The Tarnished' Essential Compendium

EldenTome

Everything you need to conquer the Lands Between — from your first death to beating Malenia.

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165+Bosses
10Playable Classes
200+Weapons
10Stat Types

Class Selection

Every starting class compared, with pick rates, pros, cons, and recommendations.

Your starting class determines your initial stats, equipment, and level. Classes do not lock you in — you can level any stat freely after starting. However, your class affects your early-game experience significantly. The class with the best starting equipment and balanced stats tends to be the most popular among new and veteran players alike.

Confessor

Level 10 · Priest Class

Player Pick Rate 10%
HP90
STR12
DEX12
FTH14
VIT10
Pros
Hidden Blade (stealth)
Black Flame spell
Balanced stats
Cons
Lower starting HP
Complex stat spread

Verdict: Great for hybrid faith/DEX builds. The Blackflame Blade spell plus a curved sword makes early game easy.

Astrologer

Level 6 · Mage Class

Player Pick Rate 10%
HP75
INT16
FTH11
MEM10
VIT9
Pros
Highest INT start
Glintstone Pebble spell
Best magic DPS
Cons
Very fragile
Low HP & Vigor

Verdict: Best pure mage starter. If you want to cast Comet Azur by endgame, start here. Very squishy — learn dodge timing.

Hero

Level 7 · Brute Class

Player Pick Rate 5%
HP95
STR16
VIT12
END11
DEX9
Pros
Highest STR at start
Big axe for early damage
Good VIT
Cons
Very low DEX
No shield

Verdict: Best pure strength starter. Crude War-Axe is strong early but you'll need to invest heavily in DEX for later weapons.

Prisoner

Level 8 · Elf Class

Player Pick Rate 6%
HP85
DEX12
INT12
VIT11
END11
Pros
DEX + INT hybrid
Estoc thrusts well
Glintstone Arc spell
Cons
Below average stats
Unbalanced spread

Verdict: Good for DEX/INT hybrid builds. The glintstone arc spell is great for close-range magic.

Warrior

Level 4 · Duelist Class

Player Pick Rate 4%
HP80
DEX16
STR10
VIT9
END11
Pros
Highest DEX at start
Double-blades for DPS
Fast combat style
Cons
Low HP & VIT
Very glass cannon

Verdict: Best pure dexterity starter. Highest DEX means faster early DPS but you'll die easily — not recommended for new players.

Wretch

Level 1 · Naked Class

Player Pick Rate 5%
HP60
ALL10
EquipmentNone
Pros
Complete stat freedom
Same level 1 as everyone
Solidwood Stick
Cons
Naked & weak
Very early game hard

Verdict: Best for min-maxers who know the game. All stats start at 10 — perfect for any custom build. But you start with nothing and low HP.

Prophet

Level 7 · Seer Class

Player Pick Rate 4%
HP80
FTH16
MEM10
STR10
VIT10
Pros
Highest FTH start
Beast Claw incantation
Best faith DPS
Cons
Low VIT & HP
Relies on spells

Verdict: Best pure faith starter. Beast Claw is an excellent early incantation. Low HP makes early game risky.

Awakened

Level 14 · Holy Class

Player Pick Rate 4%
HP90
FTH16
MEM14
STR12
VIT11
Pros
Highest MEM start
Heal + Blessing's Boon
Best support spells
Cons
High level 14
Expensive start

Verdict: Best for support/incantation-focused builds. Highest Memory Stones gives most spell slots. But you start at level 14 — wasting runes.

Our Recommendation

New players: Start with Vagabond — the shield and high HP let you learn the game safely.

Bleed/DPS players: Start with Samurai — the Uchigatana's innate bleed melts bosses.

Mage players: Start with Astrologer — highest INT and Glintstone Pebble clears early areas.

Veterans: Start with Wretch — perfect stat distribution for any endgame build.

Main Story Boss Order

The recommended sequence of main story bosses from the beginning to the end of the game.

This is the natural story progression of Elden Ring's main path. While the game allows some flexibility (you can skip Liurnia and go to Caelid, for example), following this order gives the smoothest difficulty curve. Each boss unlocks the next region and is required to progress the story.

1
Easy

Margit, the Fell Omen

Gatefront Ruins · Stormhill

The gatekeeper boss that blocks your path to Stormveil Castle. Margit introduces you to combo-heavy staff-and-hammer attacks. Tip: Summon Nepheli Louk at the base of the hill. Use Torrent to kite. Recommended Level: 35-50.

Opens: Stormveil Castle Key Drop: Great-Jar's Anchor
2
Easy

Godrick the Grafted

Stormveil Castle · Limgrave

First Lord of Cinder and a Shardbearer. Two-phase fight — phase 2 he grafts a dragon's head. Tip: Summon Nepheli Louk inside the castle (free help). Attack his legs in phase 1. Dodge dragon breath to the sides. Recommended Level: 50-60.

Key Item: Remembrance of the Grafted Opens: Liurnia
3
Medium

Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Raya Lucaria Academy · Liurnia

Head of the Academy and a Remembrance boss. Phase 1 summons magic casts and students. Phase 2 is a simple but high-damage spell combo. Tip: Rush to her in phase 2 while she casts — she has no defense against melee. Recommended Level: 60-80.

