Collecting all legendary talismans in Elden Ring is a requirement for the "Legendary Talismans" achievement, a milestone sought by completionists and power-gamers alike. While the game features dozens of accessories, only eight specific items carry the "Legendary" status required for this trophy. These artifacts represent pivotal figures and lore events in the Lands Between, offering some of the most dramatic stat boosts and utility enhancements available.

In the current landscape of the game, including the expansions that have deepened the strategic options, these eight talismans remain foundational. Some serve as the backbone for high-level caster builds, while others provide the necessary physical mitigation to survive the brutal encounters found in the late-game areas and high NG+ cycles.

The Complete List of Legendary Talismans

To unlock the achievement, the player must hold all eight of the following items in their inventory simultaneously:

  1. Radagon Icon
  2. Moon of Nokstella
  3. Godfrey Icon
  4. Old Lord's Talisman
  5. Radagon's Soreseal
  6. Marika's Soreseal
  7. Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
  8. Erdtree's Favor +2

It is important to note that versions of these talismans with lower modifiers (such as Erdtree's Favor +0 or +1) do not count toward the achievement. Only the specific versions listed below satisfy the criteria.

1. Radagon Icon: The Essential Caster Tool

Located within the Academy of Raya Lucaria, the Radagon Icon is often the first legendary talisman players encounter. It depicts the red-haired champion and shortens the casting time of sorceries and incantations.

How to Obtain

After defeating the Red Wolf of Radagon in the Debate Parlor, start from that Site of Grace. Head out into the courtyard, immediately turn right, and hop over the railing onto a narrow ledge. Follow this path to find a ladder leading up to the second floor of the Debate Parlor. Enter through a broken window; the chest containing the talisman is on the wooden walkway overlooking the room where the boss fight occurred.

Technical Impact

The Radagon Icon grants 30 "virtual" Dexterity strictly for the purpose of spell casting speed. Since the casting speed cap is reached at 70 Dexterity, this talisman allows mages to reach peak efficiency without heavy investment in physical stats. For pure Intelligence or Faith builds, this is arguably the most significant quality-of-life improvement available.

2. Moon of Nokstella: Expanding the Mind

Found in the Eternal City of Nokstella, this talisman is a relic of the ancient stars and adds two additional Memory Slots for spells.

How to Obtain

Accessing Nokstella requires progress through Ranni the Witch’s questline to reach the Ainsel River Main. From the Nokstella, Eternal City Site of Grace, ascend the long, grand staircases guarded by Silver Tears and Swordstress enemies. Continue upward until reaching the highest cathedral at the back of the city. Inside, protected by a high-ranking Nox warrior and two Silver Tears, sits a chest beneath a massive, seated skeleton. The talisman is inside.

Tactical Value

With the Moon of Nokstella, a player can carry a vast arsenal of spells. While Memory Stones found in towers across the map provide permanent slots, this talisman is vital for builds that rely on high-cost, multi-slot spells like Founding Rain of Stars or various Dragon Communion incantations. It provides flexibility without needing to respec into higher Mind attributes.

3. Godfrey Icon: Maximizing Charge Attacks

This talisman represents the First Elden Lord and enhances the power of charged spells and skills. It is a cornerstone for any build revolving around heavy-hitting, slow-winding attacks.

How to Obtain

The Godfrey Icon is a reward for defeating Godefroy the Grafted in the Golden Lineage Evergaol. This Evergaol is located in the Altus Plateau, tucked away in a small canyon just east of the Grand Lift of Dectus. A Stonesword Key is required to access the fight.

Combat Application

Any sorcery, incantation, or Ash of War that can be "held" to increase its power receives a 15% damage boost from this icon. This includes staples like the Bolt of Gransax’s Ancient Lightning Spear or the Comet sorcery. In the current meta, where burst damage during boss stagger windows is critical, the Godfrey Icon remains a top-tier choice for optimizing damage output.

4. Old Lord's Talisman: Prolonging the Effect

Depicting the ancient lord Placidusax, this talisman extends the duration of spell effects. It is found in the crumbling ruins of Farum Azula, near the end of the journey.

How to Obtain

From the Beside the Great Bridge Site of Grace (just before the Maliketh boss fight), head away from the boss arena and take the elevator down. Navigate through the building filled with Beastmen of Farum Azula. Once outside, follow the path leading to a separate tower across a small bridge. The talisman is in a chest guarded by several Beastmen. Note: If Recusant Bernahl is still active in your world, he may invade in this area.

Strategic Consideration

The 30% increase in spell duration applies to buffs, weapon enchantments, and hazard spells like Magma Shot. It does not affect the duration of Spirit Ashes or consumables. For builds that rely on Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength, or various elemental coatings, this talisman significantly reduces the need to re-buff during intense combat, effectively saving FP and time.

5. Radagon's Soreseal: The Early Game Powerhouse

This is perhaps the most famous talisman in the game, providing a massive boost to physical stats at the cost of increased damage taken. It is found in Fort Faroth, deep within the blighted lands of Caelid.

How to Obtain

Enter Fort Faroth and run past the giant bats to the ladder at the back. Once on the roof, drop into the second hole (the one further from the ladder). Navigate the wooden rafters and jump across to a ledge with a corpse. The Soreseal is located on this corpse.

The Risk-Reward Factor

Radagon's Soreseal increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength, and Dexterity by 5 points each. This is a total of 20 levels worth of stats. However, it increases all damage taken by 15%. In the early to mid-game, the HP gained from the +5 Vigor usually outweighs the increased damage. However, as the player approaches the "soft caps" of these stats (typically around 60 Vigor), the 15% damage penalty becomes a significant liability. It is recommended to phase this talisman out once natural stat progression renders the +5 bonus less impactful.

