Essential Things Every Player Should Know Before Diving into Elden Ring

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Table of Key Takeaways:

Aspect	Description
Dynamic Open World	Vast landscapes filled with complex dungeons, catacombs, and hidden secrets.
Customizable Playstyle	Diverse combat systems with a variety of weapons, spells, and skills to tailor your approach.
Strategic Combat	Emphasizes patience, timing, and strategic planning in battles.
Multiplayer Dynamics	Offers both cooperative and competitive multiplayer gameplay.
Rich Lore	Deep, intricate storyline enriched by the world’s history and character interactions.
Challenging Difficulty	Known for its challenging gameplay that rewards skill and persistence.

Introduction to Elden Ring

Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, is not just a game; it’s an experience. With its sprawling open world called the Lands Between, the game offers a unique blend of exploration, combat, and storytelling that has captivated the gaming community.

Understanding Elden Ring’s Core Gameplay

Elden Ring Combat Essentials

Combat in Elden Ring demands precision, strategic insight, and adaptability. Here’s what you need to know to survive and thrive:

Combat Basics

• Weapon Variety: Each weapon type has unique light and heavy attacks.
• Movement Mechanics: Mastering jumps, crouches, and guards is essential for creating openings or avoiding attacks.
• Stamina Management: Critical for executing attacks and dodges efficiently.
• Targeting System: Lock-on feature helps maintain focus on active enemies.

Advanced Combat Techniques

• Parrying and Riposting: Time your parries to deflect attacks and deliver devastating counterstrikes.
• Backstabbing: Stealthily approach enemies from behind to deliver critical damage.
• Charged Attacks and Ashes of War: Utilize enhanced weapon abilities for powerful effects.
• Jump Attacks: Overcome enemy shields or target airborne foes.

Combat Support Elements

• Spirit Ashes: Summon AI allies to assist in battles.
• Crafting Items: Use crafted consumables like bombs and potions strategically.
• Weapon Skills: Employ Ashes of War to harness unique abilities tailored to combat scenarios.

Character Builds in Elden Ring

Creating an effective character in Elden Ring involves careful planning and consideration of your preferred playstyle:

Fundamental Stats

• Core Attributes: Vigor, Mind, and Endurance are essential for all builds.
• Offensive Stats: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith dictate your combat style and weapon choices.

Weapons and Scaling

• Stat Alignment: Weapons scale with specific stats, influencing damage output.
• Upgrades: Enhance weapons using Smithing Stones to increase effectiveness.
• Skill Compatibility: Choose Ashes of War that complement your character’s strengths.

Spellcasting Dynamics

• Sorceries and Incantations: Utilize Intelligence or Faith to cast powerful spells.
• Resource Management: Invest in the Mind stat to increase your spellcasting capabilities.

Boss Encounters in Elden Ring

The game features a plethora of challenging bosses, each requiring unique strategies to defeat:

Key Bosses

• Margit, the Fell Omen: A formidable early-game challenge.
• Godrick the Grafted: A pivotal encounter in the Limgrave region.
• Major Shardbearers: Such as Rennala, Radahn, and Morgott, each presenting unique battle mechanics.

Optional and Field Bosses

• Night’s Cavalry: Encounter these daunting foes in the open world.
• Dungeon Guardians: Protect valuable treasures and rewards.
• Evergaol Challenges: Test your skills against exceptionally tough opponents.

Exploring the Vast World of Elden Ring

The game’s world, the Lands Between, is rich with secrets, challenges, and story elements waiting to be discovered:

The Lands Between

• Diverse Environments: From lush forests to desolate ruins, each area offers unique exploration opportunities.
• Dynamic Elements: Weather and time of day affect visibility and enemy behavior.

Navigation Tools

• Map Fragments: Uncover parts of the world map to reveal important locations.
• Sites of Grace: Serve as both checkpoints and waypoints, guiding players through the world.

Secrets and Rewards

• Hidden Paths and Treasures: Delve into every corner to uncover hidden items and quests.

