Ways To Make An Elden Ring Playthrough As Hard As Possible

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Summary

  • Avoid using lock-on to make Elden Ring more challenging, forcing manual tracking of enemy movements.
  • Equip Daedicar’s Woe for doubled damage taken, increasing difficulty without advantages.
  • Challenge yourself by banning magic, healing items, and using low-tier weapons & no armor in Elden Ring.

The game Elden Ring, crafted by FromSoftware – the team behind the Dark Souls series, is already quite tough. Yet, despite its Action RPG format pushing players to their limits through numerous challenging boss fights where many will find themselves defeated multiple times, some enthusiasts might still crave an even more difficult experience with Elden Ring.

For players who prefer a challenge and enjoy stepping out of their comfort zone, here are some strategies they could adopt in Elden Ring to increase the game’s difficulty if they find it too easy or simply want an added thrill:

1. Stripping off armor to expose themselves more frequently to enemy attacks.
2. Refraining from leveling up, forcing themselves to rely on their skills and wits rather than relying on increased stats.

By implementing these tactics, players can transform Elden Ring into a formidable challenge.

8. Never Use The Lock-On

Players Must Focus On Where They Hit

In the game Elden Ring, one valuable feature is the lock-on system which enables a player to track an enemy’s movements without constantly adjusting their own position to follow where the boss might be moving around in the arena. This proves particularly handy when engaging with challenging bosses that cover vast areas or execute fast and complex attack patterns.

For those aiming to enhance the difficulty of their Elden Ring experience, it would be advisable to abstain from utilizing the lock-on feature and instead pursue the boss manually or strategically time attacks based on their movements. Engaging in battles against formidable foes such as Malenia or Maliketh without this mechanic could prove to be a demanding task.

7. Use Talismans That Increase The Damage Taken

Daedicar’s Woe Doubles The Damage Taken

Instead of eliminating all talismans in Elden Ring for a tougher experience, consider using the Daedicar’s Woe talisman instead. This item, earned at the end of Rya’s quest, doesn’t provide any benefits and is only meant for players seeking a greater challenge.

When you have the Daedicar’s Woe talisman equipped, the harm you receive is multiplied by two. Consequently, not only tough bosses but also common enemies will inflict much higher damage on you. This increases the chances that you’ll be defeated by attacks unless you skillfully evade them.

6. Don’t Use Any Summons

Both Ashes And Players Cannot Be Used

In Elden Ring, struggling players have two options to gain an advantage: they can invite other players for backup, or opt for Spirit Ashes to bring in an AI companion. These companions can either absorb attacks or deal additional damage, making the gameplay less challenging for the player since they don’t have to focus on dealing the most damage or being the sole target of a boss encounter.

Without relying on Spirit Ashes or help from other players, it’s solely on each player to face off against enemies and figure out ways to dodge attacks, as the boss won’t have any distractions. Players who are accustomed to summoning allies might find Elden Ring significantly more challenging.

5. Magic Has Been Banned

Melee Weapons Only For A Harder Time

In role-playing games (RPGs), Elden Ring boasts one of the most impressive magic systems, offering players an extensive collection of spells to explore. Some of these magical abilities are exceptionally potent, and when a player specializes in specific types of magic, they become even more lethal. Moreover, this specialization enhances the power of these spells.

In simpler terms, magic can help players avoid getting hurt while still causing harm, because most spells enable them to attack from a safe distance. To make the game more challenging, players could opt to forgo casting spells and instead use melee weapons exclusively, which would require them to get up close and personal with dangerous enemies.

4. No Healing Or Buff Items

Players Will Need To Avoid Taking Damage At All Costs

In addition to spells that cause harm, there are also numerous magical abilities that enable players to recuperate. Yet, players can add an extra layer of challenge by prohibiting themselves not just from employing spells for self-healing, but also abstaining from utilizing healing potions exclusively.

Not relying on healing or power-ups for their character necessitates greater caution when fighting not only common enemies but also bosses. Every blow received results in permanent health reduction until the player encounters a bonfire, at which point their health is restored.

3. Only Use Low Tier Weaponry

Battles Require More Patience

For those players who enjoy a tough challenge, rather than striving for the most powerful weapons and armor in Elden Ring, it might be more rewarding to try completing the entire game with some of its least potent weaponry instead.

In some cases, certain items might seem unlikely to be classified as weapons, like a torch, which can cause harm but nowhere close to the destructive power of a basic sword. This is just one instance where a game character might choose a feeble weapon to increase challenge, or they could opt to forgo a weapon altogether and rely on their bare fists instead.

2. Never Wear Any Armor

Getting Hit Could Kill The Player

it not only lessens some of the damage received but also makes the player more resistant to specific types of attacks.

Without wearing any armor, the player solely depends on the amount of their overall health for survival against sustained damage. Simultaneously, they strive to dodge attacks in order to avoid being hit altogether. The main benefit of going without armor is increased agility and speed due to reduced weight.

1. Don’t Ever Level Up

Players Will Have To Survive With Their Starting Stats

In the world of the Souls series, one particularly tough feat is finishing the game without enhancing your character’s abilities through level-ups. Remarkably, gamers have the option to replicate this challenge in Elden Ring by deciding not to expend their runes on boosting their character’s stats, thereby making progress solely based on their skills and strategy.

For players seeking a balanced experience without overly complicating the game, they can opt for one of the fundamental Elden Ring character classes which begin with a few levels. However, for those who crave maximum difficulty, they should choose the Wretch class. Unlike other classes that start at a certain level, the Wretch begins at level 1 and possesses no weapons or armor. This forces the player to scavenge for these essentials while still remaining at level one, making the game significantly more challenging.

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2025-01-11 11:08