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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you’re new to Elden Ring, start by treating its opening as a place to learn, not a test you must pass perfectly. The Stranded Graveyard tutorial teaches basic controls and combat techniques, and the open world gives you room to leave a difficult fight, explore, and return later. Your starting class shapes your first hours but does not lock you into a permanent play style.
What matters most when you’re starting Elden Ring?
Three early habits make the game easier to read: practise in the tutorial, use Sites of Grace and the map to orient yourself, and don’t assume every enemy you meet is meant to be defeated immediately. Elden Ring offers direction without requiring you to follow one compulsory route. Guidance of Grace points toward key locations, while map beacons and fast travel help you manage your own route.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $73.93 | Buy on Amazon |
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Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5 | $43.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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That distinction is useful if this is your first FromSoftware game. A hard encounter is not automatically proof that you chose the wrong class or missed a required step. Sometimes the useful next move is to practise a technique, spend runes at a Site of Grace, or explore somewhere else before trying again.
Think of the early game as a set of choices rather than a checklist. You can use the game’s guidance when you want a direction, set your own waypoint when you have a personal goal, or step away from a fight that is not going well. Those options are compatible: following a suggested direction does not mean you have to take every encounter along the way, and exploring on your own does not mean you have lost the plot.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
Use the opening tutorial to learn the basics
The tutorial area is the Stranded Graveyard. Bandai Namco’s early-game guidance identifies it as a place to learn basic controls and techniques, including using a weapon one-handed or two-handed and performing guard counters. Give yourself time to try these rather than rushing through the area just to reach the open world.
If you have not played a FromSoftware game before, it is worth treating this opening practice as part of the game, not as optional homework. You are learning how your chosen character handles as well as what the prompts mean. Try the techniques in the tutorial area while the game is introducing them; the goal is to leave with a clearer sense of the controls, not to prove you can already handle every possible fight.
Practise one technique at a time
If an encounter feels confusing, focus your practice on one question: can you handle the weapon comfortably one-handed, or does two-handed use suit you better? Then try the guard-counter technique taught in the tutorial. The point is to discover what the game is asking you to do and how your chosen starting equipment feels—not to master every situation before moving on.
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Changing one thing at a time makes it easier to notice what is helping. For example, try the weapon in one mode, then the other, instead of changing several habits at once and guessing which one made the difference. If a guard counter is unfamiliar, practise the technique in the tutorial before expecting it to feel natural in a harder encounter. These are ways to use the lessons the game teaches; they are not a claim that one method is best for every class or player.
The official beginner material explains that the tutorial covers controls and techniques, but it does not provide a universal control-button layout in the guidance summarized here. Button names and inputs depend on your platform and control setup, so use the on-screen prompts and the game’s own control information rather than relying on a button sequence written for another system.
Don’t treat a setback as a diagnosis
A tough fight can expose a technique you want to practise, but it can also simply be a fight to revisit later. The tutorial is useful preparation, not a promise that every early encounter will feel easy. If you are struggling, pause to decide whether you want to practise the move you just learned or spend time exploring instead.
How to choose a starting class
Elden Ring has ten starting classes. They offer different initial approaches and equipment, but they do not determine the only way you can play. Bandai Namco’s official Classes page puts it plainly: “your class is never a limitation.” Choose based on the kind of opening that sounds enjoyable, not because you think there is one mandatory beginner class.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Starting approach | Examples from the official class information | Consider it if… |
|---|---|---|
| Melee-focused start | Vagabond | You want to begin with a more direct weapon-based approach. |
| Sorcery-focused start | Astrologer, positioned around sorcery | You would rather begin with a magic-oriented style. |
| Faith-oriented start | Prophet, positioned around sacred incantations | The idea of using sacred incantations appeals to you. |
| Another distinct opening | Samurai is among the ten classes | You want to compare its starting approach and equipment with the other available choices before deciding. |
This is a preference guide, not an ease ranking. The official class material supports comparing starting styles, but it does not establish that one class is the best choice for every beginner. If you already know you enjoy a particular approach—melee, sorcery, or incantations—let that preference lead. If you are unsure, compare the starting equipment and style shown on the class selection screen and pick the one you are most interested in learning.
A useful comparison is to ask what you want to spend your attention on in the first hours. Would you rather focus on a direct weapon-based opening, try a sorcery-oriented approach, or begin with sacred incantations? That is a more practical question than asking which class is universally easiest. The official examples identify those distinct starting approaches, but do not give a difficulty ranking or promise a particular class will make every encounter simple.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
Starting equipment matters because it is part of the experience you are choosing at the outset. Compare what each class presents on the selection screen alongside its stated style. Vagabond, Astrologer, Prophet, and Samurai are examples to examine, not a complete list of the ten choices. If a description sounds appealing, that is a sound reason to choose it; you do not need to predict your entire run before you begin.
