Elden Ring is FromSoftware's open-world action RPG created in collaboration with George R.R. Martin, set in the sprawling Lands Between. Unlike previous Souls games, it gives you complete freedom to explore six major regions, tackle legacy dungeons in any order, and over 150 boss encounters. The game received its massive Shadow of the Erdtree DLC adding an entirely new map region. With its blend of punishing combat, deep build variety, and cryptic lore, Elden Ring redefined what an open-world RPG can be.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
open world exploration
The Lands Between is a seamless open world divided into six major regions plus underground areas. You can ride your spectral steed Torrent to traverse the map, discover hidden catacombs, caves, and ruins. Sites of Grace act as checkpoints with guiding light pointing toward main objectives, but you're free to ignore them entirely.
stance breaking
Every enemy has a hidden poise meter that fills when you hit them with heavy attacks, guard counters, or jumping attacks. When the meter fills, the enemy staggers and you can perform a critical hit for massive damage. Colossal weapons and charged R2 attacks build stance damage fastest, making them excellent for boss fights.
spirit ash summoning
Spirit Ashes are summonable AI companions usable in most boss fights and open-world areas where a rebirth monument is present. They range from single powerful summons like Mimic Tear (copies your build) to mob summons like Greatshield Soldiers. Upgrading them with Glovewort increases their health and damage significantly.
weapon arts
Every weapon has a unique Ash of War skill activated with L2/LT that can be swapped at Sites of Grace. These range from devastating attacks like Bloodhound Step (long-range dodge) to buffs like Seppuku (adds bleed to your weapon). Affinities attached to Ashes of War change your weapon's scaling — Heavy for Strength, Keen for Dexterity, etc.
flask of wondrous physick
The Wondrous Physick is a customizable flask that holds two Crystal Tear effects mixed at Sites of Grace. Combinations like Cerulean Hidden Tear (eliminates FP cost for 15 seconds) plus a damage-boosting tear can enable devastating combos. Tears are found throughout the world from minor Erdtree bosses.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagabond | S | Tank hits with heavy armor and trade blows with colossal weapons. | Vigor > Strength > Endurance > Mind |
| Samurai | S | Aggressive melee with bleed procs that chunk boss health bars. | Vigor > Dexterity > Arcane > Endurance |
| Astrologer | A | Stay at range, cast powerful sorceries, and dodge when enemies close distance. | Vigor > Intelligence > Mind > Dexterity |
| Prisoner | A | Mix melee weapon arts with sorcery casting for flexible combat. | Vigor > Intelligence > Dexterity > Mind |
| Wretch | B | Struggle early, then become whatever you want with zero wasted stats. | Vigor first, then specialize based on build |
Vagabond (S-Tier): The Vagabond starts with the highest combined Vigor and Strength, making it the safest starter class. Its starting Halberd and 100% physical block shield carry you through early game with minimal upgrades needed. Best class for Strength or Quality builds.
Samurai (S-Tier): Samurai starts with the Uchigatana, one of the best weapons in the entire game thanks to innate bleed buildup. High Dexterity starting stats make it ideal for katana and curved sword builds. The Longbow included lets you pull enemies safely from range.
Astrologer (A-Tier): Astrologer is the dedicated sorcery class with the highest starting Intelligence and a Glintstone Staff ready to go. Early spells like Glintstone Pebble are efficient and scale well. Late game with Lusat's Glintstone Staff and Comet Azur, you can one-shot many bosses.
Prisoner (A-Tier): Prisoner is the hybrid Intelligence/Dexterity class, perfect for Moonveil or Wing of Astel builds. Starts with the Estoc for reliable thrust damage and a basic sorcery catalyst. The split stats mean you come online slightly later but have incredible versatility.
Wretch (B-Tier): Wretch starts at level 1 with all stats at 10 and nothing but a club. It's the hardest early game but the most flexible for min-maxing because no stat points are wasted. Recommended only for experienced players who know exactly what build they want.
