Elden Ring Beginner Guide: Unstoppable Early Build & Limgrave Walkthrough

Since its release in 2022, Elden Ring has captivated gamers worldwide and continues to draw in countless players. However, its overwhelming freedom and unforgiving difficulty often leave many beginner Tarnished wondering what to do in the vast Lands Between, feeling on the verge of giving up. This article is your comprehensive early-game strategy guide. Follow the guidance of grace to efficiently explore Limgrave, acquire powerful equipment, and overcome the first major hurdle: Margit, the Fell Omen.

First, Explore Limgrave and Build Your Adventure's Foundation

Your journey begins in the "Stranded Graveyard." First, learn the basic controls in the tutorial area, the "Cave of Knowledge." Once you emerge above ground, light the "First Step" Site of Grace before you and head northeast, following the guidance of grace. From here, your true adventure begins.

Retrieve Essential Items for Your Adventure

Your top priority in early exploration should be acquiring crucial items that will significantly enhance your adventure. We recommend proceeding with the following steps:

1. Obtain Map Fragment and Whetstone Knife: Head towards the "Gatefront" Site of Grace, and acquire the "Map Fragment: Limgrave, West" from the stone monument along the way. Descend the underground stairs in the nearby "Gatefront Ruins" to find a chest containing the "Whetstone Knife" and the Ash of War "Storm Stomp." This will allow you to equip and change Ashes of War at Sites of Grace.
2. Unlock the Spirit Steed: After activating and resting at three Sites of Grace in Limgrave, Melina will appear. She will enable you to level up and give you the "Spectral Steed Whistle." This allows you to summon your spirit steed, Torrent, for rapid traversal across the vast open world.
3. Prepare to Use Spirit Ashes: If you fast travel to the "Church of Elleh" Site of Grace at night, the witch Ranni (or Renna) will appear and give you the "Spirit Calling Bell" and "Lone Wolf Ashes." This enables you to summon spirits to aid you in boss battles and other encounters.

Beginner's Best! Detailed Guide to the Bleed-Focused "Samurai" Build

While there are various starting classes (origins) in this game, we highly recommend the "Samurai" for beginners. Its starting weapon, the "Uchigatana" katana, is excellent, and its balanced Dexterity and Strength make it a reliable choice from early to late game.

Why is the Samurai Recommended?

The Samurai's starting weapon, the "Uchigatana," has straightforward and easy-to-handle attack animations, and its inherent "Bleed" effect is powerful. When Bleed accumulates on an enemy, it deals significant percentage-based damage, making it easier to contend with tougher foes. Furthermore, its starting stats are efficient, making it particularly well-suited for builds that prioritize Dexterity.

Early Game Stat Allocation Strategy

How you allocate the runes gained from leveling up is crucial for build creation. For the Samurai's early game, follow these guidelines:

• Prioritize Vigor (HP): Your first goal should be to raise Vigor to 25-30. Becoming harder to kill is the most important aspect of conquering this game.
• Ensure Endurance (Stamina/Equip Load): Next, allocate points to Endurance, aiming for around 15-20. This increases your stamina for attacking and dodging, and allows you to wear heavier armor.
• Meet Weapon Requirements: Desired weapons have stat requirements such as Strength and Dexterity. To equip the powerful "Bloodhound's Fang" (discussed later), your early goal should be Strength 18 and Dexterity 17.
• Increase Damage Output: Once you meet the weapon requirements, focus on raising "Dexterity," as it provides high scaling for the Uchigatana and Bloodhound's Fang.

Incredibly Powerful Weapons and Ashes of War Obtainable Early

Limgrave and its surroundings hold some exceptionally powerful equipment that can be acquired from the early game. Obtaining these will make your playthrough significantly easier.

One of the Strongest Early Weapons: "Bloodhound's Fang"

This great curved sword is obtained by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil, the boss of the "Forlorn Hound Evergaol" in the Weeping Peninsula, south of Limgrave. In addition to high physical attack power and a bleed effect, its unique Ash of War, "Bloodhound's Finesse," is incredibly powerful both offensively and defensively. It allows you to dodge enemy attacks with an invincible step while striking, and even follow up with additional attacks. It requires 18 Strength and 17 Dexterity, but it is a weapon well worth the investment.

Ash of War "Bloody Slash" to Accelerate Your Bleed Build

By defeating the knight atop "Fort Haight" in eastern Limgrave, you can obtain the Ash of War "Bloody Slash." Applying this Ash of War to a weapon allows you to unleash a powerful blood slash, consuming a small amount of your HP. Its long reach and high bleed buildup make it an excellent pairing with the Uchigatana. This also enables you to choose the "Blood" affinity for weapon infusions, further enhancing its bleed effect.

Complete Guide to the First Wall: Margit, the Fell Omen

Margit, standing before the gates of Stormveil Castle, is the first major wall that many beginners despair over. However, with sufficient preparation and strategy, you can definitely overcome him.

Preparing for the Margit Fight

• Recommended Level: Aim for around Level 20-25 by exploring Limgrave and leveling up.
• Weapon Upgrades: Upgrade your main weapon to +3 at the smithing table in the Church of Elleh. If you're short on Smithing Stones, gather them in Limgrave Tunnels or other locations.
• Utilize Spirit Ashes: It's highly recommended to use the "Spirit Calling Bell" you obtained to summon the "Jellyfish Spirit Ashes." Their high HP draws enemy attention, significantly increasing your opportunities to attack.
• NPC Cooperation: Before the boss fog, you'll find the summon sign for the cooperative NPC, "Sorcerer Rogier." Summoning him allows you to challenge Margit together, greatly reducing the difficulty.

Combat Tips

Margit's attacks often feature delays, making it easy to get hit if you dodge too hastily. Pay close attention to his movements and focus on rolling to dodge just before an attack lands. If you have the Bloodhound's Fang, utilizing the invincibility frames of its Ash of War, "Bloodhound's Finesse," to evade attacks is also effective. Since bleed accumulation deals significant damage, don't hesitate to keep attacking.

Conclusion

While Elden Ring's early game can often be confusing due to its high degree of freedom, it's designed so that you can steadily grow stronger by setting and achieving goals one by one. Start by enjoying the exploration of Limgrave and unlocking systems like the Spirit Steed and Spirit Ashes. Then, with the "Samurai" build and powerful weapons introduced in this article, your early game progression should become significantly easier. Dying repeatedly is part of the game's appeal. Don't lose heart; keep experimenting, and strive to become the Elden Lord of the Lands Between. May the guidance of grace be with you on your journey.