Has Elden Ring Been Made Easier?

Yes, Elden Ring has been made easier through a combination of patches, player discovery, and the accumulation of shared knowledge within the gaming community. While the core difficulty remains challenging, numerous quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, and readily available resources have significantly lowered the barrier to entry and streamlined the overall experience for many players.

The Evolution of Difficulty: Patches and Player Skill

FromSoftware games, including Elden Ring, are notorious for their difficulty. However, this difficulty is often nuanced, encompassing brutal challenges, hidden mechanics, and a deliberate lack of hand-holding. Since its release, Elden Ring has received numerous patches, some of which have indirectly or directly impacted the perceived difficulty of the game.

Balance Adjustments and Quality of Life Improvements

Many patches focused on balancing weapons, spells, and enemies. For example, certain incredibly powerful weapons or builds that trivialized specific bosses were often adjusted. Conversely, underperforming weapons or spells received buffs to make them more viable. These changes weren’t necessarily designed to make the game “easier,” but rather to create a more balanced and diverse gameplay experience, making Elden Ring more accessible to players unwilling to conform to the meta builds.

Beyond balance adjustments, numerous quality-of-life improvements have also contributed to the perceived ease of the game. These include:

• NPC questline tracking: Easier to follow and complete NPC quests.
• Item discovery rate: Adjustments to item drop rates made certain rare items easier to obtain.
• Spirit Ash improvements: Making Spirit Ashes more effective and versatile, providing powerful allies in boss fights.
• Enemy AI adjustments: Tweaks to enemy behavior, sometimes reducing their aggressiveness or adjusting their attack patterns.

These changes, while seemingly small individually, cumulatively make the game more forgiving and less reliant on exploiting specific weaknesses.

The Power of Collective Knowledge

Perhaps the most significant factor in the perceived ease of Elden Ring is the collective knowledge accumulated by the player base. Upon release, the game was shrouded in mystery. Players struggled to understand its mechanics, discover optimal strategies, and locate crucial items. Now, extensive online resources, including wikis, guides, and video tutorials, offer a wealth of information readily available to anyone who seeks it.

This readily accessible information removes much of the ambiguity that initially contributed to the game’s difficulty. Players can now quickly learn:

• Effective builds and strategies: Optimized weapon and stat combinations for various playstyles.
• Boss weaknesses and attack patterns: Detailed guides on how to defeat even the most challenging bosses.
• Hidden secrets and locations: Maps and instructions for finding powerful items and secret areas.
• Optimal farming routes: Efficient methods for leveling up and acquiring resources.

This shared knowledge empowers players to overcome obstacles more efficiently and reduces the frustration associated with trial and error.

The Impact of Spirit Ashes

The Spirit Ashes system is arguably the biggest change that influences the game’s difficulty. These summonable allies can significantly aid in boss fights and exploration, effectively acting as a powerful distraction or source of additional damage. Some Spirit Ashes, such as the Mimic Tear, are incredibly potent and can single-handedly carry players through challenging encounters. While they can be challenging to acquire and upgrade, their impact on the game’s difficulty is undeniable. Players who choose to utilize Spirit Ashes have a significantly easier time than those who opt for a solo experience.

Is it “Easier” or More “Accessible”?

While Elden Ring has become more accessible, it’s crucial to differentiate between “easier” and “more accessible.” The core challenges and difficulty remain. Bosses still hit hard, enemies still punish mistakes, and exploration can still lead to unexpected deaths. However, the abundance of resources, balanced gameplay, and powerful tools now available make the game more approachable for a wider range of players.

The “easy mode” argument often stems from the fact that players can now bypass some of the most challenging aspects of the game by leveraging these tools and resources. However, it is important to note that players who actively avoid using these features can still experience the full, unadulterated difficulty of the game. Ultimately, the perceived difficulty of Elden Ring is largely dependent on the player’s choices and playstyle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Did FromSoftware add an actual “easy mode” to Elden Ring?

No, Elden Ring does not have a selectable “easy mode” in the traditional sense. There are no difficulty settings to choose from at the start of the game.

2. Are Spirit Ashes considered cheating?

No, Spirit Ashes are an intended game mechanic and are not considered cheating. FromSoftware designed the game with Spirit Ashes as a viable option for players seeking assistance. However, some players prefer the challenge of playing without them.

3. What are some of the most powerful Spirit Ashes?

Some of the most powerful Spirit Ashes include the Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, and Lhutel the Headless. These ashes can deal significant damage, draw enemy aggro, and even debuff enemies.

4. Has the Mimic Tear Spirit Ash been nerfed?

Yes, the Mimic Tear has been nerfed in a patch, reducing its overall effectiveness. However, it remains one of the strongest Spirit Ashes in the game.

5. How do I find powerful weapons early in Elden Ring?

Numerous guides and resources online detail the locations of powerful weapons that can be obtained early in the game. Some examples include the Bloodhound’s Fang and the Moonveil katana.

6. Are there any “broken” builds in Elden Ring that make the game too easy?

While there are no truly “broken” builds in the sense that they guarantee victory in every encounter, some builds are significantly more powerful than others. These builds often involve specific weapon combinations, talismans, and stat distributions.

7. How important is leveling up in Elden Ring?

Leveling up is crucial in Elden Ring. Increasing your stats allows you to equip better weapons and armor, improve your damage output and defense, and survive longer in combat.

8. What’s the best way to farm runes in Elden Ring?

There are various rune farming methods, ranging from killing specific enemies repeatedly to exploiting glitches. The most efficient method depends on your current level and location in the game.

9. Do patches ever make the game harder?

Yes, patches can sometimes make the game harder by nerfing powerful weapons or builds or by increasing the difficulty of specific enemies.

10. Is it possible to beat Elden Ring without leveling up?

Yes, it is possible to beat Elden Ring at level 1, although it is an extremely challenging feat that requires exceptional skill and knowledge of the game.

11. What are some of the best talismans to use in Elden Ring?

Some of the best talismans include the Radagon’s Soreseal/Scarseal (for early game stat boosts), Green Turtle Talisman (for stamina recovery), and Erdtree’s Favor (for HP, stamina, and equip load).

12. How much does co-op multiplayer affect the difficulty?

Playing in co-op can significantly impact the difficulty. Having allies can make boss fights easier, but it also increases enemy health and aggression.

13. Is Elden Ring harder than Dark Souls?

Whether Elden Ring is harder than Dark Souls is subjective and depends on individual playstyles and preferences. Elden Ring’s open world offers more flexibility and options for progression, but it also features more challenging encounters.

14. How long does it take to beat Elden Ring?

The average playthrough of Elden Ring takes around 50-80 hours, but completionists can easily spend over 100 hours exploring the world and completing all the quests.

15. Should I use guides and online resources when playing Elden Ring?

Whether to use guides and online resources is a matter of personal preference. Some players prefer to experience the game blind, while others find guides helpful for navigating the open world and overcoming challenging encounters. Ultimately, it depends on how you enjoy playing the game.