ELDEN RING Beginner's Guide: Overcome Early Frustrations and Survive

FromSoftware's masterpiece action RPG ELDEN RING, crowned Game of the Year in 2022 and recipient of numerous other accolades. Its overwhelming world and challenging combat continue to captivate many players. However, its high degree of freedom and unforgiving difficulty often pose a significant barrier for series newcomers. "I don't know where to start," "Enemies are too strong to progress"—to such struggling Tarnished, we offer a practical survival guide for the Lands Between. By reading this article, you should be able to overcome early-game obstacles and experience the true joy of adventure.

First Things First! Regret-Free Class Selection and Early-Game Stat Allocation

Character creation is the first step of your adventure. The "class" you choose here determines your starting stats and equipment, significantly influencing your subsequent build path. While any build is ultimately possible, selecting the right class is crucial for a smooth early game.

Recommended Classes: Samurai and Astrologer

Recommended classes for beginners are "Samurai" and "Astrologer".
Samurai comes with the Uchigatana, an excellent starting katana. It inflicts blood loss, has a good balance of attack range and speed, making it viable from early to late game. Additionally, it carries a Longbow for ranged attacks, making it adaptable to many situations.
Astrologer is recommended for those who prefer to attack with sorceries from a distance. Fighting safely while keeping enemies at bay makes it relatively easier even for players less skilled at action games. The starting sorcery, "Glintstone Pebble," is also fuel-efficient and extremely useful for early-game progression.

Early-Game Stat Allocation: Prioritize Vigor

Deciding where to allocate runes obtained from leveling up is a common dilemma. The most important stat in the early game is "Vigor." In this game, high attack power is meaningless if you get one-shot by an enemy. Increasing HP allows you to withstand multiple enemy attacks, dramatically improving combat stability. Aim to raise Vigor to around 30-40 first. After that, meet the minimum stat requirements for your desired weapon (Strength, Dexterity, etc.) and gradually increase your damage output.

Explore Vast Limgrave! Priority Items and Ashes of War to Acquire

The first area, Limgrave, is vast, but exploring and strengthening your character before rushing through the story is key to progression. Prioritize obtaining the following items, as they significantly impact the difficulty of your adventure.

Adventure Essentials

• Spectral Steed Whistle: An essential item to summon Torrent, your spectral steed, for fast travel across the vast map. Obtain it from Melina during an event that occurs when you rest at the "Gatefront" Site of Grace.
• Spirit Calling Bell and Spirit Ashes: Important items that allow you to summon spirits to fight alongside you. After obtaining the Spectral Steed, visit the "Church of Elleh" at night, where the witch Renna (Ranni) will appear and give you the "Spirit Calling Bell" and "Lone Wolf Ashes."
• Map Fragments: Found at steles throughout the land, they reveal detailed sections of the map. Prioritize finding these to understand the surrounding geography.
• Sacred Flask Upgrade Items: Flasks of crimson (HP) and cerulean (FP) tears can have their uses increased with "Golden Seeds" and their potency improved with "Sacred Tears." These are mainly found at the base of Minor Erdtrees or in churches, so be sure to stop by if you see them.

Powerful Early-Game Equipment and Ashes of War

• Bloodhound's Fang: A great curved sword obtainable by defeating the boss in the "Forlorn Hound Evergaol" in southern Limgrave. It boasts high physical attack power and a blood loss effect, plus its unique Ash of War, "Bloodhound's Step," which allows for a movement attack with invincibility frames, is incredibly powerful.
• Meteorite Staff: An essential staff for sorcery builds. Found in the "Street of Sages Ruins" in Caelid, it boasts an extremely high S-scaling in Intelligence, offering exceptional performance for the early game.
• Ash of War "Flame of the Redmanes": Obtained by defeating an invisible scarab near the "Fort Gael North" Site of Grace in Caelid. This Ash of War releases flames forward that easily stagger enemies, making it effective against many bosses.

Overcome the First Wall: Margit, the Fell Omen!

Many beginners first get discouraged by "Margit, the Fell Omen," the boss guarding the entrance to Stormveil Castle. However, with adequate preparation and strategy, you can definitely overcome him.

Recommended Level and Preparation

The recommended level for challenging Margit is 20-25, and your weapon's upgrade level should be around +2 to +3. If you lack runes, try the rune farming methods described later. Additionally, purchasing "Margit's Shackle" from Patches in "Murkwater Cave" in Limgrave can temporarily immobilize Margit during combat, creating a significant opening.

Utilizing Spirits and NPCs

In the Margit fight, you can summon spirits. "Spirit Jellyfish Ashes" are particularly recommended. With high HP, it makes an excellent tank, drawing the enemy's attention. Furthermore, a summon sign for the cooperative NPC "Sorcerer Rogier" is available before the boss fog, allowing you to create a 2-on-1 situation. Actively attack when you are not the target.

Attack Patterns and Strategy

Margit's attacks often have delays, making hasty dodges prone to getting hit. Pay close attention to his movements and focus on rolling just before an attack lands. Guarding with a 100% physical damage reduction shield is also effective, but be mindful of your stamina management. Opportunities to attack often arise after his two-hit staff combo or after he throws a dagger. Don't get greedy; strict hit-and-run tactics, attacking once or twice then immediately backing off, are the path to victory.

Accelerate Leveling with Efficient Rune Farming

When you just can't win, leveling up is the easiest and most reliable solution. Here are a few recommended early-game rune farming spots.

Limgrave: Giants East of "Gatefront"

Five giants wander east of the "Gatefront" Site of Grace. Each drops 1,000 runes, and you can defeat them relatively safely by fighting on horseback. Attack while mounted, and dodge the giants' attacks by dashing away.

Caelid: Elder Dragon Greyoll near "Fort Faroth"

For even greater efficiency, the colossal white dragon "Greyoll" near the "Fort Faroth" Site of Grace in Caelid is recommended. This dragon will not attack you directly; you can defeat it simply by continuously attacking. Due to its extremely high HP, it's efficient to attack with weapons that inflict blood loss, such as the starting Uchigatana. Defeating it grants approximately 50,000 runes, an exceptional amount for the early game.

Conclusion

The early stages of ELDEN RING can certainly be a continuous series of challenges. However, the sense of accomplishment you feel after overcoming each obstacle is a unique and extraordinary experience unmatched by other games. Refer to the strategies introduced in this article, and first, don't be afraid to try various things without fear of death. Choose a class you won't regret, raise your Vigor to increase your survival rate, obtain powerful items through exploration, and then challenge Margit with thorough preparation. By following these steps, your Tarnished's journey will surely transform from despair to hope. Now, survive the Lands Between and aspire to become the Elden Lord!