Recommended Level: 130 - 150+
Weapon Upgrade: +25 (Standard) / +10 (Somber)
Crucial Talismans: Haligdrake Talisman +2 (Holy Defense is absolutely mandatory for the final bosses).
1. The Ash Wastes of Leyndell
After unleashing Destined Death in Farum Azula, you awaken in Leyndell. The city is unrecognizable, buried beneath mountains of ash from the burning Erdtree. Before ascending to the throne room, explore the ruins for two of the best talismans in the game.
Crimson Amber Medallion +2
Look for an open sewer grate in the ash (the same hole you previously used to reach the Shunning-Grounds). Carefully drop onto the wooden beam below to grab this talisman, which vastly increases your maximum HP.
Erdtree's Favor +2
Head towards the massive courtyard where you first entered the city. This area is now a sea of ash guarded by three Ulcerated Tree Spirits. You don't have to fight them; sneak or sprint to the dead tree branch sticking out of the ash to grab this legendary talisman.
2. Secret: Goldmask's Conclusion
If you helped Brother Corhyn and Goldmask throughout the game and solved the "Radagon is Marika" riddle in Chapter 4, their questline concludes right here in the Ashen Capital.
The Mending Rune of Perfect Order
From the Leyndell, Capital of Ash Site of Grace, head south towards the colosseum area. Follow the slope of ash downwards past the plant enemies.
At the bottom of the cliff, you will find Goldmask's body. Loot him to obtain the Mending Rune of Perfect Order, which unlocks the "Age of Order" ending. If you reload the area, you can also pick up his unique armor set.
3. Return to the Sewers
A common worry for players is that the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds are locked after the capital turns to ash. They are still fully accessible.
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1
The Open Grate
Walk straight southwest from the Capital of Ash grace. You will see a large, circular hole in the ground (where you found the Crimson Amber Medallion +2). Drop down the wooden beams to safely reach the bottom.
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2
The Frenzied Flame
This drop leads directly to the "Underground Roadside" grace. From here, you can still fight Mohg, the Omen, and access the Three Fingers to inherit the Frenzied Flame if you wish to unlock that specific ending before the final boss.
4. Boss: Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing
As you climb the stairs to the Erdtree Sanctuary, you are confronted by your former ally. Convinced that a Tarnished cannot become a god, he stands in your way.
Combat Strategy
Do not let him finish his monologue! Walk up to him and start attacking immediately. Gideon uses endgame spells based on the demigods you have defeated (Comet Azur, Rykard's Rancor, Malenia's Scarlet Aeonia).
He is a standard NPC model, meaning he has extremely low poise. Use aggressive melee attacks, jump attacks, or weapons that cause knockdowns (like the Blasphemous Blade weapon art or Giant Hunt) to stun-lock him until he dies. He drops his armor set and weapon.
5. Boss: Godfrey, First Elden Lord
At the Elden Throne, the true First Elden Lord has returned to claim his crown. This is an incredible duel against a legendary warrior.
He uses massive, deliberate axe swings and stomps that send shockwaves across the entire arena.
- The Stomps: Whenever he raises his foot, do not roll. JUMP. Jumping completely avoids the shockwave hitbox and allows you to do a heavy jump attack on the way down.
- The Fissure: When he embeds his axe into the ground and the earth glows, sprint far away. The explosion covers a massive area.
At 50% HP, he kills his beast regent and fights bare-handed like a berserker. He becomes incredibly fast and aggressive.
- The Grabs: If he crosses his arms or lunges at you with open hands, roll sideways immediately. His command grabs will launch you into the air and slam you down, often resulting in an instant kill.
- Roar Stomps: His stomps now cover the *entire* arena. You absolutely must jump over these shockwaves. Keep the pressure up, as he is very susceptible to Bleed and Frost in this phase.
6. The Final Challenge: Radagon & Elden Beast
Enter the Erdtree. You will face two bosses back-to-back with no checkpoint. Preparation is key: Equip the Haligdrake Talisman +2 and use Lord's Divine Fortification to drastically reduce Holy damage.
| Boss | Mechanics | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Radagon of the Golden Order | Holy AoE & Extreme Aggression | Radagon is immune to Bleed and highly resistant to Holy. Use Fire or Strike weapons. He leaves glowing runes on the ground that explode; always dodge *towards* him to avoid the secondary blasts. Save your Spirit Ash summon (like Mimic Tear) for the very end of this fight so they survive for the next phase. |
| The Elden Beast | Cosmic Spells & High Mobility | A massive cosmic entity that constantly swims away from you. - Elden Stars: When it fires a glowing golden orb, sprint in a wide curve to outrun the tracking projectiles. - Holy Rings: When it flies up and creates golden rings on the water, jump over the rings and run completely outside the circle before it explodes. Hit the glowing weak spot on its chest for massive bonus damage. Use the Pest Threads incantation for absurd damage against its huge body. |
7. The 6 Endings Guide
After defeating the Elden Beast, you are placed in front of Fractured Marika. Depending on the quests you completed, you can select one of the following endings:
Do not touch Marika yet! If you want all 3 ending achievements without playing NG+, rest at the Grace here, quit the game, and backup your save file to the Cloud (PS/Xbox) or a separate folder (PC). Trigger an ending, reload your backup, and trigger the next.
Age of Stars (Ranni's Ending)
How to get: Do NOT touch Marika. Look for the Blue Summon Sign on the floor nearby. Summon Ranni to trigger what is widely considered the "best" ending. (Awards Achievement)
Lord of Frenzied Flame
How to get: If you inherited the Frenzied Flame below the sewers (and did not cure it with Miquella's Needle in Farum Azula), you are locked into this ending. Simply touch Marika to burn the world. (Awards Achievement)
Elden Lord (4 Variations)
Touch Marika to become Elden Lord. If you completed specific NPC quests, you can choose to mend the ring using different runes:
- Age of Fracture: Mend the ring normally.
- Age of Duskborn: Use Fia's Mending Rune of the Death-Prince.
- Age of Order: Use Goldmask's Mending Rune of Perfect Order.
- Blessing of Despair: Use Dung Eater's Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
(All four variations count for the standard Elden Lord Achievement).
After the credits roll, the game asks if you want to begin Journey 2 (New Game+). Select NO. You will be spawned back at Roundtable Hold, allowing you to freely explore the map to complete anything you missed before starting over.
8. New Game+ Preparation Checklist
Before triggering NG+ at the Roundtable Hold grace, make absolutely sure you have done the following, as key items and shop inventories will reset:
9. Chapter Completion
Elden Ring (Platinum Trophy)
You have conquered the Lands Between. You have forged your own destiny. Rise, Tarnished... and prepare for the Realm of Shadow. (100G / Platinum)
💬 Community Strategies & Discussion
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