Tired of the usual naked runs, no-hit attempts and SL1 challenges? Enter “The Merchant’s Journey” – a unique challenge run that transforms your Elden Ring playthrough into an adventure of commerce and careful resource management.
Instead of relying on found equipment and boss drops, this challenge forces you to build your arsenal exclusively through the game’s diverse network of merchants.
In this spin on the Elden Ring challenge scene, you’ll find yourself counting runes like never before, hunting down Bell Bearings with newfound purpose, and discovering merchants you might have overlooked in previous playthroughs. Every purchase becomes a strategic decision, and even those seemingly useless vendor inventories might hold the key to your success.
Want to turn this into a competitive challenge? Three speedrun categories await: race to the final boss in Any%, test your skills against all remembrance bosses, or prove your dedication by purchasing from every merchant in the game. Each category offers its own routing challenges and strategic decisions.
Ready to embark on your merchant’s journey through the Lands Between? Let’s dive into the “official” ruleset…
Core Rules
This challenge focuses on the base game only, as the DLC features just three merchants with limited offerings for this run. If you wish, you can extend the challenge to the DLC and trade remembrances for additional weapons, but that will be the only way to change or upgrade your gear.
Equipment Restrictions
- You can only use weapons and armor purchased from merchants
- Starting class equipment is allowed initially, but at least 3 remembrance bosses must be defeated using a purchased weapon
- Starting class can be freely chosen
- No using equipment found in the world or from boss drops
- All weapon, shield and armor drops must be sold to merchants
- Merchants must not be killed to obtain their Bell Bearings (Goes against the spirit of being a trader)
- Bell Bearings can be collected and used at the Twin Maiden Husks shop
Found Item Payments
Talismans
- Can collect talismans found in the world
- Must lose 10,000 runes using “memory of grace” as usage fee
- Cannot equip until “payment” is made
Ashes of War
- Can collect Ashes of War found in the world
- Must lose 7,500 runes using “memory of grace” as usage fee
- Cannot apply until “payment” is made
Spirit Ashes
- Can collect Spirit Ashes from the world
- Must lose 5,000 runes using “memory of grace” as usage fee
- Cannot use until “payment” is made
Consumables and Crafting
- Crafting materials can be collected from the world
- Cookbooks can be collected and used
- Items can be crafted if you have the recipe
- Consumables can be collected from the world
- Arrows and bolts must be purchased from merchants
NPC Quest Items
- If you can buy it with runes or another currency from an NPC merchant = Allowed
- If you receive it as a reward/gift from quest completion = Not Allowed
List Of Merchants
- Nomadic Merchants: 14
- Isolated Merchants: 4
- Hermit Merchants: 3
- Imprisoned Merchant: 1
- Abandoned Merchant: 1
- Special Merchants
- Patches: Found initially in Murkwater Cave.
- Twin Maiden Husks: Found at the Roundtable Hold.
- Bernahl: Found initially at the Warmaster’s Shack.
- Boc the Seamster: Provides armor adjustments as his story progresses.
- Gurranq Beast Clergyman: Found in the Bestial Sanctum, sells Incantations and Ashes of War.
- Finger Reader Enia: Found at the Roundtable Hold, sells champions equipment for runes and trades in remembrances.
- D: Found initially at the Roundtable Hold.
- Spell Merchants
- Sorceress Sellen: Waypoint Ruins, Limgrave.
- Thops: Church of Irith, Lucaria.
- Miriel, Pastor of Vows: Church of Vows, Liurnia.
- Corhyn: Roundtable Hold (initially).
- Preceptor Seluvis: Seluvis’s Rise after quest progression.
- Gowry: Gowry’s Shack near Sellia.
- Blacksmiths
- Smithing Master Hewg: Roundtable Hold.
- War Counselor Iji: Road to the Manor, Liurnia.
- Other Notable Vendors
- Pidia Carian Servant: Caria Manor.
- Blackguard Big Boggart: Boilprawn Shack (initially).
“Merchant’s Path” vs. “True Merchant’s Journey”
Having two versions of the challenge makes sense for several reasons. Players can start with the easier ruleset to get familiar with merchant-focused gameplay before tackling the more demanding version. While both stay true to the core merchant theme, they offer different routing challenges and accommodate varying skill levels – particularly when it comes to smithing stone acquisition.
Let’s explore both versions in detail…
The Normal Version – “Merchant’s Path”
- Smithing stones (somber or normal) can be collected from the world or bought from a shop
- Still need to buy weapons and armor
- Makes early to mid-game progression smoother
- Allows for weapon experimentation earlier
- More accessible for first-time challenge runners
The Hard Version – “True Merchant’s Journey”
- Smithing stones (somber or normal) must be purchased from Twin Maiden Husks or Merchants only
- Requires getting Bell Bearings for upgrades
- Forces strategic routing to get Bell Bearings
- Makes early game much more challenging
- Creates interesting decisions about when to get Bell Bearings vs. progressing main path
Speedrun Categories
- Any% – Defeat the final boss
- All Remembrances – Defeat all remembrance bosses
- All Merchants – Complete the run (defeat the final boss) after purchasing at least one item from every merchant in the game – yes, there are 40
Randomizer Mod: Where Every Shop is a Mystery
Combine this challenge with the Randomizer mod for an even more unpredictable adventure. With randomized merchant inventories, every shop visit becomes a surprise that could dramatically alter your run’s strategy. This combination creates a unique experience where knowledge of standard merchant locations matters, but their stock remains a mystery to uncover.
Community Feedback
The Merchant’s Journey is meant to be an engaging challenge that brings a fresh perspective to Elden Ring while remaining enjoyable and fair. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the ruleset:
- Are the payment costs for talismans (10K), Ashes of War (7.5K), and Spirit Ashes (5K) balanced or should these costs scale depending on your current level?
- Should we allow certain quest rewards that thematically fit the merchant theme?
- Have you spotted any potential exploits or unclear rules that need addressing?
- Should we allow weapons found at caravans (both moving and stationary) to be usable in the run? These weapons would need to be “purchased” for 5K runes using Memory of Grace before use. This would add more weapons to the pool
- Are there merchants or items we should specifically include or exclude?
- Should we add the mandatory task “Obtain the Nomadic Merchant Set and wear at least the Chapeau in the final boss fight”?
- What additional speedrun categories would you like to see?
Share your feedback and experiences in the comments below, if you like. Your input will help refine these rules and make the challenge even better.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned challenge runner looking for something fresh or a lore enthusiast wanting to experience the Lands Between from a merchant’s perspective, this challenge offers a unique way to rediscover Elden Ring. It transforms every merchant encounter into a meaningful decision and gives new purpose to the game’s economy system.
As you plan your routes, manage your runes, and make tough choices about which gear to invest in, you’ll find yourself engaging with the game in ways you never have before.
So, Tarnished, are you ready to try your hand at commerce in the Lands Between? Your merchant’s journey awaits!
… and if you like challenge runs, you may want to check out the Weapon Mastery Challenge Generator for creating challenging, shareable runs.
Leave a Reply