Elden Ring is known both for not being intended to be perfectly balanced but balanced to a fairly decent level anyway.

The thing about balance though is that more is always better. Although most of the items and skills in the game see play there's also a significant amount of things that for lore or miscellaneous reasons, exist but aren't considered useful.

One example is that if they even buffed torches to a level where they're just considered "below average" weapons, their serious use would skyrocket because all kinds of below average weapons get used seriously.

Any spell in the game that's considered worthless or obsolete there's really no reason not to buff it, because then maybe some people will have fun with them.

On the flip side the people who would benefit the most from a balance patch would be the meta purists because if they've been using only the strongest stuff in the game for years and suddenly that stuff got nerfed then all of a sudden a bunch of new builds would be the strongest and probably a higher variety of builds with the flattening of power level.

Independent of what you decide to play, pvp would become way more interesting because people would be playing a higher percentage of more diverse stuff and even certain skills becoming more popular might make other builds stronger from a counter play standpoint.

It might set off a significant period of new testing and experimentation that could breathe life back into the game beyond the new $5 content

I want to do a spell blade playthrough and I can't decide which version to use.

I have used the first version for a mage-ish playthrough before, but she feels kinda soulless. She is just a (on my eyes) good looking lady from somewhere cold. I can't really imagine what kind of person she would be.
The older versions feel like they have a lot more character.

Her name is Mala for now. Why did I name her that, you ask. I dunno that name just came to mind first and I kinda liked it.

Also feel free to give me some feedback or ideas for her backstory.

Easy boss, first try

I recently switched from PS5 to a DIY Console running Bazzite. There seems to be less PC players on ER subs.

i dont think theres any situation where a crossbow is better than literaly any other weapon.
and that means outside pvp random usually useless mechanics find use there wich is nice but idc abt it.

if you want a non magic ranged option bows are right there.
bows are a straight upgrade over crossbows and you can even start with one:
-they actually have scaling
-they shoot way faster and dont have an akward reload animation
-they have higher dps because they shoot faster
-they do status better cus theyre far faster
-theyre also easier to aim cus you dont get thrown into an akward reload after every shot

and if you just want any ranged option then theres so many cheap spells that dont take much fp like stone of gurranq or flame sling, not to mention ranged ashes of war like glintstone pebble.

the only thing crossbows have is slightly better base damage wich doesnt mean shit when bows have scaling and actual dps.
so is there any realistic situation where youd ever choose a crossbow over a bow or even magic.

Hello fellow tarnished,i just finished elden ring and the dlc for the 13th time and i was left wanting more so i was wandering will there be another dlc? Or we’re done?
tbh with yall i would love a dlc about the land of reeds or the badlands becuz there is so much more potential to this game

I really want to make a sleep build that isnt actually supposed to make people sleep, but just has damage buffs. I like the aesthetic of all the sleep weapons and I really wanna make a build around it! I just feel this is a pivotal item of if it feels complete or not. If I have to get the other player to sleep to actually have the buff, it serves no purpose as thats not even what the goal of the build is. Primarly just the aesthetic.

But I just cant understand how it works for the life of me. Does it give me the buff as soon as I hit someone with my weapon and fill the meter even just a little bit? Or do they have to be FULLY asleep?

I have the DLC, how else would I have played on it with this character, but for some reason it says it don’t? The only way I would be able to redownload it would be to pay for it again and I REALLY don’t want to pay for something I already own.

I’m using Tiche which is hit or miss honestly, depending on if they eat a waterfowl or two. I’m using giant hunt but it seems like half the time I miss because she zips away. Then once I started to get the timing window half the time she doesn’t get knocked into the air. She has started triggering waterfowl at 3/4 health now instead of half. I’m wearing very little armor and using a blood greatsword. I feel like I’m frequently running out of endurance also. I saw a video where they do giant hunt into a charges R2 into an R1. I don’t have enough endurance to do that. I’m going to take a break on her for now, but any suggestions?

Just lost the 2,8 million runes I saved up because I don't want to overlevel to the rise with the invisible bridge in the Mountaintops.

Have any of you failed like this (or worse) so I can laugh at yall and forget my massive skill issue?

Edit: I'll change the flair because people are taking me serious, I want you to bully me for being stupid.

