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Elden Ring Beginner's Guide: Start Your Journey

Elden Ring Complete Beginner’s Guide#

Welcome to the Lands Between, Tarnished! Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece, brings fresh open-world elements to the souls-like formula. This guide will help newcomers get started quickly and avoid common pitfalls.

🎯 Class Selection Guide#

Choosing the right class at the beginning is crucial for newcomers:

ClassCharacteristicsSuitable for
SamuraiBalanced development, has bowWant to experience various combat styles
VagabondHigh HP, heavy armorPrefer direct confrontation
PrisonerHigh Intelligence, mage pathWant to play as a spellcaster

If this is your first souls-like game, strongly recommend choosing Samurai or Vagabond for their higher error tolerance. ::

⚔️ Basic Combat Techniques#

Core Combat Philosophy#

graph TB
A[Observe Enemy] --> B[Find Attack Opening]
B --> C[Precise Attack]
C --> D[Timely Dodge]
D --> A

Important Combat Points#

  1. Always maintain stamina: Keep at least 1/3 stamina for dodging
  2. Learn to lock onto targets: Press R3 to lock, makes combat more precise
  3. Master guard counters: Press L2 at the moment of enemy attack
  4. Use summons wisely: Spirit Ashes can effectively share damage

Dodge Timing Chart#

Enemy TypeBest Dodge TimingNotes
Large BossesMoment attack windup endsWatch weapon raising motion
Small EnemiesWhen attack effects appearReact quickly
Mage Enemies0.5 seconds before spell releaseCan roll through spells

🗺️ Exploration Essentials#

Must-Visit Important Locations#

1. Gatefront Ruins#

  • Location: Near starting area
  • Important Items: Crafting Kit, map fragment
  • Enemies: Tree Sentinel (recommend returning later)

2. Waypoint Ruins#

  • Location: South of Limgrave
  • Reward: Powerful sorceries
  • Difficulty: Medium

3. Stormveil Castle#

  • Location: First major objective
  • Boss: Godrick the Grafted
  • Recommended Level: 25-30

📈 Leveling Strategy#

Early Attribute Allocation Suggestions#

Melee Build#

Priority:
1. Vigor → Raise to 25-30
2. Main weapon attribute → 20
3. Endurance → 20-25
4. Other attributes → Based on equipment needs

Mage Build#

Priority:
1. Vigor → 20-25
2. Intelligence → 30-40
3. Mind → 25-30
4. Endurance → 15-20

Rune Farming Tips#

Death causes loss of carried runes. Remember to return to death location or spend them with NPCs. ::

Efficient Rune Farming Locations:

  1. Ball Enemy Location: Outside Caelid waypoint (1415 runes each)
  2. Soldier Farm: Gatefront Ruins (safe and stable)
  3. Crow Farm: War-Dead Catacombs (requires bow, extremely efficient)

🛡️ Equipment Recommendations#

Early Game God-Tier Equipment#

Weapon Recommendations#

  1. Bloodhound’s Fang

    • Acquisition: Defeat Bloodhound Knight
    • Features: Bleed effect, effective against most enemies
    • Suitable for: Dexterity builds
  2. Greatsword

    • Acquisition: Caelid caravan
    • Features: High damage, large attack range
    • Suitable for: Strength builds
  3. Glintstone Staff

    • Acquisition: Waypoint Ruins
    • Features: Can cast sorceries
    • Suitable for: Intelligence builds

Armor Recommendations#

  • Chain Mail Set: Balanced defense and weight
  • Knight Set: High physical defense
  • Sorcerer Robes: High magic defense

🏰 Boss Strategy#

Godrick the Grafted (First Main Boss)#

Phase One Strategy:

  1. Attack both feet, sufficient damage triggers knockdown
  2. Attack head during knockdown for massive damage
  3. Stay away from AOE attack range

Phase Two Strategy:

  1. Godrick attaches dragon head, attack patterns change
  2. Dragon breath has large range, requires side rolling
  3. Continue foot-targeting strategy

Stay patient, don’t be greedy! This is the iron rule of souls-like games. ::

🎒 Inventory Management#

Important Item Explanations#

Item NamePurposeAcquisition Method
LanternRemoves rot statusDefeat Cleanrot Knight
Crafting KitCraft itemsGatefront Ruins
Spectral Steed WhistleSummon TorrentGatefront Front
FlaskRestore HPStarting equipment

Crafting Priority#

  1. Arrows: Essential for ranged attacks
  2. Neutralizing Boluses: Counter poison swamps
  3. Fire Grease: Add fire damage to weapons
  4. Healing Items: Life insurance in combat

🌟 Exploration Tips#

Finding Hidden Elements#

  • Illusory Walls: Attack suspicious wall surfaces with weapons
  • Hidden Chests: Watch for light spots on the ground
  • NPC Quests: Talk to NPCs multiple times, some questlines are long
  • Sites of Grace: Prioritize unlocking sites in each area

Death Isn’t Scary#

Remember, in Elden Ring:

“Death is part of the learning process. Every failure brings you closer to success.”

Don’t get discouraged by death - it’s part of the game’s design.

🎮 Advanced Combat Techniques#

High-Level Combat Skills#

  1. Jump Attacks: R1 in air, can deal higher damage
  2. Charged Attacks: Hold R2, higher damage but requires timing
  3. Critical Hits: R1 from behind for massive damage
  4. Mounted Combat: Use Torrent’s mobility advantage

Magic Usage Tips#

  • FP Management: Magic consumes FP, needs blue flasks to replenish
  • Spell Selection: Switch different spells based on situation
  • Distance Control: Maintain safe distance when casting

🏆 Conclusion#

Elden Ring is a game that requires patience and practice. Don’t expect immediate success - enjoy the process of exploration and growth. Every Tarnished has their own path, so find your playstyle!

May your journey in the Lands Between be smooth, and may you become the Elden Lord soon!


Facing difficulties? Feel free to discuss in the comments - let’s conquer the Lands Between together!