You’ve probably spent a hundred hours in the Lands Between, maybe more. You've beaten the game, watched the credits roll, and felt that surge of pride. But then you look at your trophy list. It’s sitting there, mocking you at 84%. Honestly, the path to snagging Elden Ring all achievements isn't just about being good at the game; it’s about being a bit of a detective and, frankly, having the patience of a saint.
Most people think "100% completion" means finding every single item in the game. It doesn't. Thank Marika for that, because finding every single cookbook or random smithing stone would take years. The actual list is surprisingly tight—42 achievements in total—but a few of them are absolute heartbreakers if you miss your window.
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The Triple Ending Headache
Basically, you can't get the Platinum or the 100% completion mark in one "natural" playthrough. The game demands you see three specific endings: Elden Lord, Age of the Stars, and Lord of Frenzied Flame.
Now, look. Most players naturally gravitate toward Ranni’s questline because, well, she’s Ranni. That gets you the Age of the Stars. The standard Elden Lord ending is what you get if you just play the game normally. But the Frenzied Flame? That one is a nightmare. You have to parkour down a literal pit of madness behind an illusory wall in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
One mistake here—like getting hugged by the Three Fingers too early—locks you into that ending unless you go through a whole secondary quest involving Miquella’s Needle to undo it. It's a lot. If you're on PC or PS5, you could technically back up your save before the final choice to "cheat" the system and get all three in one go. I won't judge. But doing it the "real" way means New Game+ or starting fresh.
Those Missable Legendary Items
This is where most people's "all achievements" run dies a quiet death. There are four "Legendary" collection achievements:
- Legendary Armaments (9 weapons)
- Legendary Ashen Remains (6 summons)
- Legendary Sorceries and Incantations (7 spells)
- Legendary Talismans (8 items)
The Bolt of Gransax is the notorious run-killer. It’s a spear stuck in the giant dragon statue in Leyndell, Royal Capital. If you beat Maliketh and turn the city into the Capital of Ash before picking it up, it’s gone. Poof. Deleted from your world. You’ll have to wait until New Game+ to see it again.
Then there’s the Devourer’s Scepter. You get it from Bernahl. If you miss his quest or don't kill him when he invades you in Farum Azula, you're again looking at another 40 hours of gameplay just to get back to that spot. It’s frustrating, truly.
The Secret Bosses You Probably Walked Past
Elden Ring hides some of its biggest achievement-related bosses in corners you’d never find without a guide. Everyone knows about Malenia, Blade of Miquella. She's the "Shardbearer Malenia" achievement, and yes, she is still the hardest boss in the game. But what about Dragonlord Placidusax?
To even find him, you have to go to a specific, unlabeled cliff in Crumbling Farum Azula, drop down onto some floating rocks, and "lie down" in a specific spot. There’s no signpost. No NPC tells you to do this. It’s just... there.
Same goes for Lichdragon Fortissax. This boss is buried deep within Fia’s questline. If you accidentally kill Fia or ignore her "Hold me" requests (we’ve all been there, trying to avoid that health debuff), you can easily miss an entire secret area and a massive dragon fight.
A Quick Reality Check on "Shadow of the Erdtree"
Since the DLC dropped, people have been asking if there are new achievements. Surprisingly, FromSoftware kept the original 42. You don’t need to beat Messmer or the Promised Consort to get the "Elden Ring" achievement (the Platinum).
That’s a bit of a relief, honestly. The DLC is brutal. While the Shadow of the Erdtree bosses are legendary in their own right, they are technically "optional" for the purposes of the 100% completion trophy. You can breathe a sigh of relief there.
How to Actually Cross the Finish Line
If you're serious about finishing this, here's how you actually do it without losing your mind.
First, stop worrying about every little cave. Focus on the Shardbearers. You need Godrick, Radahn, Rykard, Morgott, Rennala, Mohg, and Malenia. Some of these are optional for the story but mandatory for the achievements.
Second, check your inventory against a list of the 9 Legendary Armaments before you finish Farum Azula. Seriously. Check it twice.
Third, don't ignore the "Legendary Ashen Remains." Most are easy, like the Mimic Tear, but some, like Lhutel the Headless, require you to actually explore those annoying catacombs you've been skipping.
Lastly, remember that the "God-Slaying Armament" achievement only requires you to upgrade one weapon to +10 (Somber) or +25 (Regular). You don't need a whole arsenal. Just one.
Getting all the achievements in Elden Ring is more of a victory lap than a chore. It forces you to see the parts of the game—like the Deeproot Depths or the Haligtree—that most people skip on a casual run. It’s hard, sure. But seeing that 100% pop up is a feeling no other game quite replicates.
Check your map for the "Beside the Great Bridge" grace in Farum Azula right now. If you haven't burned the city yet, go get that spear. Your future self will thank you.