Elden Ring: The Complete Wiki & Game Guide
Overview
Elden Ring is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding contributions from fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin, the game represents the evolution of the Souls-like genre into a vast, interconnected open world known as the Lands Between.
The game follows the Tarnished, exiles from the Lands Between who are summoned back after the Shattering, a war triggered by the destruction of the Elden Ring. Players must traverse the realm, defeat demigod offspring of Queen Marika the Eternal, and ultimately become the Elden Lord.
Since its release in 2022, Elden Ring has achieved critical and commercial success, winning numerous Game of the Year awards and selling over 25 million copies worldwide as of 2025. The game's expansive world, deep combat system, and rich lore have established it as a landmark title in modern gaming.
Explore more in our Elden Wiki for comprehensive lore analysis.
Gameplay Mechanics
Core Combat System
Elden Ring builds upon FromSoftware's signature combat mechanics while introducing new elements. The combat system emphasizes timing, positioning, and resource management. Players can utilize light attacks, heavy attacks, guard counters, jump attacks, and the new posture-breaking system to overcome enemies.
Character Progression
Players collect runes from defeated enemies to level up their character's attributes: Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. The flexible class system allows for diverse builds, from spellcasting astrologers to heavy weapon specialists.
The Open World
The Lands Between is divided into six major areas, each with distinct ecosystems, enemies, and challenges. Players can traverse the world on horseback using the spectral steed Torrent, discovering dungeons, catacombs, caves, and legacy dungeons along the way.
Ashes of War & Spirit Summons
New to the series are Ashes of War, which allow players to customize weapon skills, and Spirit Ashes, which summon spectral allies to aid in combat. These systems add strategic depth and accessibility options for different playstyles.
For those struggling with the game's biggest bosses, spirit summons can provide crucial assistance.
Guides & Character Builds
Beginner Tips Essential
Focus on leveling Vigor early (aim for 40 by mid-game). Explore Limgrave thoroughly before fighting Margit. Use guard counters against standard enemies. Don't ignore crafting—it provides valuable consumables.
Magic Build
Start as Astrologer. Prioritize Intelligence (60+) and Mind (30+). Key spells: Glintstone Pebble (early), Comet Azur (late). Use Carian Regal Scepter. Equip Radagon Icon and Graven-Mass Talisman.
Strength Build
Start as Vagabond or Hero. Level Strength to 80, Vigor to 60. Recommended weapons: Giant-Crusher, Greatsword. Use Lion's Claw Ash of War. Equip Great-Jar's Arsenal for equip load.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Mastering advanced techniques like animation canceling, roll-catch setups, and stance-breaking combos is essential for PvP and endgame content. The Elden Ring Reforged mod introduces additional combat mechanics for veterans.
Boss Strategies
Each boss in Elden Ring requires unique strategies. For example, Malenia, Blade of Miquella (considered one of the hardest bosses) is vulnerable to frost and bleed damage. Dodging into her Waterfowl Dance rather than away increases survival chances.
Learn more about specific boss encounters in our Elden Ring Undertaker guide for death-related strategies.
Nightreign DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree
Released in January 2025, the Elden Ring Nightreign DLC (officially titled "Shadow of the Erdtree") expands the game's world with an entirely new region, the Land of Shadow. This massive expansion adds 30+ hours of content, including:
- A new explorable region larger than Limgrave and Liurnia combined
- 10 major bosses, including the elusive Miquella in his true form
- Over 100 new weapons, spells, and armor sets
- New gameplay mechanics including Shadow Arts and mounted combat enhancements
- Additional endings that expand upon the base game's lore
DLC Access Requirements
To access the Nightreign DLC, players must defeat both Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then interact with the withered arm at Mohgwyn Palace. The DLC is designed for characters level 100+ with fully upgraded weapons.
For specific platform information, check our PS5 Elden Ring Nightreign DLC guide for optimization tips.
Critical Reception
The Nightreign DLC has been praised for its challenging boss design, atmospheric worldbuilding, and meaningful expansion of the game's lore. It currently holds a Metacritic score of 92 based on 85 critic reviews.
Updates & Patches
Version History
Nightreign DLC Patch: Added support for new DLC weapons in PvP. Balanced spirit summons. Fixed progression blocker in Land of Shadow. Improved performance on all platforms.
Balance Update: Reduced damage of Rivers of Blood by 8%. Increased poise damage of colossal weapons. Fixed bug with seamless co-op mod compatibility. Added new hair options for character creation.
Major Balance Patch: Rebalanced 50+ weapons and spells. Added 5 new gestures. Fixed numerous collision issues. Improved NPC questline triggers. Enhanced ray tracing performance on PC.
Nightreign DLC Release: Added Land of Shadow region, 10 new bosses, 100+ new items. Introduced Shadow Arts mechanic. Expanded character creation options. Added photo mode.
Version Comparison
The game has evolved significantly since launch. Early versions (1.02-1.04) focused on balance and bug fixes, while later updates expanded content and refined mechanics. The most substantial changes came with patch 1.07 (Nightreign DLC) which added more content than many full games.
For information on the Tarnished Edition for PS5, check our dedicated release timeline.
Download & Installation
System Requirements
Minimum (1080p, Low Settings)
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
- Storage: 80 GB available space
Recommended (1440p, High Settings)
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX VEGA 56 8GB
- Storage: 80 GB available space (SSD recommended)
Installation Steps
- Purchase Elden Ring from Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or retail
- Download the base game (approx. 48GB)
- Install the latest updates (approx. 15GB additional for DLC)
- Configure graphics settings based on your hardware
- For optimal experience, install on SSD if possible
Performance Optimization
PC players experiencing performance issues should update graphics drivers, disable in-game overlays, and experiment with different fullscreen/windowed modes. The seamless co-op mod also includes performance enhancements for multiplayer.