Elden Ring borrows many things from the Souls series, like exploration, mechanics, reward system, and much more. However, it comes with completely unique lore and game world. Many people wonder where does Elden Ring take place or where it takes its inspiration from. There’s even a joke around on the internet that the game takes place in Ohio, USA, but it’s a lie! In reality, Elden Ring takes place in the fictional world named the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
It is a massive continent with a vast area to explore, surrounded by open waters. The Lands Between is divided into various regions, such as Limgrave, Mt. Gelmir, Liurna of the Lake, and Caelid. This article provides all the details about the Lands Between in Elden Ring and the important locations that you must explore.
Table of Contents
Where Does Elden Ring Take Place?
Elden Ring takes place in a fictional world known as the Lands Between. It is a massive continent surrounded by water, ruled by Queen Marika, the Eternal, and other demigods. The world is divided into different regions: Limgrave, Mt. Gelmir, Liurna of the Lake, and Caelid.
Moreover, it is a diverse world with waters, mountains, islands, vast fields, forests, and historical structures. Exploration is a key element of the game, and the developers expect the players to spend significant time roaming the Lands Between.
According to some people, the Lands Between in Elden Ring is based on a genuine concept with no plagiarism from anything whatsoever. The only similarity that you can find in the game world is in the design, and that too is because of the involvement of George R. R. Martin, author of the “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Moreover, the mastermind behind this impressive work is Hidetaka Miyazaki, who ensured that the Lands Between is unlike anything the gamers have ever experienced before.
What is the Lands Between?
The Lands Between in Elden Ring is the name of the fictional world of Elden Ring. It is a massive continent that consists of various landscapes such as lakes, fields, forests, and mountains. The land is divided into various areas, each offering a diverse landscape to explore, bosses to fight, NPCs to meet, and loot to collect. In short, you must visit and explore all the areas of the map to get the best gear and deeply connect with the game’s storyline. Here are some of the major areas that you must visit in the Lands Between:
Limgrave
Limgrave is the first area that you visit right after finishing the tutorial. It is a distinct location that thrives with life and marvelous castles. Godrick the Grafted is the lord of Limgrave, who resides in the Stormveil Castle. You must face him after defeating Margot, the Fell Omen, and Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon. Even Limgrave, the starting sequence of Elden Ring, makes it clear that it is a game by FromSoftware Inc. The roads and towns are crawling with difficult foes and tough mini-bosses, which can be challenging for amateurs to this genre.
However, once you get a taste of this unforgiving land, you will end up wanting to explore more. The green fields, lush forests, and beautiful castle fronts of Limgrave will make you fall in love at first sight with the game. In my opinion, it is best to explore Limgrave and all it has to offer before visiting the dungeons of Stormveil Castle.
Roundtable Hold
Roundtable Hold is the second area unlocked after you defeat the game’s first major boss. The road to Roundtable Hold is avoided in the initial sequence as an NPC teleport you to this location. It is a great hall, full of welcoming NPCs and amazing characters to meet. Moreover, the Roundtable Hold also serves as the hub of the game as you get most of the starting quests here, and the major merchants of Elden Ring reside in this area.
Furthermore, if you plan to complete the game’s storyline, you will find yourself returning to the Roundtable Hold several times. The important characters to meet in this location are Sir Gideon Ofnir, Brother Corhyn, Roderika, Twin Maiden Husks, Enia, Dung Eater, Smithing Master Hewg, and many others. In short, whether you are looking for powerful weapons, quests to progress the story, or buying special items, Roundtable Hold is the only place to get them all.
Mountaintop of the Giants
Elden Ring offers such diverse landscapes that you can’t find in any other game. Till now, players considered Skyrim as the most diverse game world ever, but Elden Ring takes things a few steps ahead. The mountaintop of the Giants is perhaps the most beautiful place that you can visit in the game. This land was once inhabited by the giants who perished with the passage of time. However, you can still find the remains of their civilization. Who knows, maybe you will run into a few remaining giants (fingers crossed).
The Mountaintop of the Giants is an important area in the game’s storyline. However, you must first find both halves of the secret Medallion and activate the Grand Lift of Dectus to get there. As soon as you get off the elevator, you will be welcomed by snow-covered ground, beautiful buildings, and appealing ruins that give you a glance at the past. Moreover, the enemies and bosses of this area are fiercer than the ones you previously encountered. It means that you should expect to find precious loot and powerful weapons here.
Liurnia of The Lakes
Liurnia of the Lakes is the next area unlocked after Limgrave. It offers magnificent beauty in terms of natural landscapes. The area retains the lush green forests and fields of Limgrave but also adds a new element of snow-covered mountains. Moreover, a unique magic academy known as the Raya Lucaria Academy lies at the heart of Liurnia of The Lakes. Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon, is the lord and ruler of this region.
