Elden Ring is huge, hard and wonderful. It also explains very little. These tips will help you survive your first hours in the Lands Between and enjoy it instead of feeling lost.
The tips follow roughly the order in which you meet each system. Dying is normal here, and every death teaches you something.
1. Choose a class you like the look of
Your starting class only gives you your first stats and gear. You can change your build completely later. Good beginner choices:
- Vagabond: strong armour and shield, simple melee play
- Samurai: a great katana and a bow
- Astrologer: magic attacks from a safe distance
Don’t spend long comparing numbers. Ten levels into the game, your choices matter far more than your class. If you later regret your stat choices, you can reset them (see the section on respeccing below).
2. The first boss is meant to beat you
The big boss right at the start is designed to defeat new players, and losing simply moves the story on. Don’t worry about it.
3. Sites of Grace are your best friend
The glowing golden spots are checkpoints. Resting there refills your health and flasks, but also brings most enemies back. The golden light beams in the sky point you to the next main area.
You can also fast travel between any Sites of Grace you have discovered, straight from the map. When you find a new one, touch it, even if you don’t need to rest.
4. Get your horse, Torrent
After resting at a few Sites of Grace near the start, you’ll meet a character called Melina. She gives you Torrent, a spirit horse with a double jump. Torrent makes exploring faster and safer.
On horseback you can outrun most enemies in the open world. If a fight goes badly, simply ride away. Torrent cannot be used in most dungeons and castles, so expect to explore those on foot.
5. Level up as soon as you can
Melina also lets you level up at Sites of Grace using runes, the game’s currency. If you’re unsure, put points into Vigor. More health is never wrong for a beginner.
After Vigor, raise the main stat your weapon or spells need. Each weapon’s description shows which stats it scales with and its minimum requirements.
6. Don’t panic about losing runes
When you die, you drop your runes where you died. Go back and pick them up. If you die again before reaching them, they’re gone. Spend runes often so you never carry too many.
A good habit: when you are close to the next level, go back and spend your runes before entering a new area.
7. Get the Spirit Calling Bell
Visit the Church of Elleh (near the start) at night after getting Torrent. A character named Renna gives you the Spirit Calling Bell, which lets you summon spirit ashes to help you fight bosses. They make a huge difference.
The same church is home to Merchant Kalé, who sells a Crafting Kit for 300 runes. It unlocks crafting, so you can make arrows, throwing items and healing aids from the plants you collect.
8. Split your flasks
At a Site of Grace you can choose how many flasks heal health (red) and how many restore FP (blue). Melee players need mostly red ones.
Magic users need more blue flasks, but keep enough red ones to survive mistakes. You can change the split at any Site of Grace, so adjust it before a big boss.
9. Find Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears
Golden Seeds (often under small golden trees) give you more flask uses. Sacred Tears (found in churches) make each flask heal more. Use them at a Site of Grace.
Also look for the Flask of Wondrous Physick at the Third Church of Marika in Limgrave. It holds two crystal tears that give temporary bonuses, such as extra damage or defence, and refills like your other flasks.
10. Use Stakes of Marika
Those small glowing stakes are extra respawn points, often right before a boss arena. Look out for them.
11. If a boss is too hard, leave and come back
This is the most important tip. Elden Ring is an open world. If you’re stuck, ride off, explore another area, find better gear and get some levels. Come back stronger.
The first major test, Margit, the Fell Omen, waits at the entrance to Stormveil Castle and stops many new players. He is easier after exploring Limgrave and its caves. Heavy attacks can break his stance, and an item called Margit’s Shackle, sold by a merchant named Patches in Murkwater Cave, can pin him in place for a few seconds.
12. Upgrade your weapon
Upgrading your weapon with smithing stones often helps more than levelling up. Smithing stones are found in mines and caves, and you can buy them later by giving Bell Bearings to the Twin Maiden Husks. Upgrades are done by Smithing Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold, which opens up early in the game.
Pick one main weapon and upgrade it steadily rather than spreading stones across many weapons. Smithing stones are limited early on, so focus pays off.
13. Collect map fragments
Look for stone pillars (steles) as you explore. Pick up the map fragment at each one to reveal that area of the map.
14. Learn to dodge, then learn to wait
Dodge rolls give you a brief moment of invincibility. Many deaths come from attacking too greedily. Hit once or twice, then back off.
If you use a shield, try the guard counter: block an attack, then press heavy attack immediately. It deals heavy stance damage and can leave enemies open for a critical hit. Use it only when the enemy has stopped attacking.
15. Ask other players for help
If you’re really stuck on a boss, look for golden summon signs near the boss door (you need a Furlcalling Finger Remedy) to call another player in to help.
On PlayStation and Xbox, online play requires a paid online subscription. On PC, playing online is free.
Good to know: When other players join your world, bosses get more health to balance the fight. Even so, a helper who draws the boss’s attention usually makes the fight much easier, because you get more chances to attack safely.
How to respec your character
Made the wrong build choices? You can reset your stats once you reach Raya Lucaria Academy and defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. After that fight, she offers a “Rebirth” option.
- Each respec costs one Larval Tear, a rare item.
- Your stats cannot go below your starting class’s values.
- Because Larval Tears are limited, plan your new build before you use one.
Common beginner mistakes
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Rolling constantly | Wait for the enemy’s attack, then dodge |
| Ignoring Vigor | Raise it early, especially before big bosses |
| Fighting a boss for hours | Explore elsewhere and return stronger |
| Carrying lots of runes | Spend them at a Site of Grace often |
| Never upgrading a weapon | Focus smithing stones on one main weapon |
| Skipping spirit ashes | Summon them; they are part of the design |
If you feel stuck
- Don’t know where to go? Follow the golden light beams from Sites of Grace, or explore any road you have not taken yet.
- Enemies feel too strong? You may be in a harder area too early. Ride back to a place where enemies feel fair.
- Low on healing? Rest at a Site of Grace to refill everything, and look for Golden Seeds near paths.
From PixelAlex: If a boss stops you, don’t force it. Explore elsewhere, level up and come back stronger – Elden Ring is designed for exactly that.
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Quick answers
What is the best starting class in Elden Ring for beginners?
The Vagabond is the most forgiving thanks to its armour and shield. The Astrologer suits players who prefer staying at a distance.
Can you change your class or stats later?
Your class cannot change, but your stats can be reset with a Larval Tear after defeating Rennala. Starting stats only matter for the early hours.
Where should you go first in Elden Ring?
Explore Limgrave, the starting region. Get Torrent, visit the Church of Elleh at night, and clear caves before facing Margit.
Is it okay to use spirit summons?
Yes. Spirit ashes are a normal part of the game, not a cheat. Many players rely on them for difficult bosses.
How long does Elden Ring take to finish?
It depends heavily on how much you explore. Most first playthroughs are long, so pace yourself and enjoy the world.
Next step
Once you’ve finished Elden Ring, see our list of the best soulslike games for what to play next.
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