Elden Ring: Understanding the Complexities of Summoning Friends
If you are a fan of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, you have probably heard of Elden Ring, the upcoming action role-playing video game created by FromSoftware and co-authored by George R. R. Martin. The game’s trailer showcased stunning landscapes, haunting music, and an intriguing story, but one of its most exciting features is the ability to summon friends to help you in your battles. However, summoning friends in Elden Ring is a complex system that requires some understanding to use effectively. In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about summoning friends in Elden Ring.
What Is Summoning Friends in Elden Ring?
If you have played previous FromSoftware games, you know that they are notoriously difficult, and sometimes you need all the help you can get. In Elden Ring, you can summon friends to help you in your journey. These friends can come in the form of online players or NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) that you have met during your adventure. When you summon a friend, they will appear in your game, and you will be able to fight enemies and bosses together. However, summoning friends is not as easy as it sounds.
How to Summon Friends in Elden Ring
To summon friends in Elden Ring, you need to find and use summon signs. Summon signs are glowing symbols on the ground that indicate that a friend is available for summoning. There are two types of summon signs: white and gold. White signs are for NPCs, while gold signs are for online players. To use a summon sign, you need to be in human form (not undead) and have an Ember in your inventory. Embers are consumable items that restore your human form and allow you to summon friends.
When you find a summon sign, approach it and interact with it. This will bring up a list of available friends that you can summon. If you are playing offline, you will only see NPC summon signs. If you are playing online, you will see both NPC and player summon signs. Choose the friend you want to summon and confirm your selection. If everything goes well, your friend will appear in your game, and you can proceed together.
However, summoning friends is not always guaranteed, and there are several factors that can prevent it from happening.
Limitations and Restrictions on Summoning Friends
Summoning friends in Elden Ring has several limitations and restrictions that you need to be aware of. Firstly, you can only summon friends in areas where the boss is still alive. Once you defeat the boss, you can no longer summon friends in that area. This limitation is to prevent players from summoning friends and trivializing the game’s difficulty.
Secondly, there is a level range for summoning friends. If your friend’s level is too high or too low compared to yours, you will not be able to summon them. The level range is calculated based on the host’s level, and it is approximately +/- 20% of the host’s level. This limitation is to ensure that players are not carried through the game by high-level friends.
Thirdly, there is also a time limit on summoning friends. When you summon a friend, they will only remain in your game for a limited time, usually around five minutes. If you cannot defeat the boss or reach your objective within that time, your friend will disappear, and you will have to try again.
Lastly, summoning friends can also increase the difficulty of the game. When you summon a friend, the enemies and bosses will have more health and damage output to compensate for the extra player. This increase in difficulty is to balance the advantage of having an ally.
Conclusion
Summoning friends in Elden Ring can be a powerful tool in your arsenal, but it also requires some knowledge and strategy to use effectively. Make sure you understand the limitations and restrictions of summoning friends and choose the right moment and friend for the job. With a little teamwork and coordination, you can overcome any challenge that Elden Ring throws your way.
FAQs
1. Can I summon friends in Elden Ring offline?
Yes, you can summon NPC friends even if you are playing offline. However, you will not be able to summon online players.
2. Can I summon more than one friend at a time?
No, you can only summon one friend at a time in Elden Ring.
3. How do I know if my friend is still in my game?
Your friend’s health bar and name will appear on your HUD (Heads-Up Display) when they are in your game. You can also see their character model and movements.
4. Can I summon friends in PvP (Player versus Player) areas?
No, you cannot summon friends in PvP areas. However, you can invade other players’ games and fight them.
5. How do I become human in Elden Ring?
You need to use an Ember to become human in Elden Ring. Embers can be found throughout the game world, or you can buy them from certain NPCs.
