Elden Ring Unlevelled: The Ultimate Challenge and Community Phenomenon

Yes, absolutely, Elden Ring has been beaten without leveling up. In fact, it’s become a badge of honor, a testament to skill, patience, and deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. This challenge, often referred to as a “Level 1 run” or “RL1 run” (referring to Rune Level 1), has captivated the Elden Ring community, spawning countless videos, guides, and discussions. It showcases the remarkable ingenuity and dedication of players who refuse to rely on sheer stat boosts and instead master the art of dodging, exploiting enemy weaknesses, and leveraging specific gear and consumables to overcome the Lands Between’s formidable challenges.

The Allure of the Level 1 Run

What makes a Level 1 run so appealing? It’s more than just difficulty for difficulty’s sake. It’s a complete reimagining of how Elden Ring is played. The reliance on raw power diminishes, forcing players to:

• Master enemy attack patterns: Every dodge, every parry, every opening becomes crucial. There’s no room for sloppy play when a single mistake can mean instant death.
• Optimize gear: Weapon choices are carefully considered based on their scaling, weapon skills, and special effects. Armor, while not providing significant defense at Level 1, can be optimized for poise or specific resistances.
• Utilize consumables strategically: Buffs like Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength, and various elemental protections become essential for survival and damage output.
• Exploit enemy weaknesses: Understanding which enemies are vulnerable to specific damage types (e.g., fire, holy, frost) becomes paramount.
• Employ creative strategies: This includes using environmental hazards, summons (even at low levels, some summons can provide crucial distractions or damage), and unconventional tactics to gain an edge.
• Showcase player skill: Ultimately, overcoming the challenges with a minimal stats is proof of the player’s personal skill in the game and deep game mechanics knowledge.

Essentially, a Level 1 run strips Elden Ring down to its core combat mechanics, demanding a level of precision and tactical thinking that a typical playthrough often doesn’t require. It transforms the game from a power fantasy into a skillful dance of death, where knowledge and reflexes are the only things standing between the player and oblivion. The GamesLearningSociety.org explores how such gameplay promotes learning and problem-solving.

Notable Level 1 Achievements

Many players have documented their Level 1 runs, often adding additional self-imposed restrictions to further heighten the challenge. Some examples include:

• No summons: Eliminating the assistance of Spirit Ashes, forcing the player to solo every boss.
• No spirit ashes: Summon are useful but can diminish the overall accomplishment.
• No weapon upgrades: Restricting the player to base-level weapons, further limiting their damage output.
• No armor: A player has beaten FromSoftware’s most recent masterpiece Elden Ring without spending any runes to level up their character or equipping any armor.
• No-hit runs: Completing the entire game without taking a single point of damage, an almost unbelievable feat of skill and memorization.
• Dance pad controller level 1 run: An Elden Ring streamer has managed to defeat the game’s toughest boss, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, using a dance mat… at level one.

These achievements highlight not only the dedication of Elden Ring players but also the game’s surprisingly deep and flexible combat system. It’s a testament to the game’s design that it can be beaten in so many different ways, each offering a unique and challenging experience.

Level 1 is Accessible

Elden Ring is absolutely accessible to casual players if they follow a certain build.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can a “normal” person beat Elden Ring at Level 1?

It’s certainly not easy, but it’s achievable with dedication and the right approach. It requires a significant time investment, willingness to learn from mistakes, and access to online resources like guides and videos. Patience and a growth mindset are key.

2. What’s the hardest part of a Level 1 run?

Boss fights are undoubtedly the biggest hurdles. Bosses like Malenia, Blade of Miquella, Maliketh, The Black Blade, and Radagon/Elden Beast demand near-perfect execution to overcome due to their high damage output and complex attack patterns.

3. What are the best weapons for a Level 1 run?

Weapons with low stat requirements, strong weapon skills, and access to elemental infusions are generally favored. Examples include the Longsword, Club, and Reduvia. Weapons with bleed buildup are also popular.

4. What talismans are essential for a Level 1 run?

Talismans that boost survivability and damage output are crucial. Some popular choices include:

• Radagon’s Soreseal/Marika’s Soreseal: Increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith and Arcane but increases damage taken.
• Green Turtle Talisman: Increases stamina recovery speed.
• Crimson Amber Medallion: Increases maximum HP.
• Erdtree’s Favor: Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
• Ritual Sword Talisman: Boosts attack power when at full HP.
• Claw Talisman: Boosts jump attack damage.

5. How important are spirit ashes in a Level 1 run?

Many players doing Level 1 runs avoid using spirit ashes altogether for a more purist challenge. However, even weak summons can be surprisingly useful for diverting enemy attention and creating openings. The Mimic Tear ash, if used, requires significant investment into Mind, which can be challenging at Level 1.

6. Is it possible to beat Elden Ring without taking damage?

Yes. Twitch streamer GinoMachino vowed back in March that he would complete Elden Ring while taking no hits, and after 7 months, he has followed through on his promise.

7. What is the optimal class for a Level 1 run?

While any class can technically complete a Level 1 run, the Wretch class is the most common choice due to its balanced starting stats and lack of any inherent advantages. The Astrologer is also viable.

8. How much harder is Elden Ring at Level 1 compared to a normal playthrough?

It’s significantly harder. Expect to spend many hours learning boss attack patterns and optimizing your gear. Patience and persistence are essential.

9. Can I respec my character during a Level 1 run?

No, respeccing is not possible if you intend to stay at Level 1. Using a Larval Tear to respec will force you to allocate stats, thus breaking the Level 1 restriction.

10. What role do buffs and consumables play in a Level 1 run?

Buffs and consumables are absolutely critical. Things like Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength, various elemental protections, and healing items are indispensable for survivability and damage output.

11. What is the best way to level up weapons in Elden Ring?

The best way is to farm materials by fighting enemies or exploring the world.

12. Does playing co-op make a Level 1 run easier?

While co-op can provide a temporary advantage, it also increases the boss’s health, potentially making the fight even harder overall.

13. What is the average amount of deaths in Elden Ring?

Over nine billion player deaths were recorded in Elden Ring’s first year. If you divide that through the 20 million copies the game sold in that timeframe you get an average death count of 450.

14. What is the hardest level in Elden Ring?

Malenia, Blade Of Miquella is widely regarded as the most challenging boss in Elden Ring. Her relentless attacks, healing abilities, and high damage output make her a formidable opponent, especially at Level 1.

15. How many players defeated Malenia?

We know that 34.6 percent of all Steam players have defeated Malenia at least once because of the associated achievement, and we know there have been 20 million Elden Rings sold across all platforms.

In conclusion, beating Elden Ring at Level 1 is a monumental achievement that demonstrates a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and unwavering dedication. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s a challenge that many players have embraced, showcasing the incredible depth and replayability of FromSoftware’s masterpiece. The commitment of the player base promotes learning and skill that Games Learning Society can continue to explore.