Most important things to know:
The rest has been said here. No need for mods, just try something else and/or go somewhere else if you hit a wall. There are a few difficulty spikes but they are overcome with additional leveling
Play the game raw the first time. Just explore a lot and don't get too frustrated from dying and losing all your runes. It will happen a lot. Just pick yourself up and try again.
I'd suggest heading south for your first playthrough when you make it to Limgrave instead of towards Stormveil Castle. You'll get more experience and possibly some gear in some areas that are easier than stormveil for a new player.
There is mod to make the game easier, even dumb easy. However, difficulty is also a part of this kind of game. My recommendation is just to play the game and enjoy ! If game is too hard, just go elsewhere : game is designed this way. Don’t be afraid to farm levels, to summon other player to help you, try different weapon/build or even to start again with a different starting class. You’ll be shocked by how much of the map is explorable without having to hit a single boss !
If you really want mods, there's one called Glorious Merchant. It makes the merchant at the beginning of the game (Kalé) sell every obtainable item for free, including runes that you can use to level up.
Helpful if you're looking to test out a specific build/gear set from the beginning, but if you're just using it to get as overpowered as possible, it'll trivialize the game. If you use it, I recommend doing so in moderation.
Before you try mods, I'd recommend learning a bit more about the core of the game and deciding for yourself. A lot of people make the game harder for themselves than they need to because they refuse to make use of spirit ash summons that the game gives you very early on.
My recommendation, if you're looking for an easy start that does well and doesn't require much thought: go all in on strength. Find the biggest sword you can get, then find a second big sword and hold it in your other hand. When you have two of the same kind of weapon equipped (2 greatswords/2 colossal swords/etc) you can press LB to attack with both at the same time. Level up your endurance enough to stay in medium load, then throw the rest of your levels into vigor for HP and strength for damage. Other stats don't really matter. Use spirit ashes (and NPC summons if available) in any fight you feel like. Don't worry about shields, just practice dodge rolling to avoid damage.
My first playthrough, I used one colossal sword I got from beating the boss of Castle Morne down south in the Weeping Peninsula (Grafted Blade Greatsword), and then I used another colossal sword I picked up in the overworld in Caelid (Greatsword. Just "Greatsword". Ironically it's classified as a colossal sword and not a greatsword). I used those for the rest of the game and all through the DLC, and they can be obtained very early.
I should also add that I did this as someone who also had not played any Souls games prior, was worried about how hard Elden Ring would be, but stuck with it for a bit and ended up finding it very fun and manageable after a while.
Edit: forgot where one weapon came from.
Better off with tips, mods if not done carefully can get you banned from online play. Online play is good.
Explore the surrounding area, generally follow the light path north until you hit the first big boss and die (entrance to a castle, cutscene) its a significant step and then explore more instead of railing on him. Try going south after that. You can go east a bit but if you get to a red area called Caelid stop and wait until knocking out a few other areas first.
Summon help if you need it. There is an item you can craft to do so, easy to find more crafting ingredients. It does open you to invasions but you can summon two helpers making that a 3 on 1 fight.
Place down your summoning sign to scout and grind for runes. You dont get as much runes but it can be a easy way to practice areas. Spend all your runes on leveling and items, when in doubt buy talismans and spells and arrows and other supplies. You can respec later to use some of that stuff. This way you have nothing to lose but time if you explore and die.
If you dont want to be invaded get the summoning bell. You can use this to summon an NPC helper for many areas. Theres a little totem thing designating where. The NPC helpers have abilities and are great for distracting enemies. Find the easier dungeons, usually cave entrances, many of them reward you with another summon for beating the boss inside.
Try out every weapon and spell and read every item description. Different weapon types have different move sets and its worth finding what works for you.
Dodge dip duck dive and dodge. Dodging has a moment of invulnerability, learn to time it right and you can roll right through attacks. Roll or circle around enemies to backstab. If there is a group of enemies try to single them out and take them one by one. Use arrows spells or other tools to lure them out. Take your time when you can. Advance in unfamiliar areas with your shield up in case of ambushes.
If an area is way too difficult mark it on your map and come back later. The game is massive and there is a ton of other things to explore and find that will help you out. It does take practice but dont be discouraged by the git gud bullshit.
You don't need mods out of the gate, you can level up as much as you need to. Have a go at it as is, explore . Don't rush to the mounted enemy in golden armour you'll see right when you first step out into the world. Have fun and join us at !soulslike@lemmy.zip
I don’t typically like soulsborne games but Elden Ring got me into it for a few reasons. The biggest one was I had no requirement to beat my head against the wall to continue. If you’re having trouble fighting a boss or type of enemy go somewhere else and fight through that area. Sometimes it’s just good practice to get used to the mechanics, and it’s good for leveling.
Don’t worry about losing runes and dying. Those are two very common things. Experienced players do it all the time too. My gf is obsessed with souls games and sometimes she will lose a lot of souls/runes while trying to recover them after death.
When you die it’s best to try and recover your runes if you can, and it’s okay to run past enemies, you don’t have to clear cut the whole area because when you save or die they respawn. If you need to grind out runes for a level you can always reset an area by saving at a bonfire, that’s a useful trick when you find an area you can clear out efficiently.
The wiki is helpful, the game tells you very little about what is going on or what to do next. There are also entire areas you’re very likely to miss if you don’t know about how to get to them, so exploration and when you come across something you don’t understand don’t feel stupid looking up a guide.
I built a dexterity oriented build and used Bloodhound Fang for almost the entire game and it worked out great. Unless they’ve nerfed that weapon it’s still very good for less experienced players. The game has a lot of information to learn, it’s overwhelming, but you’ll pick it up as you go.
Yet to play Elden Ring specifically, but there's also !soulslike@lemmy.zip if you'd like to crosspost there.
thanks for using Leebra!
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You do not need mods. Elden Ring can be made quite easier than other From Software games out of the box. It's an open world, if you're blocked at some point, you can go somewhere else to level up and get better. Also, you can summon spirits to help you with bosses and in some areas. And like with previous games, you can ask other humans to help you in difficult moments. I'd recommend to check some guides for beginner friendly builds. Otherwise, you're good to go. The difficulty in those games is real, but it has been exagerated a lot.
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