Key Item: Great Rune of Rennala Unlocks: Relevel system
4
Hard

Starscourge Radahn

Redmane Castle · Caelid

The strongest demigod general. Gravity magic that covers the entire arena. Tip: MUST summon the Redmane Festival NPCs — this fight is trivial with them. Ride Torrent for phase 1, dismount for phase 2 (starfall). Recommended Level: 70-90.

Key Item: Remembrance of the Starscarred Triggers: Radahn Festival
5
Medium

Morgott, the Graceborn

Leyndell, Royal Capital

The real king of Leyndell and Margit's true form. Uses holy-infused weapons and AoE attacks. Phase 2 transforms into Goldmask's Form with massive holy AoE. Tip: Use the pillars in the arena to block charged attacks. Summon Bernahl. Recommended Level: 90-110.

Key Item: Great Rune of Morgott Opens: Altus Plateau
6
Medium

Fire Giant

Mountaintops of the Giants

The guardian of the Flame of Ruin. Phase 1: chop the ankle relentlessly. Phase 2: he stands up and becomes much more dangerous. Tip: Phase 1 only attack the left ankle. Phase 2 dodge fire waves — use spirit ashes to distract. Recommended Level: 100-130.

Key Item: Great Rune of the Fire Giant Unlocks: Crumbling Farum Azula
7
Very Hard

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree

Widely considered the hardest boss in the game. Two phases, waterfowl dance attack, and heals on every hit. Tip: Use Mimic Tear spirit ash. Learn the waterfowl dance dodge pattern. Scarlet Rot flask deals massive damage to her. Recommended Level: 120+. Optional but required for one ending.

Key Item: Remembrance of the Rot Goddess Opens: True Ending path
8
Very Hard

Godfrey / First Elden Lord (Golden Shade)

Leyndell, Ashen Capital

Your first shadow fight. Golden Shade copies your exact weapon and buffs. Phase 2 is Godfrey himself with massive AoE stomps. Tip: He mirrors your build — bring anti-summon seals or use a different weapon than your main. Recommended Level: 140-160.

Key Item: Remembrance of Hoarah Loux Opens: Final Area
9
Very Hard

Radagon of the Golden Order / Elden Beast

Elden Throne · Final Boss

The final boss. Phase 1: Radagon is a fast holy-attacking warrior. Phase 2: Elden Beast, the cosmic entity. Tip: Radagon is weak to physical and bleed. Elden Beast has ZERO physical resistance — switch to physical weapons. Recommended Level: 150+.

Final Boss Unlocks: Multiple endings

Boss Strategies

Phase-by-phase breakdowns, weaknesses, and proven tactics for every major boss.

Margit, the Fell Omen

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Rec. Level: 35-50 ~12,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Staff & Hammer Combo

Margit starts with a magical staff that he slams and swings. His most dangerous attack is the staff jump combo — he leaps into the air and slams down with a shockwave, then follows with a hammer swing. Strategy: Wait for the staff slam, dodge to the side (not backward), then hit 1-2 times before he recovers.

  • His staff slam has a visible purple glow — roll sideways, not backward
  • The hammer follow-up is telegraphed by him raising it overhead — roll forward through it
  • Throw throwing knives or use ranged attacks during his recovery frames
  • Summon Spirit Ashes at the last Site of Grace before the fight

⚕ Phase 2 — Cane & Magic

Margit switches to a golden cane with magic attacks. He throws magic rings, dashes with the cane, and performs a spinning cane attack. Strategy: His cane dashes are slow and predictable. Use the gap between dashes to attack. Magic rings can be destroyed with ranged attacks.

  • Magic rings travel in a wide arc — roll through them, they have short range
  • After his cane spin, there's a long recovery — punish with 2-3 hits
  • Use Torrent to maintain distance and shoot arrows between his combos
  • Weak to Strike damage — use a flail or hammer weapon

⚙ Recommended Setup

SummonNepheli Louk (round the corner)
Spirit AshSomber Skeleton +1
Weapon BuffGoldenvale Abduction or Bloodflame Blade
Best WeaponAny Strike weapon (Flail, Morning Star)
Best SpellRock Sling (found near the arena)
Best TalismanMurkstaff Robe (+spell damage)

⚡ Key Takeaway

Margit is designed to teach you patience. Don't greed — land 2 hits and roll. Summon Nepheli Louk and let her draw aggro. Use Torrent to kite. This is one of the easiest "gatekeeper" bosses if you don't try to solo it.

Godrick the Grafted

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Rec. Level: 50-60 20,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Grafted Arm

Godrick fights with a grafted arm that extends his reach. His attacks include wide horizontal slashes, a jumping slam, and a grab attack. Strategy: Stay close to his legs — his arm attacks miss easily at close range. After his arm extended attack, he has a long recovery. Punish with 2-3 hits.

