An Elden Ring beginner’s guide to help you die less.

Elden RingThe advantage. Our beginner’s guide will even the odds.

In any FromSoftware game, the challenge is a huge part of the fun, and we won’t take that away from you. We’re just here to teach you the language of Elden Ring — and the faster you become fluent in the way that this game whispers its secrets to you, the better you’ll be. We’ll help you understand classes, leveling up and tie-breaking between stats, exploring the open world, stealth, and more.

Play with the class you are in.

Elden RingIt divides characters into classes with pre-poured points into different attributes. These stats are matched with the gear that you start with.

Here’s how that works out, practically speaking, which can also see in the gallery above:

• There are classes that love magic like the Magic School of Chicago. Astrologer PrisonerIntelligence has a large number of points, making sense as you can use a lot to make blue magic to your enemies.
• It Hero has low Intelligence, but that’s OK because it has more Strength than anything else, which is what you’d want if you’re planning on swinging around heavy weapons while wearing thick armor.
• WarriorMany of these are available. DexterityThis is a great weapon for swinging light, but still powerful weapons.
• HeroMany For strengthYou can use this to swing heavy and bulky guns or wear heavy armor.

Two basic methods can be used to play games like Elden Ring. Well, actually, three:

1. Up close and personal
2. At a distance
3. One combination of these two

We’re big fans of the third option, and that’s why we chose the weirdo hybrid Prisoner class, which holds a sword in its right hand and a catalyst in its left. It was the best of both. Sometimes, we could even attack far away. Sometimes, we might be stabbed. We don’t regret a thing.

Follow the light, but also don’t

We are aware. Super helpful, right? But it’ll make sense. We promise.

Elden Ring, pretty much like in any open-world game, there’s a balance between your desire to explore the vast world and follow the critical path and do the required things. If you’re anything like us, there’s also an attendant anxiety as you wonder at every possible moment if you’re in the right place doing the right thing.

Our solution: Follow grace’s lighted path, until that doesn’t make sense — until, say, you run into a particularly difficult section and you’re frustrated. Consider this: Elden Ring is telling you that you’re not quite ready. You might also see something interesting in the distance. That’s just as valid. You can wander off and assume that your return to the path will be easier if you do so.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Elden Ring Within an hour, Grace teaches this lesson. Grace directs you through Gatefont Ruins to Stormgate. But if you veer off that critical path, you’ll find the Agheel Lake North site of grace, where you’ll get a horse.

Image via Polygon: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

Let’s relax, we said to ourselves. Your own equilibrium. Follow the rules. Listen to the little lights that lead you in the right direction, and follow the guidance of grace. If the things that happen in that general direction are crushing you, interpret that as an indication that you’re not supposed to be here. Explore.

Exploration is never a bad thing. And it’s often a good idea, because you may (and often will) stumble upon items and people who will help you when you return to that brick wall you were recently beating your head against.

Learn more

We know that we just talked about this above, but it’s worth a section of its own. The most dangerous portion of early game exploration is Elden Ring. There are many dangers. You can die. But most aren’t terribly dangerous dangers. Why, it’s as if the developers at FromSoftware created an open world and wanted you to feel relatively safe to explore it!

The other advantage of exploration is that you’ll find hidden things around the world. West Limgrave offers items and caves as well as catacombs. There’s also enemy camps, character and other quests. Select a direction and get exploring. You will find something fascinating everywhere.

For assistance, call

Elden Ring Friends make it easier, although not always easy. You could invite friends to play in a multiplayer session. These friends could serve as single-serving buddies that you invite to join a multiplayer session. Those could be NPCs who you … invite to something intended to look like a multiplayer session. These could be spirit-like beings that you can conjure up in specific areas.

Image via Polygon: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

You’ll get a Spirit Calling Bell Lone Wolf Ashes early in your game, and every time you see a ghostly gravestone icon on the left of your screen, you can summon the spectral wolves for help, for the cost of some FP, which stands for Force Points — that’s the blue bar in the upper left corner of your screen. This is an excellent way to begin calling for assistance early on in the game.

To borrow a phrase from another franchise: It’s dangerous to go alone. FromSoftware created systems that facilitate collaboration. There’s no prize for doing it all yourself. You won’t get a medal for making an already notoriously difficult game even more difficult. Ask for help — at the very least, you’ll distract enemies so that they fight others instead of you.

Strategy for leveling up

It was easy to choose a course. You’re in the world. You’re defeating enemies. You’re earning runes. You want to level up, but it’s intimidating.

When in doubt, play to your class’ strengths. You can use magic by adding Intelligence points.

Next, consider anything that’s annoying you. If you’re swinging your weapon, but you find yourself running out of stamina, pour some points into Endurance. Vigor will increase your HP and help you avoid dying too often.

Finally, take a look at what you have to do with your guns, especially the pistols. Scaling Attribute section.

Image via Polygon: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

Take the dagger, which is a lowly weapon. If that’s your weapon of course, the Attribute Scaling section of the item’s description tells you that it scales to Str.English and Dexterity — and more to the latter than the former. Your weapon will be more powerful if you pump a Dexterity point.

Play the rhythm game Elden Ring.

We’ve been preaching this message for years: FromSoftware games are notoriously difficult, but they’re also fair. That’s why we fell in love with them so long ago. Fairness is a must for any game with Prepare to Die. Otherwise, it’s just senseless punishment.

Remember this: Nearly everything you do to enemies is the same as what you do to them. Thing is, you’re human. They’re not. You can figure out what they’re going to do most of the time, because there’s so much repetition in Elden Ring. You should pay attention to what they do and how you attack or defend them.

In fact, we’ve long thought of Soulslike games as rhythm games. At any given moment, you’re watching what’s happening now, thinking about what just happened, finding patterns, and anticipating what’s coming next. That’s as good at describing Guitar Hero and Rock Band as it is at describing Elden Ring.

Enemies in Elden RingBefore attacking, telegraph your attacker’s movements. Learn the patterns, and you’ll earn success. Don’t mash buttons. Don’t panic. Watch what’s happening, and you’ll be shocked to find how long a boss raises his hand over his head before attacking — which is long enough for you to roll out of the way.

They can tell you. You’re essentially dancing with them. You can let them do the first step and then plan your responses.

It can be frustrating at times. Yup. Elden Ring It is not possible to be perfect, but it’s almost close. While you might have to face a boss more than once, every fight is still a learning experience. And if you’re paying attention and learning the dance moves, (almost) every attempt will be a little better than the last.

Always fight only one enemy at any given time

You can lose your day even if you have the most weakest rats. Divide and conquer. Use ranged attack to defeat single enemies. Kill the dude who’s going to blow the horn and alert the media that you’re here. Crouch down, get up, and backstab.

Fighting groups is bad. Do not do it.

Sneak!

Stealth can be a very real thing Elden Ring. FromSoftware has it in the game. It can be used to your advantage.

You can look for enemies if there is a stretch of road that you are on. Is that the grassy spot to the left? There are some grassy patches to the left. You can tiptoe there and hide from your enemies. This could allow you to pull off amazing backstabs. Stealth is a great skill. Not so great is attracting the univided attention from several enemies.