How Tough Is Elden Ring? A Deep Dive into FromSoftware’s Masterpiece

So, how tough is Elden Ring? The short answer is: it’s as tough as you let it be. FromSoftware’s open-world epic, while carrying the torch of brutal difficulty from its Soulsborne predecessors, also introduces a level of accessibility and player agency that makes the experience challenging yet conquerable for a wider audience than ever before. Let’s dive deeper into what makes Elden Ring difficult, and how you can tackle it.

Understanding the Challenge: A Multifaceted Beast

The difficulty in Elden Ring isn’t just about high enemy damage and complex attack patterns, although those are certainly present. It’s a confluence of several factors:

• Punishing Combat: Like other Souls games, Elden Ring demands patience, precision, and a deep understanding of enemy behavior. Button-mashing will get you killed. Timing dodges, parries, and attacks is crucial for survival.
• Vast, Unforgiving World: The Lands Between is a massive, beautiful, and dangerous place. Exploration is rewarded, but every corner can hide a deadly foe or a treacherous trap. There’s no hand-holding; you’re left to figure things out on your own.
• Complex Character Building: Elden Ring offers a dizzying array of weapons, armor, spells, and items, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Optimizing your build is essential for overcoming the game’s toughest challenges.
• Formidable Bosses: The bosses in Elden Ring are legendary for their difficulty. They boast intricate attack patterns, multiple phases, and the ability to one-shot unprepared players. Learning their weaknesses and exploiting openings is key to victory.
• Open-World Freedom (and Its Perils): While the open world allows you to explore and level up, it also means stumbling upon areas and enemies far beyond your current capabilities. This freedom can be overwhelming and lead to early frustration.

However, unlike its predecessors, Elden Ring provides ample tools to mitigate these challenges:

• Spirit Ashes: These summonable allies can turn the tide of battle, providing invaluable support against tough enemies and bosses. They act as distractions, soak up damage, and even deal significant damage themselves.
• Open-World Exploration and Leveling: The open world allows you to freely explore and find easier content, granting runes to level up and improve your stats. Over-leveling is certainly possible, making previously difficult encounters far easier.
• Diverse Weapon and Build Options: The sheer variety of weapons, armor, spells, and incantations allows you to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle. Experimentation and adaptation are crucial.
• Cooperative Multiplayer: Summoning other players for assistance is a powerful tool for overcoming challenging areas and bosses. This cooperative aspect can significantly reduce the difficulty for those who struggle with solo play.
• Easier Grinding: Even with enemies being strong, you can roam around the map and earn more resources to make things easier.

Ultimately, the difficulty of Elden Ring is subjective and depends on your playstyle, your willingness to learn, and your openness to utilizing the game’s many tools. A patient, observant, and adaptable player will find the challenge rewarding, while a reckless or stubborn player will likely find it frustrating.

FAQs: Demystifying Elden Ring’s Difficulty

Here are some frequently asked questions about Elden Ring’s difficulty, designed to provide additional insights and guidance:

How hard is Elden Ring compared to other Souls games?

Elden Ring is arguably more accessible than previous Souls games due to its open-world structure and the introduction of mechanics like Spirit Ashes. While individual bosses may be more challenging, the ability to over-level and summon allies makes the overall experience more manageable. It is indeed a “Dark Souls 3, with a dash of Sekiro, dropped into Skyrim”.

Is Elden Ring too hard for a casual gamer?

It can be intimidating, but not necessarily too hard. Elden Ring requires patience and a willingness to learn, but the open world allows casual players to progress at their own pace and find easier content to level up. If you can rip the Band-Aid off and get through the initial difficulty curve, you may even wonder what took you so long to try it.

Should beginners play Elden Ring?

Absolutely! Despite its reputation, Elden Ring is a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the Soulsborne genre. The open world, diverse build options, and cooperative multiplayer provide ample opportunities to learn and adapt. Don’t let negative Souls experiences affect your decision to play Elden Ring.

Does Elden Ring get easier as you play?

Yes, significantly. As you level up your character, upgrade your weapons, and acquire powerful spells and items, the game becomes noticeably easier. The ability to explore and find resources is a key element of Elden Ring’s difficulty curve.

Can an average player enjoy Elden Ring?

Yes, but it requires a shift in mindset. Elden Ring is not a game where you can simply breeze through. It demands patience, observation, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. An average player can enjoy Elden Ring with some research and by exploring the world.

What percent of gamers beat Elden Ring?

The completion rate for Elden Ring is surprisingly high, with around 50% of players finishing the game at least once. This is significantly higher than many other AAA titles, including previous FromSoftware games.

What is the most noob-friendly class in Elden Ring?

The Vagabond and the Prisoner are often recommended for beginners. The Vagabond’s high Vigor and Strength provide a solid foundation for melee combat, while the Prisoner’s focus on Sorcery allows for ranged attacks and crowd control.

How hard is Elden Ring for a noob?

The initial hours can be challenging, but Elden Ring provides a Cave of Knowledge tutorial area to teach the basics of combat. Learning to dodge, block, and counterattack is essential for survival.

How long does it take to beat Elden Ring?

A playthrough focused on the main objectives can take around 50-70 hours. Completionists aiming for 100% completion can expect to spend around 130+ hours in the Lands Between.

Is Elden Ring hard to 100%?

Yes, but technically you can’t even get 100% because of branching points near the end. Getting nearly everything the game has to offer is challenging and requires a significant time investment.

How many people quit Elden Ring?

While some players do give up on Elden Ring, the completion rate suggests that the vast majority persevere and conquer the game. In fact, Elden Ring was the most completed game of 2022!

Is Elden Ring worth it for non-Souls players?

Absolutely. Elden Ring offers a unique and rewarding experience that is well worth the effort, even for those who have never played a Dark Souls game before. The challenges are immense, but so is the sense of accomplishment.

How many bosses are in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring boasts a staggering 238 boss encounters, ranging from minor enemies to epic, multi-stage battles.

Is Elden Ring harder than Dark Souls?

While individual bosses in Elden Ring may be more challenging, the open world and the introduction of Spirit Ashes make the overall experience more accessible than previous Dark Souls games.

What class is easiest to beat Elden Ring?

There’s no such thing as an “easy” class, but the Vagabond is a good starting point.

The Bottom Line: A Rewarding Challenge

Elden Ring is undoubtedly a challenging game, but it’s not insurmountable. With patience, observation, and a willingness to learn, players of all skill levels can conquer the Lands Between and experience one of the best games of the last decade. The sense of accomplishment after defeating a tough boss or overcoming a difficult area is incredibly rewarding, making Elden Ring a truly unforgettable experience. The game’s innovative approach to difficulty has even implications in how we perceive and approach learning in other environments. The GamesLearningSociety.org is a place to check for those implications. Whether you’re a seasoned Souls veteran or a newcomer to the genre, Elden Ring is a game that deserves your attention.