Updated August 29, 2026
If you're starting Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for the first time, the biggest mistake you can make is assuming you should simply follow the road toward Stormveil Castle.
You don't.
The opening hours of Elden Ring are much easier once you understand which upgrades to grab first, when to unlock Torrent, where to find early Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears, how to get Spirit Ashes, and which of the new Tarnished Edition weapons are actually worth chasing.
Tarnished Edition adds two new starting classes — Heavy Knight and Idus Knight — along with new weapons, armor sets and Torrent customization. The new equipment isn't restricted to those starting classes: Bandai Namco confirms that the equipment for both new classes can also be obtained later from merchants or by finding it in the Lands Between.
For the full breakdown of the new classes, armor and Torrent customization, see Bandai Namco's How to get new ELDEN RING classes, weapons, and Torrent skin customizations.
This guide gives you a practical route from character creation through Margit and into Stormveil Castle, while pointing out the new Tarnished Edition gear you can collect along the way.
๐ Table of Contents
- What's Different in Tarnished Edition?
- Best Starting Class
- Heavy Knight vs Idus Knight
- What to Choose During Character Creation
- Your First Steps After the Tutorial
- Get Torrent as Early as Possible
- Get the Map and Whetstone Knife
- Unlock Spirit Ashes
- Early Flask Upgrade Route
- Get Early Smithing Stones
- Best Early Tarnished Edition Weapons
- Reverse-Bladed Sword
- Hefty Scimitar
- Idus Sword
- Reed Great Katana
- Early-Game Tarnished Edition Weapon Roadmap
- Your Exact Beginner Route
- What to Do Before Margit
- How to Prepare for Margit
- What to Do After Margit
- Stormveil Castle Beginner Route
- Early-Game Checklist
- Things Beginners Shouldn't Do
- FAQ
What's Different in Tarnished Edition?
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition contains the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree, while adding new character and equipment options, including two new starting classes, four new armor sets and three new customization options for Torrent. The same additional content is available separately as the Tarnished Pack on PlayStation, Xbox and digital PC.
For a brand-new character, the most important additions are:
- Heavy Knight starting class
- Idus Knight starting class
- Hefty Scimitar
- Idus Sword
- Reverse-Bladed Sword
- Reed Great Katana
- Ritual Thrusting Shield
- Later-game Leontiel's Greatsword
- Later-game Golden Order Flail
- New armor sets
- New Torrent customization options
There are seven new weapons in the Tarnished Edition/Tarnished Pack if the Ritual Thrusting Shield is counted as a weapon, as current launch-day references do. The seven are the Reverse-Bladed Sword, Idus Sword, Hefty Scimitar, Reed Great Katana, Ritual Thrusting Shield, Leontiel's Greatsword and Golden Order Flail.
You don't need to hunt all seven during your opening hours. Several are deliberately placed much later in the game.
Which new equipment can actually improve your first few hours?
Update 1.17 is also required for the Tarnished Pack content. Bandai Namco says Patch 1.17 adds support for the Tarnished Pack alongside gameplay balance adjustments, and the update is required for online play. Source: bandainamcoent.eu
Best Starting Class
The two new Tarnished Edition classes are designed around very different playstyles.
Heavy Knight
Best for: Strength players, heavier melee builds and beginners who want a more forgiving opening.
The Heavy Knight starts at Level 10 and has a particularly strong early physical stat spread:
- 14 Vigor
- 7 Mind
- 17 Endurance
- 15 Strength
- 11 Dexterity
- 7 Intelligence
- 7 Faith
- 9 Arcane
Its signature weapon is the Hefty Scimitar, and it starts with the Heavy Knight's bulky steel armor. The official class description specifically presents the Heavy Knight as a heavily armored knight using a substantial scimitar.
The important thing for a new player is that Heavy Knight gives you a strong physical foundation immediately.
Why I recommend Heavy Knight for beginners
You get:
- More early survivability
- Very high Endurance
- Good starting Vigor
- Strong Strength/Dexterity foundations
- Heavy armor
- A straightforward melee progression path
If you're new to Elden Ring and don't want to worry about complicated stat combinations, Heavy Knight is the easiest of the two new classes to recommend.
