Elden Ring: complete main story walkthrough

Part 1

Prologue. Lose to the Grafted Scion in the Chapel of Anticipation (it's meant to beat you). Wake in the Stranded Graveyard, talk to the Finger Reader, and exit to Limgrave. Melina appears after you rest at a few overworld Grace sites (Gatefront is the usual trigger) and gives you Torrent; she unlocks leveling once you accept. At night, Renna at the Church of Elleh gives the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes after you have Torrent.

Part 2

Limgrave and Stormveil. Head north to Stormhill and Stormveil Castle. Margit, the Fell Omen guards the gate — Margit's Shackle helps a lot. Talk to Gostoc to take the side route through the castle. Defeat Godrick the Grafted for a Great Rune.

Part 3

Liurnia and the Academy. Travel north into Liurnia of the Lakes. Get the Academy Glintstone Key (near the dragon Smarag, west Liurnia) to enter Raya Lucaria Academy. Beat the Red Wolf of Radagon, then Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, for another Great Rune. Rennala also unlocks rebirth (respec).

Leyndell needs any two Great Runes. Godrick and Rennala are the common pair, but Radahn (Caelid) or Rykard (Volcano Manor) also count.

Part 4

Reach the Altus Plateau. Three ways in: join both halves of the Dectus Medallion (Fort Haight in east Limgrave, Fort Faroth in Caelid) and ride the Grand Lift of Dectus; climb the Ruin-Strewn Precipice in north Liurnia and beat Magma Wyrm Makar; or let the Abductor Virgin on the Raya Lucaria waterwheel grab you (it teleports you into Volcano Manor's prison area).

Part 5

Leyndell, Royal Capital. Cross Altus to the Capital Outskirts. Defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel at the gate. Inside, beat Godfrey, First Elden Lord (golden shade), then Morgott, the Omen King.

Part 6

Mountaintops of the Giants. Melina gives you the Rold Medallion. Ride the Grand Lift of Rold from the Forbidden Lands up to the Mountaintops. Missable: Bloody Finger Okina invades outside the Church of Repose (east of the lift) and drops Rivers of Blood — he's gone once you kill the Fire Giant. Then fight the Fire Giant and reach the Forge of the Giants.

Point of no return: at the Forge, burning the Erdtree sends you to Crumbling Farum Azula, and beating Maliketh turns Leyndell into the Ashen Capital for good. Before that, finish Leyndell — merchants, the Bolt of Gransax spear, and NPC quests like Goldmask, Dung Eater, Fia and Ranni's ending steps if you want them. The Frenzied Flame (Three Fingers) route also changes your ending.

Part 7

Crumbling Farum Azula. Beat the Godskin Duo, then climb to Maliketh, the Black Blade (first phase is Beast Clergyman). Bring the Blasphemous Claw (found in Farum Azula): use it when his blade glows to knock him out of Destined Death strikes.

Part 8

Ashen Capital and the ending. Return to Leyndell, Ashen Capital. Defeat Sir Gideon Ofnir, then Godfrey, First Elden Lord / Hoarah Loux in the Elden Throne. Enter the Erdtree for the final fight: Radagon of the Golden Order and the Elden Beast. Your choice at the end (and quests you finished) decides your ending.

Optional but worth it on the way: Radahn in Caelid (unlocks Nokron), the Siofra and Ainsel rivers, Volcano Manor and Rykard, and Malenia in the Haligtree. None are needed to finish the story.