ELDEN RING

Getting Started �?The Tarnished Survival Guide

1.1 Choosing Your Class

Your starting class matters in the first 10 hours only. By level 80, any class can become any build. Pick based on early-game comfort:

1.2 Stats Explained �?What Each Point Does

Vigor (VIG): Most important stat in the game. Every new player's #1 mistake is not leveling vigor. Get 40 VIG by level 60. Aim for 60 VIG by level 120.

Mind (MIND): FP pool. Casters: 25-35. Non-casters: 10-15. Weapon skills use FP too �?having some is always useful.

Endurance (END): Stamina + equip load. 25 END lets you medium-roll in heavy armor. 40 END for max stamina and heavy armor with greatswords.

Strength (STR): Weapon damage. Two-handing multiplies STR by 1.5x. "Soft cap" at 54 (80 when two-handing). Hard cap at 80.

Dexterity (DEX): Weapon damage + cast speed. Soft cap 55. Hard cap 80. Also affects fall damage reduction.

Intelligence (INT): Sorcery scaling. Minimum 40 to use most mid-game spells. 60+ for endgame. 80 for max damage.

Faith (FTH): Incantations + holy damage. 25 for basic buffs. 50 for offensive incantations. 80 for max.

Arcane (ARC): Bleed/occult scaling + item discovery. 45 for max bleed build effectiveness. 60 for Dragon Communion seal.

1.3 Core Mechanics

Grace Sites: Checkpoint system. Resting respawns enemies but restores HP/FP. Sites are marked on the map �?follow the golden light arrows for the main path.

Spirit Ashes: Summonable allies. Found throughout the world. Upgrade at Roderika (Roundtable Hold). Mimic Tear and Black Knife Tiche are the best �?prioritize them.

Ashes of War: Weapon skills that can be swapped between weapons. Each Ash also changes the weapon's scaling (affinity). Standard, Heavy, Keen, Quality, Magic, Fire, Sacred, Poison, Cold, Blood, Occult. The Whetblade for each affinity is found in different regions.

Summoning Pool / Co-op: Use Furlcalling Finger Remedy to see summon signs near Summoning Pools. The Small Golden Effigy sends your sign to all pools in the region.

Complete Area Walkthrough �?Optimal Route

2.1 Limgrave �?The Opening (Level 1-35)

Suggested level for Stormveil Castle: 30+ with +3 weapon.

Priority Order:

1. Church of Elleh: Meet Merchant Kale. Buy crafting kit + lantern. Talk to Renna (appears at night) for the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes.
2. Gatefront Ruins: Get the map fragment (stone pedestal). Find the Whetblade in the underground room behind the stone sword key door.
3. Mistwood: Follow Blaidd's quest. Defeat Darriwil (Evergaol) for the Bloodhound's Fang �?one of the best early weapons.
4. Third Church of Marika (Teleporter to Caelid): Flasks + Sacred Tear in the church. The chest behind the church teleports you to Caelid Divine Tower �?grab the Dectus Medallion (right) and GTFO.
5. Fort Haight: East Limgrave. Bloody Slash Ash of War. Opens access to southern peninsula.
6. Weeping Peninsula: Full optional area south of Limgrave. Get the Golden Vow Ash of War (best buff). Sacred Tears and Golden Seeds galore. Clear this before Stormveil.
7. Stormveil Castle (Main Path): Enter through the main gate (trigger the golem for a distraction). Or the hidden path: left side, jump across rooftops, skip 80% of the castle. Margit the Fell Omen (level 30+). Godrick the Grafted (level 35+).

2.2 Liurnia of the Lakes (Level 35-60)

After Godrick: Go north through the lake. Buy the basic Glintstone spells from Sorceress Sellen (Waypoint Ruins basement) if you're an INT build.

Priority: Caria Manor (northwest �?get the Tower of Liurnia unlocked) �?Raya Lucaria Academy (north-central �?Rennala boss) �?Carian Study Hall (west �?Godskin Noble) �?Ruined Labyrinth (northwest �?Ainsel River access).

Rennala Strategy (Level 45+): Phase 1: Kill the singing students to break Rennala's shield. She's harmless in this phase. Phase 2: Rennala becomes a mage summoner. Rush her immediately �?don't let her summon wolves or dragons. Use bleed weapons (she has low bleed resistance). Summon your own spirit ashes for distraction.

2.3 Caelid & Dragonbarrow (Level 50-70)

Warning: Caelid is scaled for level 60+. Enter carefully. Redmane Castle (south) leads to Radahn.

