Introduction
Elden Ring is a massive, unforgiving, and often opaque game. Unlike traditional RPGs, it explains very little and punishes mistakes harshly. This guide collects 50 essential tips that every new player should know — from basic survival strategies to hidden mechanics the game never tells you about. Whether you're fresh out of the tutorial or struggling through Stormveil Castle, these tips will dramatically improve your experience.
Combat & Survival
1. Vigor Is Your Most Important Stat
Level Vigor before anything else. A dead Tarnished deals zero damage. Get Vigor to 20 before touching any other stat, then to 30 by Liurnia, and 40 by Leyndell. At 40 Vigor, you have 1,450 HP — enough to survive most boss combos and learn their patterns instead of being one-shot.
2. Guard Counters Are Insanely Powerful
Hold L1 to block an attack, then immediately press R2. This Guard Counter deals massive poise damage (~30) — enough to stagger most enemies in 2-3 counters. It costs zero FP and works with any shield. The guard counter is your best friend against knights, soldiers, and humanoid enemies.
3. Jump Attacks Deal Extra Poise Damage
Jump + R2 attacks deal ~20% more poise damage than a charged R2 and are much faster to execute. Power-stancing (dual-wielding two weapons of the same type) and pressing L1 while jumping hits 4 times, dealing massive damage and poise.
4. Rolling Gives You Invincibility Frames (i-frames)
Your dodge roll makes you temporarily invincible — you can roll through attacks, not just away from them. Medium roll (<70% equip load) has 13 i-frames at 30 FPS. Heavy roll (>70% equip load) has only 12 frames with a longer recovery. Never fat roll. Always keep your equip load below 70%.
5. You Can Jump Over Ground-Based Attacks
Shockwaves, earthquakes, sweeps, and many ground AoE attacks can be jumped over. Jumping has i-frames for your lower body. Godrick's earthquake, Godfrey's stomps, and Crucible Knight's tail sweep can all be avoided by jumping.
6. Two-Handing Increases Your Effective Strength by 50%
Press Y/Triangle + RB/R1 to two-hand your weapon. This multiplies your Strength by 1.5x for damage calculation and meeting weapon requirements. A weapon requiring 30 Strength can be two-handed at 20 Strength.
7. Backstabbing Is Viable Against Most Humanoids
Sneak behind an enemy (crouch with L3) and press R1 for a backstab. Backstabs deal massive damage, give i-frames during the animation, and leave the enemy on the ground for a follow-up charged R2. Most knights and soldiers are trivialized by backstab fishing.
8. Poise Determines If You Get Staggered
Your total poise (determined by armor) prevents you from being staggered by enemy attacks. 51 poise is the first important breakpoint — it lets you tank one hit from most light weapons without flinching. Aim for heavy-ish armor while staying under 70% equip load.
9. Status Effects Are Game-Changers
- Bleed deals % max HP damage (great vs bosses)
- Frostbite deals burst damage + 20% increased damage taken for 30s
- Scarlet Rot deals damage over time (trivializes many bosses)
- Poison deals minor DoT (mostly useless, except for specific builds)
- Sleep puts enemies to sleep (Godskin Duo's kryptonite)
- Death Blight instant-kills players (only relevant in PvP/specific areas)
10. You Can Respec After Defeating Rennala
After beating Rennala in Raya Lucaria, you can respec your character using a Larval Tear (15+ exist per playthrough). Don't stress about your build — you can reallocate all stats anytime.
Exploration & World
11. Sites of Grace Point Toward Objectives
On the map, some Sites of Grace have golden trails pointing in a direction. These trails point toward the main story objective for that region. Follow them when you're lost.
12. Map Fragments Are Marked on the Map
Open your map in a new region, and you'll see a small obelisk icon in the unexplored fog. That's where the Map Fragment is. Rush to it first in every new area.
13. Look for Churches for Sacred Tears
Every Church in the game contains a Sacred Tear that upgrades your Flask healing. Every Minor Erdtree area has Golden Seeds. Prioritize finding churches and Minor Erdtrees in each region.
14. Mines Are Marked on the Map
Look for dark circular spots with orange outlines on the map — these are mines (tunnels) containing smithing stones. Every region has at least one mine. Clear them for upgrade materials.
15. Torrent Has i-frames During Mount/Dismount
Mounting and dismounting Torrent gives brief invincibility frames. Use mount/dismount to dodge dragon breath attacks when timed correctly.
16. Torrent Can Double-Jump Over Attacks
Press jump twice. The double jump gains extra height and can clear shockwaves, low sweeps, and certain boss attacks. Use it constantly against dragons and mounted enemies.