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Elden Ring builds guide.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Rivers of Blood | A katana that deals physical and fire damage with innate bleed buildup. | Samurai / Dexterity-Arcane builds |
| Moonveil | An Intelligence-scaling katana found in the Gael Tunnel boss fight in Caelid. | Prisoner / Intelligence-Dexterity builds |
| Blasphemous Blade | A greatsword obtained by trading Rykard's Remembrance. | Vagabond / Faith-Strength builds |
| Hand of Malenia | A katana crafted from Malenia's Remembrance with the Waterfowl Dance weapon art — the same devastating combo attack she uses. | Samurai / Pure Dexterity builds |
| Starscourge Greatsword | Dual colossal greatswords obtained from Radahn's Remembrance. | Vagabond / Strength-Intelligence builds |
Rivers of Blood: A katana that deals physical and fire damage with innate bleed buildup. Its weapon art Corpse Piler unleashes a flurry of blood slashes that can stagger-lock most enemies. Found late in Mountaintops of the Giants from an invading NPC near the Church of Repose.
Moonveil: An Intelligence-scaling katana found in the Gael Tunnel boss fight in Caelid. Its Transient Moonlight weapon art fires a magic slash that deals massive stance damage and staggers bosses quickly. One of the most versatile weapons for Int/Dex hybrid builds.
Blasphemous Blade: A greatsword obtained by trading Rykard's Remembrance. Its weapon art Taker's Flames shoots a wave of fire that heals you on hit and has enormous range. The passive also heals you whenever anything dies nearby, making it one of the best sustain weapons.
Hand of Malenia: A katana crafted from Malenia's Remembrance with the Waterfowl Dance weapon art — the same devastating combo attack she uses. It has innate bleed and scales with Dexterity. The weapon art is extremely powerful but leaves you vulnerable if whiffed.
Starscourge Greatsword: Dual colossal greatswords obtained from Radahn's Remembrance. The weapon art Starcaller Cry pulls enemies toward you with gravity magic then slams for massive AoE damage. It scales with Strength and Intelligence, making it ideal for hybrid builds.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Limgrave | Level 1-30 | Smithing Stones, Lordsworn weapons, Whetstone Knife, Spirit Calling Bell |
| Liurnia of the Lakes | Level 30-50 | Larval Tears for respec, Glintstone Keys, Academy sorceries, Carian spells |
| Caelid | Level 50-70 | Moonveil, Radahn's Remembrance, Meteorite Staff, Rock Sling spell |
| Altus Plateau | Level 70-90 | Bolt of Gransax, Erdtree's Favor +1, Godskin Stitcher, Rykard's Remembrance |
| Mountaintops of the Giants | Level 100-130 | Rivers of Blood, Giant-Crusher, Malenia's Remembrance (Haligtree) |
Limgrave: The starting region and your tutorial zone. It contains Stormveil Castle (the first legacy dungeon), the Church of Elleh with the first merchant, and several catacombs and caves with useful early loot. Explore thoroughly before fighting Margit.
Liurnia of the Lakes: A vast watery region accessed after Stormveil Castle or via a side path. Home to Raya Lucaria Academy (the second legacy dungeon), Carian Manor, and numerous sorcery-related items. The northern section leads to important NPC questlines.
Caelid: A rotting nightmare region to Limgrave's east, infamous for being extremely dangerous early. Features Redmane Castle and the Radahn boss fight. Contains the Gael Tunnel (Moonveil) and multiple high-reward dungeons. You can access it early via a teleport trap in Limgrave.
Altus Plateau: The elevated central region reached via the Grand Lift of Dectus or a cave shortcut. Contains the capital city Leyndell, Volcano Manor, and Mt. Gelmir. This is where the game's difficulty spikes significantly and build optimization becomes important.