Radahn Festival Strategy (Level 55+): Use the summon signs on the ground repeatedly �?summon EVERY NPC you can. They do the work while you hit Radahn from range. Mount up for phase 2 (his meteor crash). The best cheese: Rot Breath (dragon incantation) procs scarlet rot in 3 casts and does 50% of his HP over time.

2.4 Altus Plateau & Mountaintops (Level 70-100)

Two entrances: Grand Lift of Dectus (requires both medallion halves) or Ruin-Strewn Precipice (cave climb for early access).

Priority: Leyndell Capital (main path) �?Mountaintops of the Giants (requires killing Morgott) �?Castle Sol (north). Morgott the Grace-Given is at the base of the Erdtree. He's essentially Margit with more HP �?same strats.

2.5 Farum Azula & Endgame (Level 100-140)

After Mountaintops: Melina takes you to Crumbling Farum Azula. This is the endgame gauntlet �?no going back until the final boss is dead. Clear all side content before this.

Maliketh Strategy: Phase 1 (Beast Clergyman): Aggressive, but low poise �?stunlock with jump attacks. Phase 2 (Maliketh): Destined Death reduces your max HP. Stay close and roll INTO his attacks (not away). His AoE is punishing at range.

All 238 Bosses �?Complete Strategy Guide

3.1 Shardbearer Bosses (Main Story)

3.2 Malenia, Blade of Miquella �?The Hardest Boss

Phase 1 Strategy:

• Waterfowl Dance (deadly attack): When she jumps up, RUN directly away for the first flurry, DODGE TOWARD her for the second, roll forward for the third. Practice this �?it's the only way to survive. Alternatively, use a Greatshield + Barricade Shield Ash of War to block it entirely.
• She heals on hit: Even through shields. Don't bother blocking consistently �?dodge or stagger her. Bleed and frost build-up are effective. The Blasphemous Blade's weapon art (Taker's Flames) can stunlock her.
• Poise break: Malenia has very low poise. Two jumping attacks with a greatsword or hammer will stagger her. Use the "Flame of the Redmanes" Ash of War for easy poise breaks.
• Summon Mimic Tear + (fully upgraded). The Mimic draws aggro while you spam bleed or frost attacks. Equip only healing items and your best weapon before summoning �?the Mimic uses what you have.

Phase 2 Strategy:

• She opens with a scarlet rot dive. Sprint sideways. She gains rot attacks and a rot clone that mimics her moves.
• Stay hyper-aggressive. If you give her space, she uses Waterfowl Dance more. Stay close, keep staggering her.
• The rot clone summon is her opening her wings wide �?sprint away and dodge the three clones that spawn.
• Best cheese: Blasphemous Blade + Mimic Tear + 10. Spam weapon art. Malenia can't get off the ground because she's constantly staggered. This is the most consistent kill strategy.

3.3 Remembrance Bosses �?Quick Reference

The 10 Best Builds �?Min-Maxed

4.1 Bleed Build �?Rivers of Blood (DEX/ARC)

Stats (150): VIG 60, MIND 20, END 30, STR 12, DEX 60, INT 7, FTH 10, ARC 45

Weapons: Rivers of Blood (main hand) + Uchigatana (off-hand, occult affinity).

Talismans: Lord of Blood's Exultation (+20% after bleed procs), Shard of Alexander (+15% skill damage), Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (consecutive attack boost), Dragoncrest Greatshield (physical defense).

Rotation: Corpse Piler (L2) does a 3-hit bleed combo. Spam this. Each cast builds bleed fast. With 80 bleed buildup per hit from RoB and 60 from Occult Uchi, bosses bleed every 2-3 L2 combos. This is the highest DPS build in the game against anything that bleeds.

4.2 Pure Strength �?The Unga Bunga

Stats (150): VIG 60, END 40, STR 80, everything else base.

Weapon: Giant-Crusher (heavy-infused) + 2. Yes, two. Powerstance them. Each hit does 850+ damage. Jump attack = 1700 damage.

Talismans: Claw Talisman (+15% jump attacks), Bull-Goat Talisman (poise), Great-Jar's Arsenal (equip load), Dragoncrest Greatshield.

Strategy: Jump attack. That's it. Jump + L1 (both weapons swing). This build turns the game into easy mode. Most bosses stagger in 2-3 jump attacks. Use the "Cragblade" Ash of War for +10% damage and better stagger.

4.3 INT Sorcery Build �?The Glass Cannon

Stats (150): VIG 40, MIND 40, END 20, INT 80, everything else base.

