Multiplayer in Elden Ring can be a bit confusing, especially if you are new to games from From Software. If you are trying out a game from this genre for the first time, or simply want to know more about it, here’s an Elden Ring Multiplayer explainer guide that gives you an idea about how PvP, Co-op & Invasions work and how to play with friends.
How Does Elden Ring Multiplayer Work?
There are three categories of multiplayer in Elden Ring – Competitive, Cooperative, and Invasion. You can play with friends or you can work together with/against strangers. To summon or get summoned for boss fights, you need to use summon signs.
Elden Ring Co-op with Friends (Multiplayer Guide)
If you prefer to take down enemies with allies, you will need to summon them and for that, you require items. There are various multiplayer items and the ones related to co-op are Tarnished’s Furled Finger and Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
How does Summoning Work?
With Tarnished’s Furled Finger, you can announce to the world that you want to be summoned. And with Furlcalling Finger Remedy, you will be able to see multiplayer signs of players that want to be summoned. Interact with the sign you see on the ground, and then you can summon that player into your world to get their help. This can be very helpful if you are unable to beat a certain boss and need extra assistance.
The Small Golden Effigy will send a cooperative sign to the summoning pool.
In simple terms, it’s like the summoner is asking for help, and the one who is summoned, jumps in to help you. You can also head over to the worlds of other players to be the rescuer and help them in their objective.
Does Elden Ring get harder when you summon?
Unfortunately yes. The difficulty of bosses gets scaled up when you bring along an ally.
Also Read | How Many Players in Co-op?
Elden Ring Competitive Multiplayer (PvP)
While co-op multiplayer will bring in allies, competitive multiplayer will let you jump into a different world to fight against them. The multiplayer item you will need for PvP is the Duelist’s Furled Finger. Your mission in this will be to beat the Host of Fingers of the world to which you are summoned. The Furlcalling Finger Remedy will also reveal competitive summon signs that you can use. The Small Red Effigy will send a competitive sign to the summoning pool as well.
Elden Ring Invasion System – How to Invade Other Players?
Use the Bloody Finger multiplayer item to attempt an invasion of another player’s world. If the invasion is successful, you need to defeat the Host of Fingers. You can use Finger Phantoms as items during invasion multiplayer games. Plus, you can also attempt to invade the same world you have invaded before.
With the Taunter’s Tongue, you can call for others to invade your world. You can get invaded without a Furled Finger cooperator present. It will also reduce the duration of re-invasion and let a second invader join in.
If you need help, you can use the White Cipher Ring which will automatically request a hunter from another world to help you out when you are invaded. Similarly, with the Blue Cipher Ring, the wearer becomes “ready” to answer if someone asks for help in another world.
Can you Avoid Multiplayer in Elden Ring?
To avoid invasions in Elden Ring, you need to play offline. Head to Main Menu > System > Network > Default Behavior > Play Offline. Do note that NPC invasions that are part of the solo experience, cannot be turned off. But you can choose to run away from them. Another way to prevent being invaded is to avoid co-op at all times and only play solo. This way, you won’t summon anyone and won’t be summoned, while still being connected to the internet.
Can you play the entire Elden Ring game coop?
While there’s no such option in the vanilla game, the Seamless co-op mod allows you to play the entire game with friends.
Elden Ring’s Multiplayer is very interesting and unlike regular games where you have to invite friends into a friend list and add them into your squad. This surely adds to the immersion and challenge of the game, something From Software games’ players are very well versed with.
