ELDEN RING Introduction Part 1 - Stats

July 19, 2023

Welcome to ELDEN RING 101. In this beginner how-to series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to succeed in The Lands Between. We’re sure you’ve heard how hard games like this can be, and while they may be very challenging at times, this how-to guide will prepare you with the critical knowledge that will make a world of difference! In this first guide, you’ll learn about many of the important mechanics of ELDEN RING - starting with your stats. In later guides, we'll also show you gameplay tips and combat techniques that will help you defeat many of the challenging foes you'll face.

Jumping right in, let's talk about stats or attributes. There are 8 stats to be aware of: Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. You can access your stats at any time by selecting Status in the Main Menu, and you can level them up at any Site of Grace after meeting Melina. You can also learn more about each stat by hitting the Help button and selecting Explanation in game as seen here.

Stats

Vigor

Vigor (VGR) is our health (HP) which determines how many hits you can take before dying. Vigor is one of the most important stats to level early on, since it’s critical to your chances of surviving.

Mind

Mind (MND) determines our Focus Points (FP), and is the resource used for spells and skills. While melee classes may not need a lot to get by, spell casters will rely on this resource to cast their sorceries or incantations. FP is also used to call forth Ashen Spirits which we’ll discuss more about later.

Endurance

Endurance (END) determines our Stamina, the resource used for actions like attacking, dodging, blocking, etc. It also determines our total equipment load, the maximum allowance for the weight of equipped armaments, armor, and talismans. The most important thing with Endurance is to make sure you have enough that you don’t “heavy roll,” which we’ll discuss later. All three of these stats are shown at the top left of the UI, as shown below.

Strength

Strength (STR) tends to favor large, but slow weapons. As a tradeoff for their slower speed, they excel at stance breaking enemies, and in general, deal large bursts of damage per hit.

Dexterity

Dexterity (DEX) lends itself to weapons that attack quickly or are ranged attacks. In most cases, they are good at applying status effects like bleed or frost.

Strength and Dexterity are primarily raised in order to reach the minimum requirements needed to equip your armaments or armors. While armaments can still be used without meeting these requirements, you will deal significantly less damage with your weapons.

Intelligence

Intelligence (INT) is for casting sorceries, which include a multitude of damage spells to choose from, making you an excellent ranged damage dealer.

Faith

Faith (FTH) is for incantations, which aren’t as specialized in damage compared to sorceries, but have many powerful utility spells. Incantations include damage spells, heals, and buffs.

Arcane

Lastly, we have Arcane (ARC) which increases the amount of status buildup (bleed, poison, sleep, etc.) each of your atacks deals, but does not increase the amount of damage dealt or the duration of the status effect. Arcane also increases our item discovery (increases chances of loot from enemies).

Arcane is also necessary for some unique spells and armaments. Certain spells under both Intelligence and Faith may also require Arcane to be cast, and certain Strength and Dexterity weapons may also require Arcane to function properly.

As noted above, these stats are frequently abbreviated to the following: VIG, MND, END, STR, DEX, INT, FTH, ARC. Additionally, each stat has a smaller secondary bonus, for example: Vigor increases Fire defense and Immunity; but they aren’t leveled for these effects. Just consider them a useful secondary bonus. More info can be seen by hitting the Help button (touchpad/Menu button on your PS5 or Xbox Series X Controller) then select Explanation.

Resistance Stats

Resistance Stats appear in the bottom right hand corner of your Status Menu. Each Resistance is directly related to specific status effects, and increasing the Resistance will make it harder to be afflicted with that status effect.

Immunity

Immunity is your resistance to Poison and Scarlet Rot status effects.

Robustness

Robustness is your resistance to Bleeding or Frostbite status effects.

Focus

Focus is your resistance to Sleep or Madness status effects. 

Vitality

Vitality is your resistance to Death Blight status effects.

Status Effects

In combat, some weapons and abilities cause additional effects that can determine the outcome of a battle. Here are a few of the important status effects that you will likely come across.

Poison/Deadly Poison

Poison and Deadly Poison causes a damage-over-time effect. The amount of damage and the duration of the Poison will depend on the weapon or skill that is used to apply the effect.

Bloodloss

Bloodloss is a status effect that causes the target to instantly lose a percentage of their health.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a status effect that also causes the target to lose a percentage of their health in addition to applying a secondary effect that lowers Stamina Recovery and increases the damage they take while the effect is active. The damage dealt from Frostbite is less than Bloodloss, but the additional debuff make this a dangerous status effect to deal with. Applying a Fire/Burning effect to a target that is suffering from Frostbite will remove the Frost debuff. 

Sleep

Sleep will temporarily cause a target to drop their guard and make them vulnerable to a Critical Attack. In addition, while a target is Sleeping, they will also lose FP for the duration of the effect.

Scarlet Rot

Scarlet Rot causes a damage-over-time effect like Poison, but is much more powerful, with a shorter duration. 

Madness

Madness is a status effect that is both rare and powerful. When a target is overcome with Madness, they will temporarily lose control of themselves and lose a percentage of both their HP and FP. Madness only affects other Tarnished.

Death Blight

Death Blight is a status effect that only affects you and other Tarnished. If the buildup meter for this status effect is ever full, it will cause instant death.


About our Guest Content Creator

FightinCowboy is a content creator with a focus on detailed walkthroughs for Souls games to help gamers of all levels. He started on YouTube almost 10 years ago and has created Let's Plays and Walkthrough content that have been watched by millions of people around the world. 

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ELDEN RING

A New World Created By Hidetaka Miyazaki And George R. R. Martin

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