Hey everyone! Jumping into the Lands Between for the first time in 2026, whether you're a fresh Tarnished or returning after the epic Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and hyped for Elden Ring Nightreign, can feel absolutely overwhelming. The game just drops you in and says, "Good luck!" But trust me, those first few hours are crucial for setting up your entire journey. Exploration is everything here, and missing some early mechanics can make life way harder later. So, let's break down the top things you absolutely need to do first to avoid that "what do I do now?" panic.

Right after you escape that first cave and see the breathtaking vista of Limgrave, ignore the giant golden knight on the horse (the Tree Sentinel) for now. Seriously, just run past him! Your first real destination is the Church of Elleh straight ahead. Inside, you'll find Merchant Kale. Use the Golden Rune you pick up outside to buy the Crafting Kit from him. Crafting is a HUGE mechanic that the game doesn't force on you, and it lets you make everything from fire pots to healing items for your horse later. Don't sleep on this!

Next up, let's get our bearings. The map you start with is basically a fancy piece of blank paper 😅. To actually see details, you need to find the map fragments for each region. The cool part? Even on the blank map, the location of the map fragment is marked by a tiny orange rectangle! For Limgrave, head north from the Church of Elleh along the main road to some ruins. Grab that map—it's your first step to not getting totally lost in this massive world.

Now, let's get some help! In those same ruins (but on the western side before the big gate), you'll find a Site of Grace. Rest here, and a mysterious woman named Melina will appear. Accept her offer! This is non-negotiable. She becomes your Finger Maiden, which means she lets you level up your character using Runes at any Site of Grace. This is how you get stronger! 🎮

But wait, there's more! Melina also gives you the Spectral Steed Whistle, summoning your trusty spirit horse, Torrent. This changes everything. Traveling, running from fights, and yes, even fighting that Tree Sentinel you ran from earlier become a hundred times easier. Getting Torrent is arguably the single most important early-game upgrade.

Feeling brave? Let's tackle a mini-dungeon. Along the cliffs west of the Church of Elleh is Groveside Cave. It's guarded by a few soldiers, but it's short and the boss inside is one of the easiest in the whole game. Clearing it gives you a nice chunk of runes for an early level-up and gets you used to the dungeon-crawling feel. Perfect starter content!

Okay, here's a pro-tip that's easy to miss. After you die for the first time (and you will), go back to the Church of Elleh at night. You'll find a witch named Renna sitting on a broken wall. Talk to her and tell her you can summon Torrent. She'll give you the Spirit Calling Bell and your first Spirit Ash. This lets you summon AI helpers in boss fights and tough areas! It's a game-changer for solo players. If she's not there, just rest at the Site of Grace to pass time until night.

Time to power up your gear! Head to the big lake in central Limgrave and go to its northern tip to find Limgrave Tunnels. This is a mine full of Smithing Stones. Clear it out, and you can take those stones back to the anvil in the Church of Elleh to upgrade your weapons. More damage = less suffering. These mines are in every region, so keep an eye out for them.

Let's get a powerful new tool. Ride Torrent east to find the map for that area. Take the north road at the fork to reach the Third Church of Marika. Inside, you'll find the Flask of Wondrous Physick. This is a customizable extra healing/buff flask! You mix it with Crystal Tears found in churches worldwide. Also in this church is a Sacred Tear—use it at a Grace to make all your healing and FP flasks more potent. Essential!

Your starter weapon might feel weak soon. Investing upgrade materials wisely is key. Here’s a quick cheat sheet for some powerful early finds based on your build:

Build Type	Weapon Name	Location
Strength 🦾	Greatsword	Caelid (Dragonbarrow)
Dexterity ⚡	Twinblade	Ruins in Agheel Lake
Blood/Arcane 💧	Reduvia (Dagger)	Dropped by Bloody Finger Nerijus (invasion in Limgrave)

Once you've explored a bit and leveled up, Melina will appear again and offer to take you to Roundtable Hold. Go there immediately! This is your main hub. You can:

• Upgrade weapons and spirit ashes (after helping NPC Roderika).

• Buy unique items from merchants.

• Start major NPC questlines.

• Trade boss "Remembrances" for powerful weapons/spells.

Finally, a big challenge: Flying Dragon Agheel. He's chilling in the lake. He's tough for a new player, but if you're feeling confident with Torrent and a few levels, taking him down is a massive achievement. You get a ton of runes and a Dragon Heart. Take that heart to the Church of Dragon Communion (after clearing the Coastal Cave) to unlock your first powerful Dragon Incantation! 🐲

So, to sum it all up, your first hour should be about setting up your core tools: Maiden, Horse, Map, Crafting, Spirits, and Upgrades. Don't just rush forward! The world rewards the curious. Take your time, explore every ruin, and don't be afraid to run away. The Lands Between is waiting, Tarnished. Now you're ready for it. Good luck, and praise the message! [T]/