Welcome, No-Shiner! You have just set foot in the Underdark, a vast and unforgiving world created by FromSoftware. Elden Ring, this acclaimed masterpiece, is renowned for its legendary difficulty and unparalleled freedom. Faced with so many possibilities and dangers, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, this Elden Ring Beginner’s Guide is here to guide you. We’ll provide you with all the essential Elden Ring Beginner’s Tips you need to survive and thrive. Prepare to uncover the secrets of the Underdark, from creating your character to mastering the most challenging combat, and make your first steps a rewarding experience.
First Steps in the Underdark
Your very first decisions in Elden Ring are crucial.
Choose your starting class wisely, as it will influence your initial playstyle. Classes like the Vagabond or the Samurai excel in melee combat, offering good defense and reliable damage. If you prefer magic, the Astrologer or the Prophet are excellent choices, though more fragile. For the Defiled, it’s a real challenge, as they start naked and without any equipment.
Next, select your starting Keepsake. The Golden Seed is often recommended for beginners, as it grants you an extra healing potion right from the start, a valuable asset for survival. Once in the game, don’t neglect the tutorial area, the Cave of Knowledge. It teaches you the basics of combat and exploration. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the controls, especially the Guard Counter, a powerful offensive-defensive technique. Finally, listen carefully to Varre’s advice; he will guide you to freedom in the Underdark.
Mastering Combat and Exploration
Combat in Elden Ring is demanding, but also very rewarding. Learn your enemies’ attack patterns rather than rushing in blindly. Here are some fundamental tips:
- Stamina: Manage your stamina bar. Every action (attack, dodge, run, block) consumes it. Never run out at the wrong time.
- Roll: It’s your best friend. Dodge through enemy attacks to take advantage of invincibility frames. The Guard Counter: Block an enemy attack with your shield, then immediately press the heavy attack button. This breaks the posture of many enemies, leaving them vulnerable to a critical hit. Jumps and Jump Attacks: Use jumps to avoid certain ground attacks and jump attacks to deal significant posture damage. Exploration is just as vital. Elden Ring’s open world is full of secrets. Use your mount, Torrent, to quickly traverse large distances. Look out for Sites of Grace; they replenish your phials, reset enemies (except bosses), and allow you to teleport. Collect map fragments to reveal unexplored areas and mark points of interest you wish to revisit later. Character Development and Equipment Developing your character is essential for progression. Earn runes by defeating enemies and use them to level up at the Sites of Grace. Focus first on the Vigor attribute to increase your health, as this gives you a greater margin for error. Then, invest in the attributes that suit your playstyle:
- Strength: For heavy weapons and wearing heavy armor.
- Dexterity: For faster weapons and certain spells.
- Intelligence: For sorcery.
- Faith: For incantations.
- Arcana: Influences the discovery of items and certain unique spells/weapons.
