In Elden Ring there are many unwritten rules that parts of the community insist on. These also exist in PvE, but especially in PvP of the action RPG, some Souls fans get quite upset if one does not follow their code of honor. MeinMMO author Marko tells them: You haven’t understood the game at all.
If you’ve ever taken a peek into the online communities surrounding Elden Ring, you’ve surely stumbled upon countless discussions about the right way to play. And thus also about all sorts of wrong opinions:
Using magic means you are not playing correctly because that is cowardly. Defeating bosses only in co-op means you never really defeated them. And don’t even think about using a cheese strategy!
However, the worst opinion of all is what these people have about PvP invasions. The players who appear as nasty invaders in your game are supposed to behave honorably. If you, as a crimson villain, heal yourself or—God forbid—do not bow respectfully first, you are playing the game wrong. At least according to these people.
To them I say: If I invade your game and you insist on bowing, I am more than happy. Because then I can play the PvP mode in Elden Ring as it’s intended – that is, by coldly and disrespectfully taking you down.
PvP invasions are meant for you to play unfairly!
As players on reddit have already noted, with the great success of Elden Ring came a new trend: a subgroup of players who hate PvP invaders.
In Elden Ring, you can invade the worlds of other players with certain items. You then appear as a crimson phantom. Your goal is as direct and simple as it gets because you must kill the host of the other world.
Unlike in other FromSoftware games, as an invader you can only show up in the worlds of players who are in co-op. With the Lingering Finger Remedy item, you can allow invaders in your world as a solo player, but very few people use this option.
In our video, we briefly explain how this works:
Many people online complain about invaders. They are ‘unfair’ and ruin the enjoyment of the game. The least invaders could do is fight ‘fair’. Here there are strictly defined behavior rules to follow:
- You must not use unfair weapons. The exact definition of unfair weapons is vague – often they are the ones currently considered strong.
- Magic is frowned upon. You may only fight with melee weapons. But not with those that are too good, see point 1.
- You must not heal yourself. If you get hit, well then you were just too bad and cannot recover with a completely common and normal mechanic.
- You must not just start fighting! When encountering your opponent on the battlefield, it is good etiquette to bow first and politely wait for the opponent.
Those who follow these rules are pleasant invaders. It is said that you want to fight against this kind of player in PvP.
But I wonder: What is the point here? I invade your world unsolicited as a crimson invader. I am automatically outnumbered because I mostly encounter opposing teams. And then I’m also supposed to play politely?
Just to remind you: the NPC who teaches you about PvP invasions in Elden Ring most likely killed your maiden and mocks you for it. Moreover, this NPC worships a bloodthirsty sadist and child kidnappers.
Why should a player who imitates this NPC play fairly?
The whole fantasy and purpose behind invasions is that it is fun to be nasty. You are supposed to ruin the fun of a group of warriors. That is explicitly your task as an invader.
Those who want to play by the gentleman’s rules should use the Duelist’s Finger. This item is specifically designed for this purpose in the game: to have fair, balanced PvP duels with like-minded and equally skilled opponents who are also looking for such duels.
As an invader, it’s not my job to treat you fairly or respectfully. It’s my job to kill you, no matter how. And that’s exactly how I will play, because that’s exactly the kind of playstyle the game wants me to demonstrate.
Invasions in Elden Ring are meant to be unfair, just as “Don’t Starve” is meant to make you angry and in “Among Us” you have to lie and betray your friends: these emotions are an explicit part of the fun of the game and are completely calculated and intended.
Getting upset about invaders and calling them unfair party poopers is not insulting, it’s a compliment. Because it shows that I am playing the role exactly as envisioned by the developers.
So feel free to insult me, keep whining that I am unfair, and bow anytime again. It just makes it easier for me to slaughter you with my fun Blood Build – just as FromSoftware intends me to do.
Is it possible to play Elden Ring wrong? – Only if you dictate to others how they should play
This problem in PvP stands as a representative for a much larger problem in the Souls community. The elitist arrogance of a certain part of the fanbase. It is about people who think they understand the game better than the developers themselves; people who get angry when someone dares to play as a mage in co-op – in a game that includes mages and co-op.
A popular discussion around Elden Ring and other FromSoftware games is: Can you play these games wrong? It is not about the exploitation of nasty exploits, but about entirely legitimate and developer-intended ways to play.
We have also addressed this question in a podcast at MeinMMO:
My opinion on this is quite clear: Yes, you can play Elden Ring wrong. But only when you accuse other players of playing the game “wrong”.
Unfortunately, this type of player exists in the community in abundance. They at some point invented a holy code for FromSoftware games that they would love to impose on all players. It is the immortal two words that they believe every “true Souls fan” must follow: “git gud”.
“Git gud” is the most terrible, annoying, absolutely insufferable mentality with which you can play Elden Ring. This dreadful mantra is a distorted exaggeration and means something like “just play better”.
This motto has given countless potential Souls fans a false image of FromSoftware games, possibly driving them away forever. Because you do not have to react better than physically possible to be successful in Elden Ring.
Anyone who cleverly utilizes the countless mechanics in the game can succeed. And that’s what makes the games so good: the difficulty is high, but you can always win in some form. The game provides you with enough possibilities to do so.
The players from the “Git Gud” cult do not see it that way. They believe that quick reactions and ‘honorable’ melee combat are the only correct way to play Elden Ring. For completely inexplicable reasons, they believe they understand Elden Ring better than the developers themselves.
The following things that FromSoftware has painstakingly, intelligently, and cautiously implemented into the game are forbidden for this cult:
- Dozens of spells with exciting advantages and disadvantages
- Weapon talents for every weapon that you can customize to your needs.
- Co-op with real players and NPCs, rewarded with runes, items, and exciting strategies.
- The new stealth mechanic, as well as camouflage items and spells.
- Any throwable items you can craft with the new crafting.
- Invaders acting like devious villains – as intended by the story.
The majority of rewards in the open world are spells, ashes of war, and spirit ashes. If it were up to these purists, they would all be a complete waste of time for players and developers.
And then you read online how these ‘noble purists’ are grinding their teeth on bosses because their pure melee builds do not work flawlessly on every boss. Again and again they get beaten – because they are playing Elden Ring wrong, precisely because they do not want to play the game “wrong”.
The game and the entire design philosophy behind it tells players: exploit all these possibilities! Every unlocked spell is a clear hint with a fence post. Instead, certain players insist that this fence post may only be used for stupidly hitting.
In every mechanic and every bit of game design, there is so much work and so much thought put in that it is heretical not to use them. If you have issues in Elden Ring and feel that a boss or an invader is too unfair, that is your self-created problem.
If you also insist on bringing down other players so that your own misery feels worthwhile in some way, there is only one right answer: git gud.
You can easily do this with our guides, tricks, and tips! You can find a practical overview here:
Elden Ring: All our guides, beginner tips, and builds at a glance
