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Elden Ring: The Definitive Guide to Acquiring All Legendary Items in a Single Playthrough

Yes, absolutely! You can obtain all legendary items in Elden Ring within a single playthrough. Achieving this feat unlocks a coveted achievement/trophy and allows you to experience the diverse and powerful builds these items enable. However, it requires meticulous planning, careful exploration, and awareness of missable content. Let’s dive deep into the process and address some crucial aspects.

Gathering the Legendary Armaments: A Completionist’s Dream

The Legendary Armaments are a collection of nine uniquely powerful weapons scattered across the Lands Between. Collecting them all is essential for unlocking the associated achievement/trophy. Here’s how you ensure you don’t miss out:

The Grafted Blade Greatsword: Found in Castle Morne after defeating the Leonine Misbegotten boss. This is often one of the first Legendary Armaments players acquire.
Ruins Greatsword: Obtained by defeating the Misbegotten Warrior and Crucible Knight duo at Redmane Castle Plaza. Be mindful that this fight is accessible either before the Radahn Festival or after defeating Radahn and speaking to Witch-Hunter Jerren.
Marais Executioner’s Sword: This is dropped by Elemer of the Briar at The Shaded Castle.
Dark Moon Greatsword: This is obtained by completing Ranni the Witch’s questline. This is a major questline that takes you across much of the game world.
Blasphemous Blade: This is gained by turning in the Remembrance of the Blasphemous to Enia at Roundtable Hold, after defeating Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy.
Sword of Night and Flame: This sword can be found in a chest in Caria Manor. It is located by dropping down from walkways.
Bolt of Gransax: This is the most crucial and easily missable weapon. It’s located in Leyndell, Royal Capital. After defeating Godfrey’s golden shade, descend using the elevator to the bottom of the Erdtree’s massive spear. You MUST grab this before defeating Maliketh, The Black Blade in Crumbling Farum Azula and turning Leyndell to Ashen Capital. After the change the spear is no longer there, meaning the weapon is no longer obtainable in the playthrough.
Devourer’s Scepter: This is obtained by completing Bernahl’s questline and killing him as an invader. This weapon requires playing online.
Golden Order Greatsword: This is dropped by the Misbegotten Crusader in the Cave of the Forlorn.

Acquiring the Legendary Talismans: Enhancing Your Build

Beyond the armaments, Elden Ring features eight Legendary Talismans, each providing significant stat boosts or unique effects. To collect them all, you’ll need to explore every nook and cranny of the Lands Between:

Radagon’s Soreseal: Found in Fort Faroth in Caelid. Be wary of the madness-inducing rats within!
Godfrey Icon: Received as a reward for defeating Godefroy the Grafted in Golden lineage Evergaol in Altus Plateau.
Marika’s Soreseal: Located in the Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. It requires navigating a somewhat complex area.
Radagon Icon: Found in the Raya Lucarian Academy. Requires some skillful platforming in the Debate Parlor area.
Old Lord’s Talisman: Located in Crumbling Farum Azula, inside a ruined building accessible after defeating the Godskin Duo.
Erdtree’s Favor +2: Obtained by defeating the Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirit in the Ashen Capital version of Leyndell.
Black Knife Tiche Ashes: This is obtained by defeating Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader in the Ringleader’s Evergaol, in Liurnia of the Lakes. This requires starting Ranni’s quest.
Great-Jar’s Arsenal: Complete the Great-Jar’s challenge in Caelid. This requires defeating three invaders.

Obtaining the Legendary Ashen Remains: Summon Powerful Allies

There are six Legendary Ashen Remains in Elden Ring, and getting them all is required for the associated achievement. These summons can significantly aid in challenging encounters.

Black Knife Tiche: Dropped by Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader, at the Ringleader’s Evergaol in Liurnia of the Lakes.
Lhutel the Headless: Found in the Tombsward Catacombs, Weeping Peninsula, after defeating the Cemetery Shade boss.
Malkieth, the Black Blade: Obtained by trading the Remembrance of the Black Blade with Enia at Roundtable Hold. This is obtained from defeating the Black Blade in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Cleanrot Knight Finlay: Located in a chest within Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, requiring careful navigation through the area.
Redmane Knight Ogha: Dropped by the Putrid Avatar in the War-Dead Catacombs, Caelid.
Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff: Located in the Sainted Hero’s Grave, Altus Plateau, after defeating the Ancient Hero of Zamor.

