Fort Haight in Limgrave (east Limgrave, south of Mistwood)

Dectus Medallion (Right) from Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow (Caelid). Easiest way to reach there is from waygate portal behind Third Church of Marika and going south from Bestial Sanctum, or you can just ride all the way there from Limgrave. To get the item you can just run through all the enemies up the stairs, you don't need to fight anything

Clear Fort Haight (east Limgrave, south of Mistwood) from enemies

Speak to Kenneth Height atop the battlements southwest of Third Church of Marika

Find Alexander in Northern Stormhill, West to the river and North of the Agheel Lake North Site of Grace. Him a few times on the back with any weapon until you free him. He will reward you with some items

Talk to Sellen at the Waypoint Ruins Cellar grace and select the "I want to learn sorcery" dialogue option. Located Western Limgrave, right east to Agheel Lake, downstairs Waypoint Ruins.

Talk to Irina south of the Bridge of Sacrifice grace (Weeping Peninsula)

In Weeping peninsula, get the Sacred tears from all 3 churches (Callu Baptismal Church, Church of Pilgrimage, Fourth Church of Marika)

If you don't plan to get Mimic Tear, you can get Lhutel the Headless spirit summon from Tombsward Catacombs south of Weeping Peninsula Erdtree avatar (requires 104 FP)

Give Irina's letter to Edgar in Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula)

Defeat Leonine Misbegotten, the boss of Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula)

Talk with Edgar in Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula)

Go to where Irina was, next to Bridge of Sacrifice grace, and talk with Edgar.

Get 50,000 runes from killing the sleeping dragon Greyoll in Dragonbarrow with bleed (Reduvia, Uchigatana or Bloody slash ash of war)

By this point, your weapon can be upgraded to +3-4 (1-2)

Iron Whetblade (Heavy, Keen, and Quality). Stormveil Castle Can be looted off a corpse found in the armory room, through the north-western door in the hall with the Grafted Scion. You will need to use the Stonesword Key on the imp statue to dispel fog gate blocking the doorway

Talk to Nepheli in the north room of Stormveil Castle courtyard

Beat Godrick in Stormhill Castle (or alternatively beat any one of the other Shardbearers: Radahn, Rykard, or Rennala)

Get Shabriri Grape from Godrick's throne room at Stormveil Castle

Get the Lake-Facing Cliffs grace near Godrick's throne, in Liurnia

Give Shabriri Grape to Hyetta in the Lake-Facing Cliffs site of grace in Liurnia

After defeating Godrick and resting at his grace, talk to Nepheli in Roundtable Hold (you might need talk first to Gideon and rest in a grace for Nepheli to appear)

Obtain any of the Great Runes (a good choice is to get Godrick's Great Rune as it's useful and easy to get, or beating Rennala will also get you her Great Rune)

Buy lantern from Nomadic Merchant in Liurnia of the Lakes in Liurnia Lake Shore grace

Get the South Raya Lucaria Gate site of grace in south side of Raya Lucaria

Get Shabriri Grape from Purified Ruins, found along the lake shore on the eastern landmass of Liurnia (stick to the east side of the lake from the Liurnia Lake Shore grace). The Grape is at the lower level, behind a breakable wooden plank

Find Hyetta west from the Purified Ruins and give her a Shabriri Grape

Talk to Varré in Rose Church (west from Fallen Ruins of the Lake grace in Liurnia) and get Festering Bloody Finger

Use Festering Bloody Finger to invade players three times (you can exit their world immediately

Talk to Varré in Rose Church, accept the dialog and get Lord of Blood's Favor

Get Shabriri grape by killing Edgar, either in Revenger's Shack in south-western Liurnia (directly north from the minor Erdtree) OR in Castle Morne if you didn't progress Irina and Edgar's questline

Get Academy Glintstone Key from Liurnia of the Lakes, south from Crystalline Woods site of grace, behind Glintstone Dragon Smarag

Talk to Nepheli at Village Of The Albinaurics and defeat Omenkiller

Get Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right) by speaking to Albus in Village of the Albinaurics (Albus is hidden inside a jar, roll into the jar and talk to Albus)

From Liurnia Lake Shore grace, looking north hug the left wall until finding the entrance to Lakeside Crystal Cave. Progress through the dungeon to find Latenna at the end and grab the grace