What class choice does—and does not—mean
A class gives you a starting point: a particular initial style and equipment. It is not a permanent restriction on what the whole run can become. That makes the decision less risky than it may look. You are choosing how you want to begin, not signing a contract to use one approach forever.
For a new player, a “straightforward” choice is therefore personal. If one class’s opening kit makes its intended style clear to you, that clarity may be more useful than choosing a class because someone else calls it optimal. There is no need to solve your entire build before starting.
When should you fight, and when should you move on?
It is reasonable to leave a difficult enemy and return later. Bandai Namco specifically describes the Tree Sentinel in Limgrave as very tough for a beginning player. Treat that example as permission to explore and grow before a rematch—not as an instruction that you must defeat it, or a prescribed order for what to do next.
When you meet resistance, ask what you would gain by staying with that encounter right now. If you want to test something you practised, another attempt may be useful. If you are no longer learning from repeated attempts, it is equally reasonable to make a different choice: regroup, spend runes on leveling at a Site of Grace, or explore. The game’s open-world structure makes stepping away a legitimate option rather than a sign that you have failed a required test.
A practical decision check
- Keep practising if you want to work on a technique, such as the one- or two-handed weapon use or guard counter introduced in the tutorial.
- Pause and regroup if you would rather spend runes on leveling at a Site of Grace before attempting another fight.
- Explore elsewhere if an encounter such as the Tree Sentinel is making progress feel stuck. The open-world structure lets you step away rather than treat one fight as a gate you must clear immediately.
This is a way to decide what to do next, not a promise about how difficult a particular fight will be after you return. The official beginner guidance establishes that the Tree Sentinel is very tough for a beginner; it does not prescribe a required level, equipment set, or route for defeating it. You do not need to invent a target number before allowing yourself to move on.
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How Sites of Grace, Guidance, and the map work together
Sites of Grace have practical uses beyond marking a place you have reached: you can spend runes there to level up, and you can use a Site of Grace selected on the map as a fast-travel destination. Guidance of Grace offers a nudge toward key locations. These tools support orientation and progression, but the guidance is not a compulsory route that you must obey at every turn.
It helps to keep the tools’ jobs separate. Guidance of Grace points you toward key locations; a beacon is a marker you choose for your own waypoint; and fast travel takes you to a Site of Grace selected on the map. If you know what each tool is for, you can use the one that matches your current question: where to go, where you meant to go, or how to return to a grace you have already reached.
Use a beacon when you want a personal waypoint
- Open the map and place a beacon at the location you want to keep track of.
- Look for its icon on the compass as you travel.
- Follow it if it remains useful, or change your waypoint as your plan changes.
A beacon is a marker you choose; it is different from Guidance of Grace, which points toward key locations. If you are unsure where you meant to go, the beacon gives you a visible reminder without requiring you to remember the map from memory. It is a personal navigation aid, not an instruction from the game about which objective you must complete first.
Find map fragments without assuming every map is identical
Bandai Namco’s early-game tips say map fragments are usually found at faintly drawn stone monuments, with some exceptions. When the surrounding map is unclear, look for those monument markings as a useful clue. “Usually” matters: it is a search hint, not a guarantee that every fragment will follow the same pattern.
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If you are trying to make sense of an unfamiliar area, the monument clue gives you a place to look without turning map discovery into a strict formula. Keep the qualification in mind: monuments are common locations, not a universal promise. The map, Grace guidance, and your own beacon can each help with a different part of getting oriented.
Fast-travel to a Site of Grace
- Open the map.
- Select a Site of Grace as your destination.
- Use the game’s displayed confirmation prompt to travel there.
The official starter guide confirms that selecting a Site of Grace on the map lets you fast-travel to it. If you are looking for a destination, use a Site of Grace you have already reached rather than treating Guidance of Grace as a fast-travel command.
A first-session plan for a new player
You do not need to map out a full playthrough before you begin. A focused first session can help you learn the basics while leaving room to explore at your own pace. Think of the plan as a sequence of opportunities, not a route you must complete in order: the point is to get comfortable with the game’s tools and make your own next decision.
- Choose a class by starting style. Compare the available classes and their equipment, then choose the opening approach you would most like to try. Remember that the choice does not lock your whole run.
- Spend time in the Stranded Graveyard tutorial. Practise the basic controls, switching between one- and two-handed weapon use, and guard counters.
