Elden Ring is the biggest surprise success in FromSoftware's long line of critically regarded games. Each of their games has its own notoriety, and Elden Ring was (and will be) many gamers' introduction to the Soulsborne subgenre. Each game by FromSoftware has its own set of difficulties, but throughout the years, they've all gotten easier on newcomers.
Due to a variety of new features, most of which revolve around the game's open environment, Elden Ring is the most approachable for first-time players. There are a few things you need to know before you embark on this incredible adventure.
There will be many deaths.
Although Elden Ring is generally easier than previous Soulsborne games, you should still expect to die and learn from your mistakes if you want to get the most out of it. It makes no difference how many times the boss kicks you when you're down. Getting back up and continuing to educate yourself is what really important. Consider what you could have done differently in your previous effort. There is a special kind of satisfaction that can only be found in video games when you finally beat a challenging boss after memorizing their moves via numerous attempts.
The emphasis in FromSoftware games is on environmental storytelling, with minimal reliance on a guiding plotline. Even if the main story in Elden Ring is the easiest to follow of all their games, it is still largely incomprehensible. It's up to you to figure out what's going on in the world as you meet a wide variety of NPCs, each with their own peculiar goals. Try to get as much conversation out of as many people as possible. Make sure to read the descriptions of the Elden Ring items you find; everything has a purpose, and each one contains a fresh piece of lore for you to uncover and put together.
Worrying Too Much About How Your First Course Went
Although choosing a starting class may seem like a major decision at first, you're really only settling on a few things and a base stat set. If you start out as a warrior but end up switching to a sorcerer build, that's fine; you get to allocate experience points anyway you see fit. After fighting Liurnia of the Lakes, the game's last boss, you'll unlock a second chance to re-roll stats.
Moreover, you can get all of the gear for your beginning class eventually, though some of it (like the Vagabond Knight armor set) doesn't become available until a shockingly late point in the game. That's fantastic if you feel drawn to a specific subject area. If it doesn't, don't stress over it. Find out what kind of Tarnished you wish to be as you go.
Research Is Necessary Before Buying That Keepsake
As part of the character creation process, you'll have to decide on a Keepsake. Although you are free to select no option, you may find that some of the available choices are useful in the beginning. As an illustration, the Golden Seed, when planted at a spot of grace, provides the bearer with an additional Flask (for healing or magic) almost immediately. There are plenty of Golden Seeds to be found throughout the game, so having an extra flask isn't essential, but it can be helpful early on. One more excellent option is the Stonesword Key, which can be used once to unlock doors to side rooms and minidungeons. Like the Golden Seed, having the opportunity to do so is more important than actually making the proper decision, as there are more Stonesword Keys in the game than closed doors.
Never Be Without a Gun
Keep a ranged weapon ready even if you plan on using melee attacks most of the time. While it may seem hard to take on a whole group of opponents at once, using a ranged weapon to pull off one or two at a time can make the engagement much more doable. FromSoftware games emphasize strategy and planning in combat as much as raw skill. You will also face flying foes, which are considerably simpler to deal with if you can drag them or defeat them at a distance.
Take the road less traveled, the one paved with gold.
Elden Ring is best discovered at your own pace, but if you wish to meet Melina in the Gatefront Ruins, you should visit the first few sites of grace by following the Guidance of Grace. She bestows the ability to gain experience at any place of grace and supplies the trusty steed (Torrent), both of which greatly facilitate exploration.
After you have Torrent, you should go back to the Church of Elleh at night to see Renna the Witch. Renna becomes pivotal to one of the game's multiple endings, but the real reason you want to meet her here is so that she may give you the Spirit Calling Bell, which is essential for summoning Spirit Ashes and using them effectively against bosses.
An Explanation of How Runes Function
When you die, you'll lose all of your Runes, the game's universal currency. If you want to continue playing, you'll have to go out and get them back. Lost Runes are irretrievable if you perish again without picking them up. It's preferable not to have to deal with this, but it's possible. To each his own. A component of the experience and the risk-versus-reward dynamic of the game is the possibility of losing. Runes should be used in advance of a boss fight, whether to quickly level up or stock up on arrows or another dull but useful resource. If you never have to worry about regaining your Runes between attempts, you'll be able to put all of your attention on the battle at hand.