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For those new to the challenging realm of ‘Soulslike’ games, our beginner’s tips will guide you through your initial hours in ELDEN RING. Learn about character selection, strategies for engaging enemies, and essential advice to navigate the mysterious Lands Between with confidence.

Discovering the ideal character type in ELDEN RING is a matter of aligning with your playstyle. Effectiveness is rooted in how a character manages and inflicts damage, shaped by their unique methods. The character you initially select will possess attributes suited to distinct skillsets, though you can tailor their development by utilizing collected Runes as you progress.

In Elden Ring, common character builds revolve around three main focuses:

1. Power: These builds emphasize hefty weapons and armor, sacrificing speed for durability. While not the most agile, they excel at absorbing damage and dishing out significant blows in fewer strikes.
2. Speed: Geared with lighter equipment, speed builds allow for swift movement around adversaries. Dodging incoming attacks becomes crucial, making this build ideal for those who prioritize agility over taking hits.
3. Magic: For those favoring ranged combat, magic-centered builds provide distance and versatility. Inflict damage from afar with ranged attacks and apply buffs to minimize incoming harm, catering to players who prefer a more strategic approach to engagements.

In Elden Ring, Runes serve as a versatile resource obtained by defeating foes across the Lands Between. These valuable Runes are essential for acquiring items from vendors, enhancing weapons, and most significantly, advancing your character’s capabilities.

Remember, when you die, you’ll drop your collected Runes. Failing to retrieve them before another death means they’re lost forever. Thus, prudent spending and timing are crucial to maximize their utility.

Pro tip: Instead of heavily investing in early-game weapons and armor, prioritize character leveling. Weapons and armor are abundant in the Lands Between, allowing you to focus on bolstering your character’s potential.

Engaging in combat within Elden Ring involves various strategic elements:

• Attacking: When wielding a sword and shield, mastering parrying and ripostes against weaker enemies is essential. Properly timed parrying (L2) can deflect attacks, while executing ripostes (R1) deals substantial damage. Lock onto targets (R3) for improved accuracy, as indicated by a highlighted enemy. Understanding enemy patterns and timing your attacks is crucial for success. Forcing enemies into attacking can create openings.
• Defending: Shield usage is crucial for defense. Select the appropriate shield for specific damage types (physical, fire, magic) when facing different enemies. Maintaining stamina management is vital, as it’s expended during attacks, blocks, rolls, and dodges. Note that stamina regenerates slower when a shield is raised.
• Stamina Management: Monitor your stamina (green bar) to ensure its availability for attacks and defense. Timing actions to prevent exhaustion is crucial. Some enemies also possess stamina that can be depleted with well-placed attacks, leading to vulnerable states.
• Stealth: Leverage the environment to sneak past foes or launch surprise attacks from behind, especially against formidable adversaries.
• Ashes of War: A new feature, Ashes of War, can enhance weapons and shields. Acquired from defeated bosses or found throughout the world, these enhancements offer diverse benefits, such as alternate weapon attacks or automatic targeting for ranged attacks. Keep an eye on the blue gauge, as some Ashes use FP.
• Surviving: As you explore the Lands Between, enemy difficulty varies. Retreat from challenging encounters to regroup, level up, acquire better gear, and return with improved skills and tactics.

Expert tip: Perfect your parrying, utilize the right shield for different foes, and manage stamina wisely for a successful journey through Elden Ring’s challenging battles.