Elden Ring Combat 101: Mastering the Essentials

If you're new to Elden Ring or FromSoftware games in general, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the complexity and depth of the combat system. Fear not! This guide aims to break down some of the core mechanics and strategies you'll need to survive and thrive in Lands Between. We'll cover everything from iframes and Ashes of War to affinities and super armor. Of course, as a novice, you can buy some Elden Ring Runes through MMOexp in exchange for equipment items to get a good start. Let's get started.

Embrace Death as a Learning Tool

First things first, remember that death in Elden Ring is not a failure. It’s an opportunity to learn. The game starts with an unavoidable death to teach you that death isn't a punishment but a learning tool. Each death should help you understand what went wrong and what you need to do differently next time.

When you die, you'll return to the last Site of Grace you rested at or, in some cases, a Stake of Marika if one is nearby. Look for a small statue icon beneath your health, stamina, and FP bars to know if you're near a Stake of Marika. Your lost runes will be at the location of your death, but remember, you only get one chance to retrieve them before they are gone forever if you die again.

Essential Tools and Abilities

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of combat, let’s cover some essential tools and abilities you have at your disposal.

Jumping: Unlike previous FromSoftware games, you can jump in Elden Ring. Jumping attacks, especially with a two-handed weapon, deal significant super armor damage, setting up critical hits. However, jumping has no invincibility frames (iframes), so it’s not ideal for dodging attacks unless they are sweeping ground attacks.

Stealth: Crouching silences your footsteps and helps you move undetected. Use tall grass to obscure enemies' view, but beware of their direct line of sight. Stealth allows you to perform backstabs by positioning yourself behind an enemy and pressing R1 or RB.

Rolling: Rolling is crucial in combat for dodging attacks. During a roll, your character is invincible for a short period (iframes). The effectiveness of your roll depends on your equip load. A light load (less than 30% of your equip load) offers the best iframes, speed, and distance. Medium load (less than 70%) is decent, but anything above 70% results in slow and ineffective rolls.

Tool Belt and Pouch: Use your tool belt for consumables and reusable items, accessed quickly via the directional pad. The pouch, accessed by holding Triangle or Y, offers additional quick item slots.

Upgrading and Customizing Weapons

Upgrading your weapons is key to increasing your damage output. Weapons are either normal or special:

· Normal Armaments: Upgraded using Smithing Stones to a maximum of +25 and can be customized with different Ashes of War.

· Special Armaments: Upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones to a maximum of +10 and cannot be customized.

Choose your main weapon wisely and focus on upgrading it to ensure maximum damage output. Don’t scatter your upgrade materials across multiple weapons unless you’re certain you’ll use them.

Two-Handed and Dual Wielding

Wielding a weapon two-handed increases its damage by 1.5 times and grants a temporary strength bonus. You can switch to a two-handed stance by holding Triangle/Y and tapping L1/LB or R1/RB.

Dual wielding allows for unique attack animations using both weapons. Check weapon descriptions to see which are best for dual wielding.

Affinities and Ashes of War

Affinities determine the elemental properties and scaling values of your weapons. Here are some common affinities:

· Heavy: Enhances strength scaling.

· Keen: Enhances dexterity scaling.

· Magic: Adds intelligence scaling and magic damage.

· Fire: Splits damage between physical and fire.

· Sacred: Adds faith scaling and holy damage.

· Lightning: Adds lightning damage.

· Poison: Enhances strength, dexterity, and arcane scaling while adding poison buildup.

· Blood: Adds arcane scaling and bleed buildup.

Ashes of War allow you to change a weapon's skill and affinity. They are equipped at Sites of Grace or a blacksmith’s forge. Each Ash of War grants a specific weapon art and an affinity to the weapon.

Spirit Ashes

Spirit Ashes summon NPC companions to aid you in battle. These companions can distract enemies, giving you breathing room. Obtain the Spirit Calling Bell from a witch named Renna early in the game to use these. Upgrading Spirit Ashes enhances their effectiveness, which can be done by completing an NPC questline involving Roderika.

Ranged Combat

Ranged weapons like bows and crossbows require ammunition and can be used to inflict status effects or bait enemies. Each type of ammo has specific slots in your equipment tab. Utilize different types of ammunition to exploit enemy weaknesses.

General Combat Tips

1. Manage Stamina: Always leave some stamina for emergency rolls or blocks. Avoid depleting it completely.

2. Positioning: Stay close to large enemies to avoid their wide area attacks. Learn enemy patterns to exploit openings.

3. Super Armor: Enemies, like you, have super armor. Continuous attacks can stagger them, opening them up to critical hits. Maintain pressure to deplete their super armor.

4. Lock-On: Use lock-on for precise targeting, but disengage when dealing with area attacks to keep an eye on surroundings.

5. Patience: Don’t rush into attacks. Learn enemy patterns and strike when safe.

Conclusion

Combat in Elden Ring is deep and multifaceted, requiring patience, strategy, and adaptability. Understanding the mechanics and making the most of your tools and abilities will greatly enhance your experience and success in the game. Keep trying, be patient, and remember - every death is a step towards mastery. In order to save your time and avoid wasting too much effort to experience new content, you can buy Elden Ring Items on MMoexp with competitive prices, instant delivery, professional services and security guarantee. Happy adventure!