  • Jumping slam: roll forward through it, not backward
  • Grab attack can be dodged by rolling sideways
  • Arm extended combo has a tell — he raises his arm high
  • Summon Nepheli Louk at the Smelter Hall for massive help

⚕ Phase 2 — Dragon Arm

He grafts a dragon's head to his arm. Now he breathes fire and performs dragon-enhanced combos. Strategy: The dragon breath has two types — a cone (roll left/right) and a spray (run away then counter). His dragon arm slam creates a shockwave — roll away.

  • Dragon breath cone: roll perpendicular to the direction
  • After dragon breath, Godrick is vulnerable for 3 seconds
  • Summon Nepheli Louk — she can cut off his dragon arm (instant win)
  • Fireproof mushrooms are scattered around Stormveil — eat them

⚙ Recommended Setup

SummonNepheli Louk (mandatory — cuts dragon arm)
Spirit AshBlack Knife Tiche (fast, anti-demigod)
Best WeaponAny weapon — he has low poise
Best TalismanDragoncrest Shield Talisman (+fire resist)

⚡ Key Takeaway

Always summon Nepheli Louk. She's hiding in the Smelter Hall just before the boss room. Talk to her, then she joins the fight and can sever his dragon arm for an instant victory. This is the easiest major boss if you use her.

Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Rec. Level: 60-80 40,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Magic Summons

Rennala sits in her chair and summons magical beings: magic stones, spirit ashes, and flitting spirits. Strategy: Prioritize killing the summoned spirits first — they deal more damage than Rennala herself. Her magic stone launches are telegraphed with a glow. Roll through them.

  • Kill summoned spirits first, then attack Rennala
  • She has very low HP — rush her between summons
  • Spirit ashes are slow and easy to dodge
  • Use a bow to pick off summons from range

⚕ Phase 2 — Direct Magic

Rennala stands up and casts magic herself. She performs a sweeping moonbeam, launches comet-like projectiles, and does a room-wide explosion. Strategy: Rush her immediately after the phase transition. She has no melee defense and will die to 3-4 hits if you close the distance quickly.

  • HERO STRATEGY: Sprint to her the moment phase 2 starts — she's helpless
  • Moonbeam sweep: roll perpendicular to the beam direction
  • Room explosion: stay near her — the explosion radius is far
  • Comet projectiles: easy to dodge, long windup

⚡ Key Takeaway

Phase 2 is the easiest major boss phase in the game. Just sprint to her and attack. She has zero melee capability. If you let her stand and cast, it becomes harder. Aggression is the key.

Starscourge Radahn

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Rec. Level: 70-90 70,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Gravity Sword

Radahn charges forward with a giant sword, performs gravity-enhanced combos, and throws his sword into the air creating gravity wells. Strategy: Use Torrent to circle him. His charge is fast but predictable. When he throws his sword, the gravity well pulls you in — dismount or roll out.

  • Summon ALL festival NPCs — Patches, Alexander, Bernahl, Iji
  • On Torrent: circle him constantly, attack during his recovery
  • Gravity well pulls toward center — roll outward
  • His sword combo has a tell — he raises both arms

⚕ Phase 2 — Starfall

Radahn jumps into the air and calls down meteorites. You MUST dismount from Torrent. Gravity pulls you upward. Strategy: Stay near the edges of the arena where meteorites are sparse. Use healing flask between waves. His final gravity slam is the most dangerous — roll immediately when you see the purple indicator.

  • Stay near arena edges — meteorites cluster in the center
  • Gravity pull is unavoidable — use a jump charm or roll into it
  • After starfall ends, Radahn is vulnerable for 5 seconds
  • Bleed and frost builds are extremely effective

⚡ Key Takeaway

DO NOT skip the summon festival. The NPC summons make this fight trivial. If you try to solo it, bring Mimic Tear spirit ash and a bleed weapon. Phase 2 on foot is the real challenge.

Morgott, the Graceborn

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Rec. Level: 90-110 120,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Golden Cane

Morgott uses a golden cane with holy attacks. Similar to Margit but faster and more aggressive. He performs staff combos, holy ring throws, and a leaping holy slam. Strategy: Use the pillars in the arena to block his charged attacks. His holy ring travels in an arc — destroy it with a ranged attack or roll through it.

  • Use arena pillars to block his charged cane attacks
  • Holy ring: destroy with arrow or magic, or roll through
  • Leaping slam: roll forward, not backward
  • Summon Bernahl at the entrance for help

⚕ Phase 2 — Dual Swords (Goldmask)

Morgott summons two holy swords and fights with incredible speed. His attacks create holy AoE explosions and he performs a spinning holy attack. Strategy: His holy explosions have a purple ground indicator — roll away from it. The spinning attack covers a large area — wait for it to end, then punish.

  • Phase 2 is mostly melee — stay close to interrupt him
  • Holy AoE on ground: purple indicator, roll away
  • Spin attack: has a long windup, dodge to the side
  • Weak to Bleed — use a bleed weapon for massive burst

⚡ Key Takeaway

Phase 2 is his true form and it's significantly harder. Bring fireproof food (pucca fruit) as he uses fire attacks too. Bleed builds melt him in both phases. Summon Bernahl — his heavy attacks draw aggro effectively.

