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GameBrief · Guides
Elden Ring is an open-world action RPG developed by FromSoftware and released in February 2022. It won Game of the Year 2022 by an extraordinary margin and currently holds a 96 on Metacritic: the highest score of any game in recent memory. It is the spiritual successor to the Dark Souls series, featuring the demanding, precision-based combat and exploration-driven world design that defines the soulslike genre, placed inside a vast open world created in collaboration with author George R. R. Martin.
This Elden Ring beginner guide is for players approaching the game for the first time in 2026: whether you are an experienced gamer who has never played a soulslike, or someone entirely new to this style of game. Elden Ring is the most accessible entry point in the FromSoftware catalogue, but it is genuinely difficult, and early hours can feel overwhelming without some guidance.
The core principle of this Elden Ring beginner guide: exploration is always the answer. If something kills you repeatedly, go somewhere else. The world is enormous and almost always provides an alternative path forward.
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These steps form the backbone of a strong early-game experience. Follow them loosely: feel free to deviate when something interesting catches your eye.
Step 1, Choose your starting class carefully. The Vagabond is the recommended choice for this Elden Ring beginner guide, it starts with solid Vigor (health), Strength, and Dexterity, a reliable sword and shield, and the armour to survive early mistakes. The Hero (battle-axe, high Strength) is an excellent second choice for players who prefer powerful, straightforward melee. Avoid the Wretch (starts naked with a club) for your first playthrough, it is designed for experienced players who want to build from scratch.
Step 2 (Complete the tutorial cave. After character creation, you begin in the Cave of Knowledge) a guided tutorial that introduces the core mechanics: attacking, rolling, parrying, and resting at Sites of Grace. The tutorial boss (Grafted Scion) is intentionally unwinnable on a first encounter. You are meant to die. When you respawn in Limgrave, the real game begins.
Step 3 (Find the First Step Site of Grace. Follow the golden guidance line to the First Step) a glowing waypoint marker that appears on your map. Resting at Sites of Grace levels you up, refills your healing flasks (Flask of Crimson Tears), and serves as your respawn point when you die. Sites of Grace also guide you toward main story objectives.
Step 4 (Avoid the Tree Sentinel. Near the First Step, you will see a large golden knight on horseback) the Tree Sentinel. He is an optional boss meant for players who return with better equipment and levels. Do not fight him yet. Walk north around him to reach the Church of Elleh.
Step 5 (Get the Spirit Calling Bell at the Church of Elleh. Rest at the Church of Elleh Site of Grace and then sleep (wait until nighttime using the Site of Grace menu). A character named Renna the Witch will appear on the church wall. Talk to her to receive the Spirit Calling Bell and the Lone Wolf Ashes) your first Spirit Ash companion. The Lone Wolf Ashes summon three wolves that are excellent for most early bosses.
Step 6 (Get your horse from Melina. After resting at a few Sites of Grace, a character named Melina will appear to offer you the Spectral Steed Whistle) a summoning item for your horse, Torrent. Accept her accord. Torrent lets you traverse Limgrave and the wider open world dramatically faster and is invaluable for the exploration-heavy early game.
Step 7, Explore Limgrave before Stormveil Castle. The first major dungeon, Stormveil Castle, is guarded by Margit, the Fell Omen. Before approaching him, spend time exploring the Limgrave region: the Gatefront Ruins (good early weapons), the coastal areas south of the First Step (Demi-Human cave for easy progress), and the underground Stormfoot Catacombs (good Spirit Ash upgrades).
GODEEPER: If the class-and-build system here appeals to you, Kristala is an indie action RPG with a similar deflect-focused combat loop and six magic schools: a shorter commitment at a quarter of the price. Kristala Review →
Choosing a starting class is the most important early decision in this Elden Ring beginner guide, and it is less permanent than it feels. Elden Ring allows any class to use any equipment: the class just determines your starting stats and equipment.
Vagabond (Recommended): The best starting class for this Elden Ring beginner guide. Starts with Vigor 15 (good health), Strength 14 and Dexterity 13 (melee capability), and comes equipped with a longsword and kite shield. The shield allows blocking, which is a very useful early-game survival tool.
Hero: Simple, effective, and forgiving. The Hero begins with exceptional Strength (16) and an iron battle-axe that hits hard with minimal button complexity. The downside is lower Dexterity and Arcane, limiting build options: but for a first playthrough where you want to focus on surviving rather than theorycrafting, the Hero is excellent.
Confessor: The best choice for players who want to combine melee with early spell access. The Confessor starts with Finger Seal (a casting tool) and one healing incantation alongside a sword and shield. It offers a taste of Elden Ring's magic systems without abandoning melee viability.
Avoid for beginners: Astrologer (glass cannon, dies easily), Prisoner (unusual stat spread), Wretch (starts with nothing).
These tips will prevent the most common beginner mistakes in Elden Ring and accelerate your progress significantly.
Level Vigor to 20 before anything else. Vigor is your health stat. New players frequently die in two or three hits because their health pool is too small to survive mistakes. After allocating your starting level-up runes (earned from your first few enemy kills), put your first 5-8 levels into Vigor. You will die less, which means you will progress faster.
Use your Flask of Crimson Tears aggressively. New players often hoard their healing flasks for emergencies and die from not using them soon enough. Your flasks refill at every Site of Grace. Use them whenever your health drops below 60%.
Lock on to enemies with L3 (left stick click on controller). The lock-on system centres your camera on a target, making combat significantly more readable. Most soulslike veterans use lock-on as their default for almost every fight. Releasing lock-on is occasionally useful against fast-moving bosses, but starting locked-on is the right default.
Always carry and use Rune Arcs when boss-running. Rune Arcs activate your Great Rune (a boss power bonus) but are consumed when you die. Save them specifically for boss attempts when you feel well-prepared: do not use them during normal exploration.
Two-hand your weapon for more damage. Pressing Triangle/Y (or Y on Xbox) while holding a weapon in your main hand two-hands it, increasing the damage at the cost of the ability to block with a shield. Two-handing is more damage-efficient and is how most experienced players approach melee combat in Elden Ring.
Elden Ring's open world means you encounter bosses in an order partly of your own choosing. This Elden Ring beginner guide recommends this sequence.
Easy first: Demi-Human Chiefs (Coastal Cave). South of the First Step Site of Grace, look for a blue glowing cave entrance near the beach. Inside, two Demi-Human Chiefs serve as a manageable introduction to multi-target boss fights. Completing this cave unlocks the Tailoring Tools, allowing you to customise your armour.
Main path first: Margit, the Fell Omen. Margit guards the entrance to Stormveil Castle and is the intended first major boss. He has multiple attack phases and is significantly harder than anything you have faced in open-world Limgrave. Use the Lone Wolf Ashes to distract him. If you are struggling, the merchant Patches sells Margit's Shackle: an item that temporarily pins Margit to the ground, giving you free damage.
After Margit: Godrick the Grafted. The boss of Stormveil Castle and one of the most memorable boss fights in FromSoftware history. Godrick has two phases: in the second, he grafts a dragon arm to his shoulder. Spirit Ash summons are effective here. Defeating Godrick grants a Great Rune and access to the broader map.
GODEEPER: For players who enjoy the boss-pattern-learning loop but want shorter sessions: Die in the Dungeon runs the same "read the enemy, die, improve" structure in two-hour roguelite bursts. Die in the Dungeon Review →
For a roundup of the best roguelite and dungeon-crawling games that scratch a similar itch at a lower price point, see the best indie games under $20 guide.
See the FAQ section above for answers to the most common Elden Ring beginner questions.
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