Tips for First-Timers Starting Shadow of the Erdtree: What I Wish I Knew

[~$ sudo _]

With the DLC around the corner, I figured I'd share a few things that would’ve made my life easier when starting the base game.

1. Don’t stress about choosing the 'perfect' class — it gets flexible fast.
   
2. Upgrade your Summons — Spirit Ashes are borderline mandatory in tough fights.
   
3. If you're struggling with Margit, explore other areas first. It’s OK to delay the main path.

Anyone else have beginner tips that made a huge difference?

[rkmugen]

If they don't attack you first, then they probably wanna do business. But if you can lock onto them, probably time to take care of business.

[marek.jop1]

Just hit them hard!

[1100011]

Combos sometimes have attack openings before the end, no need to wait them out if your attack is fast enough.

The jump has i-frames, you can use them to evade in stead of roll. E.g. sweep attacks: jump & R2. Ground-covering AoE: jump to evade.

There's an invisible stance bar that allows for a critical attack when depleted. Breaking an enemy's stance works well with charged and jumping attacks. If youre new: R2 right after blocking an attack, called guard counter, works as well.
The stance bar will refill with time, pelt them with ranged attacks (throwing knives or kukri's) to prevent it.

Ashes of war can be used to modify the scaling of your favorite weapons to your stat. For example, change to Heavy for strength, Keen for d**, or Quality for equal strength d**.

Fire is OP early game.

Visit Caelid and enjoy the beautiful serenety of the scenery. Don't forget the swamps!

[an entire Roman legion]

OP why aren't you mad at steam for allowing such a violence-glorifying game? do you think killing is good? This isn’t "just a game"—it’s normalizing the entire process of killing weaker beings.

shame on you.

[echo_ML]

Originally posted by an entire Roman legion:

OP why aren't you mad at steam for allowing such a violence-glorifying game? do you think killing is good? This isn’t "just a game"—it’s normalizing the entire process of killing weaker beings.

shame on you.

lmao

Post history is Gabe's gift to humanity

[1100011]

Originally posted by an entire Roman legion:

OP why aren't you mad at steam for allowing such a violence-glorifying game? do you think killing is good? This isn’t "just a game"—it’s normalizing the entire process of killing weaker beings.

shame on you.

Never thought I'd see the day that an entire Roman Legion would say this.

[Weedsmell]

Originally posted by echo_ML:

Originally posted by an entire Roman legion:

OP why aren't you mad at steam for allowing such a violence-glorifying game? do you think killing is good? This isn’t "just a game"—it’s normalizing the entire process of killing weaker beings.

shame on you.

lmao

Post history is Gabe's gift to humanity

it really is, i went from ''wtf is this entire roman legion talking about'' to ''of course an entire roman legion would be this based''

[an entire Roman legion]

by the senate!

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by ~$ sudo _:

With the DLC around the corner, I figured I'd share a few things that would’ve made my life easier when starting the base game.

1. Don’t stress about choosing the 'perfect' class — it gets flexible fast.
   
2. Upgrade your Summons — Spirit Ashes are borderline mandatory in tough fights.
   
3. If you're struggling with Margit, explore other areas first. It’s OK to delay the main path.

Anyone else have beginner tips that made a huge difference?

Emphasis on "borderline".
No bossfight there requires any summon (spirit ash, NPC or player summon).

[Faust Wither]

Tips for someone starting elden ring, level up your vigor.

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by Faust Wither:

Tips for someone starting elden ring, level up your vigor.

30 VIG is enough to beat the game (not getting 1shot by anything - "not getting 1shot" does not mean "standing 1 full combo", mean "standing 1 heavy hit" without getting killed)
Morgot (not Margit) is reachable without getting 1shot with 15 VIG (and wearing deathbed dress) so "VIG" is far too overrated (specially at end game where combos can kill any player with 60 VIG if player gets hit by full combo) and learning how to give yourself space from enemies and bosses, position yourself and dodge are all far too underrated.