Why Is Elden Ring So Hard Is It Poor Design Or Intentional Challenge

Elden Ring has redefined modern action RPGs with its vast open world, deep lore, and uncompromising combat. Yet one question echoes across forums, social media, and player conversations: Why is Elden Ring so hard? Is this difficulty a result of flawed game design, or is it deliberately crafted to test players’ resolve? The answer lies not in binaries but in understanding FromSoftware’s philosophy, player psychology, and the fine line between frustration and fulfillment.

The game’s steep learning curve doesn’t stem from arbitrary cruelty. Instead, it reflects a design ethos rooted in mastery, consequence, and discovery. Unlike many mainstream titles that prioritize accessibility, Elden Ring demands patience, observation, and resilience. But does that make it poorly designed? Or is its challenge precisely what gives it meaning?

The Philosophy Behind the Difficulty

FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Bloodborne, operates under a distinct design principle: growth through failure. In their games, death isn’t a punishment—it’s feedback. Each defeat teaches mechanics, enemy patterns, and environmental hazards. This loop of trial, error, and adaptation forms the core of the experience.

Masumi Ishikawa, a senior game designer at FromSoftware, once stated:

“Difficulty in our games isn’t about making things unfair. It’s about creating moments where overcoming an obstacle feels earned. If victory comes too easily, it loses weight.” — Masumi Ishikawa, FromSoftware Designer

This mindset shapes Elden Ring’s structure. Bosses like Margit, the Fell Omen, or Malenia, Blade of Miquella aren’t just obstacles—they’re milestones. Their designs incorporate telegraphed attacks, rhythm-based combat, and phases that evolve as health depletes. Success requires pattern recognition, timing, and composure under pressure.

The game rarely holds your hand. There are no quest markers guiding you to objectives. Enemies ambush from fog gates without warning. Healing is limited and strategic. These elements aren’t oversights; they’re deliberate choices meant to foster immersion and agency.

Intentional Design vs. Poor Accessibility

Critics often conflate difficulty with poor design, especially when accessibility features are lacking. While Elden Ring offers some quality-of-life improvements—like mounted combat and fast travel—many players still find its systems opaque or unforgiving.

Consider the stamina system. Every dodge, attack, block, and sprint consumes stamina. Misjudging a roll by half a second can mean death. To newcomers, this may feel punishing. But within the game’s logic, stamina management is central to tactical decision-making. It forces players to think before acting, turning combat into a high-stakes dance.

Still, the absence of adjustable difficulty settings raises valid concerns. Unlike games such as God of War (2018) or Horizon Zero Dawn, which offer multiple difficulty tiers, Elden Ring presents a single, rigid challenge level. This exclusivity alienates players who might otherwise appreciate its world and story but lack the time or physical ability to master its mechanics.

Tip: Use the \"Spirit Calling Bell\" to summon helpful NPCs for boss fights. Some bosses have permanent summons available via specific items or locations.

A Closer Look at Game Systems

Several interconnected systems contribute to Elden Ring’s perceived difficulty:

• Minimal hand-holding: No objective markers, vague quest prompts, and sparse NPC guidance force players to explore and interpret clues.
• Punishing enemy placement: Traps, ambushes, and multi-enemy encounters require careful navigation.
• High-risk exploration: Venturing into uncharted areas often leads to lethal surprises, reinforcing cautious progression.
• Complex stat scaling: Understanding how weapon types scale with attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence) takes research and experimentation.
• Steep penalty for mistakes: One misstep in platforming or combat can lead to significant backtracking due to loss of runes (currency).

These systems work together to create a cohesive challenge ecosystem. Removing one—say, eliminating rune loss—would disrupt the tension that defines the experience. However, better tutorials or optional hints could ease entry without compromising integrity.

Player Experience: A Mini Case Study

Take the example of Alex, a casual gamer who primarily plays narrative-driven adventures. After hearing praise for Elden Ring’s world-building, he purchased the game expecting something akin to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Within 30 minutes, he was killed repeatedly by a pack of wolves in Limgrave. Frustrated, he quit.

Two months later, a friend introduced him to key mechanics: lock-on targeting, posture damage, and FP (Focus Points) management. Re-entering the game with this knowledge transformed his experience. He began to recognize attack tells, use ash summons strategically, and approach dungeons methodically. By the time he defeated Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, he felt a sense of accomplishment unlike any other game.

