Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Announced

[robdood]

3 minutes ago, K said:

It'd be nice if upgrade materials were a bit more common, so you could experiment with weapons a bit more. It's not as bad as in Bloodborne, where it felt you got locked into one or two weapons very early on, but in a game where you feel like you need every possible edge to progress, it's hard to move away from the most powerful weapon you have.

 

it's hard to balance that in an open world game, admittedly. Maybe have a system where when you kill a major boss, you can upgrade one weapon to the level of your current highest weapon. That probably wouldn't work and could be gamed, but it'd be good to feel a bit more free to experiment with the dozens of weapons that drop mas you explore.

They are pretty common, once you find the ways to purchase them!! I've got about 8 weapons on the go on my main save, all about the same level. 

[robdood]

Also - current fashion:  

 

Still loving the jump attacks. 

 

Am tempted to respec to go a bit more into Arc and take advantage of occult.  Seems to give good scaling, certainly better than heavy/keen/quality when my STR/DEX/ARC are all 20. 

[Girth Certificate]

lulz, had a fire wyrm battle where I just rode around while he got gangbanged by giant land octopusses and the magic archer summon I'd put up on a cliff out of his reach  

 

 

[NecroMorrius]

39 minutes ago, Ste Pickford said:

I'm a bit behind most of your still (although ahead of the newcomers in this thread) and I got to Radahn last night.  Cripes, that was a step up!  Currently level 44 and felt like I wasn't ready for a fight like that.  Decided to look elsewhere and realised I'd missed an area in Liurnia - that Manor north of the blacksmith with the magic defences, so think I'll try there instead.

I've got Moonveil now, which was a surprise drop (I presumed it was from a harder boss, further along). I'm already using my uchigatana most of the time, so thinking of aiming towards using this, but only have 11 INT at the moment, so would need another 12 level ups before I could use it.  I know its possible to respec, but I'd really just be trading Vig and End for Int, and I'll need them later anyway, so doesn't seem worth doing that.  Plus I don't have the item yet.

 

It's worth going int and using moonveil if you want to use spells too - that's what I'm doing, mostly utility spells for pulling or buffing, they are generally more useful than a bow although there's no precision aiming. However a standard uchigatana or other katana heavily levelled up, with your points in dex instead of int, is much more versatile as you can apply grease and different ashes of war. You can make the standard uchigatana do magic damage and scale with INT, to a lesser extent than moonveil, but you lose the almighty unsheathe ability. Horses for courses really. You could always make your uchigatana scale with faith by applying the right ash and use incantations. Or arcane, and boost bleed to a ridiculous level. Cold uchigatana was amazing until they nerfed hoarfrost.

[Talvalin]

Found a cave on the Altus Plateau that has two bosses, the first of which is a necromancer and the second of which is an invisible, back-stabbing swine. After numerous attempts on the first boss and with 20K souls in the balance, I decided to cut my losses and use a sacrificial twig to die with my souls runes intact and level up (currently level 58, which is possibly too low for the area but eh).

 

Any ideas why I couldn't summon a spirit for the first boss? Was the boss blocking me somehow?

[NecroMorrius]

19 minutes ago, robdood said:

Just a note RE shield upgrades, the guard efficiency stat, or whatever it's called, only goes up every 4th upgrade.  Usually only by a point or so.  So try and start with a shield that has fairly high guard efficiency to begin.  Brass shield is mad good for a medium shield. 

 

Ultimately though you're only going to be adding about 6 or 7 points to the efficiency overall.  IMO slapping barricade on a shield is waaaay more effective.  Makes guard counters so easy. 

 

Yeah, I used brass shield until I switched from dex to int and now I'm using carian shield. Stability for carian shield goes from 49 to 60 over the course of upgrading it 25 levels. Brass shield goes from 56 to 69. Greatshields generally start about 69-72 and go into the 80s. Considering I have 10 strength and dexterity, the carian shield is a pretty good offhand item.

