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

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1. Pick a class without overthinking Character 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.
2. Choose your Keepsake wisely During 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.
3. Running from the first big enemy is fine Soon 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.
4. Discover Sites of Grace In 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.
5. Get Torrent According 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.
6. Start leveling up After 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.
7. Pick up the Spirit Calling Bell According 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.
8. Grow in the open world, then take the castle Explore 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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