17. Use Torrent to Revive If You Die While Mounted
If Torrent dies while you're mounted, you can revive him by using a Flask of Crimson Tears — but you must be on the ground. Dismount first.
18. Spirit Springs Launch You Without Fall Damage
Glowing wind jets (Spirit Springs) launch Torrent into the air. You take zero fall damage when landing from a Spirit Spring jump, regardless of height.
19. Crouch to Hide in Tall Grass
Crouching in tall grass or bushes makes you nearly invisible to enemies. Use this to sneak past patrols, set up backstabs, or escape aggro.
20. Lanterns Are Essential
Buy the Lantern from the merchant in the Weeping Peninsula (southern tip of Limgrave) for 1,800 runes. It provides light without occupying a hand slot. Torch is unnecessary after getting the lantern.
Quests & NPCs
21. Exhaust NPC Dialogue — Always
NPCs rarely say everything at once. Talk to every NPC until they repeat themselves. Many quests only progress after exhausting dialogue, resting at a Grace, and talking to them again.
22. NPCs Move Without Warning
Quest NPCs frequently relocate without clear direction. Ranni moves from Ranni's Rise to Renna's Rise. Blaidd wanders across Limgrave, Liurnia, Caelid, and the underground. If an NPC disappears, check their quest wiki page.
23. Don't Kill NPCs Unless You Know What You're Doing
Killing NPCs locks you out of questlines, items, endings, and sometimes entire areas. Varre is the exception (killing him lets you skip his quest to reach Mohgwyn Palace, but you miss his weapon).
24. Merchants Drop Their Bell Bearings
If you kill a merchant (not recommended but available), they drop their Bell Bearing which you can give to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. All their items will then be available in one central location.
25. Roundtable Hold Is Your Hub
Fast-travel to Roundtable Hold (bottom-left corner of the map, separate from the main map). Here you find:
- Blacksmith Hewg: Weapon upgrades
- Roderika: Spirit Ash upgrades
- Twin Maiden Husks: Shop with expanding inventory
- Fia: Hug for Baldachin's Blessing (-5% HP while held)
- Brother Corhyn: Incantation vendor
- Ensha: Don't attack; he's part of a quest
Items & Equipment
26. Keep Your Equip Load Below 70%
Above 70% equip load = "fat rolling" with fewer i-frames and longer recovery. Below 30% = "light rolling" with extra distance and i-frames. Most builds should stay between 30-69% for the sweet spot of defense and mobility.
27. Upgrade Your Weapons Before Leveling Damage Stats
At low upgrade levels, weapon scaling is terrible. A +0 weapon with 80 Strength deals less damage than a +25 weapon with 20 Strength. Prioritize upgrade materials. Weapon level > stat investment until ~+15/+6 Somber.
28. Use the Right Damage Type
- Strike (hammers): +40% vs Crystallians, miners, skeletons
- Slash (swords, katanas): Best vs unarmored/fleshy enemies
- Pierce (spears, thrusting swords): +30% counter damage during enemy attacks
- Fire: Effective vs undead, Erdtree Avatars, hands
- Lightning: Effective vs heavily armored enemies
- Holy: Effective vs undead (prevents resurrection), bad vs endgame bosses
- Magic: Generalist, poor vs Rennala, Crystalians
29. Ashes of War Can Be Freely Swapped
You can add and remove Ashes of War infinitely at any Site of Grace. Experiment freely. Removing an Ash returns the weapon to its original state. You can also duplicate Ashes using Lost Ashes of War items at Hewg.
30. Whetblades Unlock Affinity Options
- Iron Whetblade (Stormveil): Heavy/Keen/Quality
- Glintstone Whetblade (Raya Lucaria): Magic/Cold
- Red-Hot Whetblade (Redmane Castle): Fire/Flame Art
- Sanctified Whetblade (Leyndell): Lightning/Sacred
- Black Whetblade (Nokron): Poison/Blood/Occult
31. Flasks Can Be Upgraded in Two Ways
- Golden Seeds: Increase total Flask charges (max +14 at 30 seeds)
- Sacred Tears: Increase Flask recovery amount (max +12) Always upgrade both. The difference between 4 flasks at +0 and 14 flasks at +12 is staggering.
32. Wondrous Physick Is Game-Changing
Found at the Third Church of Marika (Limgrave). This special Flask combines two Crystal Tears for powerful buffs. The Cerulean Hidden Tear (unlimited FP for 15s) and Opaline Bubbletear (one-hit shield) are S-tier for boss fights.
Spirit Ashes
33. Spirit Ashes Are Summonable Allies
When you see a white gate icon on the left side of the screen, you can summon Spirit Ashes. These NPC allies fight alongside you and can trivialize difficult encounters. Upgrade them with Roderika using Ghost Glovewort (standard) or Grave Glovewort (elite).
