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What to do first in Elden Ring: 6 important first steps to get you startedGet started in Elden Ring with these essential steps
Get started in Elden Ring with these essential steps
Want to know what to do first in Elden Ring?Elden Ringis huge, so it’s easy to get lost in the Lands Between. That might feel intimidating and even put you off Elden Ring entirely, but there are hundreds of hours of fun to be had if you can figure out what to do first. If you’re looking for some help in the early game, we’re here to set you on the right path.
In this guide, we’ll break down a bunch of early game activities that you should focus on in your first 10-20 hours in Elden Ring. These activities will help youlevel up, get new gear, unlock more of the map, and prepare for many of the tough boss battles to come.
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The First Steps: don’t miss the combat tutorial!
Elden Ring’s wide-open design philosophy is present right from the very start. After the scripted death following the intro cutscene, you’ll be greeted with another short cutscene before waking up in a cave. In front of you is a door that leads up into the open world. On your right is a dark, scary pit that hosts the game’s combat tutorial.
Have a chat with the ghostly NPC, then jump down the hole. You’ll find some messages on the floor that explain the basics of Elden Ring’s combat, as well as a few useful items. If you’re brand new to the series, this is a low-stress way to get a feel for the controls, movement, and combat.
The first four Graces: how to meet Melina and get your horse, Torrent
When you’re finished with the tutorial area, head through the doors to find your firstSite of Grace. These are analogous to the bonfires in Souls games and serve as checkpoints and fast-travel spots across the Elden Ring map. Continue up the stairs, ride the elevator, and open up the doors to Limgrave, the first region of Elden Ring’s massive world.
Here you will find another Grace, as well as Varre, an NPC who will rudely remind you that you are maidenless. Varre also explains the guidance of Grace. You’ll notice golden trails coming off of some sites of Grace in Elden Ring. These point you towards major objectives, for both the main story and various side quests. For now, we’re going to follow them.
Follow the trail, ignoring the mountedTree Sentinel bossin front of you for now, and head towards the church-like ruins ahead. Here you will find the Church of Elleh Grace and your first NPC merchant. Have a chat with him, and he’ll recommend you purchase a Crafting Kit. You can buy it now or wait a bit, but you should eventually pick this up. Then, continue north around the base of the mountain on your left until you find another Grace between a pack of enemies and a gate.
How to meet Renna and acquire the Spirit Summoning Bell
One feature Elden Ring introduces to help take some pressure off the player during boss fights is the Spirit Summoning Bell. This extremely important item lets you summonSpirit Ashesto aid you in boss fights and certain other areas, but is surprisingly easy to miss. If you’re following along though, you can pick it up now.
However, at some point (it’s currently unclear when exactly), Renna will stop appearing. If you’ve been playing for a bit already and can’t get Renna to appear at the Church of Elleh, you can still get the Spirit Summoning Bell from the Husk Twins vendor inRoundtable Hold, Elden Ring’s hub area. Continue exploring, and Melina will eventually appear at a Grace and teleport you here.
How to find map fragments: Limgrave West
How to prepare for Margit and Stormveil Castle: suggested places to explore
If you follow the guidance of Grace from the Gatefront, you’ll find yourself riding straight into Stormveil Castle. Here you’ll meetMargit, the Fell Omen,Elden Ring’s first major boss. If you’re brand new to the series, you’re likely to get your butt kicked. This is Elden Ring’s way of telling you, “Hey, go do something else for a bit and come back when you’re stronger.” I recommend you listen.
Explore around Stormhill and Limgrave, and you’ll find dozens of ruins, caves, and catacombs full of enemies and items. Level up, try out some new weapons, andupgrade them with smithing stones. We recommend checking out the Murkwater Cave in the river east of Stormhill, the Waypoint Ruins across the lake, and the Third Church of Marika in Eastern Limgrave. Or, head south to explore a new area.
Visit the Weeping Peninsula
In southern Limgrave you’ll find a fortified bridge to the Weeping Peninsula. This is a fantastic place to explore while you level up and prepare to take on Margit. You’ll find three churches containingSacred Tearsto upgrade your flasks, a couple ofNPC sidequests,and several usefulspells, weapons, andtalismans.
Castle Morne on the southern tip of the Peninsula is a nice trial run for Stormveil, too, where you can test your skills against some tougher enemies and a viciousLeonine Misbegottenboss. Think of the Weeping Peninsula like an extended warm-up zone for the rest of the game. There may not be any required bosses or items here, but it is a great place to get into the rhythm of Elden Ring’s exploration and combat. Journey through the Peninsula and Limgrave at your own pace until you feel ready to give Margit a shot.
That wraps up our guide on what to do first in Elden Ring. If you need a hand with the lord of Stormveil Castle, we’ve got a boss fight guide forGodrick the Grafted.For some weapon tips at all stages of the game, visit our guide to thebest weapons in Elden Ring.If you want to find more challenges, check out ourElden Ring boss locations guide. Just make sure to come prepared with thebest armor,best spells, andbest builds in Elden Ring. If you’re still feeling a little lost, take a look at our fullElden Ring walkthroughto follow the critical path through the Lands Between.