Fire Giant

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Rec. Level: 100-130 180,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Ankles

The Fire Giant is lying on his side. All attacks are directed at his left ankle. Strategy: Ignore everything else — attack the ankle relentlessly. His sweeping attacks and fire breath are telegraphed. Roll through the fire breath (it has a gap). Use spirit ashes to distract him while you chip away at the ankle.

  • Only attack the LEFT ankle — it's his only weak point
  • Fire breath: roll forward through the gap, not backward
  • Sweeping arm: has a long windup, easy to dodge
  • Use Torrent to stay out of reach between ankle attacks

⚕ Phase 2 — Standing

At 50% HP, he stands up and becomes much more aggressive. Both ankles are now targets but the right one is weaker. He gains fire AoE attacks and stomps. Strategy: Continue attacking the right ankle. His stomp creates a fire ring — roll away. The fire wave is fast — use a spirit ash to distract.

  • Attack the RIGHT ankle in phase 2 — it's his weak spot
  • Stomp fire ring: roll away from the purple indicator
  • Fire wave: very fast, use Mimic Tear to absorb it
  • Weak to holy damage in phase 2

⚡ Key Takeaway

Phase 1 is simple — just chop the ankle. Phase 2 is where people die. Bring Mimic Tear spirit ash and a bleed weapon. The right ankle in phase 2 is his true weak point. Holy damage is most effective here.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

Difficulty: ★★★★★ Rec. Level: 120+ 480,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Waterfowl & Scarlet Rot

Malenia is fast, aggressive, and heals on every hit (even missed attacks). Her signature move is the Waterfowl Dance — a three-hit aerial combo that can one-shot most players. Strategy: Use Mimic Tear to draw her aggro. When she leaps for Waterfowl Dance, ROLL FORWARD THROUGH IT (not sideways). Scarlet Rot flask deals massive damage to her.

  • Mimic Tear is THE summon — she draws aggro constantly
  • Waterfowl Dance: roll FORWARD through all 3 hits
  • Scarlet Rot flask: deal % max HP damage over time
  • She heals on EVERY hit — even blocked attacks heal her
  • Stay behind her during her combos when possible

⚕ Phase 2 — Scarlet Aeonia

She tears off her dress and summons a massive flower. The arena fills with scarlet rot petals. Strategy: The initial petal burst is dodgeable by rolling away. The flower bloom that follows is nearly unavoidable — use the Scarlet Rot immunity talisman or roll through. After the bloom, she's vulnerable for 3 seconds.

  • Petal burst: roll away from the center of the arena
  • Scarlet Aeonia bloom: unavoidable, just roll and hope
  • After bloom, she's stunned for 3 seconds — attack!
  • Bleed builds still work but are harder due to her speed
  • Frost builds are slightly easier — slow her down

⚡ Key Takeaway

Malenia is the hardest boss in the game. There is no easy way. Bring Mimic Tear, use Scarlet Rot flask, learn the Waterfowl Dance roll-forward pattern, and be patient. If you die, you're rolling at the wrong time — not because the boss is unfair.

Godfrey / First Elden Lord

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Rec. Level: 140-160 300,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Golden Shade

Your own shadow fights back, copying your exact weapon and buffs. Strategy: This is a mirror match. If you use a bleed weapon, your shade has one too. Use a different weapon than your main build. Spirit ashes are very effective since your shade ignores them.

  • Use a different weapon than your main build
  • Spirit ashes work well — the shade can't hit them
  • Healing flasks work on you but not the shade
  • Roll through his attacks — they're identical to yours

⚕ Phase 2 — Godfrey Returns

The real Golden Shade leaves and Godfrey returns. Massive AoE stomps and claw attacks. Strategy: Stay mobile. His stomps create shockwaves that travel outward. Roll toward him during his combos — he has long recovery frames.

  • Shockwave stomps: roll toward him, not away
  • Claw swipe: has a wide arc, roll through the gap
  • After his big combo, he kneels — 4-5 hits guaranteed
  • Summon any spirit ash — Godfrey ignores summons

⚡ Key Takeaway

Bring a weapon you DON'T normally use for phase 1. For phase 2, just stay aggressive — Godfrey punishes passive play. Spirit ashes are extremely effective since he ignores them completely.

Radagon of the Golden Order / Elden Beast

Difficulty: ★★★★★ Rec. Level: 150+ 500,000 Runes

⚔ Phase 1 — Radagon

Radagon is a fast holy-attacking warrior with a hammer and scripture. His combos are relentless and his holy attacks pierce through rolls. Strategy: Roll through his attacks rather than blocking. His scripture slam creates a holy cross — roll diagonally. He is weak to physical damage and bleed.

  • Weak to Bleed — bring a bleed weapon if possible
  • Holy attacks pierce i-frames — roll AFTER the attack
  • Scripture slam: roll diagonally, not straight
  • His hammer combo ends with a leap — roll away

⚕ Phase 2 — Elden Beast

The cosmic embodiment of the Elden Ring. Massive, flying, and shoots holy beams. Strategy: Switch to a PHYSICAL weapon — Elden Beast has ZERO physical resistance but massive holy resistance. Stay close to it. Its laser beam is telegraphed — roll perpendicular. Use spirit ashes to distract.

