Entering the Lands Between for the first time? It’s going to be quite the journey. Elden Ring is a commitment, not just a game. A commitment that will challenge your patience, reflexes, and problem-solving abilities in ways you have most likely never encountered before – beautiful, cruel, and completely rewarding.
The first 100 hours can make or ruin your entire experience, let’s face it. While some players finish in 50 hours with ease, others… After more than 150 hours of exploration, they are still having a great time. Although there isn’t a “right” way to play, there are certain tactics that will help you avoid losing your mind.
Your Basis for Character Development
You have some important choices to make before you even leave the house. But don’t worry, most of these are temporary.
Selecting Your First Course
The problem with classes in Elden Ring is that they are more like initial recommendations than permanent commitments. However, for those crucial first few hours, your initial decision does matter.
For complete novices, take into account these routes:
- Samurai: Begins with sturdy equipment and the adaptable Uchigatana
- Vagabond: Well-rounded, with a sturdy sword and respectable armor
- Astrologer: This gives you an advantage if magic appeals to you
Elden Ring’s beauty? Later on, you can change your character. But that initial gear? Early on, that is more difficult to achieve.
The Decision on the Keepsake
This decision is irrevocable, so consider it carefully. Your HP is increased by the Crimson Amber Medallion, which is always helpful. Although the Lantern may seem useful, you’ll locate light sources in no time. Don’t worry too much because most mementos won’t significantly alter your experience.
Your Initial Crucial Hours: Establishing the Base
Locating Melina and Grace Sites
Leveling up is literally impossible until you meet Melina. The catch is that you must first rest at a Site of Grace outside the starting area before she can appear at the Gatefront Ruins Site of Grace.
Expert advice: Are those dazzling golden lights strewn throughout the scenery? Your lifeline is those Sites of Grace. When you’re lost, follow those streaks of light because they will lead you to the correct place.
The Link Between Torrents
Torrent, hurry up and get your horse. You can explore vertically and avoid hazardous situations with this spectral steed, which is more than just a means of transportation. That ability to double jump? It’s revolutionary for accessing secret locations and facilitating safer cliff descents.
Initial Equipment and Improvements
Don’t spend all of your money on expensive weapons at once. Instead, concentrate on character leveling. As you explore the Lands Between, you’ll come across a lot of armor and weapons.
Primary essential upgrades:
- Vigor: Your HP. Please, boost this figure
- Endurance: To manage stamina
- Your main damage stat: Depending on your build, your primary damage stat could be either Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith
Combat Mastery: Surviving in a Dangerous Environment
The Art of Managing Stamina
The green bar in the corner? It literally makes the difference between life and death. Everything, including attacking, blocking, rolling, and sprinting, is powered by stamina. You’re exposed when it’s gone.
Important stamina techniques:
- Don’t let it run out completely while fighting
- When shields are raised, their stamina regeneration rate decreases
- Recognize when to attack and when to defend
- Certain adversaries possess endurance as well; they breach their defenses for chances to deal enormous damage
Defense and Shield Strategy
It’s not enough to simply put up your shield and hope for the best when blocking. Different shields perform better against various kinds of damage, such as fire, magic, and physical damage. Recognize your challenges and make the necessary adjustments.
Tips for combat positioning:
- Make the most of your surroundings
- When feasible, backstab adversaries to deal critical damage
- Never hesitate to take a step back and reevaluate
Getting the Hang of Ashes of War
The way your weapons work can be totally altered by these unique abilities. Some give you ranged options, while others offer alternative attacks. Take good care of them because they eat FP (that blue bar).
Exploration Techniques: Taking Full Advantage of the Open World
Thinking Vertically
By promoting vertical exploration, Elden Ring deviates from the conventional Souls formula. Leap everywhere. Really. Those low rooftops, those narrow ledges, those seemingly inaccessible places? They frequently conceal things, secrets, or alternate routes.
Examining the Terrain
Through its design, the world communicates with you:
- Sacred Tears for flask upgrades are frequently found in ruined churches
- Powerful bosses with Flasks of Wondrous Physick Tears reside in Minor Erdtrees
- Sorcerer towers reward you with memory slots or spells, but they also require you to solve puzzles
- Golden Runes can be found in glowing skulls, for instant, 200-rune bonuses
The Hunt for the Golden Skull
Look out for those objects that resemble skulls and have glowing eye sockets. They are essentially leftover free money. You can backstep on them, use weapons to destroy them, or simply ride Torrent over them to collect runes quickly.
Key Topics and Development Routes
The Foundation of Limgrave
Get to know Limgrave well during the first 20 to 30 hours. Everything you need to know about the rhythm of Elden Ring is taught in this beginning section. Take your time exploring before heading to Stormveil Castle.
Limgrave must-see locations:
- Gatefront Ruins: Melina’s meeting spot
- Church of Elleh: Your first upgrade station and merchant
- Caelid border: To assess the difficulty of scaling
- Mistwood: Secrets and the Fang of the Bloodhound
Comprehending Difficulty Curves
The game doesn’t tell you this, but if an area or enemy seems impossible, you’re probably not ready yet. You can go anywhere with Elden Ring, but that doesn’t mean you should.
Red flags to retreat:
- It takes dozens of hits for enemies to be killed
- Being single-shot by simple attacks
- I’m feeling overpowered
When you’re stronger, return later. It’s strategic thinking, not giving up.
