Many players who have already jumped into Elden Ring may have found themselves struggling to make any progress in the main quest, and one of the best possible solutions is to explore to the south. The game drops the player unceremoniously into a region known as Limgrave, and points them toward the first of the game's major dungeons, Stormveil Castle. While Elden Ring keeps Dark Souls' themes alive, the open world design changes how progress is intended to be made, and exploring the Weeping Peninsula on Limgrave's southern end can be incredibly helpful to those who have hit a wall.
Despite having fewer restrictions on exploration than previous FromSoftware games, Elden Ring quite literally points the player to their next destination with the Grace that guides the Tarnished. At the beginning of the game, this will lead players to the Stormgate, up Stormhill, and into Stormveil Castle, where under-leveled characters might get pummeled by Margit the Fell Omen and Godrick the Grafted. Although Elden Ring never explicitly tells players, these seemingly insurmountable challenges are hints that the player should try a different path, at least for the time being.
A highlight of Elden Ring is the thrill of the unknown, where near aimless wandering can be incredibly rewarding. Anyone who is struggling in the beginning of the game should simply abandon what they're "supposed" to be doing and explore Limgrave, with the Weeping Peninsula being an especially helpful locale. It's the southern most landmass on Elden Ring's map, and can be accessed by crossing a bridge connecting it to Limgrave. Seeing all that the Weeping Peninsula has to offer can help prepare players for the challenges ahead, and give them the experience and items necessary to finally conquer Stormveil Castle.
Elden Ring's Weeping Peninsula Is Like An Extended Tutorial
The tutorial cave in Elden Ring is rather short (and even missable), and only serves to familiarize the player with the basic controls, not really preparing anyone for the large open world that awaits. For those still learning the ropes, the Weeping Peninsula is something of an extended tutorial area, with a quest line of its own and plenty of easier encounters that will result in better gear and upgrades to Elden Ring's flasks. After crossing the bridge to the Weeping Peninsula, a woman can be found a little ways down the road who asks the player to deliver a letter to her father at Castle Morne on the peninsula's southern tip. Morne is much smaller than Stormveil, but gives the player an opportunity to see FromSoftware's labyrinthine level design in action. There are also many enemies and a boss in Morne that will provide plenty of Runes to level up with.
Castle Morne isn't the only destination on the Weeping Peninsula, though, and exploring the region thoroughly can be beneficial. A Minor Erdtree has a Crystal Tear to use in the Flask of Wondrous Physick, and multiple churches on the peninsula will have a Sacred Tears for upgrading the efficacy of the Flasks of Cerulean and Crimson Tears, letting players restore more FP and HP respectively. Some of the smaller dungeons also have a bountiful supply of Smithing Stones used to upgrade weapons. Players will want to take these to the anvil in the Church of Elleh in Limgrave, where weapons can be upgraded three times. Any upgrades beyond that require the blacksmith in Roundtable Hold, Elden Ring's Firelink Shrine-like hub area. The dungeon crawling experience that Weeping Peninsula affords, plus all the upgrades that can be acquired from exploring it, makes it an invaluable location for those struggling early on in Elden Ring.