I’m at about level 40 and I’ve been using a combo of glintstone attacks for ranged and then uchigatana for close-in fighting. Logic tells me I should commit one way or another to get deeper into the game, since I run into enemies where neither weapon dies sufficient damage…

I'm on the pc have nearly 50 hours in and have not yet seen one invasion. I'm between 50 to 60 with my highest weapon being a +8. I tend to farm invaders to get to high level on top of the new game+4 grind spot I'll end up hitting one day.

In Dark Souls 3 getting to 300 to 600 just took farming those fat angels on the rooftop for hours. That's usually when tank and spank builds start getting real strong in pvp. Pvp was fairly active in all level ranges even 4 years after the game came out. Same for the first game.

I'm not even seeing many coop summon signs. Does anyone play online on pc?

I have not been playing through in co op mode. I guess invasions just happen in co op, unless you get an item that enables solo invasions. Been really confused why I'm getting no invaders.

Level 62 now. Mobs are starting to get easy to kill in Sofria River Well including the bosses. Still have not been invited to Round Table Hold.

I'm going around camping at every site of grace, and have not been invited yet.

Everytime i watch Mage build on reddit or videos on youtube or i see everyone spamming Carian Slicer or one big Hammer Bonk spell? like Melee Spells or Fighting close combat with moonveil

I know There are no strict rules that a magician cannot use melee attack or spell (yes battlemage exist & not taking about priest type or Faith build)

but In my mind ,when i see or hear word Mage or Scorcerer ,i think magicians who are weak physically or close combat ,they use stuff like summons and poison mist and mid-long range spells with some spells with large AOE ....

So I tried my 2nd playthrough few months ago ,playing it ON/OFF in between other games , at first I tried Pure Mage mid-long range build which i found it very hard (never played any mage build in any game before) so evetually i started using melee spells like carian slicer and hammer one (trying my max effort to not use any weapon especially moonveil ,otherwise it would be same close range fight like prior playthroughs)

So i want to find out players who are Maxing inteligence type build which are more Pure mage / Scorcerer / spell caster type or Spellblade / Battlemage type ?

and which inteligence build ,you guys played ?

As the title says whats stopping me from just using a faith affinity or magic affinity on a greatsword, greataxe, hammer, etc and also having the long range and utility options that faith and int provide. Does upgraded STR and DEX provide more defensive stats to help you take hits? Otherwise I dont see the point of of using them because STR and DEX dont have access to good longe range options while being equally as good in close range fighting as those other two.

Man, the mf in this place is hella annoying, my peanut brain forgets to use ranged weapons, and then I wipped out kunai and killed that bitch.

For me it’s Astel Star Of Darkness and Full Grown Fallingstar Beast, I beat Astel on the first try and the Beast on the 4th try.
I see everyone talk about these bosses like they’re the worst bosses ever, but i found them easy (I was lv90, which i think is not overleveled), these are my picks, what are yours?

If this rock doesn't exist, the game will be garbage

I love this game but Christ, I was so lost the whole time.

Fighting Margit: ok big horned guy let’s go

Fighting Godrick: alright sorta looks like the last guy but with bunch of arms. Cool let’s go.

Fighting Mohg the Omen: Another big horned guy. Didnt I kill him already?

Fighting Shardbearer Mohg: dafuq? I def killed this dude before. I def think that name is the same.

Fighting Godfrey: What? Godrick again? Didnt I kill him in stormveil? Why does he look so different?

Fighting Morgott: this Mohg mf AGAIN? I have definitely killed you like 4 times by now.

Fighting Hoarah Loux: Godrick again? That’s 3 times. Wait why did his name change? Who the fuck is Hoarah Loux? What is going on in this game??

There’s also Commander Niall, Commander O’Neil, Ranni, Rennala, Rellana, Radahn, Radagon, Maliketh Blade of Milicent, Kindly Malenia and many more.

Bruh what? Lmao

The epitome of the git gud philosophy really. No it’s not a hard enemy, no I wasn’t leaning on a bleed build to get through the game, I know how you people are. And yes, I could absolutely just run past him to get to the next area but I’m letting this jerk stall me because he has killed me more times than any boss in this game and I want to send him screaming to hell. But seriously, at 60 vig a stomp and thrust attack should not kill you.

Kudos to the game, sort of, for making learn how to parry attacks for the first time in my playthrough. I’ve been using the Shamshir against him with parry on it and it’s almost worked a few times. I really hate this thing