Elden Ring Platinum Trophy Guide: A Comprehensive Roadmap to 100% Completion

Elden Ring, the critically acclaimed action RPG from FromSoftware, is a sprawling and challenging game. While simply finishing the main story is a significant accomplishment, true completionists will set their sights on the coveted Platinum Trophy (or 100% achievement on other platforms). This guide provides a detailed roadmap to help you achieve platinum, covering every trophy and offering practical tips to streamline your journey.

**Understanding the Platinum Requirements**

The Elden Ring Platinum Trophy, like those in other FromSoftware games, requires dedication and a willingness to explore every corner of the Lands Between. Crucially, it does *not* require you to play through multiple New Game Plus cycles for alternate endings. All endings can be obtained in a single playthrough with careful planning. The trophy list is relatively straightforward, focusing on exploration, defeating key bosses, collecting legendary items, and unlocking all endings (through save manipulation). Here’s a breakdown of the trophy categories:

* **Main Story Completion:** Trophies awarded for defeating major story bosses and progressing through key areas.
* **Optional Bosses:** Trophies for defeating significant optional bosses that often guard valuable items or areas.
* **Legendary Items:** Trophies for collecting all legendary weapons, talismans, ashes of war, and spirits.
* **Endings:** Trophies for achieving each of the game’s multiple endings.
* **Exploration:** Trophies for discovering specific areas and completing certain tasks.

**General Tips Before You Begin**

* **Plan Your Build:** Consider what kind of playstyle you enjoy. A strong melee build focused on strength and vigor can be very effective. A faith build is also a strong choice. Respec is available later, but early efficiency helps.
* **Explore Thoroughly:** The Lands Between is packed with secrets. Check every nook and cranny, talk to every NPC multiple times, and don’t be afraid to stray from the main path.
* **Utilize Map Markers:** Mark important locations like resource veins, merchant locations, and areas of interest. This will save you a lot of time later.
* **Take Notes:** Jot down quest progress, NPC locations, and any information that might be useful later. Many quests are time-sensitive or require specific conditions to be met.
* **Online Play Considerations:** While not required, online play can be helpful for summoning help with difficult bosses or trading items with other players.
* **Backup Your Save:** This is crucial for obtaining all endings in a single playthrough (more on this later).
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Level Up:** If you’re struggling with a particular boss, consider leveling up your character. Farming runes in certain areas can make a big difference.
* **Learn to Parry:** Mastering the parry mechanic can trivialize some boss fights, especially early on.
* **Use Spirit Ashes:** Spirit Ashes are a valuable tool for distracting bosses and dealing extra damage. Experiment with different ashes to find the ones that suit your playstyle.
* **Upgrade Your Weapons:** Upgrading your weapons is essential for increasing your damage output. Collect smithing stones and somber smithing stones to upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith.

**Trophy Roadmap: A Step-by-Step Guide**

This roadmap is designed to minimize backtracking and maximize efficiency. It assumes you are starting a new game.

**Phase 1: Early Game & Essential Exploration (Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula)**

1. **Character Creation & Early Game:**
* Choose a starting class that suits your preferred playstyle. The Vagabond and Samurai are good choices for beginners.
* Focus on leveling Vigor early to increase your health.
* Obtain the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna at the Church of Elleh (must visit the Gatefront Ruins first and then return to the Church of Elleh at night).
* Explore Limgrave thoroughly, collecting resources, upgrading your weapons, and completing minor dungeons.

2. **Stormveil Castle:**
* Defeat Margit, the Fell Omen at the entrance to Stormveil Castle.
* Navigate Stormveil Castle, defeating enemies and collecting items.
* Defeat Godrick the Grafted and obtain his Great Rune. Activate Godrick’s Great Rune at the Divine Tower of Limgrave.

3. **Weeping Peninsula:**
* Explore the Weeping Peninsula south of Limgrave.
* Complete the Castle Morne dungeon and defeat Leonine Misbegotten.
* Find Irina and begin Edgar’s questline (this is important for a later ending).

