Core Gameplay

Core Gameplay Guide for Elden Ring

Elden Ring’s core gameplay is a seamless blend of open-world exploration, methodical combat, deep character customization, and cryptic storytelling. The central loop is: Explore the Lands Between → Defeat enemies and bosses → Gain Runes (XP/currency) → Level up or upgrade gear → Conquer new areas → Face legacy dungeons and Shardbearers → Eventually reach the Elden Throne. This guide breaks down every major system across four progression tiers: Early Game (Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula), Mid Game (Liurnia & Caelid), Late Game (Altus Plateau, Mountaintops, etc.), and Endgame (post-Maliketh, Ashen Capital, optional superbosses).

Combat & Interaction Systems

Basic Controls (All Platforms)

• Attack: R1/RB (light), R2/RT (heavy).


• Block: L1/LB (with shield or two-handed weapon).


• Dodge Roll: Circle/B (tap to roll, hold to sprint).


• Jump: Square/X (opens up vertical combat, jump attacks).


• Interact: Triangle/Y (to open doors, pick up items, talk to NPCs).


• Use Flask: D-pad down (to heal with Crimson Tears or restore FP with Cerulean Tears).


• Spell/Ash of War: L2/LT (if equipped in left or right hand with appropriate catalyst/weapon).


Core Mechanics

• Stamina Management: Almost every action (attacking, blocking, sprinting, dodging) consumes stamina. Letting it hit zero leaves you vulnerable. Learn to pace actions.


• Poise: Determines your resistance to being staggered. Heavy armor and certain talismans increase poise. Large weapons also grant hyper armor during attacks.


• Guard Counter: Block an enemy attack, then immediately press heavy attack (R2/RT) to perform a powerful riposte that breaks stance. Great against humanoid foes.


• Critical Hits: When you break an enemy’s stance (via repeated attacks, jump attacks, or guard counters) or backstab them, you can perform a devastating critical hit (press R1/RB in front of them).


• Ash of War & Weapon Skills: Each weapon has a unique skill (e.g., Bloodhound’s Step, Lion’s Claw). You can swap them at Sites of Grace using Whetblades and different affinities (e.g., Keen, Heavy, Magic).


• Spirit Ashes: Summonable allies from items like the Lone Wolf Ashes. Use them during boss fights (summoning icon appears on left side of screen). Requires FP to summon. Upgrade at Roderika.


• Torrent: Your spectral steed. Summon with the Spectral Steed Whistle (in inventory). Can double-jump, dash, and heal with your own flasks. Use for exploration and certain boss fights (e.g., Flying Dragon Agheel).


Multiplayer Interactions

• Co-op: Use Furlcalling Finger Remedy (crafted from Erdleaf Flowers) to see summon signs. Summon other players (or NPCs) to help with bosses/areas.


• Invasions: Use Recusant Finger or Bloody Finger to invade other players’ worlds. Hosts can use Taunter’s Tongue to attract invaders.


• Duels: Use Duelist’s Furled Finger to place a red sign for honorable 1v1 fights.




Progression & Character/Build Growth




• Runes: Currency and XP. Defeat enemies, use consumable Runes (e.g., Gold Runes found in the world), or sell items to obtain them. Spend at Sites of Grace to level up.


• Leveling Attributes: Each level costs a certain amount of Runes. The primary attributes: Vigor (HP), Mind (FP), Endurance (Stamina & Equip Load), Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane. Softcaps exist (e.g., Vigor up to 40 is useful, then falls off after 60).


• Weapon Upgrades: Use Smithing Stones (up to +25 regular) or Somber Smithing Stones (up to +10 unique weapons) at a blacksmith (e.g., the Roundtable Hold blacksmith). Scaling improves with upgrades and attribute increases.


• Incantations & Sorceries: Purchase or find from teachers (e.g., Sorceress Sellen, Brother Corhyn) and equip in Memory Slots (obtained from using Memory Stones or exploring). Cast using a Sacred Seal (Faith) or Glintstone Staff (Intelligence).