[robdood]

3 minutes ago, Talvalin said:

Found a cave on the Altus Plateau that has two bosses, the first of which is a necromancer and the second of which is an invisible, back-stabbing swine. After numerous attempts on the first boss and with 20K souls in the balance, I decided to cut my losses and use a sacrificial twig to die with my souls runes intact and level up (currently level 58, which is possibly too low for the area but eh).

 

Any ideas why I couldn't summon a spirit for the first boss? Was the boss blocking me somehow?

Oooh I don't think I've found that cave! *makes mental note*

 

As for yourt summon question.  Had you used one of the items that shows summon signs?  That stops you from being able to use spirits.  

 

You can use the sign-revealing item again to undo (you also get refunded the item you used to enable summon signs)

[Ste Pickford]

31 minutes ago, robdood said:

Moonveil's a bit overrated imo.  

 

Rivers of Blood though, hoooo boy. 

 

14 minutes ago, Moz said:

 

It's worth going int and using moonveil if you want to use spells too - that's what I'm doing, mostly utility spells for pulling or buffing, they are generally more useful than a bow although there's no precision aiming. However a standard uchigatana or other katana heavily levelled up, with your points in dex instead of int, is much more versatile as you can apply grease and different ashes of war. You can make the standard uchigatana do magic damage and scale with INT, to a lesser extent than moonveil, but you lose the almighty unsheathe ability. Horses for courses really. You could always make your uchigatana scale with faith by applying the right ash and use incantations. Or arcane, and boost bleed to a ridiculous level. Cold uchigatana was amazing until they nerfed hoarfrost.

 

Argh! You're giving me doubts now!

 

Just looked up Rivers of Blood, and it's a long way from any area I've reached so far.  I do have 14 Arcane already though...

[robdood]

Oh and @Talvalin there's a way to see those pesky invisible enemies.. 

 

Spoiler

Someone on the plateau sells a very useful item...

 

[NecroMorrius]

7 minutes ago, Ste Pickford said:

 

 

Argh! You're giving me doubts now!

 

Just looked up Rivers of Blood, and it's a long way from any area I've reached so far.  I do have 14 Arcane already though...

 

My advice, based on making the game hell for myself for about 80 hours, is to not worry about it too much and put most of your points in vigor/mind/endurance. Uchi/Moonveil are the same in terms of moveset, as long as you've got enough int/dex etc to wield the weapon you like playing with, you're not going to increase the damage of it massively by buffing int/dex until the weapon is much more levelled up and has higher stat scaling. You're better off having 3x the amount of vigor and getting 3 hits in versus doing an extra 20 damage on a hit before getting oneshot.

 

I think each of the core stats have soft caps (40 for vigor, I think) which you'll probably hit around the same time weapon scaling becomes useful on your chosen weapon, at which point you can switch to boosting dex/int whatever it is, or reroll once you've unlocked that ability.

 

I'll post a screenshot of my reroll from dex build to int build later. I more than doubled my vigor for the sake of about 20 damage per swing, it's nuts.

[El Spatula]

Moonveil right hand, Metorite blade left hand is the way to for for Dex/Int builds. Murders things and you get the Moonveil ash of war.

 

Back up Wing of Astal for groups and a staff of some sort and you're set.

 

I'm very tempted by an Int/Arc build next if I can make it work.

[NecroMorrius]

Yep or swap it out for a magic/cold infused uchigatana. You can always switch to uchi left and staff right, and then apply a spell to your uchi mid fight. Limitless fun. You can't apply ashes/affinities to meteoric or moonveil and they both take somber smithing stones, so it's a bit of a faff upgrading them both.

[ox1973]

Moonveil vs Uchigatana - why not both? Hell, why not have Rivers of Blood and Hand of Melania up your sleeve too, just in case?

 

I finished the game with the Moonveil +10 and Bloody Slash Uchigatana +25 as my main weapons. Nice to have the choice for different encounters or even dual wield if you're feeling particularly gung-ho.

 

INT/DEX builds always work well with katanas in Souls games I find.

[Retroid]

8 hours ago, Hass said:

I'm struggling with this game. I've never played the genre before but generally an finding the fighting very frustrating. It seems to vary between extremely easy and extremely hard ads in a nano second and blocking doesn't seem to work for anything hard. I've not managed to take down a bit yet, generally feeling frustrated by it.