The Importance of Careful Planning

Acquiring all these legendary items in a single run demands a strategic approach. Prioritize the Bolt of Gransax early to avoid missing it. Follow questlines diligently, as some legendary items are locked behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Legendary Items in Elden Ring

1. Can I still get the Legendary Armaments achievement if I accidentally sold one?

Surprisingly, yes! The achievement appears to check for whether you’ve ever possessed all nine armaments, not whether you currently have them in your inventory. So, even if you sold the Grafted Blade Greatsword early on, acquiring the remaining eight should still trigger the achievement.

2. What happens if I miss the Bolt of Gransax?

If you miss the Bolt of Gransax by progressing too far in the main story and burning the Erdtree, it will become unobtainable for that playthrough. You’ll need to acquire it in a subsequent playthrough to complete your collection.

3. Are any of the Legendary Talismans missable?

No, none of the Legendary Talismans are strictly missable in the same way as the Bolt of Gransax. However, some require accessing specific areas or completing certain quest steps, so exploring thoroughly is crucial. The Hammer Talisman may be missable if you do not encounter Recusant Henricus before killing the Limgrave bosses.

4. Do I need to upgrade the Legendary Armaments to get the achievement?

No, upgrading the armaments is not required for the “Legendary Armaments” achievement. You only need to possess them at some point.

5. What’s the easiest Legendary Armament to get?

The Grafted Blade Greatsword is generally considered the easiest to obtain, as it’s located relatively early in the game in Castle Morne.

6. What’s the hardest weapon to get in Elden Ring overall, legendary or not?

The Noble’s Estoc and Noble’s Slender Sword are notoriously difficult to obtain due to their extremely low drop rates (around 0.5%) from specific enemies. These are not Legendary Armaments, but are some of the most sought after weapons due to their rarity.

7. How many special weapons can I fully upgrade in one playthrough?

Each playthrough allows you to obtain enough materials to fully upgrade approximately 8 special weapons (to +10) and 13 regular weapons (to +25).

8. Is the Godslayer Greatsword a Legendary Armament?

Yes, the Godslayer Greatsword is a legendary armament.

9. Can I respec my character to try out different Legendary Armaments?

Yes, you can respec your character using Larval Tears, which are found throughout the game. This allows you to experiment with different builds tailored to each armament’s unique playstyle.

10. What are some good Talismans to pair with a Bleed build?

For a Bleed build, the Lord of Blood’s Exultation Talisman is essential, as it increases attack power when blood loss occurs nearby.

11. Are there any hidden or secret bosses tied to Legendary items?

While no Legendary items are directly tied to secret bosses as a reward for defeating them, some Legendary items are located in areas guarded by challenging optional bosses. Exploring thoroughly will often lead you to both. One example, the Deeproot Depths, is home to an Ulcerated Tree Spirit that drops a Golden Seed.

12. What is the best one-handed weapon in Elden Ring?

This is subjective and depends on your build and playstyle, but the Moonveil Katana and Rivers of Blood are consistently ranked among the best due to their powerful weapon skills and bleed build-up.

13. How does game design and the hunt for legendary weapons affect learning?

The pursuit of legendary items in Elden Ring is a testament to how game design can create an immersive and challenging learning environment. Players are motivated to explore, experiment, and strategize, honing their problem-solving skills and knowledge of the game world. For more information on the intersection of games and learning, explore the resources available at the GamesLearningSociety.org website.

14. How is the “difficulty” of obtaining these items measured?

Difficulty is subjective, but it’s generally based on a combination of factors, including enemy strength, location complexity, drop rates (for rare items), and the need to complete specific questlines or optional areas.

15. How do I deal with the frustration of missing a Legendary item?

Missing a Legendary item, especially the Bolt of Gransax, can be frustrating. Remember that Elden Ring is designed for multiple playthroughs. View it as an opportunity to explore different builds, make different choices, and experience the game in a new way.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey

Collecting all the Legendary items in Elden Ring is a rewarding but challenging endeavor. By understanding the missable content, planning your route, and exploring thoroughly, you can achieve this completionist’s dream and experience the full breadth of what the game has to offer. Good luck, Tarnished! May your journey be filled with legendary discoveries.

Can you get all legendary items in one playthrough of Elden Ring?