Elden Ring Guides Hub: Classes, Summons, And More

After years of anticipation, Elden Ring has arrived, and if you've read the reviews, there is a good chance you've started playing. It's not going to be easy, but you don't need to just struggle with the same challenges for hours. We have guides to help you out, and this hub should act as your all-in-one link for helpful tips, secrets, and more as you venture across the Lands Between. Bookmark it before you jump in, then follow along as we continue to build it out with more guides in the hours, days, weeks--maybe even months--ahead.

Elden Ring: Which class is best for you?

Your very first move in the game is going to be deciding on a character class. Elden Ring's class list is extensive and varied, with both blatant and more nuanced tweaks that can be the determining factors for all sorts of players. Use our Elden Ring class guide to better understand what each class brings to the table, then pick the one that best suits your play style.

Keepsakes

As you pick your character, you'll also need to decide on a Keepsake, which are akin to Gifts in Dark Souls. These early items can be a big boon or a waste of time, so here's a list of the best Keepsakes in Elden Ring.

Stats and leveling explained

Where you pour your skill points is up to you, but there are better or worse ways to do this, so don't waste your vaulable time by making ineffective characters. Read this to better understand stats and leveling in Elden Ring.

Tips for beginners

Once you're in The Lands Between, the world won't wait to hurt you. Take our Elden Ring tips for beginners to ensure you have a greater chance of survival.

What to do and where to go first

From Software games can be extremely dizzying, so we've laid out the optimal route for your first few hours of the game. Here's what to do first in Elden Ring.

Early shortcut in Limgrave

Soulsborne games are famous for their hidden passages that can help you get around the world more easily, and Elden Ring is no exception. Here's how to skip the game's first main boss and arrive in Liurnia early.

Best weapons

Even the most adept players on the controller won't get far without some deadly weapons of their own. Here's where to find a few choice weapons early in Limgrave, including the coveted Twinblade. Later on, you'll want to look for an assortment of other weapons for all builds. We've got guides on where to find choice weapons such as:

• Meteorite Staff
• Rivers of Blood Katana
• Ordovis' Greatsword
• Moonveil Katana
• Icerind Hatchet
• Ghiza's Wheel
• Sword of Night and Flame
• Uchigatana
• Winged Scythe

Guts Dragonslayer Greatsword from Berserk

One of Elden Ring's many influences is the beloved anime, Berserk. You can even find the special sword from the series if you know where to look. Here's everything about the Guts Dragonslayer Greatsword in Elden Ring.

How to upgrade weapons

If you've managed to find some great early weapons, you should seek to make them even better by upgrading them. The process is a bit tricky and easy to miss, so don't miss it! For that matter, you'll also need the Miner's Bell Bearing.

Smithing Stone locations

Once you know how to upgrade weapons, you'll want to know where to find those all-important Smithing Stones. We've found a ton already, and we'll be showcasing more as we discover them. Here's all Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones so far.

Spirit Calling Bell

You can rely on summons to aid you in combat, but not if you miss this early opportunity to find the all-important Spirit Calling Bell. Here's where to find it.

Best early Rune farming spots

One of the best ways to level up quickly is to farm Runes from more approachable locations. The early hours of Elden Ring has several of these. Take note and you'll have deep pockets in no time. We've made a special note of the 80K Rune dragon you can slay too--it doesn't even put up a fight.

Flasks explained

Elden Ring adds some wrinkles to the familiar flask system From Software players will be familiar with, so it's important to understand what's different and what remains the same. Here's all you need to know about flasks.

Golden Seed and Sacred Tear locations

Your flask in Elden Ring is arguably more important than ever. You can customize it to suit your play style in special ways, so be sure to find Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears in these locations.

Grave Gloveworts and Ghost Gloveworts locations

For some weapons, you'll need Grave and Ghost Gloveworts, but these are also hard to find--what isn't in this game? Here's where to find Grave Gloveworts and Ghost Gloveworts.

Important early items to get

Ashes of War are important character buffs that you can stumble upon to enhance your hero. You'll not want to miss them, so be sure to find a few of the earliest in the game, including Unsheathe, Determination, and Gravitas. Aside from those, you should also be sure to grab your first torch for exploring dark areas, as well as your first map fragment, which acts as a tutorial on how to reveal the map.

