INDEPENDENT ELDEN RING GUIDES

Rise, Tarnished — conquer the Lands Between

Practical tips, boss breakdowns and build guides to carry you from Limgrave to the Elden Throne. No fluff, no spoilers you didn't ask for.

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// At a glance

Elden Ring at a glance

DeveloperFromSoftware
ReleasedFeb 25, 2022
PlatformsPS4/PS5 · Xbox One/Series · PC
GenreAction RPG · Soulslike
ExpansionShadow of the Erdtree (Jun 21, 2024)
DifficultyNotoriously tough
// Start here

Elden Ring guides

Hand-picked guides to get you going. New ones added regularly.

01
Boss Guide

How to beat Mohg

Survive the Nihil bleed nuke and the flying phase 2 at Mohgwyn Palace.

9 min read · Jul 12, 2026READ →
02
Multiplayer

Co-op multiplayer guide

Everything about summoning friends, matchmaking ranges, and invasion basics.

11 min read · Jul 11, 2026READ →
03
Character Building

Stat soft caps guide

Where every stat's returns fall off — and where to stop investing.

10 min read · Jul 4, 2026READ →
04
Build Tips

Best talismans for every build

Universal must-haves, top damage picks, and the strongest choices for bleed, caster, and strength builds.

9 min read · Jul 3, 2026READ →
05
Tool

Boss checklist

All required and remembrance bosses — base game and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC — with region groups and progress tracking.

6 min read · Jul 3, 2026READ →
06
Gear

Best armor sets

How equip load thresholds work, top picks for every playstyle, and where to get each set.

9 min read · Jul 3, 2026READ →
07
Tool

Rune Level Calculator

Calculate exactly how many runes you need between any two levels — plus a rune budget planner.

5 min read · Jul 3, 2026READ →
08
New Game Plus

New Game Plus Guide

What carries over into NG+, what resets, and how much tougher enemies and bosses actually get.

8 min read · Jul 3, 2026READ →
09
Gear

How to Upgrade Weapons

Smithing Stones vs Somber Stones, Bell Bearing locations, and why focusing on one weapon wins fights faster.

9 min read · Jul 2, 2026READ →
10
Boss Guide

How to beat Starscourge Radahn

Festival access, gravity arrow survival, meteor phase 2, and the Scarlet Rot shortcut.

8 min read · Jul 1, 2026READ →
11
Farming

Rune Farming Guide

Best locations at every stage — Mohgwyn Palace bird, Albinauric cluster, and DLC methods.

9 min read · Jun 30, 2026READ →
12
Builds

Best starting class

Vagabond, Astrologer and the rest — which to pick for your playstyle.

6 min read · Jun 29, 2026READ →
13
Boss

How to beat Malenia

Waterfowl Dance dodges, the lifesteal trap and a phase-2 Scarlet Rot plan.

8 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
14
DLC

Access Shadow of the Erdtree

Beat Radahn and Mohg, touch the cocoon, and enter the Land of Shadow.

7 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
15
Summons

Best spirit ashes

Top picks ranked, how to summon, and how to upgrade them with Glovewort.

8 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
16
Builds

How to respec

Unlock Rebirth at Rennala and where to find Larval Tears.

8 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
17
DLC

Scadutree Fragments

The DLC power-up — where to find them and why your Blessing level matters.

7 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
18
Combat

How to parry

The best shields, the timing, and which attacks you can't parry.

7 min read · Jun 26, 2026READ →
Secrets

Secrets & easter eggs

Hidden things the community discovered — worth knowing.

8 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
20
Beginner

Beginner guide: first 10 things to do

Where to go, what to grab and how to stop dying in the opening hours.

9 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
21
Boss

How to beat Margit, the Fell Omen

The first big wall — patterns, timings and the item that trivialises him.

7 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
22
Builds

Best builds

Strength, Bleed, Faith and more — which to run and why.

9 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
23
Weapons

Best weapons

The standout armaments that carry runs from mid-game on.

8 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
24
Leveling

Rune farming

Level up fast — the talisman and spots that speed it up.

7 min read · Jun 25, 2026READ →
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// FAQ

Quick answers

Is Elden Ring too hard for beginners?

Elden Ring is demanding, but it's designed to be explored rather than bulldozed. If a boss or area is destroying you, the open world is your friend — ride somewhere else, level up, find better gear, then come back. The difficulty curve is real, but it's never a brick wall you can't go around.

What is the best starting class for new players?

The Vagabond is the most forgiving starting class for newcomers — high starting health, decent armour and a reliable sword mean you can learn the combat without dying in two hits. The Hero is a similar tanky choice. Spellcaster classes like the Astrologer are powerful but require more knowledge of how FP and stamina management work.

Can you pause Elden Ring?

There is no dedicated pause button by default, but you can effectively pause by opening the menu and then selecting "Quit Game" — enemies freeze while you are in that confirmation screen. A common workaround is to open your Equipment or Map screen to buy a few seconds of safety, though enemies can still act while those menus are open.

How does multiplayer work in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring supports both co-op and PvP. To summon a friend, both players need a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to see gold summon signs on the ground, and the summoned player must use a Tarnished's Furled Finger to place their sign. Multiplayer is area-restricted — you cannot ride Torrent and some story triggers end the session. PvP invasions can happen whenever you are in a co-op session in most areas.

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