Elden Ring is a vast, mysterious world filled with deadly enemies, intricate dungeons, and winding pathways that can leave even seasoned players feeling lost. From my personal experience, having played through the game multiple times, I can confidently say that unlocking certain shortcuts early on is one of the smartest moves you can make. These shortcuts not only save you time but also help preserve your precious healing flasks and reduce the risk of losing millions of Elden Ring runes from repeated deaths. Below are the ten most valuable shortcuts I’ve found that every Tarnished should prioritize unlocking.

1. Stormveil Castle Main Gate to Rampart Tower Lift

This is the first real dungeon most players will face, and it's brutal. After navigating the deadly courtyard, unlocking the shortcut lift from the Rampart Tower back to the main gate is a game-changer. It cuts out multiple tough enemy encounters and lets you make faster attempts at the bosses inside.

2. Roundtable Hold Warp

Although not a traditional shortcut in the world itself, unlocking the Roundtable Hold early gives you instant access to upgrades, NPCs, and gear management. It’s essentially your home base and should be activated as soon as you’ve collected enough runes from early bosses or mobs.

3. Liurnia Academy Main Gate to Debate Parlor

Raya Lucaria Academy is full of magical traps and enemies. Once you defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon, you can unlock a grace point and shortcut elevator that drastically reduces the backtracking needed if you fall to later enemies or bosses.

4. Siofra River Elevator Shortcut

This hidden area under the Lands Between is visually stunning but can be punishing. Unlocking the elevator that connects the lower area to the upper cliff grace point allows for safer rune farming and more efficient exploration.

5. Radahn Festival Teleport Gate

Many players don’t realize that once the Radahn Festival is triggered, you can teleport directly to Redmane Castle, skipping a long and dangerous journey through Caelid. From a strategic perspective, this shortcut also lets you return post-fight to explore the castle's now-accessible sections.

6. Leyndell Capital Avenue Balcony to East Capital Rampart

The Royal Capital is one of the most complex and deadly areas in the game. Unlocking the elevator from the Avenue Balcony to the East Capital Rampart will save you tons of time and keep your rune losses to a minimum when navigating this brutal zone.

7. Nokron Eternal City Shortcut Elevator

Once you gain access to Nokron after defeating Radahn, there’s a lift that opens up in the early area of the city, linking directly to deeper sections. It helps immensely for rune farming runs or revisiting important NPC questlines.

8. Volcano Manor Hidden Prison Path

This shortcut unlocks after you beat the first mini-boss inside Volcano Manor. It connects the guest room area to the underground prison route, giving you access to more secrets and a safer backtrack path when overwhelmed.

9. Mountaintops of the Giants Chain Bridge Warp

This shortcut opens up after reaching the Grand Lift of Rold. Use the warp points near the Chain Bridge to skip the tedious climb and enemy-infested zones, especially helpful if you're trying to reach Forge of the Giants while carrying millions of Elden Ring runes.

10. Mohgwyn Palace Portal

If you’re planning to buy Elden Ring runes to level up faster, this area is extremely efficient for rune farming. Once you have the Pureblood Knight’s Medal (given by White Mask Varre), you unlock a shortcut portal that takes you directly to the Mohgwyn Palace—home to some of the best rune yields in the game.

These shortcuts have saved me countless hours and protected millions of Elden Ring runes from unnecessary loss. Whether you're progressing naturally or looking to buy Elden Ring runes to fast-track your build, efficient movement through the Lands Between is crucial. Take the time to unlock these paths early, and you’ll have a smoother, more rewarding experience as a Tarnished. In a world where death lurks around every corner, having the right shortcuts can mean the difference between frustration and triumph.

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