Explore Elden Ring with great freedom right from your first steps in the open world Elden Ring. in every possible way, and I really advise you to forge your own unique route ahead. Having said that, you may find yourself, well, confused about your next course of action at some time throughout your trip. I'm hesitant to call this game "lost," as there's always something persistently bothering you in this expansive experience. You don't necessarily want to spend many hours barking up the wrong (Erd)tree, however, believe me.
You know how some naive gamers (*glances nervously*) in Dark Souls believed they were meant to take on the brutal skeletons outside of Firelink Shrine straight away? Even though they were far outmatched, they (*begins to perspire*) persisted in attempting to challenge them. How could they have been thinking? Well, I may have carried out a comparable action in Elden Ring.
I began investigating a spooky area I wasn't prepared for after running into the first major plot boss and deciding to put off the battle for later. However, after searching and seeking for a while, I realized I had overlooked something simple. Abruptly, the default misty world map started to expand. It was just one of the game's many incredible moments.
If you have followed the coverage and trailers for Elden Ring or have even attempted the Network Test build, you will be aware that Stormveil Castle is one of the primary focal areas early on. It is intended to be the primary Souls.-style, jam-packed Legacy Dungeon, with a terrifying monster on the crucial route. In theory, however, you are not required to travel there first.
This is a guide on where to go exploring after Stormveil Castle for Elden Ring.
**Contains spoilers**Stormveil has a cunning workaround
.As soon as possible, if, like me, you are driven to explore every inch of the global map, here's an easily overlooked location of interest. If you've finished playing Stormveil or would like to return to it later and you just need a clue as to where to go next, bring your faithful steed to this damaged bridge and consult the blue map marker for guidance.You may go north around Stormveil Castle, however it may take some time to discover the road ahead. A sizable portion of Elden Ring is located that way.
If that's all the information you required, feel free to bounce; you'll have enough to go over for the next several hours, at the very least. If you're having trouble with certain magic seals, come back.
Where the "second" main-story section is located
You may go north after Stormveil, or even before it if you're feeling really daring.
When the scenery abruptly opens up, you'll know you're headed in the correct direction. Liurnia of the Lakes is this zone. You ought should be at a decent level if you've defeated Stormveil.
The aforementioned school, perched above the melancholic wetlands, is the next major critical-path point.
It's possible that you will be drawn to this setpiece since it is meant to catch your attention. Although the ramp to the academy entrance is collapsing, you may still get there by riding your horse up onto rooftops and sprinting past the greeting party to a massive shining door. Without a key item, you will not be able to break through this seal.
Escape those magical door seals
Conveniently located next to the magical barrier, sitting on a corpse, is a clue.
Once you've grabbed it, you may explore the Meeting Place Map in your item inventory by navigating to the Info tab; if not, this snapshot provides all the information you need to go further. To join the school, you'll need a Glintstone Key; the illustration below indicates your next steps. From where you are now, you are traveling slightly west.
You are specifically searching for this rock formation this:
Don't worry when you arrive, but be aware that there is a dragon.
Fortunately, you don't have to defeat this really formidable creature just yet, so you may put off cleaning up after the dragon until later. (This is where I inform you that there are a ton of dragons in the Lands Between, including Elden Ring. It's fantastic.
Where the Academy Glintstone Key is located
With a purple aura, you may quickly grab this important item and book it out of there.
This is Academy Glintstone, the legendary Key — your pass to enter the main-story, rife with sorcerers, Academy of Raya Lucaria. I find their bearded masks terrifying.
Entering Raya Lucaria's Academy
You may go back to the academy entrance with the Glintstone Key; there's a handy Site of Grace nearby. Once there, you'll be prompted to warp through the magic seal .
When presented in a linear guide, it may seem simple, but in all honesty, it's easy to get your wires crossed in Elden Ring, and you can end yourself encountering events out of sequence if you don't know the whole background. Personally, I like the feeling of liberty.
In addition, I arrived in this vicinity rather later than I ought to have. I was, to be honest, totally distracted by something else. My list of "cool things" to do has gotten out of hand.
I hope this advice was useful; with games like Elden Ring, it's best to explore at your own speed and seek assistance only when your intuition tells you you're stuck.