 

This is fairly vague, I can't tell where you are from this, have you just finished the Tutorial and went up against a Golden Knight or a Giant? Leave them for later, in fact leave anything for later if you feel massively outclassed and just wander.

 

Also rolling (or jumping, running out of reach) for big heavy attacks is advisable. I'm not currently using a Shield so that style of combat is a bit alien to me, there's a ton of newstarter guides out there anyway and there's quite a few videos In the "how do I?" thread.

 

Edit: Cheers to my phone which decided to restore the live version of the thread there. 

 

[jonamok]

1 hour ago, robdood said:

Ended the session in a nice way, did all the paintings I've found so far

 

Thanks for the reminder Rob, I have a few of these in my inventory and had completely forgotten about them. They'll make a nice relaxing diversion from all the late-game mayhem.

 

Also, re. that upgrading shield stuff, I've never upgraded a shield once in more than a decade of sword and board Souls play, and now I feel like a twat.

[Kirby]

Just opened up Atlas Moutains.

 

Bosses are not a problem so far - a few have taken me a while to learn their attacks but it seems so much more I dont know how to put it accessible.

 

Backstabs and counters are sublime. I really do need to learn to parry though

 

I seem to have more grief from some of the tougher wandering gribblies than I do with bosses. Absolutely loving this.

 

Comedy hours/level update. Rocking a +9 moonveil and +20 fire claymore currently. Invaders get a dual wielded Blood Uchigatana+20 and Serpentbone Blade +15 plus the wave emote. Even started summoning them from red. Very satisfying.

 

May respec for arcane/blood build though. 

.

[Triple A]

Now Level 140-ish, after 143-ish hours.

Haven't done the Haligtree area yet, but have cleared the mountaintops and the majority of the bit where you use the other medallion.

Am in mop-up mode before the final few main areas.  Got all the flasks and their upgrades, all the deathroots and the majority of NPC quests are done too.

I'm starting to get a little fatigued (the lower quality of graphics in the snowy areas is contributing), but equally I just don't want this to end.

Nearly there!

[cassidy]

2 minutes ago, Triple A said:

Now Level 140-ish, after 143-ish hours.

Haven't done the Haligtree area yet, but have cleared the mountaintops and the majority of the bit where you use the other medallion.

Am in mop-up mode before the final few main areas.  Got all the flasks and their upgrades, all the deathroots and the majority of NPC quests are done too.

I'm starting to get a little fatigued (the lower quality of graphics in the snowy areas is contributing), but equally I just don't want this to end.

Nearly there!

Oh so it's not just me getting weird shadows now I'm in the snowy place? Doesn't happen all the time but first time in 69 hrs I've noticed anything untoward. 

[Triple A]

9 minutes ago, cassidy said:

Oh so it's not just me getting weird shadows now I'm in the snowy place? Doesn't happen all the time but first time in 69 hrs I've noticed anything untoward. 

Yeah weird shadows, more foliage pop-up than in other areas, asset and enemy repetition, but for me at least it’s mostly to do with the lack of colour and texture, and in some areas extreme fogginess. 

[Davros sock drawer]

45 minutes ago, Kirby said:

Just opened up Atlas Moutains.

 

Bosses are not a problem so far - a few have taken me a while to learn their attacks but it seems so much more I dont know how to put it accessible.

 

Backstabs and counters are sublime. I really do need to learn to parry though

 

I seem to have more grief from some of the tougher wandering gribblies than I do with bosses. Absolutely loving this.

 

Comedy hours/level update. Rocking a +9 moonveil and +20 fire claymore currently. Invaders get a dual wielded Blood Uchigatana+20 and Serpentbone Blade +15 plus the wave emote. Even started summoning them from red. Very satisfying.

 

May respec for arcane/blood build though. 

.

 

I've got all of Blaidd's armour except the head. Could you give me a vague hint as to where/how to get it?

 

PS - glad to see it's not just me taking their time!

[Timmo]

56 minutes ago, Kirby said:

Just opened up Atlas Moutains.

