How Much Health Should You Have in Elden Ring?

In Elden Ring, your health, represented by the Vigor stat, is undeniably one of the most crucial attributes for survival. The simple answer to how much health you should have is: 60 Vigor is generally considered the ideal target for most builds in the late game and for PvP. This provides a substantial health pool that allows you to withstand multiple hits from even the toughest enemies and bosses. However, the journey to 60 Vigor is a strategic progression dependent on your playstyle, your current level, and the specific challenges you are facing.

The Importance of Vigor: Staying Alive in the Lands Between

Elden Ring is known for its difficulty. Enemies hit hard, and many encounters can quickly turn deadly if you aren’t prepared. Vigor directly affects your HP, making it the most important stat for increasing your survivability. A higher Vigor stat translates to more health points, enabling you to tank more hits, recover from mistakes, and ultimately, stay alive longer.

Think of it this way: You can deal all the damage in the world, but if you are constantly dying in one or two hits, your offensive capabilities become irrelevant. Prioritizing Vigor early and mid-game allows you to learn enemy patterns, explore dangerous areas, and experiment with different strategies without the constant frustration of repeated deaths.

The Vigor Leveling Curve: When to Invest

The optimal amount of Vigor changes as you progress through Elden Ring. Here’s a general guideline to follow:

• Early Game (Levels 1-40): 20-40 Vigor. Focus on getting enough Vigor to survive a few hits from early-game enemies. 20 Vigor will help you get through Limgrave. Aim for 40 Vigor by the time you start exploring Liurnia of the Lakes and Caelid. These zones ramp up the difficulty considerably, and having a solid health pool is essential.
• Mid Game (Levels 40-80): 40-50 Vigor. Continue to invest in Vigor as you venture into areas like the Altus Plateau, Leyndell, Royal Capital, and Volcano Manor. Many enemies in these areas deal significant damage, and having 40-50 Vigor will give you a fighting chance.
• Late Game (Levels 80+): 50-60 Vigor. By the time you reach the Mountaintops of the Giants and Crumbling Farum Azula, you should aim for 50-60 Vigor. The enemies and bosses here are incredibly powerful, and you’ll need every extra health point you can get. This is especially true for the final boss encounters.

It’s important to note that these are just guidelines. Your specific Vigor needs may vary depending on your build, playstyle, and comfort level. If you find yourself constantly dying, even with a decent amount of Vigor, consider investing a few more levels into it.

Optimizing Your Health Pool: Beyond Vigor

While Vigor is the primary factor in determining your health, there are other ways to boost your survivability:

• Talismans: Certain talismans can significantly increase your maximum HP. The Crimson Amber Medallion and its upgraded versions (Crimson Amber Medallion +1, +2) are excellent choices. The Erdtree’s Favor talisman also boosts HP, along with stamina and equip load.
• Armor: Wearing heavy armor provides better physical defenses, reducing the amount of damage you take from enemy attacks. However, be mindful of your equip load, as exceeding certain thresholds will negatively impact your mobility.
• Flask of Crimson Tears: Upgrading your Flask of Crimson Tears with Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears will increase the number of flasks you have and the amount of HP they restore. These are essential for sustaining yourself through challenging encounters.

The Trade-Off: Balancing Vigor with Other Stats

While Vigor is crucial, it’s important to balance it with other essential stats like:

• Endurance: Affects your stamina and equip load. Higher endurance allows you to perform more actions (attacking, dodging, blocking) and wear heavier armor without being encumbered.
• Mind: Determines your FP, which is used for casting spells and using weapon skills.
• Strength/Dexterity/Intelligence/Faith/Arcane: These stats are required to wield certain weapons and cast spells effectively.

It’s tempting to pump all your levels into Vigor, but neglecting other stats will hinder your overall effectiveness. Find a balance that suits your playstyle and build.

