Last updated: August 13, 2025
Welcome, Tarnished! Ready to become Elden Lord? This is your one-stop Elden Ring progression guide for pro players, mastering boss fights, and maximizing your build from start to finish. Whether you’re a veteran of Souls games or diving into New Game+, this 2025 progress guide will walk you through every major milestone—simple, clear, and focused on optimal gameplay.
What’s the Best Way to Use an Elden Ring Guide to Improve Your Gameplay?
Don’t Get Lost in the Lands Between What Order Should You Progress in Elden Ring? This Complete Elden Ring Progression Route provides a really strong head start.
An Elden Ring guide is a map for players, especially if you’re trying to navigate its vast, challenging world with efficiency. A good gaming guide can help you understand the most effective routes, the enemies to watch out for, and the weapons or strategies that give you a competitive edge in late-game boss fights.
The key is to use the guide to support your journey without spoiling the fun of discovery. By following step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to avoid common pitfalls, find hidden treasures, and build the perfect character to face the game’s toughest challenges.
Ready to take on Elden Ring like a pro? A solid guide is your best companion!
Don’t Get Lost in the Lands Between
With this massive Elden Ring progression route and with over 150 bosses, multiple endings, and hidden areas tucked behind secret walls, it’s easy to lose track of where to go next. According to Steam stats, more than 70% of players drop off before reaching the midgame, but with this Elden Ring progression guide, that won’t be you.
I distinctly remember my first playthrough feeling overwhelming, constantly getting lost and dying to seemingly random encounters. But with a structured guide, I was able to approach each new area with confidence, learning optimal routes and avoiding frustration.
This Elden Ring progression guide is crafted to simplify your journey. I’ve spent 5+ years working with game guides and SEO content strategies, and today, I’ll help you level smarter, explore in the right order, and avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re chasing the Sellen quest, looking for a solid progress guide, or asking “What’s the best starting path?”—you’ll find your answer here.
What Order Should You Progress in Elden Ring? The Complete Elden Ring Progression Route
Here’s the best progression route in Elden Ring based on story flow and level difficulty:
- Limgrave (Levels 1–20)
- Weeping Peninsula (Levels 10–30)
- Stormveil Castle (Levels 20–30)
- Liurnia of the Lakes (Levels 30–50)
- Academy of Raya Lucaria
- Altus Plateau (Levels 50–70)
- Mt. Gelmir & Volcano Manor
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Levels 80–100)
- Mountaintops of the Giants (Levels 100–120)
- Consecrated Snowfield, Haligtree, Mohgwyn Palace (Optional high-level areas)
- Crumbling Farum Azula → Ashen Capital → Final Boss
This area order by level keeps the difficulty manageable and the story coherent. You’ll also naturally pick up powerful items and summons at the right time.
The Nightreign Patch 1.02.1 has balanced core mechanics, including poise damage and weapon scaling, so this progression path remains a solid, up-to-date choice. The patch also brought quality-of-life updates, such as the ability to skip the ending cutscene, which is a great time-saver for New Game+ runs.
Starting Strong: Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula
Your journey starts in Limgrave, and your first priority should be unlocking Torrent, your spectral steed, at the Gatefront Ruins. From there:
- Grab the map fragments for visibility.
- Explore the Church of Elleh and nearby ruins.
- Beat Beastman of Farum Azula and Patches for early loot.
- Head south to Weeping Peninsula for easier dungeons and upgrade materials.
- Don’t miss the Elden Ring Sellen quest starter NPC: Sorceress Sellen, near Waypoint Ruins.
Level up your Vigor and Endurance early, and collect Smithing Stones to upgrade your weapon, power makes progress easier than stats alone. Early on, I prioritized exploring every nook and cranny of Limgrave to snag all the available Smithing Stones, and this methodical approach made subsequent areas, like the Weeping Peninsula, feel significantly more manageable as my upgraded weapon shredded through enemies.
Want to cut your playthrough time dramatically? The world record for Elden Ring Any% completion is just 53 minutes 58 seconds. The Speedrun.com website shows the entire route, including early-game skips, Talismans, and wrong-warps that casual players can partially adopt for massive time savings—even on first playthroughs.
Your First Legacy Dungeon: Stormveil Castle
Once you’ve beaten Margit, the Gatekeeper, head into Stormveil Castle. Expect:
- Hidden paths and secret loot, including Ashes of War.
- Two major boss fights: Margit and Godrick the Grafted.
- The option to bypass some combat via side entrances (great for stealth builds).
- Use Spirit Ashes like Lone Wolf to tank enemies and give yourself breathing room.
