Summary
Dark Soulsand Soulslike games are commonly associated with a steep, combat-driven difficulty, so it’s no surprise thatElden Ringis a brutal game to master. However, even thoughElden Ringlives up to this normalized genre convention, the accessibility features that this game brings to the table go a long way toward making the difficulty much more manageable for both newcomers and Soulslike veterans.
Given the current discourse surrounding the difficulty ofElden Ring’s Shadow of the ErdtreeDLCthough, the impact of some of the game’s accessibility features is becoming apparent now more than ever before. One particular element thatElden Ring’s new DLC highlights is how much more accessible magic builds are compared to some of FromSoftware’s pastSoulsgames.
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a Goldmine for New Buildcrafting Tools
Throughout the first week following its release,the difficulty ofElden Ring’s new DLChas proven to be quite controversial among the game’s community so far. However, some of the new buildcrafting tools introduced in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC arguably make it worth the challenge.
Prior to theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC’s release, it was already possible to achieve aninfinite magic build inElden Ring. Although, on top of the existing buildcrafting tools, some of the new gear introduced inElden Ring’s Shadow of the ErdteeDLC still makes for a huge progression of the game’s FP mechanics, meaning that builds that utilize Sorceries, Incantations, Ashes of War, and/or other FP-consuming items have just become significantly more accessible. One such item is theBlessed Blue Dew Talisman, which passively regenerates FP over time.
TheBlessed Blue Dew Talismanregenerates FP at a rate of 1 FP every 2 seconds.
While the FP regeneration provided by this Talisman may seem abysmal considering how some ofthe best Sorceries and Incantations inElden Ringtypically consume a massive amount of FP, the utility of this item is still a game-changer nonetheless. So, even though dedicated magic builds might not get the most use out of this Talisman, any other build that utilizes FP can still get plenty of value from it.
How Elden Ring Makes Magic Builds More Accessible Than Ever Before
Magic builds in theSoulsgames typically rely on heavy investment to be a worthwhile build, considering the high stat requirements and sources of magic-resource regeneration that are needed to cast some of the best spells. In contrast,magic builds inElden Ringare much less all-or-nothing due to some of the subtle accessibility features and new buildcrafting tools that players have access to.
In the base game ofElden Ring, one of the biggest changes that has made magic builds more accessible is allowing players to unlockMemory Stonenaturally while progressing, which are used to equip more spells. In theDark Soulsgames, spell slots are tied to the player’s Attunement stat, which mainly requires a traditional level-up to increase. So, inElden Ring, it’s much easier to equip multiple spells without needing to specialize in a dedicated magic build.
Another aspect ofElden Ring’s magic system that shows how far magic has come is the tools for magic efficiency that allow players to passively recover FP or reduce how much FP an action uses without relying on aFlask of Cerulean Tearsor the Flask of Wondrous Physick. There are plenty of buildcrafting tools inElden Ringthat provide one or more of these utilities, and with all the new magic buildcrafting tools that theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC added,Elden Ringnow has some of the best buildcrafting tools from all the games that came before it. Ultimately, between the subtle gameplay mechanics and the latest buildcrafting tools available, magic inElden Ringis more accessible than it’s ever been in any of FromSoftware’s past games.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