The high Endurance is particularly useful because heavy equipment can otherwise make early characters fall into Heavy Load and lose the more useful medium-roll mobility.
Idus Knight
Best for: Dexterity players who want faster attacks and a lighter playstyle.
Idus Knight starts at Level 7 with a Dexterity-focused spread:
- 10 Vigor
- 12 Mind
- 11 Endurance
- 13 Strength
- 15 Dexterity
- 8 Intelligence
- 11 Faith
- 6 Arcane
Its signature weapon is the Idus Sword, a new Light Greatsword, while the class uses the Silver Grooved equipment. The Idus Sword has Impaling Thrust and scales with Strength and Dexterity.
The Idus Sword is particularly interesting because it gives a new character access to the Light Greatsword weapon class immediately rather than requiring a later trip into the DLC.
Is Idus Knight good for beginners?
Yes, but it is less forgiving than Heavy Knight. If you already like:
- Fast attacks
- Dexterity builds
- Mobility
- Aggressive play
- Light-to-medium equipment
then Idus Knight is an excellent starting point. The lower starting Vigor means you'll need to be a little more careful with mistakes during the opening hours.
Heavy Knight vs Idus Knight
You don't have to choose one of the new classes. The starting class determines your initial stats and equipment, but your character can eventually be developed in many different directions. The official Elden Ring class page similarly describes starting classes as shaping the early journey rather than permanently limiting the character.
My recommendation
- First Elden Ring playthrough: Heavy Knight or Vagabond
- Fast melee: Idus Knight
- Dexterity + bleed: Samurai
- Magic: Astrologer
What to Choose During Character Creation
Pick Golden Seed as your Keepsake
For a first character, Golden Seed is one of the safest keepsake choices. It contributes directly toward increasing your Flask charges, which means more healing during the early game.
You don't need an elaborate gimmick keepsake for your first playthrough. Your goal is simple: More healing + better weapon + more Vigor = easier early game.
Your First Steps After the Tutorial
After character creation, don't worry about rushing toward the first major boss. Your first objective is to establish your character.
Opening route
- Cave of Knowledge ↓
- Stranded Graveyard ↓
- Church of Elleh ↓
- Gatefront Ruins ↓
- Unlock Torrent + leveling ↓
- Limgrave map + Whetstone Knife ↓
- Spirit Calling Bell ↓
- Weeping Peninsula ↓
- Smithing Stones ↓
- Tarnished Edition weapon ↓
- Margit ↓
- Stormveil
The key is not to treat these as mandatory story checkpoints. Elden Ring's opening is deliberately open, so you can collect resources, leave dangerous areas and return stronger.
Get Torrent as Early as Possible
Once you begin exploring Limgrave, your first major progression goal should be unlocking Melina and obtaining the Spectral Steed Whistle.
A practical early route is:
- Church of Elleh → Gatefront Ruins → Gatefront Site of Grace
Rest at the Gatefront Site of Grace and follow the Melina encounter. This is the important early checkpoint that gives you access to leveling and Torrent.
Torrent isn't just a faster way to travel. He changes the opening of the game because you can:
- Cover huge distances quickly
- Escape enemies
- Reach remote items
- Explore safely
- Fight certain enemies from horseback
- Reach some early Tarnished Edition weapons without committing to difficult fights
Don't ignore Torrent's other advantage
Once Torrent is unlocked, you can use him to collect several early upgrades without killing the enemies guarding them. That's extremely useful for a new character. It is also what makes some of the seemingly dangerous early Tarnished Edition pickups practical.
Get the Map and Whetstone Knife
Your next priority should be Gatefront Ruins.
Look for the map marker and collect the Limgrave map fragment. Then explore the ruins carefully. The Whetstone Knife is also located here, giving you access to Ash of War customization.
Don't worry about perfectly optimizing Ashes of War yet. The important thing is simply unlocking the system.
Unlock Spirit Ashes
After you have obtained Torrent, return to the Church of Elleh at night. This is where you can encounter Renna the Witch, who provides the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes.