• Talismans: Equip up to 4 (more with Talisman Pouches found from bosses). Boost various stats or abilities (e.g., Radagon’s Soreseal raises stats but increases damage taken).


• Wondrous Physick: A customizable flask that can be mixed with different Crystal Tears (found from Minor Erdtrees or Evergaols) for a temporary boost (e.g., +15% damage, infinite FP for 15 seconds).


• Respec: After defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon (Mid Game), you can rebirth using a Larval Tear (limited per playthrough). Allows reallocation of all levels except starting class base stats.




Exploration



The world is dense with secrets:

• Sites of Grace: Checkpoints that restore HP/FP/Flask charges but respawn enemies. Find them via golden light trails (Guidance of Grace).


• Map Fragments: Pick up from obelisk-like stones to reveal map areas.


• Dungeons: Catacombs, caves, mines, and tunnels often contain valuable upgrade materials, unique weapons, or boss fights.


• Evergaols: Small arenas with an imprisoned boss (e.g., Crucible Knight). Rewards usually are talismans or spells.


• Legacy Dungeons: Large, interconnected areas with multiple paths, shortcuts, mini-bosses, and a major boss (Shardbearer). Examples: Stormveil Castle, Raya Lucaria Academy, Leyndell, Royal Capital.


• Hidden Areas: Jumping puzzles, illusionary walls (roll or attack them), invisible walkways (use rainbow stones to test). The Haligtree and Mohgwyn Palace are entirely optional endgame zones.


• NPC Encounter Tracking: Note the locations of merchants, quest givers, and named enemies. Many quests span multiple regions and have multiple outcomes.




Quests & Missions



Elden Ring does not have a traditional quest log. Instead, NPCs provide cryptic dialogue, and their quests progress based on specific triggers (e.g., exhausting dialogue, killing a certain boss, using a particular item). Important NPCs include:

• Vargram the Raging Wolf (optional endgame invasion).


• Ranni the Witch – her questline unlocks the Age of Stars ending and leads to the Moonlight Greatsword.


• Millicent – questline tied to the Malenia boss fight and the Unalloyed Gold Needle.


• Alexander the Iron Fist – warrior jar found in several locations, rewards the Warrior Jar Shard talisman.


• Patches – tricksy NPC who surrenders and offers a quest.


Key Tips:

• Exhaust all dialogue.


• Return to NPCs after major boss kills or after obtaining certain items.


• Some NPCs invade you at fixed spots – defeat them to advance their story or get equipment.


• Use a guide for NPC questlines if you want all endings and secret loot.




Economy & Resources




• Runes – Primary currency. Earned from kills, selling items (e.g., golden runes, unwanted gear). Use for leveling and buying consumables/gear.


• Smithing Stones – Upgrade weapons. Found in mines (tunnel dungeons) and sold by merchants (e.g., Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold after giving them Bell Bearings).


• Glovewort – Upgrade Spirit Ashes. Found in catacombs and sold with specific Bell Bearings.


• Sacred Tears & Golden Seeds – Upgrade your Flask of Wondrous Physick (Sacred Tears increase healing amount; Golden Seeds increase number of charges). Found in churches (Sacred Tears) and near Erdtree saplings (Golden Seeds).


• Crafting Materials – Gather flora and animal parts to craft arrows, boluses, throwing knives, etc. Crafting kits are available from the merchant in the Church of Elleh (Starting Area) or at Roundtable Hold.


• Bell Bearings – Give to Twin Maiden Husks to unlock infinite purchase of certain items (e.g., Smithing Stone Bell Bearing [1] unlocks infinite Smithing Stone [1] and [2]).


• Merchant Locations – Isolated merchants (marked on map after discovering) sell unique items; some move locations (e.g., the merchant in Liurnia’s lakes).




