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

Get the Dectus Medallion (Left) from Fort Haight (recommended, kill Godrick Knight at the top level to get Bloody slash ash of war)

Go to Weeping peninsula and 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)

Dectus Medallion (Right) from Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow (Caelid)

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)

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

Get Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right) from Village of the Albinaurics

Progress Varre questline to access Mohgwyn Palace

Locate Varre in Rose Church (south east of TEMPLE QUARTER grace, Liurnia).

Obtain festering bloody finger from Varre.

Invade players 3 times (quick exits are allowed).

Talk to Varre again to obtain Lord of Blood's Favor.

Obtain the Imbued Sword Key from the top (fourth) belfry.

Enter the waygate in the Second Belfry (look for the message "Precipice of Anticipation").

Soak Lord of Blood's Favor in the maiden inside the chapel.

Use the Pureblood Knight's Medal he provides.

You can also access Mogh's palace from Consecrated Snowfield much later in the game though a waygate portal

Enter Raya Lucaria and beat Wolf of Radagon

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 if you beat Radahn or Rykard you don't need to beat Rennala)

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

You can also ignore the Dectus medallions and access Altus through the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, accessible going north past the Bellum church, north of the path toward 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 reach Altus Plateau

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)

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

If you beat Radahn, you can now get the Mimic Tear spirit summon from Nokron

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

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

Talk to Ranni again to receive Carian Inverted Statue

Go through Renna's Rise waygate and get Ranni's doll

Progress through Ainsel and Nokstella to get the Palace Key

Get the Dark Moon Ring from Rennala's room

Go through the Lake of Rot (Flame, Cleanse Me incantation or lots of HP flasks recommended)

Give Ranni the Dark Moon Ring and Get the Dark Moon Greatsword

You can reach Mt. Gelmir and Volcano Manor by going north east from Altus Plateau site of grace until  FOREST-SPANNING GREATBRIDGE grace, crossing the bridge with the magic portal, then heading south west through the only path available

Get Sentry's torch from merchant in Hermit Merchant's Shack, northeast of the Outer Wall Battleground site of grace (Altus), useful if you want to reach Malenia

Beat Draconic Tree Sentinel to access Leyndell

By this point your weapon can be +15-20 (6-7)

After defeating Morgott, if you progressed Nepheli's and Gostoc questlines, now you can get 2 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones from the Stormveil Castle throne room

Talk to Melina in ELDEN THRONE grace to get the Rold medallion

From the AVENUE BALCONY grace reach the Rold lift

Run all the way through the Forbidden lands and Mountaintops of the Giants

you can get an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from a corpse inside the mouth of a big skull south-east of Church of Repose

By this point your regular weapon can be fully upgraded +25

Expore Leyndell and grab any missing items you might need for your build

Activate cutscene to Burn the Erdtree and access Farum Azula by talking to Melina in Forge of Giants grace

Fia will relocate to Deeproot depths even if you didn't complete her questline so you can beat Fia's champions

To fight Fortissax, progress Ranni's quest until receiving the Carian Inverted Statue. Use the statue in the Divine Tower of Liurnia, reach the top, get the Cursemark of Death and give it to Fia. Reload the area and inspect her dream

Kill dragon in curved platform at the beginnig of Farum Azula to get an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone

Get Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from a corpse on a floating platform north of the Dragon Temple (Farum Azula), guarded by a Beastman. Parkour throught he floating debris to reach a narrow path and a spiral staircase at the end,. Up the staircase, then south though a floating pillar

From Godskin Duo grace go through the left gate (looking at the closest wall, in the left side) and progress until reaching an area where you have to parkour down some floating platforms. Go straight through the path. In the area with the Crucible Knight, stick to the right side and jump to the grace.

Get Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from a gazebo behind the stationary Farum Azula Dragon sitting at the back of the plaza southeast of the Dragon Temple Rooftop site of grace

By this point your somber weapon can be fully upgraded

Get Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right) from Castle Sol

With both halves of Haligtree medallion, access Consecrated Snowfield through the Lift of Rold

Get remaining Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones

Get Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone killing Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater southwest of Ordina, Liturgical Town

Get Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone by completing Latenna's questline

Get Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from a chest at the feet of the massive statue by the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint in Mohgwyn Palace

Get 3 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones in Elphael

Get 1 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone in Leyndell Ashen Capital

Get 1 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone in Farum Azula

beat Ordina's puzzle in Consecrated Snowfield to access Miquella's Haligtree. You can make the assassins visible holding Sentry's Rorch in your off hand

Reach Mohgwyn Palace either from Varre's quest or from Consecrated Snowfield and beat Mohg. It would be useful to get the Purifying Crystal Tear first from killing Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger at the Second Church of Marika in Altus Plateau

Go through the Subterranean Shunning-grounds under Leyndell

Simple Game Progress

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