Elden Ring Completion Time: How Long Does It Really Take to 100%?
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So, you’re thinking about tackling the Lands Between in its entirety? Excellent choice, Tarnished! But before you embark on this epic journey, the burning question is: just how long does it take to 100% complete Elden Ring?
The short answer? Expect to spend 120 to 150 hours. However, that’s just a starting point. Several factors can drastically influence your playtime, ranging from your prior Souls-like experience to your willingness to use guides and optimize your build. This isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon filled with formidable foes, hidden secrets, and a sprawling open world begging to be explored. This journey to obtain 100% completion is rewarding, but definitely not for the faint of heart.
Factors Influencing Your Completion Time
Several key elements will dictate how quickly (or slowly) you achieve Elden Ring completion.
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Prior Souls-like Experience: If you’re a veteran of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Sekiro, you’ll have a significant advantage. You’re already familiar with FromSoftware’s combat system, enemy design, and cryptic storytelling. This experience translates into faster learning curves and fewer frustrating deaths, ultimately saving you time.
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Playstyle: Do you prefer a methodical, exploratory approach, meticulously clearing every dungeon and uncovering every secret? Or do you favor a more direct, focused playthrough, prioritizing main objectives and essential side content? Completionists will find it takes the first approach.
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Build Optimization: A well-optimized build can drastically reduce your time investment. Understanding Elden Ring’s intricate stat system, weapon scaling, and ash of war mechanics is crucial. A powerful build allows you to dispatch enemies more efficiently, minimizing deaths and streamlining your progress.
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Use of Guides and Online Resources: Are you determined to figure everything out independently, or are you open to consulting guides, wikis, and community forums? Utilizing these resources can significantly accelerate your progress, helping you locate hidden items, solve puzzles, and defeat challenging bosses more effectively.
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Multiplayer Engagement: Playing cooperatively with other players can make certain boss encounters significantly easier. Summoning help for difficult fights can save you countless attempts and shave hours off your total completion time.
What Constitutes 100% Completion in Elden Ring?
Elden Ring doesn’t offer a traditional, quantifiable “100%” completion marker within the game itself. Instead, players typically define it as achieving the following:
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All Endings: While technically impossible to achieve on a single save file due to branching story paths, completing the game at least three times to unlock all endings is considered essential.
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All Bosses Defeated: This includes all mandatory story bosses as well as optional bosses scattered throughout the world. Be prepared to search every nook and cranny.
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All Achievements/Trophies: This is the closest thing to a verifiable 100% completion. Obtaining the Platinum trophy on PlayStation or unlocking all achievements on other platforms signifies that you’ve accomplished a wide range of tasks, from defeating specific bosses to collecting legendary weapons.
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All Legendary Armaments, Talismans, Ashes of War, Sorceries and Incantations: Collecting these powerful items requires thorough exploration and completion of specific questlines.
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Complete all NPC Questlines: Elden Ring has a host of NPCs and completing their storylines can be time consuming, but adds depth to the game and can reward with unique loot.
Why Elden Ring’s Completion Time Varies So Much
The sheer scale and complexity of Elden Ring are the primary reasons for the wide range of completion times. The game features a vast open world, brimming with hidden secrets, optional dungeons, and challenging boss encounters.
Moreover, Elden Ring’s non-linear structure allows players to tackle content in virtually any order, which can lead to drastically different experiences and completion times. Players who meticulously explore every region and complete every side quest will naturally spend far more time in the Lands Between than those who prioritize the main story path.
Finally, Elden Ring’s difficulty plays a significant role. New players may struggle with the game’s challenging combat system, resulting in numerous deaths and lengthy periods of trial and error. Experienced Souls-like veterans, on the other hand, can navigate the game more efficiently, minimizing deaths and progressing at a faster pace. The Games Learning Society explores these ideas about games and learning more deeply. You can visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Elden Ring Completion
1. Is it really impossible to get a “true” 100% in a single playthrough?
Yes, due to the branching endings, you’ll need multiple playthroughs to experience everything the game has to offer. Each ending offers a different perspective on the game’s lore and story, so they’re worth the effort.
2. What’s the fastest anyone has ever 100% completed Elden Ring?
Tracking a “true” 100% speedrun is difficult due to the subjective nature of what constitutes complete. Speedruns typically focus on achieving a single ending as quickly as possible, rather than completing all content.
3. Do I need to play New Game Plus (NG+) to 100% Elden Ring?
You will likely have to play some New Game Plus to get all the endings.
4. Is Elden Ring more difficult to 100% than other Souls-like games?
Many would argue yes. The open-world structure and sheer amount of content make Elden Ring a more time-consuming and potentially overwhelming experience than previous FromSoftware titles.
5. What’s the hardest achievement/trophy to obtain in Elden Ring?
Most would say collecting all the Legendary Sorceries and Incantations is the hardest, since they are spread throughout the map in difficult to reach locations.
6. What’s the rarest weapon in Elden Ring, and how do I get it?
The Noble’s Estoc & Noble’s Slender Sword at (0.5%) drop rate are among the rarest. They are both obtained by defeating skeletons in the game.
7. What level should I be before attempting to complete Elden Ring?
Most players are around Rune Level 150 when they finish the game. This provides a solid balance of stats for tackling the final bosses and challenging areas.
8. What’s the best build for 100% completing Elden Ring?
There’s no single “best” build, but a versatile build that can handle both melee and ranged combat is generally recommended. A build focused on Faith or Intelligence can also be effective, allowing you to utilize powerful spells and incantations.
9. How many bosses are really in Elden Ring?
There are approximately 238 boss encounters in Elden Ring, including both mandatory and optional bosses. Many optional bosses are hidden in dungeons or guarding specific items.
10. Do I need to defeat every single enemy in the game to 100% complete it?
No, you don’t need to defeat every single enemy. 100% completion focuses on the objectives and achievements outlined earlier.
11. Is it possible to respec my character in Elden Ring?
Yes, you can respec your character’s stats by using a Larval Tear. These items are limited, so plan your respecs carefully. You can respec after you defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
12. What happens if I refuse Melina’s accord?
You will be forced to accept her accord as it’s vital for leveling up and getting your horse, Torrent.
13. Who is the final boss of Elden Ring?
The Elden Beast is the final boss of the game, encountered after defeating Radagon of the Golden Order.
14. Is Elden Ring too difficult for new players?
Elden Ring can be challenging for new players, but it’s not insurmountable. With patience, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, anyone can conquer the Lands Between.
15. Are guides essential for 100% completing Elden Ring?
While not strictly essential, guides can significantly streamline the completion process. They can help you locate hidden items, solve puzzles, and optimize your build.
The Bottom Line
100% completing Elden Ring is a massive undertaking, requiring significant time, dedication, and skill. While the exact time investment varies depending on individual playstyle and experience, expect to spend at least 120 to 150 hours exploring the Lands Between and conquering its challenges. Embrace the journey, Tarnished, and enjoy the satisfaction of achieving true completion in one of the greatest open-world games ever made.