Elden Ring Beginner's Guide: What to Do First

Elden Ring drops you into a huge open world with almost no direction, which is exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. Here is how to spend your first few hours so the Lands Between feels fair instead of brutal.

Pick a starting class you'll actually enjoy

Your class only sets your starting stats and gear, not your destiny. Every class can eventually become anything, so choose based on how you want to play right now rather than chasing a 'best' pick. Vagabond is the friendliest melee start thanks to high Vigor, a shield, and a solid sword and halberd. Astrologer is the strongest caster opener because its high Mind gives you the FP to spam sorceries and summon spirits. Samurai is a fan favorite for its longbow, bleed-causing Uchigatana katana, and balanced stats.

If you want maximum long-term flexibility and don't mind a hard early game, the Wretch starts at level 1 with every stat at 10 and only a club, which wastes zero points when you build toward a specific plan later. For a first playthrough, though, don't overthink it. Vagabond, Samurai, or Astrologer will all carry a new player comfortably.

Your first hour, step by step

1. In the opening Stranded Graveyard, jump down into the pit to reach the Cave of Knowledge, the optional tutorial that teaches rolling, guard, jump attacks, and stealth. Do it even if you've played other action games.
2. Emerge into Limgrave and rest at the first Site of Grace to lock in your checkpoint and enable fast travel between graces you've discovered.
3. Head north to the Church of Elleh and meet Merchant Kale, then buy the Crafting Kit and some Cracked Pots so you can make throwables and useful items.
4. Keep resting at Sites of Grace as you travel. After a few, the maiden Melina appears and gifts you Torrent along with the Spectral Steed Whistle.
5. Return to the Church of Elleh at night with Torrent unlocked. The witch Renna will be waiting to hand you the Spirit Calling Bell and the Lone Wolves Ashes.

Why Vigor comes first

Vigor is your health bar, and it is the single most important stat for a new player. Early bosses hit hard enough to nearly one-shot a low-Vigor character, which makes it impossible to learn their attack patterns. With a bigger health pool you can eat a mistake, keep watching, and survive long enough to actually improve.

Aim to get Vigor to roughly 20 by the time you tackle the first major boss, and toward 30 to 40 as you push deeper into the game. Runes, which you earn by killing enemies and spend at Sites of Grace, are best invested in Vigor first for a while before you pour points into damage stats like Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence.

Torrent and Spirit Ashes make everything easier

Torrent, your spectral mount, is not just for travel. His double jump lets you scale cliffs and reach hidden loot, and mounted combat trivializes many roaming field bosses and dragons that would grind you down on foot. Summon him with the Spectral Steed Whistle anywhere you see the horse icon appear.

The Spirit Calling Bell lets you spend FP to summon Spirit Ashes, AI allies that tank hits and split a boss's attention. Near any fog wall or boss arena you'll see a small gravestone icon on the left of the screen, which means summoning is allowed. Even the free Lone Wolves Ashes can turn a wall-like fight into a manageable one, so upgrade your favorite ashes at Roderika once you can.

Explore Limgrave, don't headbutt Margit

The game funnels you toward Margit, the Fell Omen, at the gate to Stormveil Castle, but he is a deliberate difficulty check. If he is destroying you, that is Elden Ring telling you to go explore instead. Limgrave is packed with catacombs, caves, minor bosses, and merchants that reward you with runes, weapons, Golden Seeds, and Sacred Tears.

Every hour spent exploring makes Margit dramatically easier because you return stronger, better equipped, and with upgraded flasks. You can also cheese him: buy Margit's Shackle from Patches in Murkwater Cave to briefly stun him twice per fight. Open-world grinding beats banging your head against a wall every single time.

Flasks, Sites of Grace, and reading the map

Your Flask of Crimson Tears heals HP and your Flask of Cerulean Tears restores FP for spells and skills. Both share an upgrade pool: Golden Seeds add total charges and Sacred Tears increase how much each sip restores. At any Site of Grace you can freely reallocate charges between the two flasks, so melee builds should stack Crimson while casters keep a few Cerulean.

Turn on Guidance of Grace so a golden trail points you toward the next story objective, and watch the map for that same golden light marking meaningful destinations. Sites of Grace refill your flasks, let you level up, and act as fast-travel points, so touching every one you find is always worth the detour.