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Things You Should Do First In Elden Ring

Published

21 seconds ago

January 19, 2025

Christoph Rediske

Summary

Table of Contents

Discovering new areas and secrets early on in Elden Ring can provide players with crucial resources and advantages later in the game.
Players should find the Church of Elleh and travel back to it a few times early in a new playthrough.
Exploring caves like Groveside Cave and Limgrave Tunnels can yield valuable resources to give players an edge early on.

Elden Ring quickly throws players into its massive open world with an optional boss waiting outside the dungeon in which they start their playthrough. While there are some tips on where to go next, there are many things the game won’t tell players.

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Exploration is heavily rewarded in Elden Ring, with some major mechanics of the game being missable depending on where you look in the earlier sections of the game. There’s a lot players can do in just their first hour into a playthrough to help set their character up for success; here’s what to do first.

Updated January 19, 2025 by Andy Chapman: Elden Ring has firmly established itself as one of the last few years’ most beloved and critically acclaimed games. Its massive DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, returned players to the epic landscapes and challenging boss fights fans have come to love. Meanwhile, with the announcement of the spin-off game Elden Ring Nightreign, the hype around the franchise has once again grown.

This new entry in FromSoftware’s impressive catalog is like nothing the developers have made before and has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated upcoming games. This article has been updated with additional entries to give new players a better understanding of Elden Ring’s early game.

1

Get The Crafting Kit

Unlock Crafting Right Away

Location: Eastern Limgrave near the Stranded Graveyard

Upon opening the gate and stepping foot into Limgrave, players will see a destroyed church not far straight ahead. It is recommended players ignore the Tree Sentinel at least for now and run past the boss to reach the Church Of Elleh.

Out front will be a Golden Rune players can use to get enough Runes to purchase the Crafting Kit from Merchant Kale within. Crafting will be a major mechanic throughout the game and can give players all sorts of useful items, including those that heal Torrent in Elden Ring.

2

Find Maps

See Details Of The Area To Help Exploration

Location: Near the middle of western Limgrave

The map in Elden Ring is useless unless players find maps for specific areas that add many more details that can be used. While points of interest such as Sites of Grace will still appear, having the actual map for an area should be the first thing players do when reaching somewhere new.

Even on a blank map, the location of that area’s map will be visible as the only icon on the map, being a small orange rectangle. In Limgrave, the first map can be found in the ruins just north of the Church of Elleh along the main road through the middle.

3

Meet Melina & Get Torrent

Unlock Leveling Up & The Mount

Location: Near the middle of western Limgrave

In those same ruins on the western side, but before the large gate, will be a Site Of Grace. Rest here to trigger a cutscene where players will meet Melina. Accepting her proposal will have her become your Maiden and let her use Runes to level up the player at any Site Of Grace throughout the game.

3:42

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Melina will also give players the Spectral Steed Whistle and will let players summon Torrent throughout most of the open world. Players will also be able to fight field bosses on horseback, making them much easier, and giving players a great upper hand if they wish to travel back and face the Tree Sentinel.

4

Complete Groveside Cave

The Easiest Boss For Some Early Runes

Location: Near the middle of western Limgrave

Along the western cliffs between the Church of Elleh and the ruins to the north will be Groveside Cave, guarded by a few soldiers out front. This cave is fairly short and easy to get through and is a great starter dungeon for players to clear out before traveling further in the game.

The enemies within are on par with the soldiers outside, and the boss at the end of the cave is arguably the easiest one in the game. Clearing this cave and its boss will offer a quick boost in Runes, so players can level up at least once before taking on stronger enemies by progressing to a further region.

5

Meet Renna & Get The Spirit Calling Bell

Unlock Spirits To Help In Difficult Places

Location: Eastern Limgrave near the Stranded Graveyard.

Travel back to the Church of Elleh at night after your first death and meet Melina. Renna will now be sitting on the northern broken wall of the church and will call out to the player. Should she not be there, rest at the Site Of Grace and she will appear.

3:15

Godrick the Grafted holding various weapons from Elden Ring in the fields of Limgrave

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Telling Renna you can “call the spectral steed” will have her give the player the Spirit Calling Bell and first Spirit Ash. This bell will let players use FP to summon a Spirit Ash, which is an NPC summon to help players in difficult areas or boss fights. Better Spirit Ashes can be found and all can be upgraded, giving players many options when dealing with the hardest bosses in Elden Ring.

6

Explore Limgrave Tunnels

Get Early Upgrade Materials

Location: Near the middle of western Limgrave

Entering the main lake of Limgrave from the south will let players travel to the northernmost tip of the lake and find Limgrave Tunnels. This is the first Smithing Stone cave players will be able to explore.

Clearing this cave will give players many Smithing Stones that can be used at the blacksmith station in the Church of Elleh to upgrade their weapons and armor in Elden Ring. Caves like this one will appear in each region and continuously give players higher-tier Smithing Stones to keep upgrading their weapons to deal more damage.

7

Get The Flask Of Wondrous Physick

Get The Customizable Flask

Location: Northeastern Limgrave

With Torrent, players should travel to the eastern side of Limgrave and find the map for the area. Taking the northern road at the fork will lead players to the Third Church Of Marika, where players can pick up the Flask of Wondrous Physick.

