Elden Ring Ultimate Guide – Builds, Boss Strategies, and Exploration Tips for the Lands Between
Getting Started: The Basics
Before diving into specific builds or strategies, it's important to understand Elden Ring’s core mechanics:
Stamina, HP, FP: Your green bar (stamina) governs rolls, attacks, and blocking. Red is HP, blue is FP (for spells and skills).
Grace Sites: These serve as checkpoints and fast-travel locations. Always activate every one you find.
Runes: The game’s currency and experience points. Dying loses them—twice and they're gone for good.
From the start, you can travel almost anywhere. But beware: freedom does not mean readiness. Some areas will flatten you in seconds. Follow the Guidance of Grace for a more manageable path.
Top Builds for Every Playstyle
Elden Ring allows for incredible build variety. Here are three powerful yet beginner-accessible options:
1. Strength Build: The Colossal Crusher
Starting Class: Hero or Vagabond
Stats to Focus: Strength, Vigor, Endurance
Recommended Weapon: Greatsword, Giant-Crusher, Ruins Greatsword
Armor: Bull-Goat or Veteran’s Set
Talisman: Radagon’s Scarseal, Green Turtle Talisman
Playstyle: Tanky and high damage, you can take hits and trade blows. Prioritize poise and stamina recovery. Use charged heavy attacks to stagger enemies and follow up with critical hits.
2. Dexterity/Intelligence Hybrid: The Spellblade
Starting Class: Prisoner or Astrologer
Stats to Focus: Dexterity, Intelligence, Mind
Recommended Weapon: Moonveil, Sword of Night and Flame
Armor: Raya Lucaria Robes, Carian Knight Set
Talisman: Magic Scorpion Charm, Graven-School Talisman
Playstyle: A nimble caster that also uses fast melee weapons. Moonveil's weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, is powerful early and scales well. Use spells like Glintstone Pebble and Carian Piercer for ranged control.
3. Faith Build: The Holy Warrior
Starting Class: Prophet or Confessor
Stats to Focus: Faith, Vigor, Mind
Recommended Weapon: Blasphemous Blade, Erdtree Seal
Armor: Tree Sentinel Set or Confessor Robes
Talisman: Flock’s Canvas Talisman, Fire Scorpion Charm
Playstyle: Mixes powerful incantations with strong melee. Focus on healing, buffs, and fire/lightning-based damage. The Blasphemous Blade’s weapon art is one of the best for boss fights.
Boss Strategies: Overcoming the Game’s Toughest Foes
Elden Ring’s bosses are punishing—but not impossible. Here are universal strategies, plus advice for a few standout fights.
General Tips for Boss Fights
Summons Help: Spirit Ashes (like Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche) are invaluable. They tank, distract, and deal damage.
Study Patterns: Bosses have clear tells. Learn attack timings and dodge windows before going aggressive.
Buff Before Entry: Cast weapon buffs, summon spirits, and heal up before entering a fog gate.
Margit, the Fell Omen
Location: Stormveil Castle Entrance
Tips: Use Spirit Ashes to draw aggro. Roll into his attacks, not away. Parrying is possible but risky. Magic builds can stay at range and poke with spells.
Radahn, Starscourge
Location: Redmane Castle Festival
Tips: Use all the NPC summons—they constantly respawn. Fight on horseback to match his speed. After his gravity phase, be ready for a dive-bomb attack from the sky. Use ranged damage when possible.
Malenia, Blade of Miquella
Location: Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
Tips: Possibly the hardest boss in the game. She heals when hitting you, even on block. Use bleed builds (Rivers of Blood) or strong Spirit Ashes like Tiche. Avoid rolling toward her during Waterfowl Dance—run instead.
Exploration Tips: Survive and Discover the Lands Between
1. Don’t Rush
Every region is packed with secrets—hidden caves, powerful NPCs, and lore-rich items. Take your time. Revisit earlier areas with new abilities (like a lantern or higher jump) to find missed content.
2. Use Torrent Often
Your spectral steed, Torrent, is essential for fast travel and mounted combat. He can double-jump, avoid traps, and cheese many overworld bosses. Use him wisely, especially in open zones like Caelid or Altus Plateau.
3. Map Fragments Are Key
You start with a fogged-out world map. Look for small stone monoliths near roads—these unlock full area maps and make navigation far easier.
4. Upgrade Regularly
Use Smithing Stones to upgrade weapons at the Roundtable Hold or an anvil. Your damage scales more from upgrades than level-ups early on. Don’t hoard stones—use them.
5. NPC Quests Matter
Characters like Ranni, Fia, and Iron Fist Alexander offer some of the best rewards and endings. Keep track of their locations, dialogue, and quest status. Some quests are time-sensitive or locked behind specific progress.
6. Beware of Traps
FromSoftware loves surprises. Illusory walls, trap chests, and enemy ambushes abound. Tap walls in suspicious places, and be wary of seemingly “safe” rooms.
Endgame and New Game+
After defeating the final boss, you’ll get the option to begin New Game+. Enemies get tougher, but you keep most gear, stats, and spells. It’s a great way to try a different build while exploring alternate endings.
Before NG+, consider:
Finishing NPC quests
Defeating secret bosses (Mohg, Malenia, Lichdragon Fortissax)
Exploring optional areas (Haligtree, Deeproot Depths, Subterranean Shunning-Grounds)
Final Thoughts
Elden Ring doesn’t hold your hand, but that’s what makes it unforgettable. Its sense of discovery, its freedom of approach, and buy Elden Ring Runes the satisfaction of conquering what once felt impossible—these are what define the journey through the Lands Between.
Whether you crush enemies with strength, outmaneuver with dexterity, or call down holy fire, the key to success is patience, experimentation, and learning from defeat. With the guidance in this guide, you’re equipped to become not just a Tarnished—but an Elden Lord.