Use Main Gate or Not Elden Ring Stormveil Castle

Should you enter Elden Ring’s Stormveil Castle through the main gate or use the nearby opening? Seasoned Dark Souls players know that behind every choice lies some hidden danger. Thus, each decision can end with an untimely death. Early in the game, you will meet Gatekeeper Gostoc who will advise you not to use Stormveil Castle’s Main Gate. This guide will explain everything you need to know about Gatekeeper Gostoc’s choices.

Elden Ring Stormveil Castle – Use The Main Gate

When you enter a door left of the main gate, Gatekeeper Gostoc will immediately greet you. Speak with him and once he learns that you are the Tarnished, he’ll show sympathy for you and will offer a piece of useful advice, provided that you believe him. He can either open the Stormveil Castle’s Main Gate or you can take his advice and use the nearby opening. If you choose not to trust him and ask him to open the main gate, he’ll do as you wish, but you’ll not be prepared for what’s inside. When you enter through the main gate, you will immediately be attacked by archers and several ballistas from unreachable positions, thus we strongly recommend you avoid this route until later in the game.

Elden Ring Stormveil Castle – Don’t Use The Main Gate

Alternatively, you can assume that Gatekeeper Gostoc is benevolent and use the nearby opening. Elden Ring is not a game where you should naively trust anyone, but this time around that would be the right move. Gatekeeper Gostoc is indeed trying to help you. If you use the opening, you’ll be presented with a lightly guarded route with just a few enemies (a couple of pesky Bladed Talon Eagles).

The opening is a narrow passageway alongside the walls of the Stormveil Castle. Along the way, you can activate two summoning pools, one Site of Grace, and loot several bodies which will get you Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot and some Rainbow Stone. You will eventually come across an alternative entrance where you will be much better positioned to deal with ballistas and the mini-boss of that area.

Very early in your exploration of Elden Ring world you will find out that you need to prepare your character for different tasks. You'll need to learn how to use Ashes of War, how to two-hand weapons, or use magic spells during the course of your adventures. Many secrets are also waiting for you, such as, a hostile NPC Sellen that doesn't let you see her shop, an invisible man in a bush, or a huge turtle with a bell that lets you duplicate some very important items.