As an ardent Tarnished harborer of the flame, I have braved the utmost peaks and depths of the Lands Between in my quest to become Elden Lord. From the glittering academy spires of Liurnia to Farum Azula’s collapsing corrosion, I’ve seen it all and battled through to the bitter end.
Now I pass my knowledge onto you, that you may tread the righteous path; never to lose direction nor have your mettle tested beyond its limits. Read forth and let my progression route guide steer you down the golden road of greatness!
Why Follow a Route?
I know well the instinct to wander yonder at one’s fancy, chasing castles on the horizon without a care for difficulty or destination. Such is the true joy of Elden Ring!
Alas, while rewarding in tiny bursts, aimlessness breeds only disaster across the hostile breadth of the Realm. Many areas shatter the unprepared, demanding lost progress be re-earned from sites of grace afar.
Thus! My route eliminates aimless wandering’s peril by laying down an intentional path to power. One needn’t rid oneself of all exploration – nay, side treks hold treasures untold! But base camps must first be established, skills honed on lesser evils and proper equipment secured.
Only then can true adventure flourish! So come now, upstart Tarnished! Our journey awaits…
The Optimal Route
Based on experience earned from 4 complete playthroughs, here is my recommended optimal Elden Ring progression route. While not ironclad, it steers you soundly from start to throne:
1. Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula
Rise ye dead from your graves amidst the tenuous calm of Limgrave and claim your spectral steed. Let Agheel’s flames lap at your heels as you gather strength to face the grafted demigod, Godrick the Grafted. Riposte your way across his mangled monstrosity then away, south to the weeping cliffs beyond.
Recommended Level Range: 20-40
Brave the minds of weeping sages, the putrid catacombs of aeonian corpses, and the mountainside fortresses overlooking blood bogs. This southern peninsula shall gift you grave gloveworts to raise your spirits and smithing stones to empower your steel.
Thus endowed, depart this accursed land by eastward highway to fairer Liurna lakes.
2. Liurnia Of the Lakes
What a wonder awaits in academia’s ivied walls! Student life suits you, fledgling spellblade. Master glintstone sorceries under the waxing moon while upgrading your spirits and weapons to +6 with bell bearings earned delving crystal tunnels.
Recommended Level Range: 50-70
Once your mystical studies conclude with Renalla’s rune in hand, play Ranni the Witch’s game to shift reality and unlock Nokron – but beware the Baleful Shadow! This evergaol holds the key to…destined death incarnate. Now, off to Caelid with us!
3. Caelid
Look now upon red sky scarred terrain with rot-slick bile belying death with every breath. Treadsoft, Tarnished! Move as shadow, gather reagents and test thy steel against all heroes graves until finally you stand before the festival.
Recommended Level Range: 80-100
Call upon cooperators at the castle redoubt to divert dread Starscourge Radahn’s attention in clash mythic. Then show the stalwart general a warrior’s dignity and release him from heinous shackling sorcery into deep slumber. Away! To Altus Plateau…
4. Altus Plateau & Mt. Gelmir
High time we gain some altitude out of destitute Caelid, no? Gorgeous golden cathedrals beckon beyond bustling Altus highways linked conveniently to earlier graces. Forge east from the capital along ravine ridges to a mountain simmering with miscreant life.
Recommended Level Range: 100-120
Pursue curiously constructive Volcano Manor quests as fancy fancies, gaining gear through gladiatorial combat. Take not their harlotry to heart! Just rewards for tasks, no more. Once sufficiently emboldened, dare Leyndell at last…
5. Leyndell & Mountaintops
Behold! Gorgeous streets of gold, now to plague and tarnish. Royal Capital Leyndell represents Majestic Golden Lineage might – can ye rise to their test, Ashen One? Or will Queen Marika’s offspring defending Erdtree boughs spurn ye away? Onward! Brave thee Subterranean Shunning-Grounds then faceFOREFATHER JOINED
Recommended Level Range: 120-150
Ah, splendid! But lingering ambition stirs still, no? Higher lies the flame and its giant keeper. Seek Ordina’s liturgical town when ready to brave ashen Icelands where giants once strode. March through mists of fate to fell the kindling lord and set Erdtree ablaze! Destiny awaits, mine Tarnished…wilt thou walk the righteous path with me?
So concludes my proposed optimal route and tale. Let our twin journey to the throne begin now in earnest! Pray enjoy the road ahead~
Additional Route Details & Tips
Allow me now to annotate our path further, that thy passage might flow smooth as silk:
Limgrave
Prioritize liberating your spectral steed Torrent first in Limgrave’s western coasts so you can ride like golden lightning across greened dimension all grandeur. How? Seek night’s church beyond Stormgate ruins, by the sea.
After, gather vital crafting tools from Gatefront’s war-torn shell, MAPS most critical! Can’t have errant Tarnished losing their way, heavens forbid. Follow coast east defeating Erdtree Avatar then delve Mistwood’s depths at own peril for wondrous physic.
Finally, brave Stormveil’s gambit! Lure out lion’s fool, Margit Himself with your meatiest shanks then skewer that sack of refuse through the heart! Godrick awaits stomping…and GREAT RUNE!
Weeping Peninsula
South by bridge troll-kept lies morose mines perfect for upgrading equipment with smithing stones early. Rapier-wielding invader also guards bewitching Branch – obtain while able, for sorceries pay princely in future!
Castle Morne deserves knocking – Leonine Misbegotten makes noteworthy first skill check. Messy business! Regardless, don’t get bogged down o’erlong inweepy mire. Away to Liurnia, land of crystalline cabarets~!