Margit was a real wall for me initially, but after grinding a few extra levels and upgrading my Spirit Ashes, summoning the Lone Wolves provided just enough distraction to allow me to land critical hits and finally overcome him.
Midgame Expansion: Liurnia of the Lakes
Welcome to the magic capital. In Liurnia, you’ll:
- Explore the Academy of Raya Lucaria (watch out for Rennala!).
- Collect new spells, staffs, and magic gear—perfect for mage builds.
- Progress Sellen’s questline, one of the richest lore journeys in the game.
- Discover optional zones like Caria Manor and Ainsel River (future Sellen areas).
This area is great for ranged builds, intelligence scaling, and picking up progression checklist items like Larval Tears for respecs.
Altus Plateau, Volcano Manor & Mt. Gelmir
By now, you should be around Level 60+.
To reach Altus Plateau, use either:
- The Grand Lift of Dectus (after finding both medallions), or
- The Ruin-Strewn Precipice path via Liurnia.
Key highlights:
- Volcano Manor assassination questline unlocks after a short intro quest.
- Find powerful weapons like Serpent-Hunter and useful talismans.
- Fight bosses like Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, in one of the most cinematic encounters in the game.
Rykard was a spectacle, and honestly, the sheer scale of the fight made me initially doubt my ability to win. But embracing the unique mechanic of the Serpent-Hunter and focusing on precise dodges turned what seemed impossible into an epic, memorable victory.
When you finish the Elden Ring progression guide, explore the ultimate gaming guide for more expert tips to master your favorite games.
Royal Capital: Leyndell
Leyndell is a late-game zone with major narrative weight.
- Recommended Level: 80–100
- Bosses include Godfrey, Morgott, and more
- Major world state changes happen after this zone
By now, your Elden Ring progression checklist should include:
- Fully upgraded weapon (ideally +10 or +25)
- Main NPC questlines advanced (Sellen, Ranni, Fia, etc.)
- Flask of Wondrous Physick tailored to your build
Late Game: Giants, Snowfields, Haligtree, Mohgwyn
These zones are optional but packed with value:
- Mountaintops of the Giants – fight Fire Giant
- Consecrated Snowfield – access via secret medallion halves
- Mohgwyn Palace – great rune farming zone and home to Mohg
- Haligtree & Miquella’s Tree – arguably the toughest zone
These areas reward players with legendary gear, talismans, and major lore.
Final Challenges: Farum Azula, Ashen Capital, Elden Beast
The last steps:
- Battle Dragonlord Placidusax in Crumbling Farum Azula
- Complete the final push in the Ashen Capital
- Face Radagon and the Elden Beast—a dual boss fight requiring patience and timing
Prepare your flasks, memorize boss patterns, and don’t forget your Spirit Ashes.
The Elden Beast fight felt like a true test of endurance and pattern recognition. I spent hours learning its moves, adjusting my build to maximize holy damage negation, and finally, that moment of victory felt incredibly earned.
Must-Get Weapons and Ashes of War for Progression
Choosing the right weapon early can make your entire journey smoother. Elden Ring gives you a lot of freedom, but certain weapons truly stand out for progression:
- Uchigatana (Dexterity build) – Found in the Deathtouched Catacombs (Limgrave), this fast, bleed-inflicting katana is perfect for early-game dominance and remains viable till late-game.
- Bloodhound’s Fang (Strength/Dex hybrid) – A curved greatsword dropped by the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave. It hits hard and scales beautifully.
- Moonveil (Intelligence build) – Found in Gael Tunnel (Caelid entrance). This katana fires magic beams and can shred bosses if you’re using a magic-melee hybrid.
- Blasphemous Blade (Faith/Strength) – A popular late-game weapon dropped by Rykard. Its Taker’s Flames skill deals immense damage and heals you, making it a powerful tool for survival against multiple enemies or challenging bosses.
- Rivers of Blood (Arcane/Dexterity) – While bleed was balanced in recent patches, this katana’s unique Ash of War, Corpse Piler, still delivers fast, high-damage attacks that can shred most enemies in the hands of a skilled player.
Ashes of War that give you an edge:
- Flaming Strike – Adds fire damage and fast buffs. Farm it from a Teardrop Scarab in Redmane.
- Bloodhound’s Step – A top-tier dodge mechanic, especially useful in PvE and PvP.
- Lion’s Claw – A somersault attack for heavy weapons; get it from a lion guardian near Fort Gael.
- Blasphemous Blade and Rivers of Blood are also top-tier Ashes of War for high-damage builds, offering powerful utilities for both progression and boss fights.
