Elden Ring Co-op: How To Play With Friends
Hey Tarnished! So, you're wondering, can you play Elden Ring co-op? The short answer is a massive YES, and it's a fantastic way to experience the Lands Between, especially if you're finding some of those bosses a bit too much to handle on your own. Elden Ring's co-op system is a bit unique, not like your typical seamless drop-in/drop-out multiplayer you might see in other games. It requires a little setup, but once you're in, it's a blast to explore the vast world and take down those fearsome foes together. We're going to dive deep into how this co-op magic works, so you can team up with your buddies and conquer this epic adventure. Get ready, because the Lands Between are way more fun with a friend by your side!
Setting Up Your Elden Ring Co-op Adventure
Alright guys, let's talk about getting your Elden Ring co-op experience rolling. The first thing you'll need is a Furlcalling Finger Remedy. Think of this as your golden ticket to summoning help, or to be summoned yourself. You can craft these pretty early on if you find the Nomadic Merchant Kale at the Church of Elleh and buy the recipe from him. He’s usually chilling right outside the starting area, so he’s not hard to find. You’ll need two Fingercastings and one Statue of Marika to craft one remedy. The good news is that these crafting materials are scattered all over the place, so you won't have to go too far out of your way to stock up. Once you have a remedy, you'll use it to see summon signs from other players who are looking to join your world. These signs appear as golden effigies on the ground. The player who wants to be summoned will use an item called the Tarnished's Furled Finger to place their summon sign. So, basically, one of you will be the host, and the other will be the summon, and you'll use these items to connect.
Now, here's a crucial detail for Elden Ring co-op: password summoning. This is a lifesaver if you're trying to play with specific friends and don't want to be randomly matched with strangers. You can set a multiplayer password in the System menu under 'Network Settings'. When you and your friend(s) set the same password, only your summon signs will appear for each other. This makes it super easy to ensure you're connecting with the right people. Without a password, you might see summon signs from dozens of players, and it can be a bit of a lucky dip. So, definitely set up that password! It's also important to note that the player who is being summoned can only be summoned into the world of a player who has not yet defeated the area boss. If the area boss is already defeated, the summon sign won't appear for them. This means you can't, for example, summon a friend into a boss arena if you've already beaten that boss. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it keeps the progression focused. So, plan your co-op sessions around areas where you both still have the boss to tackle. The host will also need to be online and have their game set to online play. Make sure your internet connection is stable, guys, because a laggy co-op session is nobody's idea of fun. We'll cover more about the limitations and specifics in the next sections, but for now, get those Furlcalling Finger Remedies and Tarnished's Furled Fingers ready!
How Elden Ring Co-op Differs from Other Games
One of the biggest things you'll notice about Elden Ring co-op, and this is super important to grasp, is that it's not your typical seamless multiplayer. Unlike games where you and your friends can just jump into each other's worlds and wander around freely, Elden Ring's co-op is more session-based. When a player is summoned into another player's world, they become a phantom. Their goal is usually to help the host defeat the current area's boss or overcome a challenging encounter. Once that objective is met, or if the summoned player dies, they are sent back to their own world. You don't just get to hang out and explore the entire game world together indefinitely. This structure is primarily to maintain the game's sense of challenge and isolation, which are core to the Elden Ring experience. The developers, FromSoftware, are known for their challenging single-player games, and they've carried that philosophy into their multiplayer. They want you to feel like you're overcoming a difficult challenge with help, not that the challenge is removed entirely.
Think of it this way: the host is the primary player progressing through the game. The summoned players are temporary allies. This means the summoned player doesn't get to keep any of the story progression or key items they pick up while in the host's world. However, they do keep their runes (the game's currency and experience points) and any regular items they find. This is a clever way to ensure that players who are helping others still feel like they're making some progress for themselves, even if they aren't directly advancing their own character's story. Another key difference is the summoning mechanic itself. As we mentioned, you need the Furlcalling Finger Remedy to see summon signs, and the player wanting to help uses the Tarnished's Furled Finger to place their sign. This deliberate setup prevents random, unwanted invasions or constant co-op interference, allowing players to engage with multiplayer on their own terms. If you want to play co-op, you actively seek it out. If you want to be invaded or invade others, that's a separate mechanic. This focused approach to Elden Ring co-op ensures that players can tailor their experience. Whether you're looking for a bit of backup for a tough boss or want to lend a hand to a fellow Tarnished, the system is designed to be intentional and controlled. It respects the single-player journey while offering a robust cooperative element for those who seek it.