This Flask can be customized by players depending on the Crystal Tears they have, with others being found in Churches throughout the world. Within this church, players can also find a Sacred Tear, which can be used at a Site of Grace to enhance the effectiveness of each charge within their Flask of Crimson Tears and Flask of Cerulean Tears.

8

Choose A Weapon

Collect Powerful Weapons That Match The Character Build

Elden Ring: 10 Things To Do Early On In The Game Player holding the Reduvia in two hands

While each of the classes in Elden Ring has unique starter weapons, players will soon discover many more options in the game. Upgrading a weapon can take significant time, especially finding all the required Smithing Stones. A powerful weapon will take players through the early game and can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Which weapon a player chooses is dependent on the character build. For instance, the Greatsword can be found close by in Caelid and is an excellent choice for strength builds. For dexterity characters, the Twinblade can be found in the ruins of Agheel Lake, while for blood builds, the Reduvia is equally close.

9

Visit Roundtable Hold

Upgrade, Purchase, and Begin Quests

Location: Roundtable Hold

Once players have progressed far enough into the game, Melina will once again appear and offer the Tarnished passage to the Roundtable Hold. New players should make their way to this hub world as soon as possible, as it pushes the story forward, opens up new side quests, and provides items vital for progress.

The Roundtable Hold is a frequently visited location in Elden Ring. It is where players can upgrade their equipment and spirit ashes, after meeting Roderika, and purchase new items. Several side quests begin in Roundtable Hold, with players meeting different NPCs. Players can also exchange Remembrances for items in this area, after defeating various bosses throughout the game.

10

Defeat Flying Dragon Agheel and Complete The Coastal Cave

Elden Ring’s First Dragon Fight

Location: Agheel Lake, Limgrave

Throughout Elden Ring, players will face off against numerous Dragon enemies, each posing a significant challenge. However, for new players, one of the toughest in the game is the first encounter with Flying Dragon Agheel. While this Dragon is one of the easiest in the game, its location near the starting area means new players will often encounter Agheel too early and be instantly killed.

However, defeating Agheel is a recommended early-game action. Defeating the Dragon will reward players with many runes and a Dragon Heart. This can be taken to the Church of Dragon Communion, where players can receive their first Dragon Incantation after completing the Coastal Cave.

11

Farm Greyoll for Lots of Runes

An Easy Rune Source In Caelid

Elden Ring: 10 Things To Do Early On In The Game Player standing in front of a large dragon

Location: North of Fort Faroth, Greyoll’s Dragonbarrow

Repetition is a big part of Elden Ring. Many of the toughest bosses require patience and multiple attempts to achieve victory. However, boss fights are not the only part of the game. Gathering enough runes to level up is central to Elden Ring and many players resort to farming enemies to collect enough to progress. This method can take a long time and be extremely repetitive.

For those wanting a head start, in Caelid, players will find Elder Dragon Greyoll. This ancient beast is dying from scarlet rot and does not fight back when attacked. Taking this colossal dragon down takes time, as its health bar is very large. However, equipping Ash of War: Blood Slash, or using a blood-based weapon like the Reduvia, will cause blood loss buildup in the dragon. This effect will significantly damage the dragon over time. Once dead, the player is rewarded with an easy 5x Dragon Hearts and 50,000 runes.

12

Meet Gurranq, Beast Clergyman

A Must for Incantation Builds

Location: Far North Caelid, Dragonbarrow

Meeting Gurranq, The Beast Clergyman, is one of the best ways to get some early incantations. The Beast Sanctum is found in the very north of the Caelid in the Dragonbarrow area. Here, Gurranq will exchange Deathroot for spells and items throughout the game. To reach this far-off location, players must meet D, Hunter of the Dead, and defeat a Tibia Mariner in Limgrave.

Once achieved, D will reveal a secret portal that leads directly to the Beast Sanctum, saving players the long journey on foot. While this is mainly only useful for players looking to use incantations in their build, Bestial Incantations are effective early-game spells to collect.

13

Visit The Weeping Peninsula

An Additional Starting Area filled with Challenges and Loot.

Elden Ring: 10 Things To Do Early On In The Game Player approaching the entrance to the weeping peninsula

Location: South of Limgrave

A mistake new players can make when starting Elden Ring is taking on Stormveil Castle too early. This huge area is the first true challenge in the game, complete with tough enemies and main story bosses. It is also the gateway to the next region. New players especially should take their time and explore the other areas of Limgrave, enjoying the many locations filled with secrets and loot.

The Weeping Peninsula is an additional area south of Limgrave. While this entire mini-region can be missed, it is filled with fun challenges and important loot. The main point of interest in the area, Castle Morne, is a perfect test run for the much larger Stormveil Castle. While the many caves, mines, and catacombs in the region offer additional challenges and resources. For Sorcery players, the Demi-Human Queen’s Staff can be found here, while the final boss, Leonine Misbegotten, is a tough early challenge for players to overcome.

14

Visit Siofra River Well

A Moment of Realization

Location: Mistwood, Limgrave

For new players, the first playthrough of Elden Ring is full of jaw-dropping moments. From completing Stormveil Castle and emerging onto the Lake Facing Cliffs to seeing the desolate landscape of Caelid from the Rotview Balcony. However, one of the most memorable moments for new players is when they discover the Siofra River Well.

Riding the long lift down takes players to a new area of the game with new enemies, bosses, and secrets. This stunning reveal is not only jaw-droppingly beautiful, it tells the player there is far more to the Lands Between than can be seen on the surface.