ELDEN RING Introduction Part 1 - Stats
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.
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