  • SWITCH TO PHYSICAL WEAPON — zero resistance to it
  • Holy laser: roll perpendicular to the beam
  • Ring of light: unavoidable, use a healing flask mid-roll
  • It flies — stay close to prevent it from escaping
  • Spirit ashes distract it effectively

⚡ Key Takeaway

The biggest mistake players make is using magic/holy weapons against Elden Beast. It has massive holy resistance. Use a physical weapon (bleed preferred) and stay close. This is the easiest phase if you use the right weapon type.

Core Mechanics

Torment, Poise, Impact, i-frames, Buff Stacking — everything explained.

Torment (Vigor / HP)

Torment (called Vigor in-game) is your Hit Points. It determines how much damage you can take before dying.

Key Facts:

  • Soft Cap: 100 Vigor (massive HP gain per point)
  • Hard Cap: 150 Vigor (diminishing returns after 100)
  • At 40 Vigor: ~580 HP  |  At 80: ~1,060 HP  |  At 100: ~1,240 HP
  • Recommendation: Always raise Vigor to 40 minimum, 60 ideal
Pro Tip: Most deaths come from having too little Vigor. Raise it to 40 before anything else as a new player. The HP gain from 30 to 40 is massive (~100 extra HP).

Poise (Torment Break Threshold)

Poise is your internal "stagger resistance." When you take hits, a hidden poise meter fills up. If it fills completely, you get poise broken — you stagger and can't attack for a moment.

How Poise Works:

  • Each armor piece adds a flat poise value
  • Two specific talismans boost poise: Bull-Goose Charm and Iron Jar Candlestick
  • Heavy attacks and weapon arts deal more poise damage
  • Boosting poise lets you attack through enemy hits
Pro Tip: Stack Bull-Goose Charm + Iron Jar Candlestick + heavy armor to reach 70+ poise. This lets you trade hits with enemies — you take damage but don't stagger, letting you land extra attacks.

Impact (Knockback Force)

Impact determines how much knockback or push force an attack deals. It's separate from damage — an attack can do zero damage but still knock you off a cliff.

Key Facts:

  • High impact = more knockback (pushes enemies back)
  • Low impact = less knockback (keeps enemies in range)
  • Some weapons have zero impact (great for keeping bosses in place)
  • Impact matters for cliff-killing enemies in Caelid and Mountaintops
Pro Tip: Use low-impact weapons when you want to keep a boss in range for spirit ash aggro. High-impact weapons are bad for bleed builds because they knock the boss away before bleed triggers.

i-Frames (Invincibility Frames)

i-Frames are moments during certain actions where you cannot take damage. The most common source is the roll (dodge).

i-Frame Sources:

  • Roll: ~0.3-0.5 seconds of invincibility (depends on roll type)
  • Jump: Very brief, not reliable for combat
  • Spotlight Roll (Jump Dodge): Longer i-frames — roll at the peak of your jump
  • Certain Ashes of War: Some weapon arts grant i-frames
  • Blessing's Boon: Grants temporary i-frames during healing
Pro Tip: The Spotlight Roll (jump + roll at peak) gives more i-frames than a normal roll. This is essential for dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance and Radahn's starfall — you can jump and roll through it for more invincibility.

Buff Stacking

You can have multiple active buffs at once, but similar buffs don't stack. Buffs are categorized by type, and only the strongest buff of each category applies.

Buff Categories (can stack together):

  • Weapon Buff (Right Hand): Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength
  • Weapon Buff (Left Hand/Shield): Lightning, Magic, Sacred
  • Defensive Buffs: Shield, Barkskin, Golden Vow (defense portion)
  • Passive Buffs: Crystal Release, Ancient Dragon's Blessing

Example of stacking 4 buffs:

  1. Cast Golden Vow (+attack & defense for 80s)
  2. Cast Flame, Grant Me Strength (+physical & fire damage for 30s)
  3. Equip Crucible Axe Shield (+attack aura)
  4. Use Ancient Dragon's Blessing (+all attributes for 15s)
Pro Tip: Before boss fights, stack: Golden Vow → Flame Grant Me Strength → Ancient Dragon's Blessing → eat food. This gives ~35%+ attack boost. For defense: Barkskin (VIT buff) + Crucible Axe Shield + Golden Vow.

Equipment Load & Roll Types

Your Equip Load (affected by Endurance + certain talismans) determines your roll type, which directly affects i-frame duration and mobility.

Roll Types:

  • Zero Roll (0%): You can't roll at all
  • Fast Roll (under 70%): Long i-frames, high mobility — recommended
  • Half Roll (70-84%): Medium i-frames — acceptable
  • Heavily Encumbered (84-100%): Slow walk, no rolling
  • Overloaded (100%+): Can't run or roll
Pro Tip: Aim for under 70% Equip Load for fast roll. Use the Bull-Goose Charm (+18% load) to wear heavier armor while staying under 70%. This is the "70% build" philosophy — max damage output with maximum mobility.

Ashes of War

How to change weapon abilities, affinities, and categories.

