As a novice player who wants to beat the game, should I learn the game with Mage or Strength build?

[P0MK0NTHA1]

Im interested in Mage build but im afraid i will have a hard time as im very bad at soulslike games and I want to really learn and get into one

Would you say for newcomers, vagabond/strength build is easier to learn and beat the game? Or mage is actually easier and better for learning soulslike games? Thanks!

[echo_ML]

Honestly, i think you'll have a much easier time with magic, its quite strong in this game.
Have fun

[mordecaiseven]

i would say Strength build is good for a novice player, since some sorceries for a mage build would need investment first in order to use properly in the early game and strength build is arguably easy to learn without needing much setup to use effectively.

you can also rebirth/respec your character later in the game, which would enable you to change your strength build into a mage build later in the game.

Honestly if it were me, pick a build of what you think is cooler for your own playstyle. don't let the investment gate for a certain build be a roadblock for what you want to play as

[livertx]

Originally posted by echo_ML:

Honestly, i think you'll have a much easier time with magic, its quite strong in this game.
Have fun :er_heart:

honestly i got a harder time with magic than melee mainly because of stat requirement

[livertx]

i recommend you to see stat softcap on fextralife and to search a elden ring map on net to see all the boss (boss give you a lot of rune)

[Log18os]

Start STR or DEX, learn dodging, parrying, feel the game and after investing into some levels and finding interesting weapon You will be able to respec - just beware - each respec requires specific item obtainable in game

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

I vote for Strength or Strength/Faith for first time player.

Magic is powerful but requires some knowledge of the game.
But if you played Dark Souls games you could start with magic I suppose.

[Vrynn]

magic build while it require int for damege dexterity reduce cast time to spell so you need to find the best spells for diffrrent fight and to deal with diffrent ressistance otherwise summon helps alot f or newer players need material to upgrade those aswell
but truth magic can be easier but more time is needed compared to other build otherwise my tip wuld be play physical until you unlock respec in library
once you get the right spells it becoms a kite battle

edit ofc you culd get alot useful sorcery stuff early game with help of webpage guide but to your own risk of scary under level journey

[d]

Bad place to ask because nobody on here actually knows how to play this game because they take advantage of all the 'tEcHnIcHaLlY Not Easy Mode' options built into it and have watched YouTube guides on every esoteric little detail.

If you want to be good at this game, actually play it yourself, and that will give you a leg up on 90% of the people who bought it. With that said, beating Elden Ring and becoming good at it are separate pursuits owing to its perplexing 'one size fits all' design.

The combat is fairly deep, and the challenges are inexplicably tailored for facing head-on with only the most honest and straightforward tools available, and yet the world is filled to the brim with ways of subverting that challenge, in complete disregard for how that impacts the player's sense of gratification. So, ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you want to get out of it. The game will not ask you to be good at it if you don't want to be.

[Deri]

Mage has OP power but that usually comes at the cost of defensive stats. Loot enough and you can pretty much kill any boss 1 or 2 hit. If all you want to do is beat the game, go mage and kill everything fast.

Str is my favorite build. It's slow and hard hitting. I still need to move around enemies and learn how bosses fight while doing good damage and poise damage. I die a lot more with str build than my mage build but I enjoy the game a lot more playing str as I like to be face to face with bosses; and not farthest spell distance using kamehameha waves

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Originally posted by 'ogue:

Bad place to ask because nobody on here actually knows how to play this game because they take advantage of all the 'tEcHnIcHaLlY Not Easy Mode' options built into it and have watched YouTube guides on every esoteric little detail.

Projecting much?

I didn't watch any guides and I take advantage of (gasp!)
tools designers legitimately provide in the game.

And when you say nobody here knows how to play
this game does this include you as well?

It would be really sad if you believe what you typed there.

[pevadi88]

It doesn't reallt matter, all builds are viable.
It will be hard regardless.

[The Sylvan Learning Center]

Sword and board melee knight is the best beginner build.

Magic is a secondary style of play. Value, but esoteric and more challenging and gimmicky

[Tommy Wiseau]

Get a good shield and block everything.

[buttchin]

Originally posted by P0MK0NTHA1:

Im interested in Mage build but im afraid i will have a hard time as im very bad at soulslike games and I want to really learn and get into one

Would you say for newcomers, vagabond/strength build is easier to learn and beat the game? Or mage is actually easier and better for learning soulslike games? Thanks!

Str always, mage is "can i play daddy" mode of eldenring

[The Sylvan Learning Center]

You can tell they added magic after designing game initially around sword and board build