4. **Liurnia of the Lakes Preparation:**
* Locate Sorcerer Rogier in Stormveil Castle before fighting Godrick or at the Roundtable Hold afterward.
* Speak to him and exhaust his dialogue.
* This will unlock the questline involving Ranni the Witch, necessary for one of the endings.

**Phase 2: Liurnia of the Lakes & Raya Lucarian Academy**

1. **Exploring Liurnia:**
* Explore the vast open world of Liurnia.
* Locate the Academy Gate Town and the Academy Crystal Keys to gain access to Raya Lucaria Academy.

2. **Raya Lucaria Academy:**
* Navigate Raya Lucaria Academy, defeating enemies and solving puzzles.
* Defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon.
* Defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and obtain her Great Rune. You can now respec your character stats at Rennala.

3. **Ranni’s Questline (Crucial for the Age of Stars Ending):**
* Meet Ranni the Witch at Ranni’s Rise after defeating Rennala.
* Agree to serve her and begin her questline. This involves multiple steps across different regions:
* Talk to the phantoms of Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis in Ranni’s Rise.
* Travel to Siofra River and locate Blaidd. Speak to him.
* Speak to Seluvis and obtain Seluvis’s Introduction.
* Give Seluvis’s Introduction to Sorceress Sellen at the Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave.
* Defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle (this is a major story boss and also required for Ranni’s quest).
* Collect the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron, Eternal City (accessed after defeating Radahn).
* Give the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni.
* Obtain the Carian Inverted Statue and place it on the lectern in the Carian Study Hall.
* Explore the Divine Tower of Liurnia and obtain the Cursemark of Death.
* Enter the portal in Ranni’s Rise after obtaining the Cursemark of Death.
* Travel to the Lake of Rot and obtain the Miniature Ranni doll.
* Speak to the Miniature Ranni doll at several Sites of Grace in the Lake of Rot.
* Defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void in the Grand Cloister.
* Obtain the Discarded Palace Key and use it to open the chest in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library (where you fought Rennala) to get the Dark Moon Ring.
* Return to the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar and use the Dark Moon Ring to proceed.
* Choose to put the ring on Ranni’s finger.

**Phase 3: Altus Plateau & Leyndell, Royal Capital**

1. **Reaching Altus Plateau:**
* There are two ways to reach Altus Plateau:
* Collect both halves of the Dectus Medallion (left half in Fort Haight in Limgrave, right half in Fort Faroth in Caelid) and use the Grand Lift of Dectus.
* Navigate the Ruin-Strewn Precipice and defeat the Magma Wyrm Makar boss.

2. **Exploring Altus Plateau:**
* Explore the Altus Plateau, completing optional dungeons and collecting resources.
* Meet Goldmask and Brother Corhyn (required for another ending).
* Activate the Altus Plateau Divine Tower (accessed via the Forbidden Lands after defeating a later boss).

3. **Leyndell, Royal Capital:**
* Enter Leyndell, Royal Capital, and navigate the city.
* Defeat Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade).
* Defeat Morgott, the Omen King.

4. **Forbidden Lands & Mountaintops of the Giants:**
* After defeating Morgott, Melina will give you the Rold Medallion.
* Head to the Forbidden Lands, a linear area leading to the Grand Lift of Rold.
* Ascend to the Mountaintops of the Giants.

**Phase 4: Mountaintops of the Giants & Crumbling Farum Azula**

1. **Exploring the Mountaintops:**
* Explore the Mountaintops of the Giants, a challenging snowy area.
* Complete the Castle Sol dungeon and defeat Commander Niall.
* Locate the Spiritcaller’s Cave and defeat the Godskin Apostle and Godskin Noble duo.

2. **Forge of the Giants:**
* Reach the Forge of the Giants and speak to Melina. You must choose to burn the Erdtree to progress the story.
* Defeat the Fire Giant.

3. **Crumbling Farum Azula:**
* After the Forge of the Giants, you will be transported to Crumbling Farum Azula.
* Navigate the crumbling city, facing challenging enemies.
* Defeat the Godskin Duo.
* Defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade. This triggers a major change in Leyndell.

