Best Ways To Improve A Second Elden Ring Playthrough

Summary

Experiment with new Elden Ring weapons to discover unique movesets and skills or shift from melee entirely to ranged or magic builds.
Consult guides to find and defeat every optional boss, complete every side questline, and unlock all endings in the game.
Consider mods like Randomizers to keep Elden Ring fresh and unpredictable.

With FromSoftware's current shift toward multiplayer-driven titles like Elden Ring Nightreign and The Duskbloods, the original Elden Ring, alongside its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, remains a top destination for single-player experiences among the studio's fans. Now over three years old, many have completed Elden Ring multiple times, prompting fans to seek fresh ways to revisit this masterpiece or return after a long break.

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By Vlad Mazanko

Thankfully, Elden Ring is a vast, flexible, and intricate game that meets the diverse needs of soulslike fans across subsequent playthroughs or NG+ cycles. Boasting the widest array of weapons and spells to master, plus an unmatched variety of areas and enemies, it can keep players engaged for hundreds of hours. Below, we'll explore popular ways to shake up another Elden Ring playthrough — whether to ramp up difficulty, boost fun, or simply keep it feeling fresh across multiple runs.

For this list, we'll avoid the toughest challenge runs, as they're not suited for most fans. But for those eager to push their journey to the extreme, options abound — like RL1 runs (Rune Level 1 character only), no-weapon-leveling runs, or no-death, no-hit runs. Have fun!

1 Try And Master New Weapons

The Game Has Much More To Offer Beyond Greatswords

The variety of weapon types in Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree is unmatched for any open-world game, not just within the soulslike genre. Even better, many weapons within the same category boast unique movesets or skills unavailable elsewhere and can be true game-changers. With this in mind, players should experiment with every new weapon they encounter, provided their character stats allow it. Easier said than done, though, with over 400 unique weapons across the game and its expansion.

Nevertheless, even without sampling everything, players can easily find a few new melee weapons to adopt for their next playthrough, ditching their original picks from the first run. With such a wealth of options, it's tough to fully grasp the distinct strengths each Elden Ring armament brings to the table against every specific enemy.

2 Try An Entirely Different Build

Switch From Melee To Ranged Or Magic-Focused Builds

But who says players must stick to a melee approach when revisiting Elden Ring? Sure, most prefer the familiar, weapon-swinging style to crush everything in their path with raw Strength, but Elden Ring's combat offers more facets that can feel refreshing for those willing to experiment.

While pure ranged or magic builds are less common among players and not always as rewarding as hybrid setups blending close- and long-range options, players should consider learning spells and buffs and mastering a few ranged weapons alongside their usual melee go-tos. Some Elden Ring bosses can become almost trivial with a shift to a ranged strategy, especially when unleashing devastating spells from a distance.

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Elden Ring's vast build variety is another key to its enduring appeal, letting players reinvent themselves as entirely new characters each time they roam the Lands Between. Success hinges on understanding each build's strengths and the enemy's tactics — nearly any combination of armaments and spells can work admirably with the right know-how.

3 Find & Defeat Every Optional Boss

A True Boss Rush Experience

Given the sheer vastness and striking verticality of Elden Ring's world, it's no surprise that many players still uncover areas and bosses they missed on their first playthrough. For those who've already beaten the game, revisiting it to hunt down every optional boss can be a rewarding challenge, offering unique encounters and exclusive rewards from each foe.

From small optional dungeons to sprawling hidden zones with memorable bosses who rank among Elden Ring's hardest, finding every optional boss without guidance feels nearly impossible. Fortunately, a wealth of guides exists to help players meticulously plan their second journey through the Lands Between and the Land of Shadows, ensuring no worthy foe is overlooked. For added spice, players can consider leveling up their character by one level for each boss defeated; this keeps them from getting overleveled, maintaining the tension of every new fight.

4 Complete All Side Questlines

Lots Of Quests That Are Easy To Miss Or Fail

Much like the staggering array of unique bosses to track down and defeat in Elden Ring, the game is brimming with optional storylines tied to key NPCs players encounter along the way. True to FromSoftware's cryptic storytelling, it's all too easy to miss or fail these quests without knowing every required step, leaving most players at risk of overlooking some of Elden Ring's finest and most emotional moments.

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That's why pursuing every side quest can be a deeply rewarding experience in its own right. Packed with tragic twists, surprising revelations, and weighty choices that shape each NPC's fate, alongside unique rewards like their weapons and full armor sets, these optional storylines are well worth completing in Elden Ring. If only it were simpler for the average player to follow them without being left to guess how to progress each new quest forward.

5 Unlock A Different Ending

Six Endings With Distinct Conditions

Like any solid RPG, Elden Ring offers multiple endings for players to pursue. Four of them are fairly similar, with subtle differences, while the other two are wholly unique and tougher to unlock. With six endings in total, it's only natural for players to aim for a new one each time they finish the game — not just for the tied achievements but also for the diverse conditions and impact each ending brings.

Without a guide in hand, figuring out the steps for Elden Ring's more complex endings can be tricky when playing blind, but the payoff is well worth it. The Lord of the Frenzied Flame and Age of the Stars endings stand out for their multi-step requirements and significant effort, making them a rewarding challenge for players determined to see every possible conclusion to the Tarnished story.

6 No Summons Run

Players, NPCs, Or Spirit Ashes — No One Is Allowed To Help

A no-summons run offers a fresh challenge in Elden Ring, though it's not as brutal as conquering the game as a Level 1 Tarnished with non-upgraded weapons. Many seasoned FromSoftware fans tackled Elden Ring summon-free on their first go, claiming it's the “intended” way to play. While summons are a core combat mechanic, making that notion debatable, any player is free to take on every boss solo, no help allowed.

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For a no-summons run, players might opt to skip Spirit Ashes entirely and avoid summoning story NPCs or other players, facing every Elden Ring boss single-handedly. This approach shines for a second playthrough, especially if summons were used before, as it injects new tension and excitement into boss fights. Starting fresh rather than relying on a high-level NG+ character only heightens the thrill.

7 Try Randomizer Mods (PC Only)

Or Any Other Mods Available

Like any other popular PC game, Elden Ring's modding community thrives, offering options for every taste. Without diving too deeply into the full scope of available mods, players are especially encouraged to try the most popular Randomizer mods for subsequent runs. These stand out as perhaps the best way to shake things up, keeping the experience fresh, exciting, and wholly unpredictable.

Elden Ring Randomizer mods reshuffle the locations of every boss and item, preventing players from simply charging through the Lands Between to grab everything they need for their build. Some mods take it further, even adding Diablo-style randomized loot or teleporting players between regions at random, demanding on-the-fly adaptation.

Naturally, Elden Ring's modding scene offers much more beyond Randomizers, and players should feel free to explore it all. For example, numerous mods expand the weapon roster, introduce new skills, or enhance movesets, which is perfect for those seeking fresh builds or combat variety.

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