Staff: Carian Regal Scepter +10 (best staff from Rennala's remembrance). Off-hand: Staff of Loss for Night Comet buff.

Spells: Comet Azur (boss delete button), Night Comet (invisible �?enemies don't dodge it), Ranni's Dark Moon (debuff + damage), Adula's Moonblade (melee range).

Comet Azur Cheese: Use Terra Magica + Flask of Wondrous Physik (cerulean hidden tear = no FP cost for 10 seconds). Then cast Comet Azur. It beams for 10 seconds. This kills most bosses outright. Melts anything that doesn't move.

4.4 Faith Incantation �?The Paladin

Stats (150): VIG 50, MIND 30, END 30, STR 30, FTH 60.

Weapon: Blasphemous Blade +10 (skill scales with FTH, heals on kill).

Seal: Giant's Seal (fire incantations +10%) or Godslayer's Seal.

Spells: Golden Vow (best buff, +15% damage, +10% defense), Flame Grant Me Strength (+20% physical/fire), Pest Threads (massive damage on large bosses), Giantsflame Take Thee (nuke).

4.5 Dex/INT Spellblade �?The Moonveil Build

Stats (150): VIG 50, MIND 25, END 25, DEX 50, INT 50.

Weapon: Moonveil Katana +10 (transient moonlight skill does 1000+ with proper stats).

Staff: Academy Glintstone Staff or Carian Regal Scepter.

Rotation: L2 (sheathe) �?R2 (heavy unsheathe attack). The follow-up R2 projectile staggers most enemies. R1 for fast bleed build-up. This build has range, speed, bleed, and magic damage �?no weaknesses.

4.6 Arcane Dragon Communion Build

Stats (150): VIG 50, MIND 25, END 25, FTH 30, ARC 60.

Seal: Dragon Communion Seal +10 (scales with ARC).

Spells: Dragonfire, Agheel's Flame (AoE fire), Rotten Breath/Meteorite of Astel (scarlet rot), Ekzykes's Decay, Placidusax's Ruin.

How to play: Stack ARC and your dragon breath spells hit like trucks. Rotten Breath �?any boss takes 50% HP from rot alone. Dragonfire clears mobs. This is the safest PVE build in the game �?you kill from range while things burn.

Legendary Items �?Full Atlas

5.1 Legendary Armaments (Required for Achievement)

5.2 Best Talismans by Build

• Physical (STR/DEX): Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (best defense), Erdtree's Favor +2 (all stats), Green Turtle Talisman (stamina regen), Claw Talisman (jump attacks) or Bull-Goat (poise).
• Caster (INT/FTH): Graven-Mass Talisman (+8% sorcery/incant), Radagon Icon (+30 virtual DEX = faster cast), Godfrey Icon (+15% charged spells/weapon skills), Magic Scorpion Charm (+12% magic damage, -10% physical defense).
• Bleed (ARC): Lord of Blood's Exultation (+20% after bleed), Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (+13% consecutive attacks), Millicent's Prosthesis (+5 DEX, +5% consecutive), Shard of Alexander (+15% weapon skill).

5.3 Best Spirit Ashes Ranked

All 6 Endings �?How to Unlock

Shadow of the Erdtree �?Complete DLC Guide

7.1 Entering the Land of Shadow

Access: After killing Mohg, Lord of Blood (Mohgwyn Palace). Touch his cocoon. Recommended level: 120+ with a +20+ weapon.

The DLC world uses a separate progression system: Scadutree Blessing. Finding Scadutree Fragments increases your damage dealt and decreases damage taken IN THE DLC ONLY. This makes exploration rewarding even for level 150+ characters.

7.2 Scadutree Fragments �?Priority Locations

• Gravesite Plain (5 fragments): Three are along the main path. One near the first mausoleum. One at the Church of the Pilgrim.
• Belurat/Enir-Ilim (4 fragments): Inside the settlement. Explore all side paths.
• Scadu Altus (6 fragments): Broad area. Check behind large gravestones and inside small ruins.
• Rauh (5 fragments): Underground area. Follow the water flow.
• Abyssal Woods (3 fragments): Silent area �?stay on Torrent.

Blessing Level Target: +6 before Messmer. +10 before the final boss. +15 before the secret boss. Each level adds roughly 10% more damage dealt and 5% less damage taken, up to a significant cap.

7.3 New DLC Bosses

7.4 Promised Consort Radahn �?Final DLC Boss

This is the hardest boss ever created. Do not attempt below Scadutree Blessing +15.