Find Hyetta north of the Gate Town Bridge, easter Liurnia of the Lakes (in front of the southern broken bridge in the east side of the lake, above the cliffs) and give her a Shabriri Grape. Exhaust her dialogue. Reload the area, and exhaust her dialogue again

Progress Roderika's questline if you didn't, by talking to Roderika and Hewg multiple times in Roundtable Hold (and resting at the grace) until Roderika moves nearby Hewg

From the Four Belfries (Liurnia), seek the waygate that has the message "Precipice of Anticipation" and use the Imbued Sword Key you find at the top (fourth) belfry to activate the waygate. You will reach the Chapel of Anticipation

Get the Stormhawk King found in the Chapel of Anticipation and give it to Nepheli

Soak Lord of Blood's Favor in the corpse at Chapel of Anticipation (you can also do this by killing Irina in Weeping Peninsula or in the Church of Inhibition in north Liurnia)

Talk to Varré in Rose Church multiple times until he gives you the Pureblood Knight's Medal

Use the Pureblood Knight's Medal to reach Mohgwyn's Palace (it's also possible to reach Mohgwyn's Palace from Consecrated Snowfield much later in the game though a waygate portal)

Enter Raya Lucaria and beat Wolf of Radagon

Glintstone Whetblade (Magic and Cold). Raya Lucaria Academy Looted from a corpse hanging off the window ledge of an office balcony. From the Debate Parlor site of grace, head west of the courtyard fountain, up the collapsed stairs, past the kneeling Commoners, and into the room with the Twinsage Sorcerer

By this point your weapon could be +4-6 (2)

Go through the waygate after the stairs with the giant rolling balls after wolf of Radagon to reach Church of Vows, and get Flame, Cleanse Me incantation (12 FAI) at the fire monk camp southeast of Church of Vows

Beat Rennala. Or, just for game progression (excluding quests), beat any one of the other remaining Shardbearers that you didn't defeat yet: Godrick, Radahn, or Rykard.

Dropped by the Crystalian Boss at the end of Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel (northeastern Liurnia, east from the walking mausoleum in the lake)

Talk to Ranni, then her servants, then Ranni again. If you don't find Ranni, it's possible that you have started the Radahn festival, so you will have to kill Radahn before progressing

Talk to Seluvis in Seluvis's Rise to get Seluvis's Potion (beware that giving this item to certain NPCs can lock you out of their quests)

Beat Ancestor Spirit in Siofra river, which you can access through the Siofra Well in Mistwood

Red-Hot Whetblade (Fire and Flame Art). Redmane Castle (south Caelid) From the Chamber Outside The Plaza site of grace, head out the south-side door, west past the flamethrower enemies, and then to the door past the Abductor Virgin and hanging bodies. Note: if you reach Altus before this step, you will need to defeat Radahn to access the rest of Redmane Castle

Kill Festering Fingerprint Vyke near the Church of Inhibition (the pathway south from Dectus Lift in the Liurnia side) as he drops a Fingerprint Grape

Find Hyetta in Bellum Church in Liurnia of the Lakes (the path toward the Dectus Lift from the East Raya Lucaria Gate grace, hugging the left side) and give her the Fingerprint Grape

A) With the Dectus Lift. From the Main Academy Gate site of grace, cross the sealed gate to reach the other side of the bridge, then head straight to the Grand Lift of Dectus and use the Dectus Medallion to reach Altus Plateau

B) Through the Ruin-Strewn Precipice after defeating Magma Wyrm Makar. Accessible going north past the Bellum church, north of the path toward the Dectus Lift from the Main Academy Gate site of grace

C) By letting the Abductor Virgin at the bottom of Raya Lucaria telport you to Volcano Manor (let her do the grab attack when you have HP low enough for it to kill you) and defeating the Abductor Virgins boss

It should be possible to progress Fia's quest now, but Fia's quest can be also skipped as she will be in Deeproot Depths regardless after you burn the Erdtree later

By this point your weapon can be +10-14 (3-5)

Dropped by Erdtree Burial Watchdog in Wyndham Catacombs, in Altus Plateau. At the top of the Wyndham Ruins, reachable north of Erdtree-Gazing Hill grace