**Phase 5: Leyndell, Ashen Capital & Endings**

1. **Leyndell, Ashen Capital:**
* Return to Leyndell, which is now the Ashen Capital.
* Defeat Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing.
* Defeat Godfrey, First Elden Lord (real fight, not a Golden Shade).
* Defeat Radagon of the Golden Order / Elden Beast.

2. **Obtaining All Endings (Crucial Save Manipulation):**

* **Before defeating the Elden Beast, back up your save file to a USB drive or cloud storage (if your platform allows).** This is the key to getting all endings in one playthrough. PSN+ Cloud Save is your friend.

* **Elden Lord Ending (Age of Fracture):** Simply interact with the Elden Ring after defeating the Elden Beast without any specific Mending Runes in your inventory.

* **Age of Order Ending:**
* Complete Goldmask and Brother Corhyn’s questline in Leyndell. You have to give Corhyn the Tonic of Forgetfulness and find Goldmask dead at the Colosseum after defeating Maliketh and obtain the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.
* Use the Mending Rune of Perfect Order after defeating the Elden Beast.

* **Age of Duskborn Ending:**
* Complete Fia’s questline. Give the Cursemark of Death to Fia and defeat her in Deeproot Depths to obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince.
* Use the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince after defeating the Elden Beast.

* **Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending:**
* Travel to the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell.
* Remove all of your armor and weapons.
* Allow the Three Fingers to embrace you at the bottom of the Cathedral of the Forsaken (accessed via a hidden path).
* Choose the “Become the Lord of Frenzied Flame” option after defeating the Elden Beast.

* **Age of the Stars Ending (Ranni’s Ending):**
* Summon Ranni using the summon sign on the ground after defeating the Elden Beast. You must have completed Ranni’s questline.

* **Reload your save file after each ending to choose a different ending.**

**Phase 6: Collecting Legendary Items**

This phase focuses on collecting all the legendary items required for the following trophies:

* **Legendary Armaments:** Collect all legendary armaments.
* **Legendary Talismans:** Collect all legendary talismans.
* **Legendary Ashen Remains:** Collect all legendary ashen remains.
* **Legendary Sorceries and Incantations:** Collect all legendary sorceries and incantations.

Here’s a list of the items and their locations:

**Legendary Armaments (Weapons):**

* **Ruins Greatsword:** Defeat the Misbegotten Warrior and Crucible Knight duo in Redmane Castle Plaza after the Radahn festival.
* **Sacred Relic Sword:** Trade the Elden Remembrance with Enia at the Roundtable Hold (obtained after defeating the Elden Beast).
* **Marais Executioner’s Sword:** Defeat Elemer of the Briar at The Shaded Castle.
* **Dark Moon Greatsword:** Rewarded at the end of Ranni’s questline in the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
* **Starscourge Greatsword:** Trade the Remembrance of the Starscourge with Enia at the Roundtable Hold (obtained after defeating Starscourge Radahn).
* **Grafted Dragon:** Defeat Godrick the Grafted.
* **Devourer’s Scepter:** Complete Bernahl’s questline. He is first found in Volcano Manor. Complete his requests until he moves to the Warmaster’s Shack. Defeat him there to obtain the weapon.
* **Sword of Night and Flame:** This weapon has been nerfed since launch, but is still a Legendary Armament. It’s located in a chest in Caria Manor. Access the rooftops of Caria Manor and drop down into a building that contains the chest.
* **Bolt of Gransax:** Located in Leyndell, Royal Capital. After defeating Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade), head down the elevator and then drop down onto the giant spear. Climb down the spear to find the Bolt of Gransax. This is missable if you progress too far in the story and Leyndell becomes the Ashen Capital before you pick it up.