If you miss the encounter, the Spirit Calling Bell can later be obtained from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold.
Why you should get this immediately
Spirit Ashes are not just an optional novelty. They can:
- Distract bosses
- Draw enemy aggro
- Give you time to heal
- Create attack openings
- Help with groups of enemies
For your first Margit attempt, having a Spirit Ash available can make a huge difference.
Early Flask Upgrade Route
There are two different resources you need to understand:
- Golden Seeds — Increase the number of Flask charges.
- Sacred Tears — Increase how much your Flasks restore.
Your early priority should be:
- Golden Seed → Sacred Tear → more Golden Seeds → more Sacred Tears
You don't need every Flask upgrade before Margit. You simply want enough healing to make mistakes survivable.
Weeping Peninsula Is Your Best Early Detour
If Limgrave is beating you up, don't keep throwing yourself at Stormveil. Ride south into Weeping Peninsula.
This region is ideal for early preparation because you can collect useful resources while fighting enemies that are generally more manageable than the major encounters deeper into the game.
Look for:
- Sacred Tears at churches
- Golden Seeds
- Runes
- Upgrade materials
- Weapons
- Additional Sites of Grace
A useful beginner rule: If you're struggling in Limgrave, don't interpret that as a sign that you need to grind levels indefinitely. Instead: Explore south → collect upgrades → improve your weapon → return north.
Get Early Smithing Stones
Weapon upgrades should be one of your highest priorities. Don't spread your early Smithing Stones across six different weapons. Pick one main weapon and upgrade it.
Visit Limgrave Tunnels
Limgrave Tunnels is one of the best early destinations for Smithing Stones. The mine contains numerous Smithing Stone [1] materials and is an excellent early weapon-upgrade destination.
Early upgrade philosophy
Instead of: +1 Sword, +1 Axe, +1 Spear, +1 Bow
Do this: Main weapon +1 → +2 → +3
A stronger main weapon will generally help you more than having several weak alternatives.
Best Early Tarnished Edition Weapons
This is where Tarnished Edition changes the early-game experience. Several of the new weapons can be obtained surprisingly early.
For a fresh character, prioritize:
- Reverse-Bladed Sword
- Hefty Scimitar
- Idus Sword
- Reed Great Katana (optional)
The Tarnished Edition adds seven new weapons in total, but only four are particularly relevant to the opening section of a normal first playthrough. The Ritual Thrusting Shield, Leontiel's Greatsword and Golden Order Flail belong later in the progression.
Reverse-Bladed Sword
The easiest new weapon to obtain early
The Reverse-Bladed Sword is arguably the most important Tarnished Edition weapon for a new character. You don't need to travel to Shadow of the Erdtree. You don't need to defeat a major boss. You don't even need to start as a particular class.
Where to get it
Roundtable Hold → Twin Maiden Husks
The Twin Maiden Husks sell the Reverse-Bladed Sword. Current launch-day references confirm that it is available from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold, making the weapon accessible very early in a fresh playthrough.
Requirements
- 9 Strength
- 11 Dexterity
It uses Strength and Dexterity scaling and provides the Backhand Blade-style moveset that makes this weapon type attractive to aggressive players.
Why it's worth trying
If you enjoy fast attacks, dodging, aggressive positioning, Dexterity builds, or mobile combat, the Reverse-Bladed Sword is worth testing as soon as you reach Roundtable Hold.
Tarnished Edition tip
Don't assume you need to start Idus Knight to get a new fast weapon. You can change direction early simply by buying the Reverse-Bladed Sword.
Hefty Scimitar
The Hefty Scimitar is the signature weapon of Heavy Knight. If you start as Heavy Knight, you receive it immediately. If you choose another class, you can buy it later.
Location
Travel to Fort Haight West in East Limgrave, then head north to the nearby Nomadic Merchant. That merchant sells the Hefty Scimitar for 2,400 Runes.
Requirements
- 13 Strength
- 11 Dexterity
It uses Strength and Dexterity scaling and comes with Spinning Slash.