6. Marika's Soreseal: The Caster's Double-Edged Sword

The counterpart to Radagon's, this talisman boosts Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane by 5 points each. It is found in the late-game hidden area, Miquella’s Haligtree.

How to Obtain

From the Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree - Prayer Room Site of Grace, head out and descend toward the lower levels of the city. You need to reach the very bottom floor, where the Erdtree Avatar patrols the wide walkway. At the northern end of this area, there is a fog wall that requires two Stonesword Keys. The talisman is inside the room beyond the fog.

Usage in Late Game

Similar to Radagon's version, Marika's Soreseal carries a 15% damage-taken penalty. For casters who stay at a distance, this penalty is manageable. It is particularly useful for meeting the high requirements of legendary spells like Ranni's Dark Moon without dedicating every attribute point to Intelligence. However, in the high-damage environment of the Haligtree or Farum Azula, one must be wary of being one-shot by physical attacks while wearing this.

7. Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: The Ultimate Defense

Widely considered the best defensive item in Elden Ring, this talisman enormously boosts physical damage negation. It is also found in the Haligtree, specifically in the Elphael district.

How to Obtain

Starting from the Drainage Channel Site of Grace in Elphael, exit the room and walk across the massive support roots leading toward the chapel building. You must navigate across the rooftops and find a hole in the stone ceiling. Drop down onto the wooden rafters inside. Below you is a chest guarded by several Pests (Kindred of Rot). The Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman is inside that chest.

Effectiveness

This talisman provides a 20% reduction in physical damage taken (slightly less in PvP). In a game where late-game bosses can deplete a health bar in two hits, 20% negation is often the difference between survival and death. It stacks with heavy armor and defensive buffs like Black Flame's Protection, making it an essential component for any "tank" build or for players struggling with the difficulty spikes of the final areas.

8. Erdtree's Favor +2: The Perfect Generalist

This final legendary talisman provides a boost to HP, Stamina, and Equip Load. It is only accessible after a major world-state change: the burning of the Erdtree and the transformation of the capital into the Leyndell, Ashen Capital.

How to Obtain

From the Forbidden Lands Site of Grace (heading back toward Leyndell), take the elevator up to the bridge. Walk back toward the city and take the second elevator down into the massive courtyard filled with ash. In the far corner of this courtyard, the talisman sits on a dead tree branch protruding from the ash. The area is guarded by three Ulcerated Tree Spirits. It is possible to sneak around the perimeter or simply sprint in, grab the item, and leave.

Build Integration

The +2 variant provides a 4% HP increase, 10% Stamina increase, and 8% Equip Load increase. While these percentages may seem small compared to the Soreseals, they carry no negative penalties. This makes Erdtree's Favor +2 one of the most reliable "fillers" for any talisman slot, providing a balanced buff to the three most important secondary attributes in the game.

Optimized Collection Pathing

For those aiming for the achievement in a single playthrough, following a chronological route is most efficient:

  1. Early Game: Grab Radagon's Soreseal in Caelid as soon as you have a horse. The stats will carry you through Limgrave and Liurnia.
  2. Academy Phase: Collect the Radagon Icon while progressing through Raya Lucaria.
  3. Altus/Quest Phase: Hit the Golden Lineage Evergaol for the Godfrey Icon and progress Ranni's quest to reach Nokstella for the Moon of Nokstella.
  4. The Haligtree: This is the most dangerous phase. You must secure both Marika's Soreseal and the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman here. These are easily missed if you rush to the Malenia boss fight.
  5. Farum Azula: Pick up the Old Lord's Talisman on the way to the final boss of the area.
  6. The Finale: After Leyndell turns to ash, return to the courtyard for Erdtree's Favor +2. This is the only one that is truly time-sensitive; if you don't collect the lower versions of Erdtree's Favor earlier, it doesn't matter, but the +2 version is only available in the Ashen state.

Troubleshooting the Achievement

Occasionally, players report that the "Legendary Talismans" achievement does not trigger even after all eight are in the inventory. This is a known bug that has persisted through several updates. The most common fix is to visit a Site of Grace, select "Sort Chest," and move all eight legendary talismans into the Storage Box and then back into the main inventory. This usually forces the game to re-scan the inventory and trigger the achievement.

Additionally, if you are playing in New Game Plus, you do not need to find them all in a single run, provided they are all on the same character. Items found in previous journeys count toward the total.

The Role of Legendary Talismans in the Current Meta

As of 2026, the strategic depth of Elden Ring has evolved with the addition of new talismans from the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. While some newer items offer highly specialized bonuses for specific weapon types (like those enhancing smithing techniques or specific elemental stances), the Legendary Talismans remain the most versatile.

For instance, the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman is still considered mandatory by many for the final DLC encounters due to the extreme physical damage dealt by those bosses. Similarly, the Godfrey Icon has seen a resurgence in popularity as players discover new charged skills in the expansion that benefit from its 15% boost.

When choosing your loadout, consider these eight items as your foundation. A standard high-level build often utilizes at least two of these legendary pieces—typically the Dragoncrest Greatshield for survival and either the Radagon Icon or Godfrey Icon for offensive efficiency. The Soreseals, while powerful, should generally be retired once you reach level 150 or higher, as the defensive trade-off becomes too steep for the challenges presented in the game's final chapters.

By securing these items, you not only earn a prestigious achievement but also equip your character with the historical power of the Lands Between's greatest figures. Whether you are a mage seeking faster casting or a melee fighter looking to survive the toughest bosses, these legendary relics are indispensable.