Mountaintops of the Giants: A snow-covered endgame region accessed after reaching the capital. Contains the Fire Giant boss, the path to the Forge of the Giants, and the hidden Consecrated Snowfield that leads to Miquella's Haligtree — the hardest area in the base game.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Level Vigor to 40 before investing heavily in damage stats — the soft cap gives enormous survivability and most deaths early are from being one-shot.
- Use Torrent to explore open areas and collect Smithing Stones from mines. Upgrading weapons from +0 to +6 roughly doubles your damage output.
- Margit the Fell Omen can be completely skipped by going around Stormveil Castle via a cliffside path. Come back at level 25+ with a +3 weapon.
- Guard counters (block then heavy attack) deal massive stance damage and work on almost every enemy. Pair with a 100% physical shield for safe play.
- Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears increase your flask count and healing amount. Prioritize grabbing these from Minor Erdtree bosses and churches.
- Smithing Stones scale your damage far faster than leveling. A +10 weapon at level 30 outdamages a +3 weapon at level 60.
- Ashes of War can be freely swapped and duplicated at the Roundtable Hold. Experiment with different weapon arts to find what suits your playstyle.
- Rune Arcs activate your equipped Great Rune, giving massive stat boosts. Godrick's Great Rune adds +5 to all stats and is available very early.
- Torrent can double-jump, which is essential for reaching many hidden areas and collecting Golden Seeds from Erdtree saplings.
- The Mimic Tear Spirit Ash (from a chest in Nokron) copies your entire build and is the strongest summon in the game for most situations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Fighting Margit at level 1 with a base weapon — explore Limgrave first, get to level 25 with a +3 weapon, and buy Margit's Shackle from Patches for 5000 runes.
- Ignoring Vigor and pumping damage stats early — you'll get one-shot constantly after Liurnia. Vigor to 40 is non-negotiable.
- Selling or discarding Larval Tears — these let you respec at Rennala and are limited per playthrough. Never waste them.
- Using the Teleporter Chest in Limgrave's Dragon-Burnt Ruins without preparation — it sends you to the Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid where enemies can kill you in one hit.
- Neglecting to upgrade Spirit Ashes — an unupgraded Mimic Tear dies in seconds, but a +10 Mimic Tear can solo some bosses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level should I be to fight Margit in Elden Ring?
Aim for level 25-30 with a +3 to +4 weapon. Explore all of Limgrave first, clear the Stormfoot Catacombs, Limgrave Tunnels, and the Gatefront Ruins. Buy Margit's Shackle from Patches in Murkwater Cave for 5000 runes — it pins Margit to the ground twice per fight.
How do I respec in Elden Ring?
After defeating Rennala at Raya Lucaria Academy, you can respec by trading a Larval Tear. There are about 18 Larval Tears per playthrough found in various locations. The most accessible early one is from a ball-bearing enemy near Agheel Lake in Limgrave.
What is the best starting class in Elden Ring?
Vagabond for melee builds (highest Vigor and Strength, great starting shield) and Samurai for Dexterity builds (starts with the Uchigatana which has bleed). Astrologer is best for sorcery. Wretch is only recommended if you know exactly what build you want to min-max.
Can you play Elden Ring co-op?
Yes, but it requires using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to see summon signs, and the summoned player's world doesn't progress. You can use a multiplayer password to match with friends specifically. Co-op is limited to the host's current area and ends after defeating the area boss.
How long does it take to beat Elden Ring?
A focused main story run takes about 50-60 hours. Completing all legacy dungeons, major side quests, and optional bosses pushes it to 100-120 hours. With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, add another 30-40 hours for a thorough playthrough.
What to Read Next
- Best Elden Ring Builds — Detailed breakdowns with gear, stats, and playstyle guides
- Elden Ring Tier List — Current meta rankings
- Elden Ring Walkthrough — Step-by-step progression from start to endgame
- Elden Ring Beginner's Guide — First session essentials
- Elden Ring Tips & Tricks — Advanced strategies and hidden mechanics