 

Bosses are not a problem so far - a few have taken me a while to learn their attacks but it seems so much more I dont know how to put it accessible.

 

Backstabs and counters are sublime. I really do need to learn to parry though

 

I seem to have more grief from some of the tougher wandering gribblies than I do with bosses. Absolutely loving this.

 

Comedy hours/level update. Rocking a +9 moonveil and +20 fire claymore currently. Invaders get a dual wielded Blood Uchigatana+20 and Serpentbone Blade +15 plus the wave emote. Even started summoning them from red. Very satisfying.

 

May respec for arcane/blood build though. 

.

 

Wowsers, do you go AFK a lot?

 

I finished on 92 hours and didn't feel like I could have missed that much.

[Sun Tze]

Finally finished Renalla and pottered around a bit but kinda lost where i'm supposed to be going? The guy from roundtable said to go to the foot of the erdtree, but from what i gather here i need to go back to Cealid for the general? Opened up Volcano Manor, Caria Manor, Mt Gelmir, Bellum (?) highway, Ansel river and got the medals for the dectus lift. 

 

 

[jonny_rat]

A fun time with MBoM last night! 

 

Spoiler

It's really interesting reading about her - and the Haligtree area - on forums and other places. Lots of people upset about it, saying it's unfair, badly designed, that she doesn't fit in the game, that she and the area are just there to make an artificially hard bit of the endgame, whatever that means.

 

I thought she was a fun addition and absolutely the right choice to make her optional. I know people have been beating her solo and without summon ashes, but for most people, she is there to use everything at your disposal to get past. No real opportunity to go elsewhere and grind further. I ended up tweaking my armour setup, my physics, ensuring that the mimic had a shield when spawned, crafting some consumables.

 

The flying slash thing is not easy. The videos of it you watch, the players usually start off from a good distance away before running back to avoid that first flurry, so for most people that's only going to be effective if you're watching her from a way away and not in the middle of an animation. 

 

Chalk me up in the group who didn't realise that upgrading shields gave a boost to guard values, too..

[5R7]

2 hours ago, robdood said:

Just a note RE shield upgrades, the guard efficiency stat, or whatever it's called, only goes up every 4th upgrade.  Usually only by a point or so.  So try and start with a shield that has fairly high guard efficiency to begin.  Brass shield is mad good for a medium shield. 

 

Ultimately though you're only going to be adding about 6 or 7 points to the efficiency overall.  IMO slapping barricade on a shield is waaaay more effective.  Makes guard counters so easy. 

 

Second on the brass shield! it is categorically the best med shield! as it maxes its guard boost at 69! (nice) and is better than some of the great shields! the second best is the banished shield which maxes at 68(not nice)

 

would recommend farming one at the start! it will take you through the game!

[Captain Kelsten]

3 hours ago, Uncle Nasty said:

 

I think this is horrible advice for a newcomer to the series. Elden Ring is bewildering and overwhelming enough even to people familiar with FROM games, but suggesting a newcomer goes in without a shield whilst attempting to absorb and process the sheer density of systems and information that they're about to get submerged in? Come on. In the early stages when your HP is low a shield is the difference between life and death, that's potentially hours of progress. When you're squishy and vulnerable at the start and facing off against enemies that will take you out with one bite or arrow, a shield is going to at least allow you to turtle through an area to the next Grace.

 

You also forgot to mention Guard Counters which are no-brainers to pull off and the easiest way to land a critical hit on otherwise impossible to defeat enemies. There are also shields with offensive Ashes Of War which are a massive benefit to more cautious players.

 

I would suggest getting a small shield and a pokey Halberd. Learn Guard Counters and yes, parrying, turtle a bit, raise your Faith for some defensive buffs, take your time and work your way up to running around naked and shieldless. But that is not the way for a new player.

 

 

It’s not terrible advice for a new player, you just don’t agree with it. My advice basically boils down to don’t over rely on a shield and use it as a crutch to brute force your way through encounters as it won’t always work, whereas rolling and avoiding will. 

[Nate Dogg III]

35 minutes ago, Davros sock drawer said:

 

I've got all of Blaidd's armour except the head. Could you give me a vague hint as to where/how to get it?