Effective Character Development
The Character Arc of 100 Hours
Over the course of 100 hours, your character will undergo a significant transformation. A person who begins as a simple swordsman may develop into a faith-based paladin or a battlemage who wields spells.
- Early hours (1–20): Pay attention to the three main survival stats: Vigor, Endurance, and one damage stat
- Mid-game (20–60): Begin focusing and trying out various spells and weapons
- Late exploration (60-100): Improve your build and take on the most difficult tasks in the game
Strategy for Stat Allocation
Your best friend should be Vigor. Really. No damage is dealt by a dead character. By the 40-hour mark, aim for 25–30 Vigor, and as the endgame draws near, aim for 40+.
The hierarchy of damage stats:
- Select one primary damage stat at first
- Strength for large weapons and unadulterated power
- Dexterity for casting speed and deft weaponry
- Sorcery intelligence
- Belief in spells
Priorities for Weapon Upgrades
In the early game, weapon upgrades are more important than raw stats. Even with higher stats, a +3 weapon performs noticeably better than a +0 weapon. Before diversifying, focus on improving your primary weapon.
Resource and Inventory Management
Rune Economics
Runes are a combination of your money, experience points, and shopping money. It hurts to lose them, but it’s okay.
Astute rune expenditure:
- When you have enough runes for several levels, level up
- Spend runes before taking on dangerous endeavors rather than hoarding them
- When you can’t quite afford a level, think about consumables
Management of Flasks
Your lifeline is your flasks. While Golden Seeds expand the number of uses, Sacred Tears improve their efficacy. Make locating these a top priority because they are long-lasting improvements that enhance every aspect of the game.
Making and Eating
Don’t hoard consumables in Elden Ring like you would in other games. Make use of them. That thing that cures poison? Make use of it. Those perfumes that increase damage? They are not to be collected; they are to be used.
Multiplayer Integration: When to Ask for Assistance
Comprehending Online Features
Your experience can be significantly enhanced by Elden Ring’s online integration. Most of the time, those messages on the ground are actual player advice rather than just flavor text.
Milestones for multiplayer:
- First 10 hours: Learn on your own to grasp the fundamentals
- 10-40 hours: Take into account asking for assistance with difficult bosses
- 40+ hours: You may begin assisting other gamers
Spirit Summoning Technique
Spirit Ashes are a feature of the game, not a way to cheat. When facing numerous adversaries or intense boss battles, strategically use them to balance the odds.
Sophisticated Exploration Methods
Discovery of Secret Areas
Elden Ring uses cryptic mechanics to conceal entire regions. Some walls are illusory, some can only be accessed by certain objects or behaviors, and some require creative thinking.
Checklist for each area of exploration:
- Look for hidden walls (attack surfaces that seem suspicious)
- Seek out vertical secrets and jumping puzzles
- To gain access to hidden areas, follow NPC questlines
- Try using objects and spells in odd places
Managing Your Time Over 100 Hours
- Hours 1–25: Limgrave exploration, basic mechanics, and the first big boss
- Hours 25–50: Expand your horizons and refine your construct
- Hours 50-75: Finish important questlines and take on more difficult bosses
- Hours 75–100: Clear out secrets and try the last tasks
Typical 100-Hour Mistakes and How to Prevent Them
The Trap of Overleveling
Over-exploration can lead to content that is below par. Combat becomes simpler as a result, but the game may become less interesting. Strike a balance between advancement and exploration.
Construct Paralysis
Spreading your stats too thin is easy with so many options. Avoid trying to please everyone, especially during the first 100 hours.
Absent Questlines
Elden Ring’s NPC quests are infamously simple to overlook or fail. Enjoy the journey instead of worrying about finishing every quest on your first playthrough.
The Endgame Method
Getting Ready for the Last Difficulties
The difficulty of the game increases dramatically as you get closer to the 80–100 hour mark. Be sure you’re ready:
- Weapon at +20 or higher (or +8 for weapons that are somber)
- Vigor at 40+
- Understanding of your build’s strengths and weaknesses
- A collection of useful consumables and tools
Various Concluding Points
There are several possible endings for Elden Ring, so don’t worry about selecting the “correct” one on your first try. You can always try different endings in New Game Plus, and the journey is more important than the destination.
A Success-Oriented Mindset
Accepting the Learning Curve
Your first hundred hours are a teaching moment. You learn something from every death. Every new finding feels worthwhile. This stage is where the magic happens, so don’t rush it.
The Mindset of Exploration
Curiosity is valued more highly than efficiency in Elden Ring. That haphazard route you nearly took? It could lead to your preferred weapon. That strange NPC you once encountered? Their questline could be amazing.
The Ability to Be Patient
The most successful Elden Ring players are the most patient, not necessarily the best. When you’re upset, take a break. Return to challenges later. The game is going to wait for you.
Your first 100 hours in Elden Ring will change your life. Beginning as a bewildered novice who perishes against simple foes, you will develop into a self-assured adventurer capable of taking on the most difficult tasks in the game. Persistence, curiosity, and the readiness to grow from every setback are more important than perfection.
Keep in mind that everyone who has ever mastered Elden Ring was in your exact position at one point. Those gamers who share their more than 150-hour adventures on social media? They began with the same bewilderment and awe that you are experiencing right now. Have faith in the process, enjoy the ride, and above all… Skeletons, keep going.
There are many secrets, dangers, and vastness in the Lands Between. However, they are also enchanted, fulfilling, and completely unforgettable. Now is the beginning of your 100-hour journey.
