What exactly are Elden Ring achievements?
In simple terms, they’re milestones that track your progress through the game – story victories, secret endings, unique items, and sometimes just pure endurance. You’ll get a few of them naturally as you follow the main path, but others hide behind obscure quests or near-impossible bosses.
On Steam, completing all Elden Ring achievements means true 100% completion. Less than 5% of players ever manage it, which says a lot about how tough (and addictive) this game really is.
Types of achievements – not all fights are created equal
Elden Ring divides its achievements into several groups. Knowing what kind you’re dealing with helps plan your playthrough and saves you from aimlessly wandering for hours (well, most of the time).
| Category | Examples | How Hard It Feels |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | Margit, Godrick, Morgott – all part of your natural journey. | Medium – you’ll hit these just by playing normally. |
| Optional bosses | Rennala, Radahn, Mohg, Malenia – the big names everyone talks about. | Hard – finding them is half the challenge, surviving them is the other half. |
| Endings | Age of Stars, Lord of Frenzied Flame, and others. | Tricky – one missed quest step and you’re locked out. |
| Collectibles | Legendary weapons, spells, talismans, ashes. | Time-consuming – lots of exploration and note-taking. |
Achievements that stick with you
Some moments in Elden Ring are unforgettable – not just because they’re hard, but because of the story or emotion tied to them. These are the Elden Ring achievements that players mention again and again.
| Achievement | How You Get It | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Elden Lord | Finish the main story and take the throne. | The most straightforward ending – but still a satisfying moment of closure. |
| Age of Stars | Complete Ranni’s entire questline. | One of the game’s best-written stories and a surprisingly peaceful ending. |
| Lord of Frenzied Flame | Find the Three Fingers and embrace the chaos. | The wildest ending – disturbing, weird, and unforgettable. |
| Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Defeat her. Somehow. Eventually. | A badge of honor. Everyone remembers their first (and tenth) defeat here. |
| Legendary Armaments | Collect all unique legendary weapons. | For explorers. You’ll see every corner of the Lands Between chasing this one. |
The ones you’ll probably miss
There are plenty of hidden or easy-to-miss Elden Ring achievements. Some are tied to NPC storylines that vanish if you progress too far, others require decisions you’d never guess matter. For example, failing to talk to Ranni or skipping Millicent’s steps can quietly cut you off from entire endings.
The best advice? Keep multiple saves, or look up quest triggers before major boss fights. Nothing stings like realizing you missed a 20-hour side story because you rested at the wrong Site of Grace.
Tips for completionists chasing 100%
- Back up before choices: Major NPC quests or endings often overwrite each other.
- Explore everywhere: Elden Ring hides caves, towers, and bosses in places you’d never think to check.
- Talk to everyone: NPCs often give clues or items for hidden achievements.
- Switch builds: Some achievements need specific weapons or magic stats – flexibility helps.
- Take breaks: The game’s difficulty can grind you down. Coming back fresh makes all the difference.
Why Elden Ring achievements hit differently
In most games, achievements pop up too easily. In Elden Ring, every one feels earned. They remind you of that boss you spent hours learning or the questline you stumbled into by accident that led somewhere amazing. They make you reflect on how much you’ve grown – not your character, but you as a player.
Each death teaches you something. Each retry sharpens your focus. So when that achievement icon finally lights up, it’s not just another checkbox – it’s your victory, your patience paying off.
Compared to other FromSoftware games
Veterans of Dark Souls and Bloodborne will recognize the rhythm – fight, fail, learn, repeat. But Elden Ring achievements feel broader. There’s more freedom, more ways to approach problems. You can be a sorcerer, a samurai, or a heavy knight and still find new challenges every time you play.
The open world changes everything. Instead of following a strict route, you shape your own story. That means no two players unlock achievements in exactly the same order – and that’s what makes them so personal.
Final thoughts
Elden Ring achievements aren’t about showing off. They’re about memories – the frustration, the breakthroughs, and the sense of wonder when you finally beat something you thought was impossible. Getting 100% is great, but even a handful of these achievements tells a story worth remembering.
So take your time. Wander off the beaten path. Die, laugh, and try again. The Lands Between aren’t meant to be rushed – and neither are the achievements that make surviving them so rewarding.
