A Beginner’s Guide to Building Your Character in Elden Ring
Elden Ring, the latest masterpiece from FromSoftware, is a game that challenges even the most seasoned players. For newcomers, the vast open world, intricate mechanics, and daunting enemies can be overwhelming. However, with the right approach, even a beginner can craft a powerful build that suits their playstyle. In this guide, we’ll explore how to create a beginner-friendly build in Elden Ring, ensuring you can tackle the game’s early stages with confidence.
Understanding the Basics of Elden Ring Builds
Before diving into specific builds, it’s essential to grasp the fundamentals of Elden Ring’s character customization. The game offers six primary attributes: Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence. Each attribute affects different aspects of your character, such as health, stamina, and the ability to wield certain weapons or cast spells.
For beginners, Vigor and Endurance are crucial, as they directly impact your survivability. Vigor increases your health, while Endurance boosts your stamina and equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor and perform more actions before needing to rest.
Choosing the Right Starting Class
Elden Ring offers five starting classes, each catering to different playstyles. Here’s a brief overview:
Astrologer: Ideal for magic users, with high Intelligence and Mind.
Bandit: A balanced class with decent Strength and Endurance.
Confessor: A mix of Strength and Dexterity, suitable for melee-focused players.
Prisoner: A versatile class with balanced attributes, great for experimenting.
Prophet: Focuses on Faith, making it perfect for those who want to heal or support.
For beginners, the Prophet or Prisoner classes are excellent starting points. The Prophet offers early access to healing miracles, which can be a lifesaver, while the Prisoner provides a balanced stat distribution, allowing you to experiment with different weapons and strategies.
Crafting a Beginner-Friendly Build
1. Strength Build
A Strength build focuses on dealing massive melee damage. It’s a great choice for beginners because it’s straightforward and requires minimal micromanagement.
Key Attributes: Strength (primary), Endurance (secondary)
Weapons: Greatsword, Colossal Weapons
Armor: Heavy armor for maximum defense
2. Dexterity Build
Dexterity builds are versatile and offer a good balance between offense and defense. They’re slightly more complex than Strength builds but still accessible for newcomers.
Key Attributes: Dexterity (primary), Endurance (secondary)
Weapons: Katanas, Twinblades
Armor: Medium armor for mobility and protection
3. Intelligence Build
If you prefer casting spells, an Intelligence build is the way to go. It’s more strategic but can be incredibly powerful in the right hands.
Key Attributes: Intelligence (primary), Mind (secondary)
Weapons: Staff of the Guilty, Remembrance
Armor: Light armor to maintain mobility
4. Quality Build
A Quality build balances Strength and Dexterity, offering flexibility in combat. It’s an excellent choice for players who want to experiment with different weapons.
Key Attributes: Strength and Dexterity (balanced)
Weapons: Greatswords, Halberds
Armor: Medium armor for a mix of defense and mobility
Essential Tips for Beginners
Explore Thoroughly: Elden Ring’s world is filled with hidden paths, items, and secrets. Take your time to explore and familiarize yourself with the environment.
Upgrade Your Gear: Regularly upgrade your weapons and armor at the blacksmith to ensure you’re dealing maximum damage and withstanding enemy attacks.
Learn Enemy Patterns: Each enemy has a unique attack pattern. Take the time to learn these patterns to avoid unnecessary deaths.
Use Your Mount: Your mount, Torrent, is invaluable for traversal and escaping danger. Use it wisely to conserve stamina and avoid tough encounters early on.
Conclusion
Building a character in Elden Ring can seem daunting at first, but with the right strategy, even a beginner can create a powerful build. Whether you prefer brute Strength, agile Dexterity, or the mystical power of Intelligence, there’s a build that suits your playstyle. Remember to stay patient, explore thoroughly, and continuously adapt your build as you progress through the game. With persistence and the right guidance, you’ll soon be conquering the Lands Between like a pro.