In addition to classic close and ranged combat with real weapons, there are also spells in Elden Ring. In this guide, we will show you which starting class is best suited, where to find a staff, and where you can learn new spells.
This is how magic works in Elden Ring: To cast spells in Elden Ring, you need to consider several factors.
- You need a staff.
- You must find and equip a spell.
- You need to pay attention to the basic attribute requirements for spells and staves.
The most important factor in your build are the attributes that you can increase with each level-up. For spells, especially two of them are important:
- Mind: This attribute determines how many ability points (FP) you have. Essentially, it is just mana that you need to use spells and weapon skills.
- Intelligence: This attribute increases your magical damage and determines which staves and spells you can equip. There are also weapons that benefit from intelligence, mainly dealing magical damage.
If you want to start directly as a mage, your class choice is crucial. Here we will tell you which classes are best suited, where to find the first staff, and how to learn new spells.
Update, March 15: The article has been updated and supplemented.
We provide a ranking of all staves in our weapon tier list:
The best class for budding mages
You should choose these classes: Elden Ring offers 10 classes at the start from which you can choose. Each of these classes has a different distribution of main attributes.
Considering the above-mentioned attributes, mainly two of the classes are directly suitable for starting as a mage:
- Astrologer: This class has the highest mind and intelligence value you can have at the start. Additionally, they are equipped with a staff and spells. So, if you know that you want to play as a full-fledged mage and only want to use weapons secondarily, the Astrologer is the right choice for you.
- Prisoner: This is more of a hybrid class that can rely on both weapons and spells. This allows for a high intelligence value combined with a high dexterity attribute, enabling the use of light and fast weapons. So, if you want to engage in both physical combat and spells, you should choose this class.
However, it may happen that players start with a different class and then want to try spells without restarting. But what to do if you don’t have a staff?
How you can find a staff in Elden Ring early on
One of the best locations that you can reach early on is the forest ruins of the half-people. It is located in the southern part of Limgrave.
- From the tutorial dungeon, head southeast until you reach a large bridge.
- Cross it while being mindful of hostile ballista shooters stationed on the bridge. Once on the other side, turn right towards the west.
- There, just before the edge of the cliff, you should encounter the ruins where the queen of the half-people awaits you.
- She is not a real mini-boss, but she can deal a lot of damage. So be careful in the fight and make sure you have put at least a few attributes into vitality.
- Draw the smaller enemies away from the queen and take them out first. Use the ruins as cover against her magical ranged attacks.
Once you have defeated the queen, you will receive the staff of the queen of the half-people:
If you have trouble with the boss fight and want to level up, we have the best method for quickly leveling up and farming runes at the start.
This is how you use the staff: Like a weapon, shield, or torch, you need to equip the staff in one hand. To do this, you must select spells at a site of grace.
Once you have equipped the spells, they will now be displayed in your quick selection.
If you have not found any spells by this time: Don’t worry. The first source for spells is not far from the starting point of the game.
The first teacher for spells hides in a dungeon
This is how you find the first teacher for spells: You need to find the ruins of a waypoint located east of the tutorial dungeon, on the other side of the lake.
Watch out for the enemies there. They are plant monsters that attack you with poison attacks. A particularly large specimen also has a magical ranged attack, for which it does not necessarily need to see you.
So it is better to try to keep your distance from them. The entrance you are looking for is in the center of the ruins. There you will encounter an optional mini-boss. He wears a strange, oval-shaped helmet and attacks you with a heavy mace.
- Stay close to his feet and block his attacks. When he briefly stops to initiate a heavy attack, you should take that time to strike yourself.
- The monster is surprisingly fast, so be careful and keep an eye on your stamina so you are not left vulnerable after being hit.
- The boss is melee-focused and his attack pattern is relatively easy to predict. So try to memorize his attacks, and you should have no major problems with him.
Once you have defeated the boss, you will receive his helmet and can rest at the site of grace. Then open the locked door in the boss room, and behind it, you will find the sorceress Sellen. If you agree to her request, she will become a spell vendor from now on.
At first, you will receive relatively simple spells, and as you progress further, you can unlock more powerful spells of various kinds from her.
This is why spells are useful in Elden Ring:
- Firstly, spells are powerful weapons against most enemies.
- A significant advantage is the flexibility that you gain as you collect more spells over time.
- Most spells also have a long range, allowing you to keep enemies at a distance.
- Spells are not only offensive; they can also have supportive effects or enhance your normal weapons with various effects.
Of course, there are also disadvantages. To build an effective spell build, you first need to have useful spells. Additionally, you will need to level up your mind and intelligence attributes to use the best spells and have enough FP to apply them.
So, if you are more into physical weapons and only want to use spells in addition, it’s better to wait until later in the game when the other attributes have been sufficiently increased.
Here you will also find a video from the YouTube channel Garden of Eyes, which shows you all the spells available in Elden Ring:
However, if you are a true fan of magic and spells and definitely want to use them, you will have to settle for a limited selection of spells at the beginning. Nevertheless, you can effectively play with spells even early on.
Later in the game, you will eventually find an enormous selection. For example, there is specialized sword and bow magic that can almost be used as a substitute for conventional weapons, as long as you have enough FP and FP potions.
However, there are also powerful weapons that combine well with a magic build. The Moonveil Katana is one such example and is considered one of the most powerful weapons in the game.
Are you already playing as a mage in Elden Ring? Or are you more for physical confrontations? Perhaps you also like the hybrid option, where you combine both play styles?
If you are looking for more tips to start in Elden Ring, feel free to check out our beginner’s guide with 12 tips and tricks.