Why it matters
This means Heavy Knight's signature weapon isn't permanently locked behind character creation. You can start Vagabond, Samurai or another class and still obtain the weapon. It also means you don't have to choose Heavy Knight simply because you want to test its weapon.
Idus Sword
The Idus Sword is another excellent early pickup. If you choose Idus Knight, you start with it. Otherwise, you can find it in southern Liurnia.
Location
Start from: Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace
Then travel northwest through the shallow water toward the area around the ruins. The sword is found on a corpse near a tree, close to the Laskyar Ruins area. There are dangerous enemies nearby, but you can grab the weapon without necessarily clearing the area.
Requirements
- 10 Strength
- 15 Dexterity
It is a Light Greatsword with D Strength / D Dexterity scaling and the Impaling Thrust skill.
Important warning
You don't need to defeat everything around the pickup. If you're only interested in obtaining the weapon, you can make the trip on Torrent and grab it before returning to safety. This is one reason the Idus Sword is better treated as an early optional detour rather than a mandatory part of the Limgrave route.
Reed Great Katana
The Reed Great Katana is another Tarnished Edition weapon that can technically be obtained extremely early. But I wouldn't make it part of the safest beginner route.
Location
Travel toward Fort Faroth in Caelid/Dragonbarrow. North of Fort Faroth is a large grey/red-spotted mound near Elder Dragon Greyoll. Use Torrent to reach the top and loot the weapon from the corpse there.
Requirements
- 18 Strength
- 16 Dexterity
It has 55 Blood Loss buildup, uses the Great Katana weapon class and comes with Overhead Stance.
Why it's optional
The weapon is accessible much earlier than your character is likely prepared for the surrounding area. So: Can you get it early? Yes. Should a first-time player rush to Caelid just for it? Probably not. That distinction matters. A beginner guide should give you the safest route, not merely the fastest route to every item.
If you specifically want a Great Katana or bleed build, however, this is one of the most interesting early detours in Tarnished Edition.
What to Do Before Margit
Before heading into the Margit fight, use this checklist.
Character
- Unlock leveling
- Get Torrent
- Put some early levels into Vigor
- Meet your main weapon requirements
- Avoid Heavy Load
Flask
- Collect an early Golden Seed
- Visit a church for a Sacred Tear
- Upgrade Flask charges
- Increase Flask healing when possible
Weapon
- Pick one primary weapon
- Visit Limgrave Tunnels
- Upgrade the weapon
- Test its Ash of War
Spirit Ash
- Get Spirit Calling Bell
- Obtain early Spirit Ashes
- Upgrade them when possible
Exploration
- Get Limgrave map
- Visit Weeping Peninsula
- Collect useful Golden Seeds
- Collect Sacred Tears
Tarnished Edition
- Check Roundtable Hold for Reverse-Bladed Sword
- Consider Hefty Scimitar
- Consider Idus Sword
- Ignore late-game Tarnished Edition gear for now
How to Prepare for Margit
You don't need to be massively overleveled. Instead, make sure your character has enough Vigor, Flask capacity, weapon upgrades and combat options to survive mistakes.
A rough comfort target is around Level 20–30 with a properly upgraded primary weapon. Don't treat that as a hard requirement. Elden Ring allows skilled players to defeat Margit much earlier, while new players may reasonably want more preparation.
Margit Beginner Strategy
Margit is designed to punish players who attack mindlessly. Watch his movements. Don't automatically attack every time you dodge. A good beginner rhythm is: Dodge → wait → punish → retreat
- Use Guard Counters — If you're using a shield, guard counters can deal heavy stance damage.
- Use Jumping Attacks — Jumping heavy attacks are another useful way to build stance damage.
- Use Spirit Ashes — Let your summon draw attention away from you. When Margit focuses on your Spirit Ash: Heal if necessary, Move into position, Attack safely.
- Don't become greedy — Don't panic when Margit changes rhythm. His delayed attacks are designed to catch players who dodge immediately. Wait for the actual attack rather than reacting to every movement.