The Significance of Lore in Elden Ring

1. Lore-Driven Quests and Rewards

In Elden Ring, the lore is not just background storytelling; it actively shapes quests and influences the game world. Understanding the lore can lead to discovering hidden quests that offer unique rewards, such as rare weapons and armor. Players should engage with NPCs and read in-game items like scrolls and books to uncover secrets and storylines that are not apparent through casual play.

2. Narrative Choices and Consequences

The decisions players make in Elden Ring often have significant implications on the game’s narrative and available quests. Some paths may lead to alliances with powerful characters or access to restricted areas, while others could result in hostile environments and more formidable enemies. Choosing which characters to trust and support can alter the game’s outcome and difficulty.

Advanced World Interaction

1. Environmental Puzzles and Secrets

Elden Ring’s environment is full of puzzles that require more than straightforward solutions. These often involve manipulating the game’s world, such as lighting torches in a specific order or using certain items to unlock paths. Solving these puzzles can grant access to valuable resources and secret areas.

2. Dynamic Weather and Its Effects

The game’s dynamic weather system is not purely aesthetic. Certain weather conditions can affect gameplay, like fog making it harder for enemies to spot the player, or rain reducing the effectiveness of fire-based attacks. Players who adapt to these conditions will find themselves at a strategic advantage.

1. Spell Damage Effects

• Fire spells deal less damage during rainy weather conditions
• Lightning spells deal increased damage during rainy weather
• The exact damage modifiers seem to be around 10% less for fire, 10% more for lightning when raining 

2. Environmental Effects

• The weather and time of day can be used strategically to gain advantages in combat situations
• For example, using fire attacks at night or lightning attacks during storms would be more effective

3. Visual Effects

• Dynamic weather like rain, fog, falling golden leaves at night create an immersive atmosphere
• The golden leaf effect at night allegedly grants a bonus to earned Runes from defeating enemies 

4. Water Effects

• Lightning attacks performed while standing in water deal a small area-of-effect (AoE) bonus damage

Utilizing the Game’s Rich Content

1. Covenants and Allegiances

Joining different covenants can dramatically change the gameplay experience in Elden Ring. Each covenant has its own set of rules, rewards, and story elements, offering new ways to interact with the world and other players. Choosing a covenant aligns with your gameplay style and narrative preference is crucial for a tailored experience.

2. Collectibles and Their Histories

Collectibles in Elden Ring are often tied to the lore of the Lands Between. Understanding the history and significance of these collectibles can enhance the immersive experience and provide additional context to the overall story. Some collectibles also trigger events or quests when found, making them essential for comprehensive gameplay.

Achieving Mastery in Elden Ring

1. Endgame Strategies and Optimization

As players approach Elden Ring’s endgame, strategy and resource optimization become paramount. Mastery involves not only maximizing your character’s build but also understanding and exploiting enemy weaknesses effectively. Advanced players often focus on optimizing their gear, enchantments, and combat techniques to tackle the most challenging dungeons and bosses.

2. Speedrunning and Competitive Play

Elden Ring also offers a vibrant scene for speedrunners and competitive players who challenge themselves to complete the game in the fastest time possible or achieve particular objectives under restrictive conditions. Learning the routes, shortcuts, and exploits that allow for rapid game completion is a thrilling way for skilled players to test their knowledge and dexterity.

Community and Further Exploration

1. Community Events and Collaborations

Participating in community events can significantly enhance the Elden Ring experience. These events might involve large-scale battles against bosses, exploring areas together, or community-driven challenges with unique gameplay modifiers. These activities foster a sense of community and add a new layer of enjoyment to the game.

2. Continual Learning and Sharing

The Elden Ring community is constantly discovering new strategies, lore details, and hidden game mechanics. Engaging with community forums, guides, and tutorials can provide ongoing learning opportunities and insights into the game. Sharing your discoveries and strategies can also help new players and contribute to the collective knowledge base.

Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Journey of Elden Ring

Elden Ring is an expansive and intricate game that rewards curiosity, strategic thinking, and persistence. Whether you’re engaging in its deep combat system, customizing your character for the perfect build, facing off against daunting bosses, or simply exploring its rich and varied landscapes, there’s always more to learn and master.