Elden Ring, the highly anticipated action RPG from FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin, is a vast and challenging game that combines the intricate world-building of Dark Souls with an open-world design. For beginners, the game can feel overwhelming due to its difficulty, lack of hand-holding, and sheer scale. However, with the right approach, you can not only survive but thrive in the Lands Between. This guide will walk you through essential tips, strategies, and insights to help you conquer Elden Ring.
Understanding the Basics: What Makes Elden Ring Unique
Elden Ring is a spiritual successor to the Dark Souls series, but it introduces several new mechanics that set it apart. The game features an open world filled with dungeons, bosses, and hidden secrets. Unlike previous FromSoftware titles, Elden Ring allows you to explore at your own pace, giving you the freedom to tackle challenges in any order you choose. However, this freedom also means you can stumble into areas that are far beyond your current level, so caution is key.
The game’s combat system is deep and rewarding, emphasizing timing, positioning, and resource management. You’ll need to master dodging, blocking, and attacking while managing your stamina and health. Additionally, Elden Ring introduces new features like mounted combat, summonable spirits, and a crafting system, all of which add layers of strategy to your journey.
Choosing the Right Starting Class
Your starting class in Elden Ring determines your initial stats, equipment, and playstyle. While you can customize your character as you progress, your starting class sets the foundation for your build. Here’s a quick overview of the classes:
Vagabond: A balanced class with high strength and vigor, ideal for beginners who want to focus on melee combat.
Samurai: A dexterity-based class with a katana and bow, perfect for players who prefer fast, agile combat.
Astrologer: A magic-focused class with powerful sorceries, great for those who want to fight from a distance.
Confessor: A hybrid class with a mix of melee and faith-based incantations, suitable for players who want versatility.
Hero: A strength-focused class with high health, ideal for heavy weapon users.
Bandit: A stealth-oriented class with high dexterity and arcane, perfect for players who enjoy sneaky tactics.
Prophet: A faith-based class with healing and offensive incantations, great for support-focused players.
Prisoner: A hybrid class with a mix of melee and sorcery, offering a unique playstyle.
Wretch: A blank slate with balanced stats and no equipment, recommended for experienced players who want to build their character from scratch.
For beginners, the Vagabond or Samurai are excellent choices due to their straightforward playstyles and strong starting equipment.
Mastering Combat: The Key to Survival
Combat in Elden Ring is punishing but fair. Enemies hit hard, and mistakes can be costly. Here are some essential combat tips:
Learn to Dodge: Rolling is your best friend. Time your dodges to avoid enemy attacks and create openings for counterattacks. Rolling also makes you invincible for a brief moment, so use it wisely.
Manage Stamina: Every action, from attacking to blocking, consumes stamina. Keep an eye on your stamina bar and avoid exhausting it completely, as this leaves you vulnerable.
Block and Parry: Shields are invaluable for blocking attacks, but they also drain stamina. For advanced players, parrying can deflect enemy strikes and leave them open to critical hits.
Experiment with Weapons: Elden Ring offers a wide variety of weapons, each with unique movesets and abilities. Try different weapons to find one that suits your playstyle.
Use Guard Counters: After blocking an attack, press the heavy attack button to perform a guard counter. This move deals significant damage and can stagger enemies.
Don’t Get Greedy: It’s tempting to go for extra hits, but overextending can lead to disaster. Focus on landing safe, consistent damage.
Exploring the Open World: Tips for Success
The Lands Between is a massive, interconnected world filled with secrets, treasures, and dangers. Here’s how to make the most of your exploration:
Follow the Guidance of Grace: Golden beams of light point you toward major objectives, but don’t feel obligated to follow them immediately. Take your time to explore and level up.
Use Your Mount, Torrent: Torrent, your spectral steed, is invaluable for traversing the world quickly and engaging in mounted combat. Use him to escape tough situations or reach hard-to-access areas.
Mark Your Map: The game’s map is filled with points of interest, such as dungeons, NPCs, and resources. Use markers to keep track of locations you want to revisit.
Look for Hidden Paths: Elden Ring is full of secrets, from hidden walls to underground areas. Investigate suspicious-looking walls and cliffs for hidden treasures.
Manage Your Resources: Crafting materials, healing items, and upgrade materials are scattered throughout the world. Gather them whenever possible, but be mindful of your inventory space.