 

PS - glad to see it's not just me taking their time!

Oh shit, you said vague hint. The bit after Caria Manor. Somewhere you can only get with horsey jumps. 

 

Spoiler

It's in Three Sisters, at one of the towers. You can horsey jump up some walls around the outside of it. 

 

 

[robdood]

18 minutes ago, Sun Tze said:

Finally finished Renalla and pottered around a bit but kinda lost where i'm supposed to be going? The guy from roundtable said to go to the foot of the erdtree, but from what i gather here i need to go back to Cealid for the general? Opened up Volcano Manor, Caria Manor, Mt Gelmir, Bellum (?) highway, Ansel river and got the medals for the dectus lift. 

 

 

You want to head towards the biggest Erdtree you can see  (from a story point of view at least)

 

[robdood]

1 hour ago, Kirby said:

Just opened up Atlas Moutains.

 

Bosses are not a problem so far - a few have taken me a while to learn their attacks but it seems so much more I dont know how to put it accessible.

 

Backstabs and counters are sublime. I really do need to learn to parry though

 

I seem to have more grief from some of the tougher wandering gribblies than I do with bosses. Absolutely loving this.

 

Comedy hours/level update. Rocking a +9 moonveil and +20 fire claymore currently. Invaders get a dual wielded Blood Uchigatana+20 and Serpentbone Blade +15 plus the wave emote. Even started summoning them from red. Very satisfying.

 

May respec for arcane/blood build though. 

.

Impressive.  About 8 hours a day since launch

 

[Wiper]

4 hours ago, Uncle Nasty said:

 

I think this is horrible advice for a newcomer to the series. Elden Ring is bewildering and overwhelming enough even to people familiar with FROM games, but suggesting a newcomer goes in without a shield whilst attempting to absorb and process the sheer density of systems and information that they're about to get submerged in? Come on. In the early stages when your HP is low a shield is the difference between life and death, that's potentially hours of progress. When you're squishy and vulnerable at the start and facing off against enemies that will take you out with one bite or arrow, a shield is going to at least allow you to turtle through an area to the next Grace.

 

3 hours ago, Timmo said:

 

Yeah, this. A fully upgraded brass shield is very tanky and not that heavy. Certainly wouldn't recommend no shield for a first playthrough, I'm dual wielding on my second time through and it takes more skill.

 

Just to follow-up on these — I think everyone should try a shield (any build can wield at least some shields after all), but I wouldn't say it's an automatically easier playstyle, and I'd be wary of recommending it as the default starting build, as the easier option. What I'm saying is: if you try it and don't enjoy it, don't feel you have to stick with shield-based defence!

 

I emphasise this because tanking behind a shield has been the "beginner's" recommendation for the Souls games every time I played them, something I took to heart, and I hated the experience. I found combat (and thus progress) slow and boring, up until bosses at which point I'd get bullied into corners and pummelled to death/have my stamina wiped out and then flattened/monofocus on attempting to parry and get nowhere/become too cagey and passive and never pick my openings. It wasn't until Bloodborne that I found myself enjoying combat (if not the aesthetic), because obviously there was no tanking option, and returning to Demon's Souls found things far more enjoyable and, yes, 'easy' when I played it with a focus on dodging and DPS.

 

Elden Ring I started as I meant to go on, pumping points into dex and endurance to allow me to roll around like a bellend and land quick, damaging flurries; and while I have now got an emergency shield for when I want more time to learn an enemy's patterns, it's very much my tool of last resort, and I enjoy the game far more than I would had I tried the sword and board route as primary.

[Talvalin]

3 hours ago, robdood said:

Oooh I don't think I've found that cave! *makes mental note*

 

As for your summon question.  Had you used one of the items that shows summon signs?  That stops you from being able to use spirits.  

 

You can use the sign-revealing item again to undo (you also get refunded the item you used to enable summon signs)

 

It's called the Sage's Cave just for reference. Also, about the spirit summoning thing, .
I'm clearly an idiot and I think I'm going to go back in and give that guy the twatting he deserves (at least whilst I don't have that many runes to lose!)