10 Best Early-Game Elden Ring Items for Beginners
Elden Ring is a vast and challenging game where your survival depends heavily on the tools you find and how well you use them. For new players stepping into the Lands Between, navigating the early-game phase can be overwhelming. The right items can significantly ease the journey and make combat, exploration, and survival much more manageable. In this guide, we highlight 10 of the best early-game Elden Ring items that offer safety, utility, and power—perfect for beginners seeking a more manageable start.
1. Flask of Crimson Tears
One of the most essential and safe Elden Ring items, the Flask of Crimson Tears restores your health. Found early at the First Step Site of Grace, it is upgradeable throughout your adventure. Prioritize increasing its uses and potency using Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears to ensure reliable healing during tough encounters.
2. Spirit Calling Bell
This item allows players to summon Spirit Ashes—AI allies that can distract enemies and ease boss fights. Given by Renna at the Church of Elleh at night, the Spirit Calling Bell turns solo fights into more manageable encounters, especially for beginners unfamiliar with the game’s complex combat.
3. Lone Wolf Ashes
Received alongside the Spirit Calling Bell, these are among the most reliable early summons. The wolves are fast, can interrupt enemies, and draw aggro, giving new players breathing room during battles. As one of the safest Elden Ring items for crowd control, they can be a game-changer in early skirmishes.
4. Crafting Kit
Available for purchase from the merchant Kale in the Church of Elleh, this kit unlocks the ability to craft helpful items from collected materials. From healing items to throwable pots, crafting provides beginners with strategic flexibility and a safer way to handle different combat situations.
5. Whetstone Knife
This item lets you apply Ashes of War to weapons, allowing for customization of weapon skills and scaling. Found in the Gatefront Ruins, it’s an essential part of adapting your playstyle. Early access to weapon customization makes the Whetstone Knife one of the most important Elden Ring items for developing character builds.
6. Uchigatana
This katana is found in the Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave. It scales well with Dexterity and inflicts bleed damage, making it a powerful early weapon. Beginners who want a fast, effective blade with strong status effects will find the Uchigatana a safe and rewarding choice.
7. Flame, Cleanse Me Incantation
Sold by Brother Corhyn or found later in the game, this incantation removes poison and scarlet rot. Since early areas like Caelid and Swamps are filled with these ailments, carrying this spell adds a layer of safety and saves valuable consumables.
8. Golden Seed
Found at small glowing trees throughout the world, Golden Seeds increase the number of uses of your flasks. Grabbing a few early on boosts your sustainability significantly. They are some of the safest Elden Ring items to prioritize, as they directly increase survivability.
9. Lantern
This quality-of-life item lights up dark areas and frees up your shield hand. Purchased from the Nomadic Merchant near Liurnia of the Lakes, it is a must-have for safe exploration of caves and dungeons. New players often overlook it but quickly realize its value when navigating pitch-black tunnels.
10. Beast Crest Heater Shield
Located in a chest at the back of a carriage near the Gatefront Ruins, this shield offers 100% physical block, making it one of the best shields you can get early on. It’s lightweight and offers excellent defense, making it ideal for beginners learning to block and counter effectively.
Choosing the right gear early in Elden Ring can make a dramatic difference in your experience. These ten safe Elden Ring items offer a mix of healing, protection, damage, and utility to help you build a strong foundation. Remember, exploration and experimentation are part of the journey, but starting with these trusted tools can give you a much-needed edge as you face the many challenges ahead.