Leveling Up and Building Your Character
As you defeat enemies and explore, you’ll earn runes, the game’s currency. Runes can be used to level up your character, purchase items, and upgrade equipment. Here’s how to build your character effectively:
Focus on Key Stats: Early on, prioritize vigor (health), endurance (stamina), and your primary damage stat (strength, dexterity, intelligence, or faith). This will make you more durable and effective in combat.
Upgrade Your Weapons: Weapon upgrades are more impactful than leveling up. Use smithing stones to enhance your weapons at blacksmiths or anvils.
Experiment with Ashes of War: Ashes of War allow you to customize your weapons with new skills and affinities. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your build.
Respec Later in the Game: If you’re unhappy with your build, you can respec your stats after defeating a major boss. This allows you to try new playstyles without starting over.
Summoning Spirits and Allies
Elden Ring introduces spirit summons, which allow you to summon AI-controlled allies to aid you in battle. These spirits can turn the tide of tough fights, especially against bosses. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Unlock the Spirit Calling Bell: Early in the game, visit the Church of Elleh at night to meet an NPC who gives you the Spirit Calling Bell. This item allows you to summon spirits.
Use Spirit Ashes: Spirit Ashes are consumable items that summon specific allies. Experiment with different spirits to find ones that complement your playstyle.
Upgrade Your Spirits: Use Grave Gloveworts to upgrade your spirits, making them more powerful and durable.
Facing Bosses: Strategies for Victory
Bosses are the ultimate test of your skills in Elden Ring. Here’s how to prepare for and defeat them:
Learn Their Patterns: Bosses have specific attack patterns and tells. Observe their movements and learn when to dodge, block, or counterattack.
Use Summons: Spirit summons and NPC allies can distract bosses, giving you openings to attack.
Exploit Weaknesses: Some bosses are weak to specific damage types or status effects. Experiment with different weapons and spells to find their vulnerabilities.
Stay Calm: Boss fights can be intense, but panicking will only lead to mistakes. Stay focused and patient.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Challenge
Elden Ring is a game that rewards perseverance and curiosity. While it can be daunting at first, the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel from overcoming its challenges is unparalleled. Take your time, explore thoroughly, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies. With patience and practice, you’ll conquer the Lands Between and emerge victorious. Good luck, Tarnished!
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Elden Ring: Survive and Conquer
Elden Ring, the highly anticipated action RPG from FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin, is a vast and challenging game that combines the intricate world-building of Dark Souls with an open-world design. For beginners, the game can feel overwhelming due to its difficulty, lack of hand-holding, and sheer scale. However, with the right approach, you can not only survive but thrive in the Lands Between. This guide will walk you through essential tips, strategies, and insights to help you conquer Elden Ring.
Understanding the Basics: What Makes Elden Ring Unique
Elden Ring is a spiritual successor to the Dark Souls series, but it introduces several new mechanics that set it apart. The game features an open world filled with dungeons, bosses, and hidden secrets. Unlike previous FromSoftware titles, Elden Ring allows you to explore at your own pace, giving you the freedom to tackle challenges in any order you choose. However, this freedom also means you can stumble into areas that are far beyond your current level, so caution is key.
The game’s combat system is deep and rewarding, emphasizing timing, positioning, and resource management. You’ll need to master dodging, blocking, and attacking while managing your stamina and health. Additionally, Elden Ring introduces new features like mounted combat, summonable spirits, and a crafting system, all of which add layers of strategy to your journey.
Choosing the Right Starting Class
Your starting class in Elden Ring determines your initial stats, equipment, and playstyle. While you can customize your character as you progress, your starting class sets the foundation for your build. Here’s a quick overview of the classes:
Vagabond: A balanced class with high strength and vigor, ideal for beginners who want to focus on melee combat.
Samurai: A dexterity-based class with a katana and bow, perfect for players who prefer fast, agile combat.
Astrologer: A magic-focused class with powerful sorceries, great for those who want to fight from a distance.
Confessor: A hybrid class with a mix of melee and faith-based incantations, suitable for players who want versatility.
Hero: A strength-focused class with high health, ideal for heavy weapon users.
Bandit: A stealth-oriented class with high dexterity and arcane, perfect for players who enjoy sneaky tactics.
Prophet: A faith-based class with healing and offensive incantations, great for support-focused players.
Prisoner: A hybrid class with a mix of melee and sorcery, offering a unique playstyle.
Wretch: A blank slate with balanced stats and no equipment, recommended for experienced players who want to build their character from scratch.
