Elden Ring

Tips

• Start here

  Vigor is the real class

  Take Vigor to 40 before you chase a damage stat past 30. Most Limgrave and Stormveil one-shots are an HP problem, not a roll-timing problem.

• Start here

  Spirit Ashes are part of the kit

  Lone Wolf is enough for early camps. After Radahn, grab the Mimic Tear in Night's Sacred Ground in Nokron and treat it as a second player, not a crutch.

• Advanced

  Jump attacks break stance

  Jumping heavies build stance damage faster than charged heavies on a huge list of enemies and bosses. Pair them with a thrusting weapon crouch poke for safe follow-ups.

• Advanced

  Ashes of War are the respec

  Standard weapons can swap skills and affinities at any Site of Grace. Keen, Heavy, Lightning, and Fire beat Quality on almost every build; match the affinity to the stat you actually leveled.

• Secrets

  Physick tears at Minor Erdtrees

  The Flask of Wondrous Physick is at the Third Church of Marika. Opaline Hardtear from the Putrid Avatar north of Fort Faroth plus a damage tear covers more late-game bosses than a third crimson flask.

• Secrets

  Volcano Manor skips the front door

  The assassination contracts from Tanith let you collect Rykard's loot path without fighting up the mountain. Torrent's double jump also reaches a surprising number of 'soft-locked' ruin roofs in Altus and Caelid.

• Bosses

  Margit's delayed overhead

  Walk toward him after the dagger volley instead of panic-rolling. The real punish is after the slow cane slam, not during the staff spin.

• Bosses

  Waterfowl Dance has three exits

  Sprint away from Malenia's first flurry, then into her for the second and third, or spend the whole attack on Bloodhound's Step. Frozen Needle and thrusting weapons also clip her out of the later slashes if you stay close.