The Mechanics of Elden Ring Co-op: Summoning and Being Summoned
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of Elden Ring co-op: how you actually get into a game together. As we've touched on, it all hinges on those Furlcalling Finger Remedies and Tarnished's Furled Fingers. If you're the host, meaning you want your friends to join your world to help you out, you'll need to be in an area where the boss hasn't been defeated yet. Then, you simply use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy. This will make any summon signs left by other players (who are using the Tarnished's Furled Finger) visible in your vicinity. These signs appear as golden outlines on the ground. You can then interact with a sign to summon that player into your world. Up to two other players can be summoned into your world, so you can have a party of three (you plus two friends) tackling challenges.
Now, if you're the one who wants to help a friend, or just offer your assistance to the wider Elden Ring community, you'll need a Tarnished's Furled Finger. With this item, you can place your summon sign down in an area where you're willing to help. It’s best to place your sign before a tough area or boss, as this is where players are most likely to be looking for assistance. Remember the password system we talked about? This is where it really shines. If you and your friend(s) have the same password set, your summon signs will be prioritized for each other. This dramatically increases the chances of you connecting quickly and without random players popping in. Once you place your sign, you just wait. If a host uses a Furlcalling Finger Remedy and sees your sign (and it matches their password, if set), they can summon you.
When you're summoned, you'll appear in the host's world as a golden phantom. Your health bar will be reduced slightly to balance the numbers, but you'll have access to all your gear and abilities. If you die, you'll be sent back to your own world. If you help the host defeat the boss of the area, you'll be automatically returned to your world, often with a small reward. It's important to remember that you can only be summoned into worlds where the boss of that particular area hasn't been defeated. This is a key mechanic designed to prevent trivializing the game's progression. So, if you and a friend want to co-op through an entire area, make sure you tackle bosses together. The person whose world it is needs to be the one to defeat the boss for the first time in that playthrough. It’s a structured approach, but it works really well for maintaining that classic FromSoftware difficulty while still allowing for some jolly cooperation. Elden Ring co-op is all about these intentional connections, making it a rewarding experience when you finally get that summoning sign to appear and team up with your mates.
Limitations and Challenges in Elden Ring Co-op
While Elden Ring co-op is undeniably awesome, it's not without its quirks and limitations, guys. We've already touched on a couple, but let's really dig into them so you know what to expect. The most significant limitation is the area-based progression. As we've hammered home, you can only summon or be summoned into areas where the boss hasn't been defeated. This means that if you and your friend are playing together and one of you has progressed further than the other, the person behind might not be able to summon the person ahead into their world if they've already beaten the boss. Conversely, the person who has progressed further can't be summoned into the earlier world if they’ve already cleared that particular boss. This can be a real pain if you're trying to play through the whole game with a buddy. You'll need to coordinate your progress carefully, or one of you will have to hold back or re-do certain areas. It often means the summoned player is there primarily to help with a specific boss or a particularly tough legacy dungeon.
Another crucial point is that summoned players have reduced HP. This is a balancing mechanism by FromSoftware to ensure that even with extra help, the host still faces a challenge. It prevents you from just steamrolling through everything with two overpowered buddies. The exact percentage can vary slightly, but expect your health bar to be noticeably shorter when you're a phantom. Furthermore, only the host progresses the story. The summoned player experiences the world and helps out, but they don't gain story progression or unlock new areas for their own character by being in the host's world. They keep runes and items, which is great, but the actual advancement of the journey belongs to the host. This can sometimes lead to a feeling of being a glorified NPC helper rather than an equal partner in exploration. PvP invasions are also a part of the online experience, and sometimes, if you're playing online as a host, you might be invaded by other players looking for a fight. While this isn't strictly a co-op limitation, it's an online interaction that can interrupt your co-op session. To mitigate this, hosts often use a Reduvia Finger to summon friendly players for defense, or simply ensure they have allies before proceeding.