Endgame Structure



After defeating the fourth Shardbearer (Godrick, Rennala, Radahn, Rykard or Mohg?), the path to the Mountaintops of the Giants opens. The endgame sequence:
1. Forge of the Giants – Defeat Fire Giant to burn the Erdtree.
2. Crumbling Farum Azula – After burning the Erdtree, teleport to this floating area. Defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade to unlock the ability to turn Runes into Remembrance weapons (at Roundtable Hold).
3. Leyndell, Ashen Capital – Leyndell is transformed after Maliketh’s death. New enemies and a final area before the last boss.
4. Elden Beast – Final boss sequence: first fight Godfrey/Hoarah Loux, then Radagon/Elden Beast. Defeating them triggers an ending based on your choices (e.g., Age of Fracture, Age of Stars, Lord of Frenzied Flame).

Optional Endgame Content:

• Mohg, Lord of Blood – Found in Mohgwyn Palace. Requires a special teleport (Pureblood Knight’s Medal from Varre’s quest) or navigating the hidden path in the Consecrated Snowfield.


• Malenia, Blade of Miquella – She resides in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree (accessible from the Consecrated Snowfield). One of the hardest bosses in the game.


• Placidusax – Hidden boss in Crumbling Farum Azula. Reached by lying down in a specific arena behind a secret path.


• Boss Remembrances – Each major boss drops a Remembrance that can be duplicated at a Walking Mausoleum (only one per mausoleum) and then turned into a unique weapon, spell, or incantation at Roundtable Hold.


New Game Plus (NG+) – After completing the game, you can start NG+ at the Roundtable Hold, keeping all levels, armor, weapons, and most items (except key items like Great Runes). Enemy health and damage scale up significantly. NG+ cycles continue indefinitely.



Progression Tier Breakdown



#### Early Game (Levels 1–40, Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula)

• Goal: Survive, learn combat basics, gather early upgrades, defeat first Shardbearer (Godrick).


• Vigor: Prioritize to 20–25. Endurance to 15–18 for better stamina/equip load. Pick one damage stat (Strength or Dexterity) to 20–25.


• Weapons: Starting weapon +3 to +6. Find a Smithing Stone Bell Bearing [1] in Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel (Caelid) to buy infinite +1/+2 stones from Twin Maiden Husks.


• Key Items: Flask of Wondrous Physick (from Third Church of Marika in Limgrave), Spirit Calling Bell (from Renna at Church of Elleh at night), Torrent whistle.


• Bosses: Tree Sentinel (optional), Margit, the Fell Omen (gatekeeper to Stormveil), Godrick the Grafted (first Great Rune). Between them, explore all caves, catacombs, and ruin sites.


• Economy: Save Runes for leveling. Buy a crafting kit from Merchant Kalé. Farm golden runes from trolls near Gatefront Ruins or beast men in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins.


#### Mid Game (Levels 40–80, Liurnia of the Lakes, Caelid, Siofra River)

• Goal: Gain access to more upgrade materials, defeat Rennala and Radahn, open path to Altus Plateau.


• Attributes: Vigor to 30–35. Increase primary damage stat to 30–40. If casting, invest in Mind to 20–25.


• Weapons: +10 to +15 regular, +4 to +6 somber. Find Bell Bearings for higher tier stones (e.g., for +3/+4 from Sealed Tunnel in Altus Plateau accessible via a route from Liurnia? Or deeper Caelid mines).


• Exploration: Complete Caria Manor for the Royal Greatsword and access to Ranni’s quest. Explore Siofra River (underground zone) for powerful talismans and upgrade materials. Defeat Radahn in Redmane Castle to unlock Nokron, Eternal City (a major underground area).


• Bosses: Rennala (Raya Lucaria), Radahn (Caelid), optional: Ancestor Spirit, Regal Ancestor Spirit, Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella, Crucible Knight Ordovis.


• Economy: Sell duplicate weapons or gear (unwanted). Use Rune farming spots like the Palace Approach Ledge-Road (Mohgwyn Palace) – but that’s technically late/endgame. Mid-game farming at Bestial Sanctum (Caelid) for low-level beastmen.