Defeat Crystalian Spear and Ringblade boss in Altus Tunnel, directly south from the Minor Erdtree in Altus Plateau

In a chest at the first secret area inside the Sealed Tunnel (Down at south of the lake right next to the west gate to Leyndell Royal Capital from the outside, Altus Plateau)

Alexander's next location is in Gael Tunnel, found from the rear entrance that borders Limgrave and Caelid. You can skip this step as it is not necessary

Dropped by the Fallingstar Beast in Sellia Crystal Tunnel (Caelid). Reachable by opening the chest in Dragon-Burnt Ruins in Limgrave

Speak with Gowry in Gowry's Shack within Caelid. The Gowry's Shack is found in eastern Caelid, just before Sellia, Town of Sorcery. Players can reach this location by following the Caelid Highway to the east and the north. Or from Sellia Under-Stair grace going south. You can skip this step, but it will enable you to summon Polyanna for O'Neil's fight

Defeat Commander O'Neil, located in the Swamp of Aeonia (central Caelid). He will drop the Unalloyed Gold Needle. You can cheese O'Neil by sneaking behind him and repeatedly casting Posion Mist

Give the Unalloyed Gold Needle to Gowry, reload the game and get the repaired needle from him

Reach the Church of the Plague and give the needle to Millicent. It's reached by heading southwest from the Fort Faroth grace site and taking the Spiritspring down or from the backstreets of Sellia, Town of Sorcery. Or, coming from Dragonbarrow, jump down a Spirit Spring to the north of the Church

Rest at a grace, then talk to Millicent again and exhaust her dialog. She will gift you the Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom

Find Millicent in Gowry's shack. Exhaust her dialogue. Reload the game and Millicent will be gone and you can purchase spells from Gowry

Radahn Festival should be active now, and you can beat Radahn

Find Alexander next to the Radahn grace and talk to him

Follow the path south from the Artist's Shack Site of Grace. Alexander will call out for help. Use an Oil Pot or Roped Oil Pot to free him (this step can be skipped by going to Mt. Gelmir after the Radahn festival)

If you beat Radahn, you can now access Nokron

On a corpse lying at the base of a gazebo near the Nokron, Eternal City grace

get the Mimic Tear spirit summon from Nokron

Black Whetblade (Poison, Blood, and Occult). Nokron, Eternal City Found on a corpse slumped in front of an altar in Night's Sacred Ground grace

If you don't plan to follow Seluvis' questline, you could complete most of Ranni's questline by this point

Beat Regal Ancestor Spirit in Siofra river, the part reachable after beating Mimic Tear (Nokron)

Beat Valiant Gargoyles in Siofra Aqueduct, and access Deeproot Depths through the coffin in their arena

Talk to Alexander near the Seethewater Terminus Site of Grace at a lava lake behind a Magma Wyrm, south of Fort Laiedd in Mt. Gelmir. To reach Seethewater Terminus Grace, head north through the ravine west of Wyndham Ruins

Get the Comet Azur spell at the Primeval Sorcerer Azur grace. Reachable from Altus Plateau: start at Altus Plateau or Erdtree-Gazing Hill grace, go north through Wyndham Ruins and find Seethewater River grace. From that grace it's a long straight path around Mt. Gelmir. At the very end you will find Primeval Sorcerer Azur

Talk to Sellen at the Waypoint Ruins Cellar grace and select the "Let us journey together" dialogue option. You will receive the Sellian Sealbreaker key.

Find Lusat in the Sellia Hideaway and get the Stars of Ruin spell. He is behind a secret cave behind an illusory wall. To reach the entrance, start at the Church of the Plague site of grace and head north up the hill and straight under the wooden arch. Look to the North-East for a small graveyard with a single sorcerer enemy wielding a staff and a club. Behind the main headstone, along the cliffside, there's a secret door you can reveal by rolling or attacking it

Talk to Sellen at the Waypoint Ruins Cellar grace about her request and about Lusat's location.

Talk to Sellen in the Witchbane Ruins where she is shackled. You will receive Sellen's Primal Glintstone. Witchbane Ruins are located directly south of the Fourth Church of Marika, in the west region of Weeping Peninsula

Talk to Witch-Hunter Jerren in the chapel near the Chamber Outside the Plaza grace. If you rest at a grace, Redmane Castle will reset to its version filled with enemies

Talk to Witch-Hunter Jerren at the Witchbane Ruins where Sellen's dead body is shackled.

