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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Limgrave
Key resources: Smithing Stones, Lordsworn weapons, Whetstone Knife, Spirit Calling Bell Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Moonveil upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Liurnia of the Lakes
Key resources: Larval Tears for respec, Glintstone Keys, Academy sorceries, Carian spells Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Moonveil upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Caelid
Key resources: Moonveil, Radahn's Remembrance, Meteorite Staff, Rock Sling spell Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Moonveil upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Altus Plateau
Key resources: Bolt of Gransax, Erdtree's Favor +1, Godskin Stitcher, Rykard's Remembrance Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Rivers of Blood max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mountaintops of the Giants
Key resources: Rivers of Blood, Giant-Crusher, Malenia's Remembrance (Haligtree) Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Rivers of Blood max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Limgrave — Liurnia of the Lakes)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Moonveil once accessible
Mid Game (Caelid)
- Push Moonveil to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Rivers of Blood
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Altus Plateau — Mountaintops of the Giants)
- Max out Rivers of Blood — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Caelid farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- 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.
- Farm Caelid during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Elden Ring Guides
- Elden Ring Elden Ring Overview
- Elden Ring Best Builds
- Elden Ring Tier List
- Elden Ring Walkthrough
- Elden Ring Beginner's Guide
- Elden Ring Tips & Tricks
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide
- Elden Ring Combat Guide
- Elden Ring Boss Guide
- Elden Ring Maps & Locations
- Elden Ring Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Elden Ring, check out these related guides:
- Baldur's Gate 3 Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Crafting Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
