Welcome, brave adventurers, to the enchanting yet treacherous world of Elden Ring! As you prepare to embark on your grand journey through this fantastical realm, we have crafted a comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to help you navigate the depths of its vast, interconnected landscapes and unravel its many mysteries. Whether you’re a seasoned Soulsborne veteran or a newcomer to the genre, Elden Ring offers a unique blend of gameplay elements, lore, and challenges that will captivate and test your mettle at every turn.
Our Elden Ring Beginner’s Guide aims to provide invaluable insights and advice to ease your transition into this breathtaking yet unforgiving world. So don your armor, sharpen your blades, and ready your magic, for it’s time to heed the call of adventure and delve into the secrets within the Elden Ring. Let the journey begin!
Starting Your Journey in Elden Ring
The first thing you need to do is create your character in Elden Ring. Here are some key aspects to consider:
Choose Your Starting Class
There are several starting classes in Elden Ring, each with unique stats, weapons, and abilities. Your choice of character class will affect your early gameplay experience, but remember that you can always change your build later on. Here are a few popular starting classes:
- Warrior: A melee-focused class with high health and strength. Ideal for players who prefer close-quarters combat.
- Prophet: A balanced class with a mix of melee and magic abilities. Suitable for players who want versatility in their play style.
- Enchanter: A magic-oriented class with high intelligence, perfect for players who want to rely on spells and ranged attacks.
- Astrologer: Wielding the power of arcane magic, the Astrologer class excels at ranged combat, allowing players to keep their distance and devastate enemies with powerful spells.
- Vagabond: Focusing on speed, evasion, and stealth, the Vagabond class is perfect for players who enjoy outmaneuvering their enemies.
Customize Your Character
Spend time customizing your character’s appearance to make them truly unique. From facial features to hair color, the options are nearly endless.
Understanding the Basics mechanics
Once you’ve created your character, it’s time to familiarize yourself with Elden Ring’s basic mechanics:
Combat System
Elden Ring’s combat is fast-paced and requires precise timing. Master the following techniques to improve your chances of survival:
- Light and Heavy Attacks: Utilize both types of attacks to create devastating combos.
- Dodging and Blocking: Learn to dodge enemy attacks and block using your shield.
- Parrying and Riposting: Time your parries perfectly to counterattack and deal massive damage.
Exploration and Leveling Up
Exploration is key in Elden Ring, as it helps you find new areas, items, and secrets. Be sure to explore thoroughly and engage with NPCs for valuable information. As you progress, you’ll gain souls from defeated enemies, which you can use to level up your character and improve their stats.
Navigating the Open World
Introduction to the interconnected world
Elden Ring features a vast, interconnected world that rewards players who explore and discover its secrets. The game’s world is a beautiful and immersive landscape that blends intricate level design, diverse environments, and hidden paths to create a sense of depth and wonder. As players progress through the game, they will unlock new areas and uncover hidden secrets. Each contributes to the overall lore and mythology of the game’s world.
Key Locations in Elden Ring
Navigating the open world of Elden Ring requires an understanding of its key locations and points of interest. The game features a range of diverse environments, each with its unique challenges and rewards. Some notable locations include:
- Volcano Manor: This location is a massive fortress built into the side of a volcano. It is home to powerful enemies and hidden secrets, including a forge where players can upgrade their weapons and armor.
- Liurnia of the Lakes: Liurnia of the Lakes is a beautiful and tranquil region that features a series of interconnected lakes and waterfalls. However, players must beware of the dangerous creatures that lurk beneath the water’s surface.
- Miquella’s Haligtree: Miquella’s Haligtree is a mystical and ancient forest filled with strange creatures and powerful magic. Players must navigate its winding paths and uncover its hidden secrets to progress through the game.
- Leyndell, Royal Capital: Leyndell is the bustling capital city of Elden Ring, home to the game’s main quest line and numerous shops and vendors. It’s a hub for players to upgrade their gear and gather information about the game’s lore and history.
- Crumbling Farum Azula: This location is a massive tower that is slowly collapsing into the ocean. It is home to powerful enemies and valuable loot, including a set of armor that is essential for completing a specific quest line.
- Stormveil Castle: Stormveil Castle is a foreboding fortress perched atop a mountain peak. It is home to some of the game’s toughest enemies and features intricate level design and hidden secrets for players to discover.
Combat Fundamentals
Basic mechanics and controls
Elden Ring’s combat system is built on a foundation of fundamental mechanics and controls. It’s essential to master these basics to become a competent fighter in the game. These fundamental mechanics include:
- Attacks: There are two types of attacks: light and heavy. Light attacks are quick, while heavy attacks are slower but deal more damage.
- Blocking: Blocking is a critical mechanic in Elden Ring. Players can use their shield to block incoming attacks and reduce damage. However, blocking too much can deplete the player’s stamina.
- Stamina: Stamina is a vital resource that governs the player’s actions in combat. Every attack, block, and dodge depletes the player’s stamina. Running out of stamina can leave the player vulnerable to attacks.
- Rolling: Rolling is a crucial mechanic in Elden Ring that allows players to dodge incoming attacks. Players can roll in any direction by pressing the dodge button and a directional button.
Weapon Classes in Elden Ring
Weapon classes represent groupings of weapon types that you can find in wield across the Lands Between.
The following list of weapon classes and types was sourced from Tech Radar.