#### Late Game (Levels 80–120, Altus Plateau, Leyndell, Mountaintops of the Giants)

• Goal: Defeat two Shardbearers (Morgott, Rykard optional, Fire Giant), access Crumbling Farum Azula.


• Attributes: Vigor to 40–50. Damage stat to 50–60. Endurance to 25–30 for armor/weapon stamina.


• Weapons: +20 to +24 regular, +8 to +9 somber. Collect final Somber Smithing Stone [10] (e.g., in Crumbling Farum Azula or from a hidden chest in Leyndell Sewers).


• Exploration: Leyndell, Royal Capital – massive legacy dungeon with many secrets (including the Frenzied Flame Proscription). Mountaintops has a hidden boss (Borealis the Freezing Fog) and the Haligtree Medallion halves. Explore Consecrated Snowfield (access via both halves) to reach optional areas.


• Bosses: Morgott, the Omen King (Leyndell), Fire Giant (Mountaintops), optional: Mohg, Lord of Blood, Malenia (Haligtree), Godskin Duo (Crumbling Farum Azula), Beast Clergyman/Maliketh.


• Economy: Use Golden Runes from farming Albinaurics at Palace Approach Ledge-Road (Mohgwyn Palace) – most efficient Rune farm. Also sell duplicate Rune Arcs (though Rune Arcs are limited – better to keep for Great Rune activation).


#### Endgame (Levels 120–150+, Crumbling Farum Azula, Ashen Capital, Optional Bosses)

• Goal: Defeat Maliketh, Godfrey, Radagon/Elden Beast, and any remaining optional bosses. Achieve your chosen ending.


• Attributes: Vigor 60 (softcap). Damage stat 80 if melee, 60 int/fth/arc + 40 mind if caster. Endurance to taste (30–40 for heavy armor).


• Weapons: Fully upgraded +25/+10. Use Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (only 1 per game) from quests or hidden locations (e.g., after defeating the Dragonlord Placidusax, or from completing Millicent’s questline).


• Exploration: Finalize NPC quests (e.g., Ranni, Fia, Dung Eater, Goldmask). Clean up any remaining dungeons, catacombs, or world bosses (e.g., Putrid Avatar, Death Rite Bird). Collect larval tears for respec.


• Bosses: Maliketh, Godfrey/Hoarah Loux, Radagon/Elden Beast. For optional: Malenia, Dragonlord Placidusax, Lichdragon Fortissax (in Deeproot Depths), Astel, Naturalborn of the Void (if not yet killed).


• Economy: Runes become less important for leveling past ~150 (PvP meta is 125/150). Spend remaining Runes on upgrading multiple weapons or buying all consumables. Use any leftover Larval Tear for a final respec before entering NG+.


Build Optimization Tips:

• Pure Strength: Use Colossal weapons like the Greatsword (Guts sword) with Heavy affinity. Jump attacks break poise. Pair with an offhand shield for guard counters.


• Dexterity/Arcane: Use bleed builds (e.g., Rivers of Blood or Naginata with Seppuku Ash). Arcane boosts blood build-up.


• Pure Intelligence: Moonveil Katana for fast Magic damage. Use Dark Moon Greatsword for projectiles. Spells like Comet Azur + Cerulean Hidden Tear Physick for infinite FP beam.


• Faith/Strength: Use Blasphemous Blade (Taker’s Flames skill heals on kill). Lightning incantations for extra range.


• Quality (Str/Dex): Use the Bloodhound’s Fang (dexterity/strength scaling, bleed). Versatile but less specialized.

Interactive Maps & Walkthroughs: Use community resources like the Fextralife wiki interactive map to track every item, boss, and NPC location. Remember that exploration is key – you can approach the game in any order you choose (except some locked areas).

By understanding these core systems and tier progression, you can master the Lands Between and forge your own legend. May the Guidance of Grace always light your way.