Elden Ring has been a gift that keeps on giving, with its incredible open world filled with lore, monsters, magic, and a grim, imposing atmosphere. Even weeks after its release, fans are discovering new tricks and secrets about the game, and the exploration doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.
Some of these secrets are just cool pieces of information that won’t really affect anyone's gameplay. On the other hand, some of these tricks can be utilized quite cleverly while playing the game as well. So what secrets about Elden Ring do only die-hard players know?
Friendly Fire Amongst Enemies
For some reason, smaller enemies don’t do any friendly damage, but as soon as an enormous enemy shows up, something which is larger than 8ft, they start inflicting damage to everyone around them. This includes the giant swamp crabs, the lumbering trolls, and the colossal dragons.
One of the clever techniques which some players try to implement is riding around on Torrent and trying to bait them into hitting each other. And one thing to note is that the larger enemies won’t turn on themselves, they will only deal damage.
Mounting Your Horse Makes You Invincible For A Short Time
There are some mechanics in every game that the users can exploit as some form of cheat code, for instance, one of the most common examples is being invincible during combat rolls. The same applies to when the player is summoning Torrent with the Speed Whistle.
The way the animation has been coded, there is a brief moment where the player will be invincible to other attacks as they are getting onto Torrent. This loophole can be used quite effectively to avoid damage from fatal attacks.
The Game Weather Will Affect Your Spells
Elden Ring has an incredible amount of detail, to the point where slight adjustments can make significant differences in gameplay. As such, some spells deal different damage depending on the real-time weather in the game. For example, it is raining in the game, then fire damage will be reduced. At the same time, lightning damage will increase during rain.
While the change in the damage is merely 10%, using the wrong spell can end up being a 20% damage difference. This can be really important for longer battles or if players have a lot of spells to choose from.
The Scarlet Rot Can Be ‘Cured’
The Scarlet Rot has been a nuisance for players since the beginning. It can really drive players’ anxieties high, especially when its effects are clearly visible throughout Caelid and the Haligtree. But players can stop its damage and progression as well.
It can be "cured" with the Unalloyed Golden Needle, which can be found in Millicent’s storyline. It can not only solve the Scarlet Rot, but it can also deal with any element which has been introduced by the Outer Gods. Players can also get rid of the Frenzied Flame using this.
Bonus On Runes
Earning Runes is one of the most important aspects of Elden Ring. While Rune farming can be fun in itself, it can also be laborious if anyone has been playing the game for some time. But, very few players know that some weather phenomena can increase the number of Runes earned.
If a player ever witnesses gold leaving falling from the sky during nighttime, this is not just for aesthetic purposes. This is known as Erdtree blessings and it increases the amount of Rune being farmed or earned.
Lightning Spells Have Area Damage On Water
Elder Ring has some very clever use of real-world physics. This level of detailing is rarely ever seen in any other game, and this nuance can be both a threat and an advantage, depending on who is using it.
When lightning spell is used on any water surface, then the damage will radiate outwards in a circle for a few meters. Although the damage doesn’t go too far, this can be a nifty trick while fighting a group of enemies. This is definitely one of the best things to know before starting Elden Ring.
Do Not Roll Through The Poison Swamps
The first instinct of any gamer trying to deal with an in-game problem is to roll through it. This won’t really work while dealing with the poison swamps in Elden Ring.
Just standing in the swamp will affect the player's health and if they start rolling into it, then the character will end up being covered from head to toe in poison. This will not only increase the damage dealt, but the status affliction will also continue for some time even after getting out of the swamp.
Taking Care Of The Fire Catacombs
While exploring the world of Elden Ring, gamers will come across a lot of catacombs and dungeons. This will inevitably lead to coming face to face with some raised pillars in long corridors, on top of which imps are spitting fire in regular intervals. Although this seems very dangerous, a small tap with a hammer or sword is enough to make these pillars retract.
Some players have discovered that long-range damage like arrows or spells can also make them retract. So, players can shoot their arrows way down the hallways and there is no need to risk getting burnt.
Marika And Radagon Are The Same Person
There is an origin story of Queen Marika and her consort, Elden Lord Radagon, hidden within one of the statues in Leyndell. It is revealed that both the characters are one and the same. Radagon is a gender-bent off-shoot of Marika.
The weirdest thing about this is that Radagon went on to marry Marika and even had children with her. This is exactly what to expect when George R.R. Martin is a co-writer on the game.
Escaping The Grab Attacks Faster
There are always some game mechanics which the fans figure out and use to their advantage. This particular mechanic has been a constant throughout the entire Souls franchise.
If anyone is stuck in a grab attack, start mashing the action buttons on the controller (R1/L1 or RB/LB). This trick won’t help players get released instantly, but it will reduce the multiple damages incurred and the character will be released sooner as well. With all the memes about Elden Ring's difficulty, these tricks are a much-needed relief for all the players.