Health in PvP: A Different Landscape

Player vs. Player (PvP) combat in Elden Ring presents a different set of challenges and considerations. While 60 Vigor remains a solid choice, some players opt for even higher amounts to maximize their survivability in duels and invasions.

Many PvP builds are highly optimized, focusing on maximizing damage output while maintaining a decent health pool. Due to the potential for burst damage, having around 2000 HP (typically achieved with 50-60 Vigor) is generally recommended for PvP. Talismans like the Crimson Amber Medallion are particularly valuable in PvP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is 40 Vigor enough for Elden Ring?

40 Vigor is a good starting point for the mid-game. It will allow you to survive many encounters but may not be sufficient for the later areas of the game. Aim to increase it as you progress.

2. Is 50 Vigor too much early game?

While 50 Vigor in the early game provides a significant advantage in terms of survivability, it may come at the cost of neglecting other important stats. Consider your playstyle and the specific challenges you are facing before investing heavily in Vigor early on.

3. What happens if my health is too low in Elden Ring?

If your health is too low, you will be easily killed by enemies, making it difficult to progress through the game. You’ll spend more time dying and less time exploring and enjoying the experience.

4. Can I respec my stats in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. This allows you to reallocate your attribute points, including Vigor, to optimize your build.

5. Is there a health cap in Elden Ring?

While there isn’t a hard cap on health, Vigor has soft caps at 40 and 60. After these points, the amount of HP gained per level decreases significantly, making it less efficient to invest further.

6. How does armor affect my health in Elden Ring?

Armor doesn’t directly increase your health, but it provides physical and elemental defenses that reduce the amount of damage you take from enemy attacks. This indirectly increases your survivability.

7. What is the best talisman for increasing health in Elden Ring?

The Crimson Amber Medallion +2 is generally considered the best talisman for increasing health, as it provides a significant boost to your maximum HP. Erdtree’s Favor is another strong contender if you also need stamina and equip load.

8. How does coop affect boss health in Elden Ring?

When you summon other players for co-op, bosses receive a buff to their health and defenses. This is to compensate for the increased damage output and support provided by the additional players.

9. Should I level Vigor or Endurance first?

This depends on your build and playstyle. For melee builds, Vigor is generally prioritized to ensure survivability. Endurance is also important, as it allows you to perform more actions and wear heavier armor. Experiment to see what works best for you.

10. What is the meta level for Elden Ring?

The generally agreed-upon meta level for PvP duels in Elden Ring is 125-150. This level range allows for a variety of builds and playstyles while still providing a challenging and balanced experience.

11. Why do I lose health sometimes when I respawn?

This is likely due to the Red Square debuff, which is applied after using Baldachin’s Blessing. Using or destroying Baldachin’s Blessing removes the debuff and restores your missing health.

12. Is Elden Ring harder than other Souls games?

Elden Ring is considered difficult but fair by many players. While it features challenging enemies and bosses, it also offers a wide range of tools and strategies to overcome these obstacles.

13. Does leveling Vigor make the game too easy?

While higher Vigor makes you more resilient, it doesn’t eliminate the challenge of Elden Ring. Enemies can still deal significant damage, and strategic play is essential for survival.

14. Can I max out all stats in Elden Ring?

Yes, it is possible to max out all stats in Elden Ring, but it requires a very high level (around 713). This is a time-consuming process and may not be practical for most players.

15. Where can I learn more about game design and learning?

You can find valuable resources and insights at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org provides research, articles, and community engagement focused on the intersection of games and learning.

Conclusion: Finding Your Ideal Health Balance

Ultimately, the ideal amount of health in Elden Ring depends on your individual playstyle, build, and comfort level. Aim for 60 Vigor in the late game, but don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust your stats as needed. Prioritize survivability early on, and then balance Vigor with other essential stats to create a well-rounded and effective character. Remember to utilize talismans, armor, and flasks to further enhance your health and defenses. With a bit of experimentation and strategic planning, you’ll be able to conquer the challenges of the Lands Between and emerge victorious.