Phase 1: Holy + Gravity attacks. Use Holyproof Dried Livers (physick tear: Opaline Hardtear + Crimsonburst Dried Tear). The cross-slash is his deadliest combo �?roll two times straight backward, then forward. Use a Greatshield (Fingerprint Stone Shield + Shield Grease) if you struggle to dodge.

Phase 2: He gains Miquella's light attacks. His openings are tighter. The triple-light slash is a new one-shot. The sky-light-beam attack = unlock camera and run perpendicular.

Best strategy: Blasphemous Blade + Mimic Tear + Greatshield. Spam Taker's Flames. The stagger from the weapon art prevents him from starting his combos. This is the most consistent and safest kill. Alternatively, Super Heavy Armor + 100% holy resistance (Haligdrake +3 + divine barrier + opaline hardtear) �?face-tank everything and trade damage.

Secrets, Catacombs & Hidden Areas

8.1 Must-Know Secrets

• Nokron, Eternal City: Open by killing Radahn. Meteorite crashes near Mistwood �?the hole leads to the underground.
• Deeproot Depths: Activate the Grand Lift of Rold's secret medallion. Or: fight through the Valiant Gargoyles (Nokron) and take the coffin.
• Haligtree: Complete both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Altus Plateau + Castle Sol). Lift at Grand Lift of Rold: "the secret Haligtree medallion."
• Consecrated Snowfield: Use the Haligtree secret medallion. This area leads to the Haligtree.
• Mohgwyn Palace: Use the Pureblood Knight's Medal (Varre's quest) or the teleporter in Western Consecrated Snowfield.
• Lake of Rot: Follow Ranni's quest past Nokron. Use the coffin at the Ainsel River waterfalls.
• Placidusax (secret boss): In Farum Azula, take the hidden platform near the Great Bridge grace. Lie down at the grave.

8.2 Best Rune Farming Spots

• Early game (1000 runes/min): Farum Greatbridge (Caelid). Vulgar Militiamen outside. Each drops 1,091 runes. Easy backstabs.
• Mid game (10,000 runes/min): Lenne's Rise (Caelid). Night cavalry/Sleeping dragon nearby. Use a bow from a safe spot.
• Late game (100,000+ runes/min): Mohgwyn Palace �?Palace Approach Ledge-road. Use the Sacred Relic Sword's weapon art (wave of gold). One shot clears the whole slope. 40,000 runes per kill with scarab. Complete NG+ for more runes.

Co-op, PVP & Colosseum Guide

9.1 Meta Level for PVP

Standard dueling: RL 125 or 150. The community agrees on these levels for the best matchmaking.

Invasion range: RL 30-60 (low level, Liurnia/Stormveil), RL 60-80 (mid level, Altus/Mountaintops), RL 125-150 (meta, endgame).

9.2 Best PVP Builds

• Dual Nagakiba (DEX): Range + bleed. Jump L1 for the win.
• Moonveil (INT/DEX): Transient Moonlight catches panic rollers.
• Dual Greatspears (STR): Powerstance. High damage. Rollcatch kings.
• Fingerprint Stone Shield + thrusting weapon: The "turtle" build. Shield poke + guard counter.

9.3 Colosseum Guide

The colosseums are in Limgrave (impromptu duels), Caelid (spirit ash combat), and Leyndell (3v3). Best builds for colosseum: Dual straight swords with bleed (fast combos), pure caster (keep distance), and heavy thrusting sword with shield (patient, reactive).

New Game+ & Platinum Guide

10.1 What Carries Over

Levels, gear, spells, ashes of war, talismans, upgrade materials (except bell bearings), and consumables. What resets: Great Runes, Grace Sites, map, NPC quests, and all field items.

10.2 NG+ Optimal Path

NG+ is significantly easier because you keep your gear. Speedrun to the final boss: rush Godrick �?Rennala �?Morgott �?Fire Giant �?Maliketh �?Radabeast. You can skip most optional areas since you already have the gear.

10.3 Achievement Guide (All 42 Achievements)

Need 2 playthroughs minimum (or save-scum): The endings require separate runs or a save backup before the final boss. The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending locks all others �?do it on your dedicated chaos run.

Missable achievements: "Legendary Armaments" (all 9 weapons �?Bolt of Gransax is MISSABLE if you don't grab it before Leyndell becomes ash). "Legendary Sorceries/Incantations/Ashes/Talismans" �?all missable after certain story points. Collect them BEFORE killing Maliketh.

Hardest achievement: "Elden Ring" (all endings) �?requires completing the game 3 times or save-managing before the final boss. NG+ cycles scale up to NG+7 �?damage caps at +40% per cycle.