Ashes of War (also called Warcrafts or AoW) are consumable items that let you change a weapon's skill (Ash of War ability) and its damage affinity (scaling). You find them throughout the Lands Between, buy them from merchants, or get them from bosses.

To change a weapon's Ash of War, visit any Site of Grace and select "Change Ash of War." Some weapons cannot be changed (marked with a lock icon).

Affinity System — What Changes When You Apply an AoW

⚔ Standard

Keeps the weapon's original scaling. Best for weapons that already have good stats. No change to damage type.

⚕ Heavy (Colossal)

Boosts Strength scaling, reduces DEX scaling. Increases poise damage on hits. Best for STR builds with colossal weapons.

⚑ Keen

Boosts Dexterity scaling, reduces STR scaling. Makes weapons faster. Best for DEX builds.

⚖ Holy

Adds Holy damage and boosts Faith scaling. Effective against undead and death-related enemies.

♥ Blood (Bleed)

Adds Bleed buildup and boosts Arcane scaling. Best for bleed builds — each hit adds bleed meter.

⚒ Frost

Adds Frost buildup and boosts Int/FTH scaling. Slows enemies and deals burst damage when it triggers.

⚑ Magic

Adds Magic damage and boosts INT scaling. Great for intelligence builds.

♪ Fire

Adds Fire damage and boosts FTH scaling. Good against ice enemies and for damage-over-time.

Ashes of War by Category

⚔ Offensive — Damage Boost

Charged Slash — Charge up for a powerful strike. Good for Strength builds. Found: Limgrave, near the starting village.
Spinning Slash — Spin and slash forward. High damage, good mobility. Found: Stormveil Castle.
Waves of Darkness — Fire projectile waves. Good for DEX builds. Found: Roundtable Hold merchant.
Flame Sweep — Spin with fire trailing behind. Great for clearing groups. Found: Liurnia, near the lake shore.
Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker — Massive AoE slam. Best in game for Strength. Found: After defeating Godfrey shade.

⚕ Utility — Mobility & Control

Impaling Thrust — Lunge forward with a piercing stab. Great for mounted combat. Found: Stormveil Castle.
Lightning Spear — Throw a lightning projectile. Good for kiting. Found: Divine Tower of Caelid.
Bestial Sling — Throw multiple stones. Cheap FP, good for farming. Found: Speak to Gurranq at Bestial Sanctum.
Spotted Paw — Charge forward like a beast. Great for closing distance. Found: Gurranq reward.

⚙ Buffs — Self-Enhancement

Golden Vow — +15% attack and defense for 80 seconds. Best buff in the game. Found: Corniann's shop or defeat Messmer.
Flame, Grant Me Strength — +20% physical & fire damage for 30s. Found: Near the Castle Sol Site of Grace.
Bloodflame Blade — Enchants weapon with bloodfire for 90s. Great for bleed builds. Found: Rose Church, Liurnia.
Electrify Armament — Enchants weapon with lightning for 60s. Found: Church of Elleh, Limgrave.
Garph's Cold Moon — Enchants with frostbite. Found: Sellia, Caelid.

♿ Special — Unique Effects

Unsheathe — Quick draw slash. Best for katanas. Found: Starting Ash of War for Uchigatana.
Scouring Black Flame — AoE black flame ring. Anti-summon. Found: Church of Inhibition, Caelid.
Monster's Plunge — Jump and slam weapon down. Massive poise damage. Found: Redmane Castle.
Stormwall — Create a lightning wall. Great for crowd control. Found: Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave.
Pro Tip: You can find the same Ash of War multiple times with different affinities. The golden version is always the strongest. Look for golden sparkles on the ground — that's a better version. Always upgrade your weapon to +10 (or +25 for somber) before applying an Ash of War, because weapon level directly affects the AoW damage scaling.

Core Builds

Proven meta builds with stat targets, weapons, and playstyle guides.

These are the most effective and popular builds in Elden Ring. Each build has been tested against all major bosses and optimized for both PvE and PvP effectiveness.

META

♿ Bleed Build (Most Popular PvE)

The #1 PvE build in Elden Ring. Bleed triggers blood loss when the buildup meter fills, dealing % of max HP as damage. This makes it devastating against bosses with huge HP pools.

DEX50
ARC30
VIT35
END20

Signature Weapons:

Rivers of Blood → Eleonora's Poleblade → Occult Old Lord's Talwar

Signature Talismans:

Mickael Loop → Lord of Blood's Exultation → Millicent's Prosthesis

Signature Spells:

Bloodflame Blade (weapon buff) → Bestial Sling (farming)

Playstyle:

Fast katana or scimitar combat. Land 4-5 hits to trigger bleed, then back off and heal. Repeat. Against bosses, this can deal 30-40% of their max HP in a single bleed proc. Extremely effective against Radahn, Malenia, and Fire Giant.

OP

⚑ Comet Azur Mage Build (Highest DPS)

The highest single-shot damage in the game. Comet Azur fires a continuous beam that melts everything. With the right setup, you can one-shot most early-game bosses.