Liurnia
Academia can be playground or pitfall for the meek, so mind sorceries! Scarlet Rot also purveys so pocket those boluses. Most critical before departing, ensure you:
- Discover Ranni’s conspiracy
- Defeat vile Baleful Shadow
- Activate Divine Tower of West Liurnia
Thus armed with Lunar Queen’s rune and darkmoon loyalty, Caelid welcomes thee!
Caelid
Foul fate fowl fate, but Radahn and his Redmane glory cannot be missed! Festivals fade so frequently, why not partake? Just mind scarlet rot rivers and keep pacing patience. No shame stalwart general requires multiple attempts – Gravity is greatest foe!
Bonus Objective – Defeat putrid avatar in dragonbarrow northeast to gain access to Bellum Highway grace-site in Altus Plateau later. Fort Fun!
Praise the Sun and bless Lady of Moonlight both – next stop, Altus baby!
Altus & Gelmir
Don’t let highwaymen hassle hasten your hustle Tarnished! Guild certainties await above – stay the course. Activate Radahn rune with divine tower plunge then angle east into Gelmir’s boil.
Pursue Iron Fist Alexander’s quest if willing, but if Volcano Manor’s zealotry sours thy stomach, cut contract short soon after Rykard. His blasphemies outnumber grains of sand~
Leyndell awaits!
Mountaintops & Beyond
Brave Tarnished, the capital city calls! But beware journeying farther alone…greater giants once ruled these lofts and will test your Wade the hardest. Tread thrice careful up to Fire Giant’s throne – fail here and thou may never tread Erdtree tower again..
But fortune favors the bold! Stay side trek and sight-see hungry once His kindling bulk burns to ash. Then let Queen’s coy consort and Father’s former ferocity test your worth. If Golden Light deems you dignified Elden Lord not then…may chaos take the world!
Fret not and fear no darkness ye darling warrior mine. Greater glory awaits at apex absolute if thou just holdeth Fast! Now, Take up arms aloft valiant fighter! Conquer Elden Ring eternal!!!
My Walkthrough Experience
Let me regale thee with recounts from my maiden voyage through The Lands Between using this exact route some eras past! Twas journey of ages never to be forgotten…
I awoke as playing-dead warrior away in cave tomb, fumbling forth into Limgrave’s midday sun. Squinting yonder, a knight gold awaited horseback – how I yearned toward his nobility! Fool. Silver-eyed Tree Sentinel brought only silvered-edge weapon crashing down thrice to smite me. 3 deaths defined my destiny.
So I sought the coastline east, discovering craft. Horse rose soon under stars of night conversing with specter-lady Melina who shared my soul sight. Our sweet commune cured cursed blood from Agheel’s flames. On high did I hold holy chieftain Godrick’s warped visage dripping ruby torn from his gorging gullet. Exhilaration!
Alas triumph hid deeper loss. Beloved maiden Melina perished painful departing the fell capital earth-bound. Mayhap she rests now in roots above…
But! Enough sorrowful soliloquies – such delicious madness awaited me! Master Rennala’s magicks enthralled my imagination for months undying. And oh how LOATHSOME young Albus barked orders at my heels while his mother’s rich golden locks did naught but dangle dumbly from my damned undeserving digits!!
Ahem. Apologies. Scarlet Rot stirs sickness in my soul still. That woeful fight confronting falling Radahn whittled my wits…but will remained! Through tornadic telekinetic typhoons did I pierce his scarred honor. Why great general must you recur royalty’s madness?? Alas alack, no redemption road remains for demigod deniers of the Golden Order…
Dearest Rykard too, shared such fate. Recusant blasphemer birthed by my hand! But hark, kindred spirits – side thou with the strong or honor the Erdtree’s dying vision? Choice lies ahead…mine echoes still.
Now at Journey’s End, what scenes stir thy heart so? What vistas left impressions everlasting? Reach heaven’s highest rafters and share thy truth! Elden Lord is not legend told but lived, through word and deed. So don thy digital crown and declare thy truths aloud brave warrior! Destiny is ourordo plaything – let none command your virtue.
Tarnished, we remain guidance without…but my tales might frame fateful Lineage’s madness clearer. Now rise renewed toward greatness without end!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: You keep saying Tarnished this, Tarnished that! Who are ye weird warrior??
A: Ah mine mannerisms mad must seem indeed! I am but one of thousands playing dead arisen now by grace to claim Elden Throne. Such is mantle of “Lord Tarnished” – we who dare walk in Marika’s refuse footsteps to forge new order! Fear not my ramblings, new friend.
Q: If open world freedom is key, why so strict your route rules?
A: Not rules! Mere milestones to mitigate aimlessness momentum loss. Elden Ring allows wandering wherever wings may take you. I suggest staying the course until surer capability strength is gained. No fun bashing ‘gainst walls everywhere eh?
Q: Any other quests critical worth doing?
A: Oh indubitably! Iron Fist Alexander, White Mask Varre, even ratty Patches merit meeting. But primemost, preserve dear Ranni from those blonde nobles. Her ending proves peaceful compared to much misbegotten…mayhap.
Q: You mention arcane stuff and spells n’ weapons – what’s good for killing?
A: Piggledee poof and alakazam! For me, phantasms and sorceries did slay sublime. Frost, iron greatswords and hefty strength smashed grand also. Find thy flow, warrior wolf! Twas never gear made Lord but spirit indomitable~
So very many tales yet to tell! But pray time tires and the throne towers tall. Stay stalwart, Tarnished! One final surge carries the day. Glory awaits those golden Order grasp exceeding. Fear no Giants and let the flame rise ever higher!!