What to Do After Margit
Once Margit is defeated, don't assume you should sprint straight through Stormveil. Take a moment to:
- Rest
- Spend your Runes
- Upgrade your weapon
- Upgrade your Spirit Ash
- Check your equipment load
- Refill your Flasks
Then enter Stormveil.
Stormveil Castle Beginner Route
Stormveil is much less linear than it initially appears. You will find:
- Alternate paths
- Rooftops
- Courtyards
- Hidden rooms
- Upgrade materials
- Talismans
- Shortcuts
- Multiple enemy types
Don't feel pressured to kill every enemy. If a route looks dangerous, look for another route. That's one of the core lessons of Elden Ring.
Priorities Inside Stormveil
When you enter, concentrate on:
- Sites of Grace — Activate every Site you encounter.
- Smithing Stones — Keep upgrading your main weapon.
- Useful equipment — Check side rooms and alternate paths.
- Shortcuts — Opening shortcuts makes repeated attempts much easier.
- Godrick — Only push toward Godrick once you're comfortable with your weapon and Flask setup.
Early-Game Tarnished Edition Weapon Roadmap
Here's the simple version to bookmark:
The final three should not be treated as part of your opening route.
The Ritual Thrusting Shield is inside the Caelid Colosseum and requires a more involved route through Siofra to reach it.
Leontiel's Greatsword requires defeating Radahn and then dealing with the Knight Leontiel encounter north of Radahn's arena.
The Golden Order Flail is tied to the later Leyndell progression and the Noble Broken Mask encounter, so it is firmly outside the beginner route.
Your Exact Beginner Route
If you don't want to read the entire guide, follow this.
Character Creation
- Heavy Knight → easiest new-class melee start
- Idus Knight → Dexterity/faster combat
- Vagabond → safest traditional melee alternative
- Samurai → Dexterity/bleed
↓
Tutorial
- Complete the Cave of Knowledge.
↓
Church of Elleh
- Meet Merchant Kale.
↓
Gatefront Ruins
Collect:
- Limgrave map
- Whetstone Knife
- Nearby loot
↓
Unlock Torrent
- Rest at the Gatefront Site of Grace, meet Melina and unlock leveling and Torrent.
↓
Church of Elleh at Night
- Return to the Church of Elleh after obtaining Torrent.
- Meet Renna.
- Get:
- Spirit Calling Bell
- Lone Wolves
If Renna does not appear, don't worry — the Spirit Calling Bell can be obtained later from Roundtable Hold.
↓
Weeping Peninsula
Collect:
- Sacred Tears
- Golden Seeds
- Runes
- Early resources
↓
Limgrave Tunnels
- Collect Smithing Stones.
- Upgrade your main weapon.
↓
Roundtable Hold
- Check the Twin Maiden Husks.
- Buy:
- Reverse-Bladed Sword if it fits your build.
↓
Optional Weapon Detours
- Hefty Scimitar → merchant north of Fort Haight
- Idus Sword → south Liurnia
- Reed Great Katana → optional Caelid/Dragonbarrow run
↓
Margit
Enter with:
- Upgraded weapon
- Better Flask setup
- Spirit Ash
- Enough Vigor
↓
Stormveil
- Explore.
- Collect upgrades.
- Open shortcuts.
↓
Godrick
- You're ready for the next major stage of the game.
Early-Game Checklist
Character
- Choose your class
- Choose Golden Seed
- Complete tutorial
- Unlock leveling
- Start investing in Vigor
Exploration
- Church of Elleh
- Gatefront Ruins
- Limgrave map
- Torrent
- Weeping Peninsula
Flask
- Golden Seed
- Sacred Tear
- Increase Flask charges
- Increase Flask healing
Combat
- Whetstone Knife
- Choose primary weapon
- Learn Guard Counter
- Practice jumping attacks
- Learn weapon skill
Spirit Ashes
- Spirit Calling Bell
- Early Spirit Ash
- Upgrade Spirit Ash when possible
Tarnished Edition
- Reverse-Bladed Sword
- Hefty Scimitar
- Idus Sword
- Optional Reed Great Katana
Before Margit
- Spend excess Runes
- Upgrade main weapon
- Upgrade Flask
- Upgrade Spirit Ash
- Avoid Heavy Load
Things Beginners Shouldn't Do
- Don't rush Stormveil — The open world exists for a reason. If Margit is destroying you, go somewhere else. Explore. Upgrade. Return later.
