Everything You Need to Know About 'Elden Ring'

Elden Ring's overarching plot has been composed by director Hidetaka Miyazaki and famed fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire). The game takes place in the "Lands Between," which is ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal. The legendary Elden Ring, which is the source of the Erdtree, has been destroyed and turned into shattered pieces known as the "Great Runes."

Marika's demigod offspring have gotten their hands on those powerful runes, which in turn has corrupted them all and triggered a war referred to as "The Shattering." Players take on the role of a "Tarnished," who are exiles that hail from the Lands Between and have lost the Elden Ring's grace. After being revived due to an event called the "Shattering,", you venture through the Lands Between in a bid to defeat all the crazed demigods, gather all the Great Runes, restore the Elden Ring, and ultimately be crowned the almighty Elden Lord.

Elden Ring is a Soulsbourne game through and through. While your trek through the game's Lands Between starts out on a linear note, it eventually opens up to allow players to freely explore its massive open world. The world of Elden Ring is split up into six different locales that are all interconnected through a main hub area players will visit on a constant basis.

Players now have the ability to travel on horseback much faster and also rely on a fast-travel system to do the same. The demigods serve as Elden Ring's man bosses, who'll provide quite the challenge once you take them on in battle. A helpful mechanic that can be called up in battle is summonable spirits, which are spectral allies that can assist you in battle. Players can also discover them throughout the Lands Between and even utilize spirits based on previously defeated foes. You and another Tarnished can play side by side thanks to the game's online co-op mode as well.

Your custom Tarnished avatar can be outfitted to rely on one of the following classes (each one determines your character's starting stats and equipment):

1. Hero (comes equipped with an ax)
2. Bandit (comes equipped with a dagger, parrying shield, and a bow & arrows)
3. Astrologer (comes equipped with a magical staff, sword, small shield, and offensive magic spells)
4. Warrior (comes equipped with two scimitars and a light shield)
5. Prisoner (comes equipped with a with an estoc, magical staff, a healing spell, an offensive spell, and shield)
6. Confessor (comes equipped with a a broadsword, kite shield, and a magic casting item called a finger seal)
7. Wretch (comes equipped with a club)
8. Vagabond (comes equipped with a Sword & Shield)
9. Prohpet (comes equipped with a a spear, a finger seal, and a small shield)
10. Samurai (comes equipped with a katana, round shield, longbow, Bone Arrows, and Flame Arrows)

Each class can be customized as a male or female avatar.