How to play guide

ELDEN RING Beginner's Guide: Your First Class, Sites of Grace, Torrent and Runes

For new ELDEN RING players: choosing a class, Sites of Grace, recovering lost Runes, getting Torrent and the Spirit Calling Bell, default PC keys and the mistakes people make in Limgrave.

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ELDEN RING is FromSoftware's 2022 open-world action RPG. Set in the Lands Between, a world built by Hidetaka Miyazaki with George R. R. Martin, you play as one of the Tarnished. The game is famous for its difficulty, but unlike the Dark Souls series it gives you a wide world where you can simply go somewhere else and grow stronger when you get stuck. According to its Steam page there is no Turkish language option, so menu and item names below are given in English.

This guide is for players who have just started, or who reach Limgrave, the first region, and say "I keep dying and I don't know where to go". Without spoiling the story, it explains what to do in your first hours and in which order to make life easier.

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Below you will find the core loop, default PC keys, first steps, concrete tips, common mistakes and frequently asked questions. Mechanics and location names were checked against the Elden Ring wiki.

Goal of the game

The core loop is simple: explore, defeat enemies, collect Runes, then rest at a Site of Grace and spend them to level up. Runes are both currency and experience. According to the wiki, you drop your Runes where you die; get back there and you recover them, but die again on the way and they are gone for good.

Resting at a Site of Grace restores HP and FP, refills your flasks and sets your respawn point; as the wiki notes, most regular enemies you killed come back too. The world also has Stakes of Marika: die near one and you can choose to revive there instead of at your last grace. The big goal is to defeat the demigods and claim their Great Runes, but the order is largely up to you.

Controls

Key	Action
`W A S D`	Move
`Space`	Backstep / dodge roll (with direction), hold to dash
`F`	Jump
`X`	Crouch / stand up
`Left click`	Right-hand attack
`Shift + Left click`	Strong attack
`Right click`	Guard with left-hand armament
`Shift + Right click`	Skill
`E`	Event action: talk, open, examine, pick up
`E + Left click`	Two-hand your right-hand armament
`R`	Use selected item (flask etc.)
`Q or middle click`	Lock on / reset camera
`Arrow keys`	Up: switch spell, down: switch item, right/left: right/left armament
`G / Esc`	Map / menu

First steps

Pick a class without overthinkingCharacter creation offers ten Origins. According to the wiki, every Origin has the same total attribute points at the same level; the difference is starting gear and how points are spread. If you're new to melee, the well-armored Vagabond with a shield, or the ranged spellcaster Astrologer, makes for a comfortable start.
Choose your Keepsake wiselyDuring character creation you pick a starting gift. The wiki lists Golden Seed among the options; seeds increase the number of flask uses and make a real difference early on.
Running from the first big enemy is fineSoon after the tutorial, the first big enemy you meet can easily beat you. The open world lets you skip a foe and come back stronger, so don't treat every fight as mandatory.
Discover Sites of GraceIn any new area, find a Site of Grace first. The one you rest at becomes your respawn point and a fast-travel stop. The guiding light near a grace points in the direction of the main path.
Get TorrentAccording to the wiki, Melina finds you when you rest at Gatefront Ruins or Agheel Lake North, or after touching three different graces, and gives you the Spectral Steed Whistle. It summons Torrent, your spectral steed; exploring Limgrave on horseback is both faster and safer.
Start leveling upAfter your accord with Melina, the Level Up option appears in the grace menu. Putting early points into Vigor (health) keeps you from dying in one combo in the early areas.
Pick up the Spirit Calling BellAccording to the wiki, after getting Torrent, visit the Church of Elleh at night and Renna gives you the Spirit Calling Bell. If it's daytime, pass time at a grace. The bell lets you use Spirit Ashes to summon AI allies, but only near a Rebirth Monument.
Grow in the open world, then take the castleExplore Limgrave's caves, dungeons and churches for gear, spells and Golden Seeds. Enter Stormveil Castle, the region's big legacy dungeon, when you feel ready; its gatekeeper is a real test for new players.

Tips and tactics

Watch your stamina barAttacking, rolling, guarding and sprinting all drain the green Stamina bar. Empty it with attacks and you can't dodge; always keep enough for one roll after a combo.
Wait out enemy combosMost enemies and bosses attack in set sequences. Instead of rushing in on your first attempt, learn their moves, punish with one or two hits when a combo ends, then back off.
Counter after guardingAccording to the wiki, a strong attack right after blocking a hit becomes a Guard Counter, which breaks an enemy's stance quickly. If you use a shield, learn it.
Adjust your flask splitFrom the grace menu you can change how charges are split between Crimson (HP) and Cerulean (FP) flasks. If you don't cast spells, trade blue charges for red ones.
Don't wander with a pile of RunesIf you're carrying lots of Runes, level up or buy something before heading into danger. Die and fail to recover them, and they're gone.
Upgrade your armamentUpgrading your sword or staff at a smith matters as much as leveling. Collecting Smithing Stones and investing them in one armament noticeably raises your damage.
Use day and nightSome characters and enemies only appear at night. Use Pass Time at a grace to change the hour; if you can't find someone, like Renna, try a different time.
Look for Stakes of MarikaThere is often a Stake of Marika near boss arenas. If its icon shows under your stamina bar, you won't have a long run back after dying.
Stuck? Go elsewhereIf a boss beats you again and again, don't bang your head against it. Explore another area and come back a few levels higher with better gear; the same fight will feel much easier.
Read the ground messagesWhen online, messages left by other players can reveal hidden paths or traps. Not all of them are honest and some are jokes, but highly rated ones are usually helpful.

Common mistakes

Attacking nonstop: stamina runs out and you have nothing left to dodge the counter.
Spending hours on the first big enemy: the open world lets you leave, get stronger and come back.
Not putting early points into Vigor: with low health, a single combo kills you in early areas.
Walking into danger with a big Rune stash: die twice on the way and it's all gone.
Neglecting upgrades: even at a higher level, an unupgraded armament won't deal enough damage.

Frequently asked questions

Is ELDEN RING available in Turkish?

No. Turkish is not in the language list on its Steam page; the game has no Turkish interface or subtitles.

Can I play solo?

Yes, the main game is designed for single-player. You can call other players into your world with online items if you want, and Spirit Ashes provide AI helpers.

Is it very hard?

Fights are demanding, but the open world gives you room to grow. Spirit Ashes, sorceries and exploration-based progress offer alternatives to brute-forcing a fight.

Where do I level up?

After your accord with Melina, use the Level Up option in any Site of Grace menu, spending the Runes you carry.

What is Shadow of the Erdtree?

According to the wiki, it's the expansion released on 20 June 2024. It is reached from later parts of the base game and is sold separately.

Where do my Runes go when I die?

They stay where you died. Get back there and you recover them; die before you do and they're lost for good.

This guide was written for version: This guide reflects the PC version as of September 2026. Keys can be rebound in settings; if you use a gamepad, check the controls screen in game.