Though it sounds appealing to the eye, beware of the dangerous enemies that await you here. Still, you must expect to meet several friendly NPCs at the academy who will help you progress in the main storyline. Magic is the key element of this region, making it a heaven for all magic-based characters. So, most enemies that you encounter in this region will cast deadly magic spells to attack you.
Caelid
Caelid is very different from all other areas of Elden Ring. It is a historical land with a tragic past. The sense of tragedy and loss is felt by every player as soon as he sets foot in the land. Everything in Caelid has a red shade of blood, from its sky to buildings and even the trees.
Moreover, some of the game’s most challenging foes reside in Caelid, so be careful when exploring its vast fields and open grounds. General Radahn is the lord and commander of Caelid. He has a tragic story of his own that resounds through everything in his land.
Once an undefeated warrior, now he is just a walking corpse, waiting for someone worthy to kill him. He got his corpse while fighting Malenia, the Goddess of Rot. Her curse feeds off the lifeless body of Radahn, but still, he’s one of the toughest bosses in Elden Ring. In my opinion, it would be best to complete your task in Caelid and leave to explore other areas to experience the true beauty of the Lands Between.
Atlus Plateau
Altus Plateau is a distinct yet important place in the Elden Ring lore. It is a historical place where the shattering war took place. The encampments from the war are still present at various locations on the plateau, some hiding precious loots for you. In contrast, others are inhabited by ambushing enemies. Still, it is a beautiful place to visit in the Lands Between as it connects the Royal Capital and the Mountaintop of the Giants with Caelid.
When you stand on the roads of the Altus Plateau, you will find a different sight in every direction. For instance, if you turn towards Caelid, the redness is still visible, and if you go towards the Grand Lift of Dectus, the cold breeze from the mountains will hit on face. Moreover, the place is filled with vast grass fields and lush greenery. In short, if you plan to spend some time sightseeing, I suggest that you explore the Altus Plateau on the Torrent.
Lyndell, Royal Capital
Lyndell is the Capital city area of the Lands Between. The grand buildings, historical structures, and distinct monuments show the greatness of the empire. It is an area where you can meet most of the important characters in the story.
Moreover, it is also home to the Erdtree, the blessing element of the Lands Between. However, you must face a tough Draconic Tree Sentinel, the boss, before you can gain passage to this incredible area. Everything in Elden Ring connects at some point with the Royal Capital, as it is the key location in every story.
Moreover, the Royal Capital becomes the Ashen Capital after you progress further in the storyline. How it comes to be is a story that you must explore and experience yourself. In short, if you truly want to experience the city of the gods and demigods, I suggest that you spend a few hours exploring Lyndell, the Royal Capital.
FAQs
Does Elden Ring take place in Ohio?
According to a misleading joke on Google, Elden Ring takes place in Ohio, USA. However, it isn’t true at all! In reality, Elden Ring takes place in a unique and fictional place known as the Lands Between in Elden Ring. This world doesn’t resemble any game by FromSoftware Inc or any other game in the genre.
How to access the Mountaintop of the Giants?
The Mountaintop of the Giants is a mid-game area that you can only access with the Grand Lift of Dectus. However, you must find both halves of the Special Medallion of Dectus from different locations. Once you have the complete Medallion, visit the Grand Lift of Dectus in the Altus Plateau, and activate the elevator to reach the Mountaintop of the Giants.
How to enter Lyndell without fighting the Draconic Tree Sentinel?
Draconic Tree Sentinel is an optional boss in Elden Ring. It means that you don’t need to face him to gain entrance to the Royal Capital. However, the only way to sneak past this boss or skip the fighting sequence is through the Deeproot Depths. This path requires that you progress in Fia’s questline by meeting her at the Roundtable Hold.
What is the average playthrough time of Elden Ring?
According to various sources, it takes anywhere between 40 to 60 hours for an average player to complete Elden Ring’s main storyline. However, it doesn’t include the side quests and the exploration time. So, if you plan to complete the game with 100% progress, it may take you between 80 to 100 hours.
What is the lore of Elden Ring?
Queen Marika, The Eternal, ruled the Lands Between with the power of the Greater Will provided by the Elden Ring. However, she shattered the ring in an attempt to resurrect her dead son Godwyn. The shattered ring took away the Greater Will, and the Lands fell into chaos. Later on, Marika’s children fought each other in the shattering wars to gain the shards of the ring. We play as Tarnished, whose job is to defeat all children of Marika to gather the ring’s shards and restore order in the Lands Between.
Conclusion
Elden Ring takes place on a unique continent named the Lands Between in Elden Ring. Unlike memes, this place is unique in all ways from anything the world has ever seen before. This masterpiece was designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin, author of the “A Song of Ice and Fire.” The Lands Between is a diverse world divided into plains, mountains, cities, lakes, and islands. You must visit all these areas and defeat its lords to gather the shards of Elden Ring and restore order in the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