**Legendary Talismans:**

* **Radagon’s Soreseal:** Fort Faroth in Caelid.
* **Godfrey Icon:** Found in the Golden Lineage Evergaol in Altus Plateau after defeating Godefroy the Grafted (a weaker version of Godrick).
* **Marika’s Soreseal:** Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, inside a statue near the Prayer Room Site of Grace.
* **Erdtree’s Favor +2:** Found in Leyndell, Ashen Capital after Maliketh is defeated. It replaces the normal Erdtree’s Favor talisman location.
* **Black Knife Tiche Ashes:** Given by Ranni.
* **Old Lord’s Talisman:** Crumbling Farum Azula, near the Beside the Great Bridge Site of Grace.
* **Great-Jar’s Arsenal:** Given after completing the Great-Jar’s challenge. Located north of Caelid colosseum.
* **Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman:** Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.

**Legendary Ashen Remains (Spirit Ashes):**

* **Black Knife Tiche:** Reward for defeating Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader in the Ringleader’s Evergaol in Liurnia of the Lakes (accessed via Ranni’s questline).
* **Lhutel the Headless:** Tombsward Catacombs in the Weeping Peninsula.
* **Mimic Tear:** Nokron, Eternal City, behind an Imp statue door requiring two Stonesword Keys.
* **Cleanrot Knight Finlay:** Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, near the Prayer Room Site of Grace.
* **Nightmaiden & Swordstress Puppets:** Located in Nokstella, Eternal City.
* **Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff:** Sainted Hero’s Grave, Altus Plateau.

**Legendary Sorceries and Incantations:**

* **Comet Azur:** Hermit Village, Mt. Gelmir. Given by Master Azur.
* **Stars of Ruin:** Given by Sorceress Sellen after completing her questline.
* **Founding Rain of Stars:** Heretical Rise, Mountaintops of the Giants.
* **Flame of the Fell God:** Given by Adan, Thief of Fire after defeating him in the Malefactor’s Evergaol in Liurnia of the Lakes.
* **Black Blade:** Trade the Remembrance of Maliketh with Enia at the Roundtable Hold.
* **Greyoll’s Roar:** Trade the Remembrance of the Dragonlord with Enia after defeating the Dragonlord Placidusax.
* **Ranni’s Dark Moon:** Obtained by progressing Ranni’s questline.

**Phase 7: Cleanup & Optional Bosses**

This final phase involves cleaning up any remaining trophies you may have missed:

* **Defeating Optional Bosses:** If you skipped any optional bosses during your playthrough, now is the time to go back and defeat them. Some notable optional bosses include:
* **Dragonlord Placidusax:** Crumbling Farum Azula (hidden area).
* **Malenia, Blade of Miquella:** Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree (one of the most difficult bosses in the game).
* **Mohg, Lord of Blood:** Mohgwyn Palace.
* **Astel, Naturalborn of the Void:** Grand Cloister (Ranni’s questline).
* **Lichdragon Fortissax:** Deeproot Depths (Fia’s questline).
* **Regal Ancestor Spirit:** Siofra River (requires lighting all the braziers).

* **Exploring Remaining Areas:** Ensure you have explored every area of the map and collected all available items.

* **Double Check Questlines:** Ensure you haven’t missed any steps in crucial questlines like Ranni’s, Fia’s, and Goldmask’s.

**Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions**

* **”I can’t find Renna at the Church of Elleh!”** You must first visit the Gatefront Ruins Site of Grace and then return to the Church of Elleh at night.
* **”I accidentally killed an important NPC!”** Some NPC deaths will lock you out of certain quests or endings. If it’s crucial, you may need to start a new game or reload a previous save.
* **”I can’t defeat Malenia!”** Malenia is notoriously difficult. Consider using a strong summon, equipping a weapon with bleed damage, and learning her attack patterns.
* **”Where is the last Legendary X I need?”** Double-check the lists provided above and use online resources to pinpoint the exact location.
* **”My ending didn’t unlock!”** Make sure you met all the requirements for the ending you were trying to achieve and that you interacted with the Elden Ring (or the summon sign for Ranni’s ending) after defeating the Elden Beast.

**Conclusion**

Obtaining the Platinum Trophy in Elden Ring is a challenging but rewarding experience. By following this comprehensive roadmap and utilizing the tips provided, you’ll be well on your way to achieving 100% completion and solidifying your status as a true Elden Lord. Good luck, Tarnished!