Weapon Class: Light
- Claws
- Daggers
- Fists
Weapon Class: Standard
- Axes
- Curved Swords
- Flails
- Hammers
- Katanas
- Reapers
- Straight Swords
- Thrusting Swords
- Torches
Weapon Class: Midrange
- Spears
- Halberds
- Whips
Weapon Class: Two-Handed
- Colossal Swords
- Colossal Weapons
- Curved Greatswords
- Greataxes
- Great Spears
- Greatswords
- Heavy Thrusting Swords
- Twinblades
- Warhammers
Weapon Class: Ranged
- Ballistas
- Bows
- Crossbows
- Greatbows
- Light Bowslist
Weapon Class: Magical Catalysts
- Glintstone Staffs
- Sacred Seals
Unique Weapons in Elden Ring
Like with many RPGs, Elden Ring has some unique weapons that can be found as a reward for defeating certain enemies, or finding them during exploration. Some unique weapons in Elden Ring include:
- Devourer’s Scepter: A powerful scepter that deals significant damage to enemies.
- Grafted Blade Greatsword: A heavy greatsword with a unique design.
- Sword of Night and Flame: A legendary sword with fire and dark elemental damage.
- Ruins Greatsword: A greatsword with a unique design and elemental damage.
- Marais Executioner’s Sword: A massive greatsword with high damage and stun potential.
- Dark Moon Greatsword: A greatsword with moon-based elemental damage.
- Bolt of Gransax: A spear with lightning-based elemental damage.
- Eclipse Shotel: A curved sword with dark elemental damage.
- Golden Order Greatsword: A greatsword with a unique design and high damage.
Weapons in Elden Ring also have different attributes, including physical damage, elemental damage, and critical hit rate. Players should consider these attributes when selecting weapons for their character.
Ashes of War
What are Ashes of War
If you are a fan of Elden Ring, you might be wondering what are ashes of war and how they can enhance your gameplay experience. Ashes of war are special items that allow you to grant your armaments (weapons, shields, armor, etc.) unique effects and abilities. You can find ashes of war by exploring the vast open world of Elden Ring, defeating powerful enemies and bosses, or completing quests and events.
Ashes of war come in different types and rarities, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Some ashes of war can increase your damage output, while others can improve your defense or mobility. Some ashes of war can also grant you special skills or attacks that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. However, using ashes of war also comes with a cost: you will consume more stamina when using an armament with ashes of war applied, and you will also lose some of your maximum health.
How to Use the Ashes of War
To use ashes of war, you need to visit a blacksmith at a site of grace (a safe haven where you can rest and replenish your resources). There, you can choose which armament you want to enhance with ashes of war, and which type of ashes of war you want to use. You can also remove or replace ashes of war from your armaments at any time, but you will lose the ashes of war that you remove.
Ashes of war are a great way to customize your playstyle and experiment with different combinations of effects and abilities. They can also help you overcome some of the toughest challenges that Elden Ring has to offer. However, you should also be careful not to rely too much on them, as they can also make you more vulnerable and drain your resources faster. Ashes of war are a double-edged sword that require skill and strategy to use effectively.
Some Ashes of War You May Encounter
Some of the Ashes of War you may encounter include:
- Ash of the Fallen King: This ash belongs to a king who was betrayed by his own subjects and killed in a bloody coup. It grants your armaments the power to inflict additional damage to enemies who are low on health.
- Ash of the Crimson Eye: This ash belongs to a warrior who lost his eye in a fierce battle against a dragon. It grants your armaments the ability to deal fire damage and ignite enemies with critical hits.
- Ash of the Silent Moon: This ash belongs to a priestess who worshipped the moon and was silenced by the forces of darkness. It grants your armaments the blessing of the moon, which increases your magic power and reduces your stamina consumption.
- Ash of the Stormbringer: This ash belongs to a mage who mastered the art of lightning and was struck down by his own creation. It grants your armaments the fury of the storm, which allows you to unleash powerful lightning attacks and stun enemies with electricity.
- Ash of the Pale Horse: This ash belongs to a knight who rode a white horse and was feared by his enemies as a harbinger of death. It grants your armaments the speed of the horse, which boosts your movement speed and evasion ability.
Tips for Effective Use of the Ashes of War
Now that you’ve acquired the Ashes of War, it’s time to make the most of this powerful enhancement. Here are some tips to help you maximize its potential:
Experiment with Different Ashes of War
Don’t be afraid to try out different Ashes of War to find the one that best complements your playstyle. Each Ash of War offers unique abilities, so experimenting with them can lead to new and powerful strategies.
Upgrade Your Weapon
Enhancing your weapon with an ash of war is only the beginning. As you progress through the game, you’ll find materials to upgrade your weapon further, increasing its damage output and overall effectiveness. Keep an eye out for these materials and invest in upgrading your weapon to make the most of the Ashes of War.
Manage Your FP (Focus Points)
The abilities granted by the ashes of war consume FP, so it’s essential to manage your Focus Points effectively. Keep an eye on your FP bar and use consumables like the Sacred Flask to replenish it as needed.
Synergize with Other Abilities and Equipment
Some ash of war abilities synergize well with other spells or equipment in the game. Look for opportunities to combine these elements for even more potent strategies.
Conclusion
Elden Ring is a vast and challenging game that rewards exploration, experimentation, and skillful play. By following this beginner’s guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the game’s open world, engage in thrilling combat, and harness the power of the Ashes of War. Embrace the challenge, immerse yourself in the rich lore, and forge your own path through the Lands Between.