Elden Ring is vast, challenging, and filled with surprises at every corner. Whether you're exploring the Lands Between for the first time or diving into Journey 2, knowing how to move efficiently through the world can save you hours of trial and error. Progress in Elden Ring isn't just about combat skill—it's also about understanding mechanics, optimizing your build, and navigating the open world wisely.

Here are 20 strategies that can help you make meaningful progress without getting stuck or burned out.

1. Prioritize Map Fragments EarlyUnlocking the full world map helps you plan better routes and avoid time-wasting detours. Ride through dangerous zones on Torrent if necessary—grab the fragments and come back later.

2. Focus on Vigor FirstMany new players underestimate how crucial HP is. Getting Vigor to at least 40 early on dramatically improves your survivability and lets you learn bosses with more room for error.

3. Use Spirit Ashes FrequentlyThey’re not just backup—they're key to crowd control and boss phase transitions. Upgrading them early at Roderika’s workshop is a game-changer.

4. Farm Efficiently, Don’t OvergrindRunes are important, but endless grinding can lead to burnout. Instead, identify high-return spots like Mohgwyn Palace or the War-Dead Catacombs to farm smart, not hard.

5. Upgrade Weapons Over Leveling Too SoonA +6 or +9 weapon matters more than +5 character levels. The sooner you upgrade a favorite weapon, the faster you’ll melt through enemies.

6. Learn Guard Counters and Jump AttacksThese mechanics are simple to overlook but are extremely effective for staggering enemies and breaking posture, especially in early-game encounters.

7. Don’t Ignore Ashes of WarSwapping Ashes to suit a situation—like equipping Quickstep or Flaming Strike—can drastically improve your damage output or survivability.

8. Explore Every Minor DungeonEven if a dungeon seems out of the way, it likely contains a key item, upgrade material, or talisman that will prove essential later.

9. Use Buff ConsumablesGreases, aromatics, and boiled crab can give you an edge in tough fights. Keep a stock of them ready for boss encounters.

10. Activate and Use Great RunesMany players forget to equip or activate them with Rune Arcs. Great Runes offer powerful buffs that can tilt a boss fight in your favor.

11. Skip, Then ReturnIf you're stuck, skip that area and explore elsewhere. Elden Ring is nonlinear—use that to your advantage and come back stronger.

12. Take Advantage of Summons (NPC or Player)Summons are more than distractions—they give you room to heal, recover stamina, and reposition. Always use them when available.

13. Keep Your Equipment Load MediumFast rolling and stamina regeneration are vital in nearly every build. Avoid the temptation to stack heavy armor unless it fits your strategy.

14. Memorize Enemy PatternsEvery enemy and boss has patterns. Observing for a few minutes before going all in can prevent repeated deaths and wasted time.

15. Don’t Hoard Smithing StonesUse them. You’ll find more as you explore, and you can even unlock them from vendors later on.

16. Fast Travel OftenDon’t backtrack on foot unnecessarily. Use the map to move between sites of grace and keep your momentum up.

17. Respect Your Build If NeededIf your stats are all over the place, don’t be afraid to respec using a Larval Tear. A focused build clears content much faster.

18. Look for Rune-Boosting TalismansEquipments that enhance Rune gain—like the Gold Scarab—can speed up your farming efforts significantly when used in the right zones.

19. Buy Elden Ring Items That Support Your BuildDon’t waste time hoping for rare drops. Whether it's gear, upgrade materials, or crafting items, knowing where to get them or choosing to buy Elden Ring Items from services like U4GM can help accelerate your progression.

20. Buy Elden Ring Runes If You Want to Experiment MoreSometimes you want to test a new build or prep for NG+ without spending hours farming. For players who value time and flexibility, many turn to services like U4GM to buy Elden Ring Runes safely and quickly, especially when trying multiple builds.

Elden Ring rewards exploration and experimentation, but it also demands smart decision-making. Using strategies like these allows you to keep progressing even when things get tough, and helps you stay focused on the parts of the game you enjoy most. Whether you're chasing every boss kill or simply building your ideal Tarnished, mastering efficiency in the Lands Between makes every run smoother and more rewarding.