- Use a Site of Grace as a decision point. When you have runes to spend and want to level, the official early-game guidance identifies a Site of Grace as the place to do it.
- Orient yourself with the map. Use Guidance of Grace as a nudge, add a beacon when you want a personal waypoint, and look for faintly drawn stone monuments when seeking map fragments. Remember that monuments are usual locations, not a universal rule.
- Decide whether to engage or explore. If a fight feels like too much, the Tree Sentinel is an official example of a very tough early opponent. You may leave and return after exploring rather than making that encounter your immediate goal.
- Use map fast travel when it suits your route. Select a Site of Grace on the map to travel to it, according to the starter guide.
This plan is deliberately flexible. The available beginner guidance supports learning the tutorial, using map tools, and choosing whether to return to a tough encounter; it does not establish a single route that every new player should follow.
What to know before buying Shadow of the Erdtree
Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion, not a standalone version of the game. It requires the Elden Ring base game. If you are buying the expansion, check that you own the base game on a compatible platform; buying the expansion alone does not satisfy that requirement.
That makes the purchase decision a compatibility check before it is a bundle or value comparison. First confirm whether you are buying the base game or the expansion, then make sure the product matches the platform on which you intend to play. The official information establishes the expansion’s base-game dependency, but does not establish current prices, retailer stock, or whether a particular bundle is the best value.
Check platform and edition details before purchasing, because availability depends on the product and platform. The official PlayStation listing names PS4 and PS5. Nintendo’s recent official page reports Tarnished Edition availability on Switch 2. Those listings establish the platforms they name, but they are not a complete cross-platform or edition matrix. They also do not establish current retailer stock, prices, or bundle contents.
| What you are considering | What the official information establishes | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring base game | The official game page covers the game; the PlayStation listing names PS4 and PS5. | Confirm that the edition you select matches your platform. |
| Shadow of the Erdtree | The expansion requires Elden Ring. | Make sure you own the base game for the platform you intend to use. |
| Tarnished Edition | Nintendo’s recent official page reports availability on Switch 2. | Check the current Nintendo listing for the exact edition and availability details. |
These platform examples are limited to the official listings described above, not a claim that they enumerate every current platform or edition. Retail availability, pricing, and edition-specific contents can change and are not established by those details.
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- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
- Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
If you are considering a purchase, choose a platform-conscious listing such as Elden Ring for PS5 only if PS5 is the platform you need. Players on other systems should choose the version intended for their platform and verify the current official listing. Do not assume an expansion listing includes the base game: Shadow of the Erdtree requires Elden Ring.
Common beginner questions
Is there one best class for a beginner?
The official class information describes ten classes and says the class is never a limitation. It supports choosing by initial style and equipment, not naming one universally best beginner class.
Do I have to fight the Tree Sentinel right away?
No. Bandai Namco describes it as very tough for a beginning player, and the open world gives you room to explore and return later. The beginner guidance does not make defeating it an immediate requirement.
How do I travel to a Site of Grace I have found?
Open the map, select a Site of Grace, and follow the game’s confirmation prompt. The official starter guide says you can fast-travel to a chosen Site of Grace through the map.
Can I buy Shadow of the Erdtree without Elden Ring?
No. The expansion requires the Elden Ring base game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I practise in the Stranded Graveyard?
Use the tutorial to learn the basic controls and try one- and two-handed weapon use and guard counters. Check the game’s on-screen prompts for the inputs that match your platform and control setup.
How do I choose between Vagabond, Astrologer, Prophet, and Samurai?
Compare the starting style and equipment shown for each class, then choose the opening approach you would most like to try. The official class material identifies Vagabond as an example of a melee-focused start, Astrologer with sorcery, and Prophet with sacred incantations; it does not name a universally best beginner class.
Does Guidance of Grace tell me exactly where I have to go?
It points toward key locations, but it is a nudge rather than a compulsory route. You can also place a beacon for your own waypoint, which appears as an icon on the compass.
Where are map fragments usually found?
Bandai Namco’s early-game tips say they are usually at faintly drawn stone monuments, with some exceptions. Treat that as a clue, not a guarantee.
Which platforms are confirmed by the listings mentioned here?
The official PlayStation listing names PS4 and PS5, and Nintendo’s recent official page reports Tarnished Edition availability on Switch 2. Those examples are not a complete platform or edition list, so check the current official listing for the version you need.
The Bottom Line
Start with the tutorial, choose a class for the style you want to try, and use Grace and map tools to stay oriented. If a fight such as the Tree Sentinel feels too tough, explore and return later. Before buying Shadow of the Erdtree, make sure you own Elden Ring on a compatible platform.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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