The long-awaited Elden Ring is finally here! But if you’re still waiting for your game to arrive or if you’re wary about buying it in case it ends up a flop (we’re looking at you still, Cyberpunk 2077), then you’re at the right place. Oh, and if you’re itching to get it, make sure to grab some PSN Cards from OffGamers here to aid you with your purchase!
Here are some minor tips and tricks on what you should know before playing Elden Ring for the first time!
1. Find Melina To Level Up
As with all FromSoftware games, there’s always one character or NPC you have to go to in order to continuously level up in the game. For Elden Ring, it’s this mysterious young maiden named Melina. She’ll approach you as you rest at one of the three Sites of Grace, which you can find by going in the direction of these faint guiding rays of light.
She’ll also provide you with a Spectral Speed Whistle to summon your horse and fast travel to places. No more wasting time here!
2. Use Your Many Combat Options
You’re probably used to fast and hard-hitting attacks, but with Elden Ring, the calculated and deliberate attacks can be crucial as well. The latest guard counter ability allows you to block an enemy’s attack and hit them with a heavy hit which could deal substantial damage to your enemies. This attack can also stun enemies and break their stance, so it is definitely worth the effort.
These heavy attacks do take a while to complete, so only make use of them when facing big bosses. Other than that, there’s always the option to use magic in battle which you shouldn’t shy from either if you’re a beginner to the genre. You can even fight while riding horseback, so really, there are all sorts of combat forms you can explore.
3. Get A Torch
In order to properly explore the dark and dreary dungeons, you’re going to want to get a torch to light your way. Luckily, you can get a torch right after you’re done with all your tutorials in Limgrave. As you find your first Site of Grace and go through all the trouble with Melina, go north in the direction of the Church of Elleh to find Kale.
Kale is a merchant and he sells a lot of items and other things that might interest you, but the torch is definitely what you have to buy. This way you can get more runes and treasures as you fight your way through dungeons with light.
4. Leave If It Gets Too Tough
FromSoftware games are known to be tough, they literally have made their own mark of difficulty in the industry. The term ‘Soulslike’ is used to describe tough and impossible games with absurd bosses for a while now. With that said, there’s no shame in leaving an area or fighting when it gets too much for you to handle.
Just run, escape, save your own butt! You can come back when you’re stronger, or better equipped to take on the boss or enemy again. It’s better to leave and plan your next move than to continue getting beaten and bruised by an overpowered enemy.
5. Map Markers Are Useful
As with most RPG games, map markers could save your life. Especially for players who are forgetful – and trust me, you will forget at least once or twice where something is located – map markers are a godsend.
There’s always a lot to keep track of in a massive open world like this one, so in order to not stress in the future, simply mark things out on your map. The important things that you should keep in mind are hidden entrances, boss or enemy locations, and item respawn places amongst others. Better yet, just mark anything you think is cool for later explorations.
6. Visit Sites of Grace
There are three Sites of Grace located across the map, and these act as a vital place for you to rest, almost like a checkpoint. These sites are also where you’ll find important characters and merchants to aid you on your journey. Early in your journey, you’ll come across a merchant that sells you an item so you can craft.
As you rest at Sites of Grace, crafting materials will continue to respawn nearby if you’re up for a grind. These materials can help you craft some useful items for your journey and battles. You can craft items, weapons, consumables and more that will help turn the tide of battle.
7. Stealth!!!
It is said that the stealth option in Elden Ring took a lot of pointers from the stealth mechanics in Sekiro, and that’s saying something. The stealth ability is definitely better under covers of darkness, so if you’re wary, you can try it out at night before sneaking around during the day.
In Elden Ring, it seems that enemies are pretty lenient when you’re sneaking around – so you can crouch and they won’t notice you. This helps you get the element of surprise or a backstab in as they’re looking the other way.
8. Spirit Ashes/Summons Help A Lot
One of the cooler aspects of Elden Ring is the ability to summon spirits and NPC to help you. You can get the Spirit Bell by going to the church ruins nearby the first Site of Grace after the tutorial. Go during nighttime and talk to a lady with a big hat and she’ll give you the bell.
The Spirit Ashes and NPC summons help a lot when you need a distraction, or to occupy the attention of a difficult boss while you’re planning a way to defeat them. With that said, always poke around to find any NPC summon signs, and when entering a new area, check the grave icon on the bottom left of your screen to see what you can summon.
To Conclude
And that’s some of the many things you’ll need to know before playing Elden Ring! May this short article help you in your journey, and one last piece of advice I could give you is to never underestimate the difficulty of this game! It’s fun, but it will still hurt when you’re on your last dredges of health.