Whether Elden Ring is a player's first Soulslike or not, it's easy to become overwhelmed by many features, additions and activities found within the sprawling realm of The Lands Between. The setting of developer FromSoftware's latest game can feel alien and, at times, it may take a while to wrap one's head around it.
That being said, there's still a lot in this game that will feel familiar for those who have played previous FromSoft games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Aside from a new jump button and the addition of Torrent, the game plays like a typical Souls game. Still, going into Elden Ring with some essential knowledge will help players, especially those new to this challenging genre, as they face the many dangers of Limgrave, Elden Ring's starting location.
What to Know About Limgrave's Enemies
Upon leaving the confines of the Stranded Graveyard, the first enemy the player will likely be greeted by is the Tree Sentinel. An incredibly powerful overworld boss that's likely too much for the average player to handle at first, it's recommended that this boss be tackled once the player has slightly more in their arsenal.
Still, the Tree Sentinel isn't the only thing dangerous about Elden Ring's open world. Nighttime also plays a large factor, with enemies growing in strength at nightfall and new bosses appearing. If an area is too hard at night, it's best to come back during the day. Conversely, it's a good idea to revisit areas explored during the day at night to see how they change.
Throughout Elden Ring, players will sometimes encounter enemies with glowing yellow eyes. These enemies should not be ignored, as they grant an increased rune gain on drop by a factor of three or four. In terms of bosses, the Demi-Human Chiefs are found in West Limgrave in the Coastal Cove dungeon, and they drop a Sewing Needle and Tailoring Tools, which are essential for armor alteration.
Essential Items to Find in Limgrave
There are a number of essential items that can be found within the opening hours of Elden Ring that can go a long way into making a playthrough that much more manageable. The Whetstone Knife is one such item. It allows the player to apply Ashes of War to their weapons, which are special skill upgrades that fundamentally change the way in which weapons work.
The Flask Of Wonderous Physick is another item that'll help boost your chances of success in Elden Ring's early game. It can be found at the Third Church of Marika, and it grants the player a single-use buff that can be changed and customized by adding various harvested ingredients to it, including one-hit shields, healing over time and attribute boosts.
Another essential item is the Spirit Calling Bell. After meeting Melina for the first time, the player will need to return to the Church of Elleh, where an NPC known as Renna will provide them with the bell. The bell is an essential item for any first-time Elden Ring playthrough, as it allows the player to use various summons at the cost of FP. Summons are creatures that fight alongside the player and can be extremely useful in distracting or dealing damage to bosses in certain, challenging encounters.
Torrent Will Help Players Navigate Limgrave
Torrent is the player's faithful companion and battlefield mount. They can be accessed shortly after the game's opening by resting at the Church of Elleh site of grace. Melina will then appear at the next site of grace the player decides to rest at and offer the player Torrent. Players should absolutely make use of their mount, as they provide a way to quickly traverse Limgrave, as well as offering additional methods of engagement and a unique way of navigating Elden Ring's vertical environments.
The player can summon Torrent by using the Spectral Steed Whistle that they receive from Melina. Once summoned, the player can perform a mounted light and heavy strike with their weapon off to the left or right side as they move. The steed can also double jump, allowing the player to hop over enemies and obstacles. Over the course of the game, there will be visible updrafts on which Torrent can jump. When doing so, Torrent is launched into the air and takes no fall damage, providing an easy way to navigate Limgrave's steep vertical environments.