Elden Ring for Dummies: A Beginner's Guide to Surviving the Lands Between

A little while ago, I published a beginner's tips guide to Elden Ring, sharing some handy bits and pieces of info I discovered while exploring the world. However, I realized that for some players, these tips weren't beginner enough. As someone who knows games fairly well, a lot of things in Elden Ring seem obvious to me, but for first-timers, even the basics can be confusing. So, let's strip it back to the very beginning for anyone who might still be struggling. This is Elden Ring for Dummies, a guide for those who need a bit of a helping hand from someone in the know, explaining the things that Elden Ring maybe didn't.

1. The Tutorial Cave

When you first spawn in the dark cave area, your eye might be drawn to the golden tree and the door behind it. But instead, you should go into the tutorial Cave of Knowledge first. The tutorial covers the basics of combat, such as heavy and light attacks, blocking, backstabbing, using magic, and more. It’s a great start for understanding the game's combat systems.

2. Understanding Your Attributes

Your character's attributes can be viewed at any time in the equipment, item crafting, inventory, and status section of the main menu. Killing enemies awards you with runes, which you can spend leveling up attribute points at Sites of Grace. Here’s a breakdown of what each attribute does:

Vigor: Increases overall HP, allowing you to survive more attacks.

Mind: Increases your blue FP (magic) bar for casting more spells or using special abilities.

Endurance: Increases stamina bar and equip load, letting you sprint, roll, block, and attack longer, and carry heavier gear.

Strength: Damage modifier and requirement for strength-based weapons.

Dexterity: Primary damage modifier for dexterity-based weapons and secondary for most other weapons; slightly increases spell casting speed.

Intelligence: Damage modifier and requirement for sorceries and certain incantations.

Faith: Damage modifier and requirement for most incantations and certain sorceries.

Arcane: Damage modifier and requirement for certain sorceries and incantations; determines item discovery rate.

3. Choosing Your Class and Weapon

Different classes come with different weapons that scale with specific stats. Check the item descriptions for attribute scaling and requirements. Strength and Dexterity are common requirements for weapons, while Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane are for spells. Upgrading weapons requires runes and resources. Ensure you meet the minimum stat requirements for effective use, as lacking them results in ineffective combat performance.

4. Upgrading and Managing Your Gear

Upgrading weapons and gear is crucial for progressing through Elden Ring. Focus on upgrading Vigor and Endurance for survivability alongside your primary damage stats. Effective stamina management is vital; depleting it can leave you vulnerable in combat. Equip heavier items like Elden Ring Runes cautiously, as higher equip loads slow your movement and rolling speed.

5. Magic and Spells

Magic is performed by expending FP and is divided into Intelligence-based sorceries and Faith-based incantations. Sorceries are usually offensive, while incantations often provide defensive or supportive effects. Expand your memory slots with memory stones to equip more spells. Different staves and seals offer various boosts for specific spell types, so choose accordingly.

6. Exploring the Map

Your map starts mostly grayed out. You’ll find map fragments that reveal regions, usually located along roads or in accessible spots but often guarded. Prioritize collecting these fragments to aid your exploration.

7. Using Torrent

After meeting Melina and receiving the Spectral Steed Whistle, you can summon Torrent, your trusty steed, for faster travel. Go to the Church of Elleh to obtain the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna, enabling you to summon spirit ashes in battle. Summons cost FP and are limited to one per turn.

8. Managing Your HUD and Quick Slots

Consider setting your HUD to always display for easier management. Place essential items like your Flask of Crimson Tears in the first quick slot for quick access. Flasks are crucial for survival, with Crimson Flasks restoring health and Cerulean Flasks restoring FP. Increase flask charges and potency by using Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears at Sites of Grace.

9. Crafting Items

Craft items using materials found throughout the world by purchasing a crafting kit from Merchant Kalei at the Church of Elleh. Gather cookbooks to unlock more recipes for useful consumables.

10. Online Functionality

Elden Ring features online co-op and invasion systems. Use summoning pools and Furlcalling Finger Remedies to summon other players. Be wary of invasions by hostile players. Bloodstains and messages left by others can offer valuable hints or warnings.

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