Controls & UI — Elden Ring Guide
Mastering Elden Ring's controls and understanding its User Interface (UI) is fundamental to your survival and success in the Lands Between. The game features a complex control scheme that allows for deep combat customization and exploration, while the UI provides vital information at a glance.
The default control scheme is designed for a gamepad, with specific mappings for PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Key actions include:
- Movement: Left Analog Stick.
- Camera: Right Analog Stick.
- Action Button (Attack/Interact): Right Trigger (RT/R2).
- Heavy Attack: Hold Right Trigger (RT/R2).
- Guard: Left Trigger (LT/L2).
- Jump: A button (X/Cross).
- Dodge Roll: B button (Circle/B).
- Use Item: Y button (Triangle/Y).
- Equip Item (Quick Slots): D-pad Up/Down.
- Weapon Art/Skill: Left Trigger (LT/L2) + Right Trigger (RT/R2).
- Lock-On: Right Analog Stick click (RS/R3).
The UI provides critical information during gameplay:
- Health Bar: Located at the top left, indicates your current HP.
- Stamina Bar: Below the health bar, governs actions like attacking, dodging, and sprinting.
- FP Bar: Below the stamina bar, used for casting spells and using Weapon Arts.
- Equipped Items: Bottom left shows your currently equipped weapons, shield, and spells/skills.
- Status Effects: Icons appear near your health bar indicating active buffs or debuffs (e.g., poison, bleed buildup).
- Minimap: Top right corner, shows your immediate surroundings, Sites of Grace, and discovered points of interest.
- Target Lock: When locked onto an enemy, a reticle appears around them, indicating their health and targeting focus.
Key UI Elements to Monitor:
| Element | Location | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Health Bar (HP) | Top Left | Crucial for survival. Depletion leads to death. |
| Stamina Bar | Below HP | Governs all combat actions. Manage carefully to avoid being defenseless. |
| FP Bar | Below Stamina | Essential for magic users and those relying on Weapon Arts. |
| Minimap | Top Right | Aids navigation and awareness of surroundings. |
| Status Icons | Near HP Bar | Alerts to dangerous effects like poison or bleed. |
Customization options in the game's menu allow you to rebind controls (on PC and some console configurations) and adjust UI elements like the minimap display and HUD opacity. Understanding these controls and UI elements is not just about playing the game; it's about developing the reflexes and awareness necessary to overcome the formidable challenges Elden Ring presents.