His journey illustrates a critical point: much of Elden Ring’s difficulty isn’t inherent to the code, but to the player’s familiarity with its language. Once the rules are understood, the challenge shifts from confusion to execution.

Design Strengths That Enable the Challenge

Elden Ring’s difficulty works because it’s supported by robust underlying systems. Here’s how intentional design enables its demanding nature:

Feature	How It Supports Challenge	Why It Works
Telegraphed Attacks	Enemies show clear visual cues before strikes	Players can learn and react; fairness is maintained
Checkpoints (Sites of Grace)	Save points also respawn enemies	Encourages repeated attempts with improved strategy
Weapon Diversity	Huge variety of weapons with unique movesets	Allows players to adapt build to their playstyle
Open World Structure	Non-linear progression; optional bosses	Players can grind, explore, or return stronger
Minimal HUD	Limited UI elements keep immersion high	Forces attention on environment and enemy behavior

This balance ensures that while the game is hard, it rarely feels cheap. When players die, they usually recognize their mistake—whether it was mistiming a dodge, ignoring an environmental hazard, or underestimating a combo.

Common Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them

Many players struggle not because they lack skill, but because they misunderstand the game’s expectations. Below is a checklist of common issues and solutions:

Checklist: Overcoming Early Game Struggles

1. Master the dodge roll and understand invincibility frames (i-frames).
2. Use a shield early on to practice blocking and parrying.
3. Upgrade your weapon at a Smithing Table before tackling tough enemies.
4. Explore widely—better gear and summons are often found off the main path.
5. Don’t ignore Spirit Ashes; they provide invaluable support in boss fights.
6. Learn which stats benefit your chosen weapon type (e.g., Dexterity for curved swords).
7. Rest at Sites of Grace to reset enemy positions if overwhelmed.

Step-by-Step: Building Your First Effective Build

If you're struggling with consistency, follow this structured approach to create a viable early-to-mid game build:

1. Choose a starting class: “Warrior” or “Confessor” offer balanced stats and useful starting gear.
2. Focus on one primary stat: For melee, prioritize Vigor (health) and either Strength or Dexterity.
3. Upgrade your weapon: Find a smithing stone vendor (like Dobin the Pig in Limgrave) and upgrade your weapon to +10 as soon as possible.
4. Equip defensive gear: Wear medium armor early for a balance of protection and stamina efficiency.
5. Summon help: Use the “Lone Wolf Ashes” or “Mimic Tear” to distract enemies during tough fights.
6. Manage FP wisely: Cast healing spells (like “Flask of Wondrous Physick”) instead of relying solely on mana-intensive incantations early on.
7. Grind runes if needed: Farm minor enemies or complete side dungeons to boost levels before major bosses.

This process reduces randomness and empowers players with control over their progression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elden Ring harder than Dark Souls?

In terms of raw mechanics, Elden Ring is slightly more forgiving due to mounted combat, wider exploration options, and Spirit Summons. However, its open-ended design means players can accidentally encounter endgame-level enemies early, making initial impressions more chaotic. Overall, the difficulty is comparable but distributed differently.

Can you beat Elden Ring without dying a lot?

It’s unlikely—even experienced players die frequently. The game is designed around repetition and incremental improvement. What changes with skill is not the number of deaths, but the lessons learned from each one.

Does Elden Ring get easier as you progress?

Yes and no. As you gain better gear, higher stats, and improved reflexes, combat becomes more manageable. However, late-game bosses like Malenia or Radahn introduce new mechanics (e.g., scarlet rot, phase shifts) that demand fresh adaptation. The challenge evolves rather than diminishes.

Conclusion: Hardness as a Feature, Not a Flaw

Elden Ring isn’t hard because of poor design—it’s hard because challenge is central to its identity. Its difficulty is not accidental but artful, woven into every aspect of gameplay, narrative, and world design. Yes, it could benefit from more accessibility options, such as difficulty toggles or expanded tutorial content. But removing its core rigor would dilute what makes it special.

The satisfaction of finally landing that perfect riposte against Malenia, or discovering a hidden dungeon after hours of exploration, stems directly from the effort required. In a gaming landscape increasingly focused on convenience, Elden Ring stands as a testament to the value of perseverance.

💬 What was your hardest boss fight in Elden Ring? Share your story, tips, or frustrations in the comments—your experience might help another Tarnished warrior rise.