INT80
VIT25
END15
MEN20

Signature Weapons:

Comet Azur Staff → Lusat's Staff (infinite cast) → Serpent's Staff

Signature Spells:

Comet Azur → Comet → Orbiting Spectral Swords → Carian Sickle

Signature Talismans:

Graven-Mass Talisman → Magic Scorpion Charm → Shawl (hide in bushes)

Playstyle:

Stand still and fire Comet Azur while buffed. You're extremely vulnerable — use Crystal Release talisman for damage boost and hide in bushes with the Green Mimic Tear charm. Best against stationary or slow bosses.

PWR

⚔ Strength Build (One-Hit Wonders)

Massive colossal weapons that deal absurd damage per hit. With Heavy affinity and Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker, you can melt bosses in seconds.

STR60
VIT35
END20
DEX15

Signature Weapons:

Greatstars → Giant-Crusher → Starscourge Greatsword

Signature Warcrafts:

Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker → Spinning Slash → Charge For

Signature Talismans:

Great-Jar's Anchor → Bull-Goose Charm → Shard of Alexander

Playstyle:

Slow but devastating. Each hit deals 2000+ damage with proper buffs. Use Bull-Goose Charm to wear heavy armor and still fast-roll. Earthshaker AoE clears entire rooms. Best against bosses with low poise.

DIV

⚖ Faith / Black Flame Build

Black Flame deals % max HP damage over time — similar to bleed but for faith builds. Extremely effective against high-HP bosses.

FTH60
STR30
VIT35
END20

Signature Weapons:

Trident of the Great God → Magma Whip Sword → Saint's Staff

Signature Incantations:

Black Flame Blade → Bestial Sling → Flame, Grant Me Strength → Langar's Rocket

Signature Talismans:

Two-Headed Tortoise → Avian's Old Fang → Graven-Scale Talisman

Playstyle:

Melee faith with Black Flame Blade enchantment. The % max HP damage stacks with your weapon damage. Bestial Sling for ranged cleanup. Flame Grant Me Strength before every boss fight.

SPD

⚕ Dexterity Build (Speed & Precision)

Fast dual-wielding or single high-DEX weapon with keen affinity. High attack speed means more hits per second and faster bleed/frost buildup.

DEX55
VIT30
END20
STR15

Signature Weapons:

Moonveil → Rivers of Blood → Black Knife → Eleonora's Poleblade

Signature Warcrafts:

Unsheathe → Spinning Slash → Ghostflame Dragonfly

Signature Talismans:

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia → Millicent's Prosthesis → Archer's Torch

Playstyle:

Fast, agile combat. Moonveil's Transient Moonlight is one of the best weapon arts in the game — fire a projectile and close distance. Rivers of Blood's Hoellinger adds fire DOT on each hit. Best for players who like fast-paced combat.

DEF

⚔ Tank / Shield Build (Most Defensive)

Maximum defense with a greatshield and heavy armor. You become immovable. Pair with Counterattack or Shield Bash for offense.

VIT45
END40
STR30
DEX15

Signature Weapons:

Brass Shield → Crested Shield → Claymore (for counterattacks)

Signature Warcrafts:

Shield Bash → Counterattack → Barricade Shield

Signature Talismans:

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman → Great-Jar's Anchor → Crusader's Canopy

Playstyle:

Stand your ground and block everything. Use Shield Bash to stun enemies, then Counterattack for massive damage. Best for players who prefer a defensive, patient playstyle. Can solo bosses that other builds struggle with.

♘ Player Discussions

♘ Build Discussions

Early Game Guide

What to do first, essential items, leveling spots, and everything you need before Stormveil Castle.

New players often wander Limgrave aimlessly, dying to Margit unprepared. This guide tells you exactly what to do in order to maximize your power before facing the first major bosses.

1

Leave the Starting Cave & Get the Sword

When you wake up at the Gatefront Ruins, go back to the starting cave (the one you came from). Inside, you'll find:
Smithing Stone [1] — used to upgrade your weapon
Flask of Wondrous Physick recipe (talk to Jar Bairn at Roundtable Hold later)
Ghost Glovewort [1] — for upgrading spirit ashes

2

Explore Limgrave North — Gain Grounds

Head north from the Gatefront Site of Grace. Clear these locations in order:
Church of Elleh — meet Merchant Kalé, buy the Smithing Stone [(1)] x5
Mistwood Ruins — get Flask Wondrous Physick from Jar Bairn (later at Roundtable Hold)
Third Church of Marika — sell excess items to the merchant here
Tombsward Cave — get Stoneball Ash of War (free, works on any weapon)

3

Get the Grace Seed & Upgrade Your Flask

At the Third Church of Marika, talk to the merchant and buy the Golden Seed for 500 runes. This lets you add an extra charge to your Flask of Crimson Tears (healing) at a Site of Grace. Essential before Margit.

4

Level Up — Where & How

Before fighting Margit, level these stats in order:
Vigor to 30 (survive more hits)
Your main damage stat to 20 (STR/DEX/INT/FTH depending on class)
Endurance to 15 (more stamina for rolling)

Best early leveling spot: The hill south of Gatefront Ruins — kill the mounted soldiers on horseback. Each gives ~300 runes. Or go to Liurnia Lake Shore — kill the Godrick Soldier repeats for ~500 runes each.