Find Seluvis's Secret Puppet Room in the Three Sister, in an illusory floor in between Ranni's Rise and Renna's Rise, and transplant Sellen's primal glintstone in Sellen's puppet. Sellen's puppet is behind an illusory wall next to a glowing message

New Game Progress

New Game + Progress

Hand in all Bell Bearings to Twin Maidens

Collect as many final Upgrade Materials as possible

Farm Runes to buy out the Merchants' shops

Find and turn in all Scrolls and Prayerbooks to a trainer to purchase their Spells

Slay dragons to obtain Dragon Hearts (23) and buy their Incantations at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion (only 20 are required to purchase all Dragon-based Incantations)

Obtain all Larval Tears (18) for future Rebirth

Turn in all Deathroots (9) to the Gurranq Beast Clergyman

Trade for any Remembrance Weapons you may wish to dual-wield in the future

Obtain any weapons you will want to dual-wield in the next playthrough

Use Walking Mausoleums (7) to duplicate Remembrances

Collect all non-renewable Crafting Materials

Farm any Weapons or Armor that drop from Enemies that you might want (optionally respec for Arcane to increase item discovery)

If you plan on playing with a different build on NG+, pick up any equipment for your new build

If you plan on playing with a different build on NG+, respec your character by talking to Rennala

Before NG+

Any keepsake (Stonesword Key recommended as you need one for the <a href='https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Green+Turtle+Talisman' target='_blank'>Green Turtle Talisman</a>, but you also get one in Stormhill Shack)

As you progress, level both VGR and END to 20

Your initial weapon and shield are OK to start and upgrade

<a href='https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Green+Turtle+Talisman' target='_blank'>Green Turtle Talisman</a> from Summonwater Village (northeast Limgrave) (requires one Stonesword Key)

Sacred Blade ash of war, dropped by a Teardrop Scarab North of the Third Church of Marika

Golden Vow Ash of War, dropped by a mounted Godrick Knight on the cliff southwest above the Deathtouched Catacombs when defeated (Stormhill, in the cliffs east of the colosseum)

Buy Great Helm from Nomadic Merchant in south Caelid

Let Magrit kill you to have access to Roundtable Hold

Buy Knight Greaves and Knight gauntlets from Twin Maidens in Roundtable Hold

Farm Noble's Slender Sword (longest reach straight sword) from Wandering Nobles among the Troll-pulled Carriage's caravan to the west of Waypoint Ruins OR keep using Broadsword (starting weapon) OR use any other weapon you like

Upgrade your sword, you can level it up to +5 if you farm Smithing Stone 1 and 2 from Limgrave

Farm Brass Shield (STR 16) from outpost nearby Gatefront site of grace OR just keep killing Godrick Soldiers and Raya Lucaria Soldiers throughout the game until one drops it

Once you get Brass Shield, raise STR to 16

Barricade Shield ash of war, dropped by Night's Cavalry at Weeping Peninsula

Curved Sword Talisman from Stormveil Cliffside Site of Grace in Stormveil Castle, in the dark room with the Banished Knight

Keep progressing through the game and leveling FAI to 29

Blessing's Boon (FAI 24), purchased from Miriel in the Church of Vows (Liurnia)

Aspect of the Crucible's Tail (FAI 27), dropped by the Crucible Knight boss in Stormhill Evergaol

Farm Mausoleum Knight Armor from Mausoleum Knights. Easiest one to farm is directly outside the Black Knife Catacombs entrance (Liurnia) (~3% drop rate)

Assassin Cerulean Dagger from Black Knife Catacombs in northeast Liurnia

Past level 50 keep leveling END and FAI as primary stats, and VGR as secondary stat

Templar Level 1-50

If you followed the templar path you should already have Brass Shield, Green turtle talisman, Curved Sword Talisman, Blessing's Boon. If not, get them

At level 50 aim to have / respec to at least min requirements for main weapon: 15 STR, 22 DEX, 18 FAI

You might want to put levels into stat requirements (equipment and spells): 29 or 12 STR, 22 DEX, 25 FAI. Then in END up to 35 for mid roll, and the rest up to lvl 100 in VGR, MND and FAI. STR depends on your shield (see later)

