Embarking on the Shattered Lands: A Beginner’s Guide to Elden Ring

Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s epic open-world action RPG, can be both breathtaking and daunting for newcomers. Its vast world, challenging combat, and cryptic storytelling can leave players feeling overwhelmed. But fear not, Tarnished! This guide will provide a detailed roadmap to help you navigate the Lands Between and begin your legendary journey.

Step 1: Character Creation – Choosing Your Path

Upon starting Elden Ring, you’ll be presented with a crucial decision: selecting your class. Each class begins with different stats, equipment, and playstyles. Here’s a quick breakdown for beginners:

• Vagabond: A solid all-around choice with high health and decent strength, perfect for those preferring melee combat.
• Warrior: Agile and capable of dual-wielding, great for aggressive melee players.
• Hero: Another strength-focused class with high vigor, ideal for beginners wanting to focus on dealing physical damage.
• Bandit: A dexterity-focused class, excelling in critical hits and quick attacks.
• Astrologer: A magic-based class starting with spells, suitable for players interested in sorcery.
• Prophet: A faith-based class with healing and offensive incantations, great for those wanting to support and fight with faith-based magic.
• Samurai: Starts with a katana and excellent starting gear, providing a blend of melee and ranged options.
• Prisoner: A well-rounded hybrid class with a mix of melee and magic.
• Confessor: Similar to the Prophet but with an emphasis on close combat.
• Wretch: The most challenging starting class, with bare minimum stats and no equipment. Not recommended for beginners.

Recommendation: For first-timers, the Vagabond, Hero or the Samurai are excellent choices due to their ease of use and focus on melee combat, which provides a simpler learning curve. Don’t worry too much about this choice – you can respec your stats later on in the game!

You’ll also customize your character’s appearance. While this is mostly cosmetic, take your time and create a Tarnished you’re happy with!

Step 2: The First Steps – Limgrave

After a brief tutorial, you’ll emerge into Limgrave, the game’s starting area. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Follow the Guidance of Grace: Look for golden trails emanating from Sites of Grace (bonfires). These trails point towards your main objectives.
2. Explore Carefully: Limgrave is full of secrets, items, and enemies. Don’t rush through; take your time to investigate nooks and crannies.
3. Learn the Combat: Practice dodging, blocking, and attacking against weaker enemies. Mastering the combat is crucial for success in Elden Ring.
4. Collect Resources: Gather herbs, crafting materials, and runes (the game’s currency) by exploring and defeating enemies.
5. Visit the Church of Elleh: This early-game location has a merchant who sells essential items and the crafting kit, allowing you to create items like arrows and boluses (cures for status effects).
6. Talk to the NPCs: Non-player characters often provide valuable information, quests, or unlock useful features. Listen carefully to what they have to say.

Step 3: Leveling Up and Progression

As you defeat enemies, you’ll earn runes, which you can use to level up at Sites of Grace. Focus on:

• Vigor: Increases your health, a critical stat for survival.
• Endurance: Increases stamina for attacking, dodging, and running as well as how much equipment weight you can carry.
• Your Primary Stat: If you’re a melee class, focus on Strength or Dexterity. If you’re a magic class, focus on Intelligence or Faith.

Don’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades early on. Focus on maximizing your strengths.

Step 4: Key Items and Mechanics to Learn

• The Flasks: You’ll find flasks of Crimson Tears (healing) and Cerulean Tears (magic). These are refilled at Sites of Grace. Find golden seeds scattered around the world to upgrade them and sacred tears to increase the healing they provide.
• Spirit Calling Bell: Allows you to summon spirit ashes for aid in battle. Obtain this from Ranni after a short encounter in the Church of Elleh.
• The Map: Explore and find map fragments to uncover more of the game world.
• The Roundtable Hold: After some time exploring, you’ll be invited to this safe haven that houses key NPCs that can aid your journey.
• The Great Runes: These are obtained from bosses and provide powerful buffs after activated with a rune arc.

Step 5: Don’t Be Afraid to Explore and Experiment

Elden Ring rewards curiosity and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to:

• Explore Off the Beaten Path: Hidden dungeons and secrets await those who venture away from the main paths.
• Try Different Weapons and Spells: Experiment with different playstyles to find what suits you best.
• Summon Help: If you’re struggling with a boss, use cooperative multiplayer to summon other players for assistance. Or use spirit ashes to fight alongside you.
• Read Item Descriptions: They often contain valuable hints and lore.

A Final Word

Elden Ring is a challenging but rewarding game. Don’t be discouraged by early setbacks. Be patient, persistent, and embrace the process of learning and growing. As you explore the Lands Between, you will slowly piece together its mysteries and become a legend in your own right. Good luck, Tarnished!