5

Visit Roundtable Hold

After resting at any Grace in Limgrave, you'll be transported to Roundtable Hold. Here you can:
● Talk to Smithmaster Hewg — upgrade your weapon using Smithing Stones
● Talk to Enia — exchange Remembrances for boss weapons/spells
● Talk to Merchant Kalé (if you brought him) — buy unique items
● Get the Wondrous Physick mixed at the Table of Lost Grace

6

Essential Items to Collect Before Margit

Smithing Stone [(1)] x20
Upgrade weapon to +5 minimum
Sell dead horses for more
Golden Seed
Extra flask charge
Third Church of Marika
Spirit Ashes
Somber Skeleton +1
Stormhill Shack
Flask of Wondrous Physick
Mixed at Table of Lost Grace
Roundtable Hold
Preserving Boluses x5
Prevent Scarlet Rot
Church of the Plague, Caelid (if going early)
Stonesword Key x10+
Reveal hidden paths
Buy from merchants
7

Optional: Get the Somber Smithing Stone [1] from the Dead Death Raptor

On the hill east of Gatefront Ruins, you'll see a dead raptor. Interact with it to get a Somber Smithing Stone [1]. Use it to upgrade your Smithmaster's somber weapons (like the Uchigatana if you're a Samurai). This is critical for bleed builds.

8

Fight Margit — You're Ready Now

With your weapon upgraded to +5, Vigor at 30+, a Golden Seed flask upgrade, and at least one spirit ash summoned, you're prepared for Margit. Remember: summon Nepheli Louk at the base of the hill — she makes this fight trivial.

⚡ Early Game Cheat Sheet

Dead Horse Trick
Jump on dead horses around Limgrave and ride them. They sell for 100-500 runes each at the Roundtable Hold merchant. Fastest early rune farming.
Stormhill Shack Spirit Ash
Go to Stormhill Shack (north of Gatefront Ruins), kill the knight, take the Somber Skeleton +1 spirit ashes. Free summon for Margit.
Stoneball Ash of War
Found in Tombsward Cave (west of Gatefront Ruins). Free Ash of War that adds a rock-throwing skill to any weapon. Great for ranged damage early.
Golden Rune [1] Farm
After Margit, go to the Liurnia Lake Shore. Kill the Godrick Soldiers near the water — they drop Golden Runes [1-3]. Best early rune farm.
Smithing Stone [1] Farm
South of the Stranded Graveyard, dig up the glowing yellow spots on the ground. Each dig has a 50% chance for a Smithing Stone [1]. Repeat by reloading the area.
First Weapon Upgrade
Always upgrade your weapon to +5 before fighting Margit. The damage difference between +0 and +5 is massive (~30% more damage).

Stats Explained

Every attribute, its soft caps, and how it affects your character.

Strength (STR)

Increases physical damage with one-handed and two-handed heavy weapons. Required to wield colossal weapons.

Soft Caps: 20 / 55 / 80
Best For: Strength builds, colossal weapons
Recommendation: Level to 55 for most STR builds

Dexterity (DEX)

Increases physical damage with fast weapons. Affects casting speed for spells. Required for katanas, curved swords, and bows.

Soft Caps: 20 / 50 / 80
Best For: Dex builds, katanas, bows
Recommendation: Level to 50 for most DEX builds

Intelligence (INT)

Required to cast sorceries (glintstone spells). Increases magic damage.

Soft Caps: 20 / 50 / 80
Best For: Mage builds, sorcery
Recommendation: Level to 80 for pure mage builds

Faith (FTH)

Required to cast incantations (holy/fire/lightning spells). Increases holy damage with faith weapons.

Soft Caps: 20 / 50 / 80
Best For: Faith builds, incantations
Recommendation: Level to 60 for most faith builds

Vigor (VIT)

Increases your maximum HP. The single most important stat for survivability.

Soft Caps: 20 / 40 / 60
Best For: Everyone
Recommendation: Level to 40 minimum, 60 for endgame

Endurance (END)

Increases HP recovery rate, stamina (for rolling/attacking), and equip load (allows heavier armor).

Soft Caps: 10 / 25 / 50
Best For: Everyone, especially tank builds
Recommendation: Level to 25 for comfortable rolling

Arcane (ARC)

Increases discovery rate (item drop chances), affects status buildup (bleed, frost, poison), and powers certain spells/weapons.

Soft Caps: 20 / 50 / 80
Best For: Bleed builds, item farming
Recommendation: Level to 30-40 for bleed, 80 for pure arcane

Memory (MEM)

Increases the number of spell slots available for sorceries and incantations. Does not increase spell power.

Soft Caps: 10 / 14 / 16
Best For: Spellcasters who want more slots
Recommendation: 14 slots is enough for most builds

Stat Allocation Summary

Minimum viable stats for any build: Vigor 40, Endurance 15, and your main damage stat at 20.

Ideal stats for endgame: Vigor 60, Endurance 25, main stat 60-80 (depending on build), all others at minimum requirements.

Total level cap: 713 (the level you reach when every single stat is at 99). Most builds finish the game between levels 150-250.

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