Get Treespear (STR 15, DEX 22, FAI 18) from a Carriage at the edge of the collapsed bridge. From Liurnia Highway South Site of Grace, follow the road southeast

Get Dragon Cult Prayerbook from a Leyndell Knight patrolling immediately south of the Liurnia of the Lakes Artist's Shack (directly north west of Divine Tower of Liunia)

Give Dragon Cult Prayerbook to Miriel and buy Electrify Armament (FAI 15), and Lightning Spear (17 FAI)

Get Clawmark Seal from giving one Deathroot to Gurranq. You probably have at least one Deathroot, but if you don't, the easiest to get is from killing Tibia Mariner at Summonwater Village. To reach Gurranq, use the waygate north of Third Church of Marika

Get Spear talisman from a chest inside Lakeside Crystal Cave, near a demi-human campfire (southern region of Liurnia of the Lakes, directly south from the Scenic Isle Site of Grace)

Get Starscourge Heirloom from Fort Gael (nearest Site of Grace: Fort Gael North): Looted from a chest in the fort. It's outside the watchtower on the upper section, under a canopy tent. Fort Gael is found in western Caelid, further to the south along the border to Limgrave. This talisman allows you to reach STR requirements for the Golden Greatshield more easily

Get Sacred Scorpion Charm if you want more holy damage at the cost of less defense. Dropped by NPC invader Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater when defeated in her first invasion spot in front of Smoldering Church, Caelid

You might want to grab the two halves of the Dectus medallion to have access to Altus. Alternatively access Altus through Ruin-Strewn Precipice

Get Ash Of War: Sacred Order, dropped by a Teardrop Scarab in Altus Plateau, North-West of the Abandoned Coffin Site Of Grace (when you enter Altus through Ruin-Strewn Precipice, go north opposite to where Lansseax appears. Easy to reach from Lux ruins / Erdtree-gazing hill grace)

Get Golden Vow (FAI 25) from Corpse-Stench Shack, in Mt Gelmir. Reach this location by riding northwest from the Bridge of Iniquity site of grace past the wooden barricades (the first grace you find when you enter Mt Gelmir through north Altus)

Get Lightning Scorpion Charm if you want more lightning damage at the cost of less defense. Can be found in the Wyndham Catacombs, at the top of the Wyndham Ruins in Altus Plateau (north from Lux ruins), in a room sealed by an Imp Statue, requires a Stonesword Key

Farm Golden Greatshield (STR 34). Drops from Leyndell Knights using the shield on their model, most of which can be found in and around Leyndell, Royal Capital (warning: pretty low drop rate)

If you don't want to farm the Golden Greatshield, you can continue using Brass Shield and upgrade it to +18. In that case, you don't need 34 STR and you can level up more FAI, VGR and MND instead

Put Barricade shield ash of war in Golden Greatshield

If you have low STR and high FAI (because you're using the Brass Shield), then the Gravel Stone Seal is a better option than the Clawmark Seal. To get it, from the West Capital Rampart site of grace in Leyndell, walk north to the next room with the single guard inside. Jump over the balcony railing to get to the area next to the Fortified Manor with the dragon foot. It is dropped by the Leyndell Knight with the spear, who is supported by an archer Leyndell Knight

Farm Leyndell Knight Set from Leyndell Knights, from Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace or Leyndell Royal Capital

Progress through the game up to after killing Fire Giant

Before burning Erdtree you might want to finish farming Leyndell Knight Set pieces and Golden Greatshield from Leyndell Royal Capital, and get Gravel Stone Seal. Also, get Bolt of Gransax from Leyndell just so you have more options for higher level builds

LVL 100 attrs: 25 VGR, 17 MND, 35 END, 34 STR, 22 DEX, 33 FAI. If you keep Starscourge Heirloom equipped you could leave STR at 29. If you use Brass Shield you could keep STR at 16 and pump FAI, VGR and MDN

You can also progress the build to <a href="https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Builds#lightningdragoon" target="_blank">Lightning Dragoon (LVL 150)</a>

You can also progress with <a href="https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Builds#perfectpaladin" target="_blank">Perfect Paladin build (all levels)</a>

Elden Ring Checklists