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.
Starting Elden Ring can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Elden Ring is a rpg game built around open world exploration and stance breaking. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Build
| Build | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vagabond | Good (but demanding) | Tank hits with heavy armor and trade blows with colossal weapons. |
| Samurai | Good (but demanding) | Aggressive melee with bleed procs that chunk boss health bars. |
| Astrologer | Excellent for beginners | Stay at range, cast powerful sorceries, and dodge when enemies close distance. |
| Prisoner | Excellent for beginners | Mix melee weapon arts with sorcery casting for flexible combat. |
| Wretch | Situational | Struggle early, then become whatever you want with zero wasted stats. |
Our recommendation: Start with Samurai. 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.
Avoid Wretch as your first pick. Wretch starts at level 1 with all stats at 10 and nothing but a club.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn 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.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how open world exploration works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to 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.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Moonveil — it's the most accessible early upgrade. 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.
Step 4: Understand 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.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to 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.
Essential Mechanics Explained
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.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. 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
2. Ignoring Vigor and pumping damage stats early — you'll get one-shot constantly after Liurnia
Vigor to 40 is non-negotiable.
3. Selling or discarding Larval Tears — these let you respec at Rennala and are limited per playthrough
Never waste them.
4. 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
5. Neglecting to upgrade Spirit Ashes — an unupgraded Mimic Tear dies in seconds, but a +10 Mimic Tear can solo some bosses
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand open world exploration and stance breaking
- Choose Samurai as starting build
- Clear Limgrave main content
- Acquire Moonveil or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Liurnia of the Lakes
- 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.
Tips for New Players
- 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.
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
- Elden Ring Builds — Optimize your build once you've learned the basics
- Elden Ring Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Elden Ring Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