For beginners, the Vagabond or Samurai are excellent choices due to their straightforward playstyles and strong starting equipment.
Mastering Combat: The Key to Survival
Combat in Elden Ring is punishing but fair. Enemies hit hard, and mistakes can be costly. Here are some essential combat tips:
Learn to Dodge: Rolling is your best friend. Time your dodges to avoid enemy attacks and create openings for counterattacks. Rolling also makes you invincible for a brief moment, so use it wisely.
Manage Stamina: Every action, from attacking to blocking, consumes stamina. Keep an eye on your stamina bar and avoid exhausting it completely, as this leaves you vulnerable.
Block and Parry: Shields are invaluable for blocking attacks, but they also drain stamina. For advanced players, parrying can deflect enemy strikes and leave them open to critical hits.
Experiment with Weapons: Elden Ring offers a wide variety of weapons, each with unique movesets and abilities. Try different weapons to find one that suits your playstyle.
Use Guard Counters: After blocking an attack, press the heavy attack button to perform a guard counter. This move deals significant damage and can stagger enemies.
Don’t Get Greedy: It’s tempting to go for extra hits, but overextending can lead to disaster. Focus on landing safe, consistent damage.
Exploring the Open World: Tips for Success
The Lands Between is a massive, interconnected world filled with secrets, treasures, and dangers. Here’s how to make the most of your exploration:
Follow the Guidance of Grace: Golden beams of light point you toward major objectives, but don’t feel obligated to follow them immediately. Take your time to explore and level up.
Use Your Mount, Torrent: Torrent, your spectral steed, is invaluable for traversing the world quickly and engaging in mounted combat. Use him to escape tough situations or reach hard-to-access areas.
Mark Your Map: The game’s map is filled with points of interest, such as dungeons, NPCs, and resources. Use markers to keep track of locations you want to revisit.
Look for Hidden Paths: Elden Ring is full of secrets, from hidden walls to underground areas. Investigate suspicious-looking walls and cliffs for hidden treasures.
Manage Your Resources: Crafting materials, healing items, and upgrade materials are scattered throughout the world. Gather them whenever possible, but be mindful of your inventory space.
Leveling Up and Building Your Character
As you defeat enemies and explore, you’ll earn runes, the game’s currency. Runes can be used to level up your character, purchase items, and upgrade equipment. Here’s how to build your character effectively:
Focus on Key Stats: Early on, prioritize vigor (health), endurance (stamina), and your primary damage stat (strength, dexterity, intelligence, or faith). This will make you more durable and effective in combat.
Upgrade Your Weapons: Weapon upgrades are more impactful than leveling up. Use smithing stones to enhance your weapons at blacksmiths or anvils.
Experiment with Ashes of War: Ashes of War allow you to customize your weapons with new skills and affinities. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your build.
Respec Later in the Game: If you’re unhappy with your build, you can respec your stats after defeating a major boss. This allows you to try new playstyles without starting over.
Summoning Spirits and Allies
Elden Ring introduces spirit summons, which allow you to summon AI-controlled allies to aid you in battle. These spirits can turn the tide of tough fights, especially against bosses. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Unlock the Spirit Calling Bell: Early in the game, visit the Church of Elleh at night to meet an NPC who gives you the Spirit Calling Bell. This item allows you to summon spirits.
Use Spirit Ashes: Spirit Ashes are consumable items that summon specific allies. Experiment with different spirits to find ones that complement your playstyle.
Upgrade Your Spirits: Use Grave Gloveworts to upgrade your spirits, making them more powerful and durable.
Facing Bosses: Strategies for Victory
Bosses are the ultimate test of your skills in Elden Ring. Here’s how to prepare for and defeat them:
Learn Their Patterns: Bosses have specific attack patterns and tells. Observe their movements and learn when to dodge, block, or counterattack.
Use Summons: Spirit summons and NPC allies can distract bosses, giving you openings to attack.
Exploit Weaknesses: Some bosses are weak to specific damage types or status effects. Experiment with different weapons and spells to find their vulnerabilities.
Stay Calm: Boss fights can be intense, but panicking will only lead to mistakes. Stay focused and patient.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Challenge
Elden Ring is a game that rewards perseverance and curiosity. While it can be daunting at first, the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel from overcoming its challenges is unparalleled. Take your time, explore thoroughly, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies. With patience and practice, you’ll conquer the Lands Between and emerge victorious. Good luck, Tarnished!