- Don't level every stat — Choose the direction of your build. For Heavy Knight: Vigor → Strength/weapon requirements → Endurance. For Idus Knight: Vigor → Dexterity/weapon requirements → Endurance. You can refine the build later.
- Don't upgrade five weapons at once — Early Smithing Stones are limited. Choose one weapon and make it strong.
- Don't ignore Flask upgrades — A few additional charges can be more valuable than another point in your damage stat.
- Don't ignore Spirit Ashes — Spirit Summons are an important part of Elden Ring's combat system. They can give beginners room to heal, reposition and learn boss patterns rather than requiring every encounter to be fought entirely solo.
- Don't blindly rush to Caelid — Yes, the Reed Great Katana can be obtained surprisingly early. That doesn't mean Caelid is the correct first destination. Explore Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula first.
FAQ
What is the best starting class in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?
For a new player choosing between the two new classes, Heavy Knight is the easiest recommendation because of its high Endurance, solid Vigor and straightforward melee setup. Idus Knight is better if you specifically want a faster Dexterity-focused playstyle.
Is Heavy Knight better than Vagabond?
Not necessarily. Heavy Knight gives you a unique Tarnished Edition starting package with the Hefty Scimitar and Heavy Knight armor, while Vagabond remains an excellent conventional melee class. Choose Heavy Knight if you specifically want its starting stats and equipment.
Is Idus Knight good for beginners?
Yes, especially if you like fast melee combat. However, its lower starting Vigor means you may find Heavy Knight more forgiving during your first few hours.
Where do you get the Reverse-Bladed Sword?
Go to Roundtable Hold and purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks. It is one of the earliest Tarnished Edition weapons you can obtain and doesn't require starting as either of the new classes.
What are the Reverse-Bladed Sword requirements?
The weapon requires 9 Strength and 11 Dexterity and uses Strength/Dexterity scaling.
Where do you get the Hefty Scimitar?
If you don't start as Heavy Knight, visit the Nomadic Merchant north of Fort Haight West in East Limgrave. The weapon costs 2,400 Runes.
Where is the Idus Sword?
The Idus Sword can be found in southern Liurnia of the Lakes, northwest of the Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace, near a tree around the Laskyar Ruins area.
Can you get the Reed Great Katana early?
Yes. It can be picked up near Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow/Caelid, but the route is much more dangerous than the Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula routes.
Should I use Spirit Ashes against Margit?
Absolutely. Spirit Ashes can distract enemies and create openings for healing or attacks. They are particularly useful for first-time players who are still learning boss timing.
What should I upgrade first in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?
For most beginners: Main weapon → Flask → Vigor → Spirit Ash. Don't spread your early Smithing Stones over multiple weapons.
What level should I be before Margit?
There is no mandatory level. A comfortable target for a new player is roughly Level 20–30, with an upgraded primary weapon and improved Flask setup. Skilled players can defeat Margit much earlier, while beginners can reasonably take more time.
Final Recommendation
If this is your first-ever Elden Ring playthrough, don't worry about creating the perfect build.
Start with:
- Heavy Knight ↓
- Get Torrent ↓
- Get the Limgrave map ↓
- Unlock Spirit Ashes ↓
- Visit Weeping Peninsula ↓
- Collect Golden Seeds + Sacred Tears ↓
- Clear Limgrave Tunnels ↓
- Upgrade one main weapon ↓
- Reach Roundtable Hold ↓
- Try the Reverse-Bladed Sword ↓
- Prepare for Margit ↓
- Enter Stormveil
That route gives you something far more valuable than a high-level build: options.
And that's one of the biggest strengths of Tarnished Edition. The new classes are useful, but you aren't locked into them. The new weapons can be collected by other classes, while the open-world structure lets you leave a difficult fight, strengthen your character and return when you're ready.
The Lands Between doesn't require you to follow one path. It rewards you for finding your own.
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