Margit The Fell Omen boss battle

Your first mainline boss will be the towering Margit. They're imposing as most monsters in a From game are, but they can be made easier to defeat with a few simple tricks. Here's how to defeat the first boss in Elden Ring.

Stuck on a boss? Try this!

The first two bosses of Elden Ring are there to teach you to explore first, fight later. If you're stuck, there's a lot you can do to improve your chances against Margit or Godrick, the game's first two main bosses. Here are some tips to help you out.

Radahn boss battle

As tough as Margit and Godrick may be, most people would argue that they've got nothing on Radahn. But there's one way you can take him down very easily. Here's how to beat Radahn.

More bosses and tough enemies

Of course, there's no shortage of unforgiving enemies in Elden Ring. Here's a collection of several more guides in case you're stuck.

• Commander Niall
• Rykard, Of Blasphemy
• Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
• Commander O'Neil

Mimic Tear

The Mimic Tear is one of the best Spirit Ashes in the game--some would say it's alone at the top--so you should make an effort to grab it. Here's where to grab the Mimic Tear and why you should.

Great Runes

Defeating bosses will grant you Great Runes, but what they do and how to activate them is, like most of the game, not so clear. Here's all you need to know about Great Runes.

How to respec

Should you find your build to be lacking, or perhaps you just want to try something new, you can respec--reassign skill points--in Elden Ring. However, like always with a From Software game, the process is a bit confusing. Here's how to respec in Elden Ring.

How to change your appearance

If you'd rather change your hero cosmetically, you can do that too. You'll just need to make it a few hours into the game first. Here's how to change your appearance in Elden Ring.

How to play co-op

Elden Ring can be played fully in co-op, but the system is a bit convoluted--per tradition. Here's how to play Elden Ring in co-op, so you can join friends and make new ones.

Rainbow Stones explained

Dying to a tough enemy is expected. Dying to gravity is more of a slap in the face. Avoid fatal fall damage by using this one common but confusing item: Rainbow Stones.

How to get a horse

Elden Ring gives players From Software's biggest world yet, so you're best off using your trusty steed whenever it's safe to do so. Here's how to initially receive and eventually summon your horse.

How to two-hand weapons

Two-handing weapons in the right situations can be the deciding factor between life and death. If you're confused about how to use weapons in this way, don't sweat it. Here's how to two-hand weapons, plus an explainer about why you should sometimes consider doing so.

How to cure poison

Don't let your HP tick away from poison damage while exploring the Lands Between. You can quickly cure poison if you know how, so here's how!

Faster Vagabond rolling

If you chose a Vagabond character, you're going to be saddled with a slower roll ability than most, but there's a quick fix, so don't miss it. Here's how to remove the rolling penalty from your Vagabond hero.

Tree Sentinel boss guide

The Tree Sentinel is an intimidating roaming boss you'll come across early on in the game. if you'd rather face them head-on than run from them over and over, here's how to defeat the Tree Sentinel.

We're not nearly done with Elden Ring coverage. It's the biggest game of the year so far, and it might just end up that way come December, too. Keep it here as we update this hub for all things Elden Ring.

Fia's offer: Let her hold you or not?

When you first arrive in Roundtable Hold, you'll meet several friendly NPCs. One of them, Fia, offers to give you a very special hug. Here's what happens next, so you can decide whether to let Fia hold you or not.

NPC questlines

Questlines in Elden Ring are among the most confusing elements of the game, but they don't have to be. Here are all of our walkthroughs for the many people you'll meet in the Lands Between.

• Rogier questline
• Hyetta questline
• Ranni The Witch questline
• Rya questline
• Dung Eater questline
• Millicent questline

How to unlock all endings

Elden Ring has several different endings, and each one requires very specific things. Luckily, not only do we have a guide on how to unlock all endings, we can also help you know when to save scum so you can see all endings in one go. Just make sure you pay extra attention to the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.

New Game Plus (NG+)

Continuing a long-standing tradition for From Software games, Elden Ring does have a NG+ mode. Here's how to access it, what carries over, and what doesn't.