Stormveil Castle is the first major dungeon in Elden Ring, and the game makes a point of directing players there from the start, but the open world offers very little direction beyond that. Once the dust has settled after a hard boss fight like Elden Ring's Godrick, players may find themselves at a loss for what to do next. Luckily exploration is the driving force behind FromSoftware's latest game, and there's really no wrong way to go, but some players may not want to waste their time setting out on an adventure they're ultimately unprepared for.
Godrick the Grafted is essentially the first major step in what can potentially be a very long journey. The Tarnished is tasked with retrieving the shards of the Elden Ring from the six demigods of the Lands Between. Godrick is usually the first demigod players will encounter since the game directs them to Stormveil almost immediately, but this isn't required, and the giant castle can be ignored for a very long time if the player is so inclined.
As for what to do immediately after defeating Elden Ring's Godrick, who's been harvesting Tarnished limbs, players will want to go through the door opposite of where they entered the boss arena. The player will be able to see (and jump on) Godrick's throne before making their way down through some passageways and out a hidden tunnel on the northeast corner of Stormveil. Not far from where they emerge will be a Site of Grace just within the border of a new region, Liurnia of the Lakes. Lest they run into some powerful enemies soon, players will want to use of the Runes they were just awarded for killing Godrick. Returning to Godrick's boss arena will also result in the conclusion of Gatekeeper Gostoc's short quest line. The emaciated man who suggested the side route into Stormveil has some choice words for Godrick's corpse.
Explore The Rest Of Limgrave After Stormveil Castle
Elden Ring possesses the thrill of the unknown in an incredible quantity, and because players were shepherded toward Stormveil by the guidance of Grace, some may have missed out on a lot to be seen in the game's starting region. Stormveil is situated in Limgrave's northwest corner, and the rest of the region can occupy players for quite a while. There are multiple NPCs to be found, and Eastern Limgrave has the Mistwood, a rather large forest with plenty of hidden secrets. There's even an elevator that will lead to Siofra River, a subterranean area that stretches underneath Limgrave and parts of Caelid to the northeast.
The Weeping Peninsula to Limgrave's south is worth checking out too. Heading south benefits struggling Elden Ring players, but is still a worthwhile endeavor for those who have completed Stormveil. The rest of the Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula offer plenty of minor dungeons to explore, filled with items, upgrade materials, and NPCs. There are also several Sacred Tears and Golden Seeds to be found throughout the region. Upgrading the potency of the Flask of Crimson Tears and Flask of Cerulean Tears, as well as how many uses they have, will be a major benefit to those about to set out for the rest of the Lands Between.
Liurnia Of The Lakes Awaits After Stormveil Castle
The tunnel that leads players under the Stormveil Castle walls after the Godrick boss arena will bring them to the Lake-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace. This will be most players' embarkation point into the flooded region known as Liurnia of the Lakes. Spread out to the north and west is a shallow lake that can be traversed on foot and horseback. Once Elden Ring's early game secrets have been found in Limgrave, the same process can be done again in the flooded ruins of Liurnia of the Lakes. The flooded lowlands are also surrounded by cliffs, which hold even more points of interest on their tops and in sequestered caves below.
Although practically aimless wandering will result in plenty of new gear and Runes to level up with, players will ultimately want to head for Elden Ring's second demigod. The only structure in the floodplain that hasn't been engulfed is the towering Academy of Raya Lucaria. The elegant school for the Lands Between's sorcerers is lead by Renalla, Queen of the Full Moon. Just like Stormveil, Raya Lucaria Academy is vast and labyrinthine. It will occupy players for some time, and is also protected by two bosses. Going straight to the academy from Stormveil is likely not the best choice, unless players find themselves already vastly over-leveled for Liurnia of the Lakes as a whole. Further upgrading the flasks in Elden Ring and searching for some magic-resistant armor are both recommended before taking on the sorcerers of Raya Lucaria.
Caelid Can Be Explored After Stormveil Castle
If players did any significant exploring in Limgrave, it's possible they came upon a trapped chest which released a pale purple mist and transported them to Caelid before they were ready. The nightmarish atmosphere of the region to Limgrave's northeast is defined by its bright red sky. Following the road that goes east from the Stormhill Shack by Stormveil Castle will eventually lead to Caelid. It's generally recommended that players wait to take on this area, but there are some valuable items to be found if extra care is taken to not get killed by the abominations that wander the realm.
Players likely won't want to venture too far into Caelid or seek out its resident demigod, though, since they will probably be underpowered for such encounters. Still, some Runes and interesting items can be retrieved while finding the Elden Ring Map Fragments for Caelid, which will make it easier to explore when they return later in the game. Placing a Summon Sign to help others in co-op is a good way to explore the dangerous region with very little risk as well. These are all mere suggestions as to what players can do after they've defeated Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil Castle. Liurnia of the Lakes is the most likely next destination, but the freedom allowed by Elden Ring doesn't make that the only possibility. Players should simply do whatever they feel is most interesting, and it's definitely possible to overcome the challenges in Caelid early with enough persistence.