The Nightreign update introduced a new mechanic where enemy poise is more consistent. This has made Stagger builds with heavy weapons and specific Ashes of War even more effective for breaking boss stances and landing critical hits. The Hemorrhage Status Effect Wiki confirms that while bleed is no longer the sole dominant strategy, fast-striking bleed weapons are still very effective at building up status effects to deal burst damage against a wide range of bosses.
Best Spirit Ashes to Use for Each Region
Summons can carry you through some of the game’s toughest moments, especially when soloing. Here are top picks by region:
- Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula
- → Lone Wolf Ashes: Basic, but effective against early mobs.
- → Jellyfish Spirit: Tanky and distracts enemies well. Found in Stormhill Shack.
- Liurnia of the Lakes & Academy of Raya Lucaria
- → Marionette Soldiers: Great ranged support.
- → Skeletal Militiamen: Revive after death, very helpful for crowd control.
- Altus Plateau & Leyndell
- → Banished Knight Oleg: High poise and insane damage output.
- → Lhutel the Headless: Has teleportation and shielded attacks – very durable.
- Mountaintops of the Giants & Haligtree
- → Black Knife Tiche: Powerful bleed and debuff attacks.
- → Mimic Tear: Copies your current loadout. Best for endgame. Found in Nokron (requires Radahn defeat).
Tip: Upgrade your Spirit Ashes at Roderika in Roundtable Hold using Grave Gloveworts or Ghost Gloveworts.
Black Knife Tiche was an absolute game-changer for me in the Haligtree; her aggressive attacks and debuffs constantly drew aggro from tough enemies, allowing me to focus on my own damage output and survive areas I thought were impossible.
Important Map Fragments and How to Find Them
Navigating Elden Ring’s vast world without map fragments is a nightmare. These are essential pieces to collect:
- Limgrave Map Fragment
- Near the Gatefront Ruins. Can’t miss it — next to a large stone monolith.
- Liurnia of the Lakes Map Fragment
- Found just north of the “Liurnia Lake Shore” Site of Grace.
- Caelid Map Fragment
- Southeast of the Smoldering Wall Grace, near a large tree and enemy encampment.
- Altus Plateau Map Fragment
- Just after exiting the Grand Lift of Dectus, follow the road west to the monolith.
- Mountaintops of the Giants Map Fragment
- Past the Grand Lift of Rold, located along the main road.
- Consecrated Snowfield (Optional)
- Hidden behind an illusion tree, north of the Inner Consecrated Snowfield grace.
Why it matters: Besides navigation, uncovering the full map helps you locate Sites of Grace, bosses, Evergaols, caves, and hidden dungeons that can dramatically boost your build and runes.
Conclusion: Your Path to Becoming Elden Lord
With this Elden Ring guide, you’re no longer wandering blindly through fog-covered lands. You’ve got a clear progress guide, answers to key progression questions, and a full checklist to make sure nothing gets missed. Whether you’re following the Sellen quest for story or pushing to 100% completion, the journey is yours—but you don’t have to do it alone.
In April 2025, Elden Ring officially crossed 30 million copies sold, according to Gematsu’s report. That massive player base keeps the community active, the PvP scene alive, and FromSoftware steadily patching and balancing. Mastering the game’s systems today means you’ll stay competitive—and connected—long into the future.
Now grab your flask, summon your wolves, and forge your legacy in the Lands Between. The Erdtree awaits, and your destiny calls.
FAQ Section: Elden Ring Progression & Gameplay Questions
100% completion can take 130–170 hours, depending on your skill and familiarity with questlines, NPCs, and hidden areas.
- Unlock Torrent
- Defeat Margit and Godrick
- Clear Academy and Altus
- Follow major NPC quests (Sellen, Ranni)
- Farm runes and upgrade gear
- Unlock all map fragments
- Collect Great Runes
- Defeat Elden Beast and choose an ending.
Start in Limgrave, go south to Weeping Peninsula, then tackle Stormveil Castle. This path is the safest and allows you to build power before major challenges.
Most players agree Malenia, Blade of Miquella is the hardest boss. Her fast healing and second phase make her incredibly tough—even at high levels.
- Limgrave (1–20)
- Weeping Peninsula (10–30)
- Stormveil Castle (20–30)
- Liurnia (30–50)
- Altus Plateau (50–70)
- Mt. Gelmir (60–80)
- Leyndell (80–100)
- Giants/Consecrated Snowfield (100–120)
- Haligtree/Mohgwyn (120+)
- Farum Azula to Final Boss (130–150)