34. Best Spirit Ashes by Stage
| Stage | Spirit Ash | FP Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Lone Wolf Ashes | 55 | Renna at Church of Elleh |
| Early | Lhutel the Headless | 104 | Tombsward Catacombs, Weeping Peninsula |
| Mid | Omenkiller Rollo | 113 | Fell Twins boss, Altus |
| Mid | Mimic Tear | HP (not FP) | Nokron, behind Stonesword Key fog |
| Late | Black Knife Tiche | 132 | Ringleader's Evergaol, Moonlight Altar |
| DLC | Taylew the Golem Smith | — | Taylew's Ruined Forge |
35. Mimic Tear Is the Best Spirit Ash
The Mimic Tear (found in Nokron, Night's Sacred Ground) copies your exact equipment, spells, and stats. At +10, it has more HP than you and uses your entire loadout perfectly. Costs HP (660) instead of FP. Give it healing items (Raw Meat Dumplings, Warming Stones) and it will heal itself.
Boss-Specific
36. You Can Skip the Tree Sentinel
The mounted Tree Sentinel at The First Step is meant to teach you that not everything needs to be fought immediately. Come back at Level 20+ with Torrent and a +3 weapon.
37. Margit's Shackle Is Sold by Patches
In Murkwater Cave (Limgrave river, north of Agheel Lake), Patches sells Margit's Shackle for 5,000 runes. This item stuns Margit twice during phase 1, giving you massive free damage windows.
38. Morgott Also Has a Shackle
After Patches moves to Volcano Manor (or reappears at Murkwater Cave), he sells Morgott's Shackle for 5,000 runes. Works identically to Margit's Shackle against Morgott.
39. Melina Can Be Summoned for Morgott
Before Morgott's fog gate, a gold summon sign for Melina appears. She's a powerful ally with healing incantations.
40. Godrick's Phase 2 Dragon Fire
When Godrick grafts the dragon head, the safe zone is behind him. Sprint to his back when he raises the dragon head. He has no backward attacks — you get 4+ free heavy attacks.
Secret Mechanics
41. Illusory Walls Require Attacking
Unlike Dark Souls (where you roll/attack walls), Elden Ring's illusory walls require a single melee attack to dispel. Some require 50 hits (Volcano Manor hidden wall to Rykard — but that has a shorter alternate path).
42. You Can Fast-Travel From Almost Anywhere
Open the map and select any activated Site of Grace to fast-travel. You cannot fast-travel from inside dungeons/catacombs (must reach the entrance) or during combat.
43. Stakes of Marika Are Respawning Checkpoints
Small statues near boss arenas and dangerous areas. Dying returns you to the nearest Stake of Marika instead of the last Grace. Activate every Stake you find.
44. Nighttime Changes Enemy Spawns
Some enemies and NPCs only appear at night:
- Night's Cavalry: Field bosses that patrol major roads
- Death Rite Birds: Powerful field bosses in specific locations
- Bell Bearing Hunters: Appear at certain merchant shacks at night
45. You Can Change Time of Day at Sites of Grace
Rest at any Site of Grace and select "Pass Time" to change between morning, noon, and night.
46. Great Runes Must Be Activated and Equipped
Killing a shardbearer gives you a Great Rune, but it's inert. You must:
- Go to the corresponding Divine Tower to activate it
- Equip it at a Site of Grace
- Use a Rune Arc to enable its effect (lasts until death)
47. Rune Arcs Are Limited — Use Wisely
Rune Arcs enable your equipped Great Rune and add a small HP bonus. They're farmable from rats, but the drop rate is ~1%. Save them for challenging boss fights, not exploration.
48. Memory of Grace Returns Your Runes
Activating the Memory of Grace (use the item from your inventory) returns you to the last Site of Grace at the cost of all held runes — useful if you're stuck in a death loop. It's the equivalent of the Darksign from previous games.
49. Fall Damage Is Non-Linear
Fall damage is calculated strangely: falls under 16 meters = zero damage. Falls at 16-19.9 meters = half HP. Falls at 20+ meters = instant death. Rainbow Stones (craftable) can test fall safety — if the stone breaks on landing, you'll die. If it lands intact, you'll survive.
50. You Can Pause the Game (Sort Of)
Open the Menu Explanation screen (Inventory → Help → Menu Explanation). This pauses the game. Useful for reading item descriptions mid-combat or when you need a bathroom break.
These 50 tips cover the essential knowledge gap between a struggling new player and a competent Tarnished. Remember: dying is not failure — it's the learning process. Every death teaches you something about enemy patterns, arena layouts, or your own build's weaknesses. You've got this.