Finally, disconnects can be a major headache. Because it's online multiplayer, a stable internet connection is paramount. If either the host or the summoned player experiences a poor connection, you can be booted back to your respective worlds. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of a tough boss fight. While these limitations might sound daunting, they are also what make Elden Ring co-op feel so earned. Overcoming a difficult boss with friends, despite these mechanics, provides a unique sense of accomplishment. It encourages teamwork and strategic play, making those successful co-op sessions incredibly rewarding. So, be prepared for these challenges, and you'll find the cooperative experience in Elden Ring to be incredibly fulfilling.
Alternative Multiplayer: Duels and Invasions
Beyond the standard Elden Ring co-op, there's a whole other layer of multiplayer action that involves player-versus-player (PvP) combat. If you're feeling particularly confident in your build and want to test your skills against other Tarnished, or maybe you just enjoy a good old-fashioned duel, then Elden Ring has you covered. The primary way to engage in duels is through summon signs. Players who want to engage in friendly combat can use a Duelist's Furled Finger. This item allows them to place a red summon sign on the ground. Other players can then see this sign (without needing a Furlcalling Finger Remedy) and summon the duelist for a one-on-one fight. These duels are usually conducted in designated areas, often near Sites of Grace, and are considered a sport among the community. It's a great way to practice combat mechanics, experiment with different weapons and spells, and learn from other players without the pressure of losing souls or story progression.
Then there are invasions. This is where the game gets a bit more chaotic and, for some, a lot more fun. If you're playing in online mode as a host, you have the potential to be invaded by other players who are using a Bloody Finger. When you're invaded, another player will enter your world as a red phantom, with the sole objective of defeating you. This happens most commonly when a host has already summoned one or two co-op partners, as the game actively encourages invasions when there are more players present, increasing the challenge and excitement. If you're the one looking to invade, you can use a Recusant Finger or a Severed Finger to send yourself into another player's world as an invader. The thrill of an invasion comes from the unpredictability and the fact that you're disrupting someone else's game – or defending your own! It's a cat-and-mouse game where you might be exploring with a friend one moment and fighting off a skilled PvP player the next.
It's important to distinguish these PvP activities from the co-op experience. While co-op is about collaboration and overcoming PvE challenges together, duels and invasions are about direct player conflict. You don't need a password for PvP unless you're arranging specific matches with friends. The items used are also different: Duelist's Furled Finger for duels, Bloody Finger/Recusant Finger for invasions, versus the Tarnished's Furled Finger and Furlcalling Finger Remedy for co-op. Understanding these different multiplayer facets allows you to engage with the online world of Elden Ring in a way that best suits your playstyle. Whether you're seeking a helping hand, a worthy opponent, or the thrill of the hunt, Elden Ring offers a diverse online experience beyond just traditional co-op. So, get out there, Tarnished, and explore all the ways you can interact with others in the Lands Between!
Tips for a Successful Elden Ring Co-op Session
Alright, Tarnished, you're ready to dive into Elden Ring co-op, and you want it to be as smooth and fun as possible. Here are some pro tips to make sure your sessions are epic successes and not frustrating failures. First off, communication is key. Seriously, guys, use your microphones or Discord! Elden Ring doesn't have built-in voice chat, so external communication is vital. Coordinate attacks, call out enemy positions, warn about dangerous spells, and strategize boss fights. Knowing when to heal, when to attack, and when to fall back is crucial, especially with the reduced HP for summoned players. Don't just blindly rush in; talk it out!
Secondly, coordinate your builds and gear. While you can't perfectly synergize without knowing what your friends are bringing, try to have a mix of roles. Maybe one person focuses on heavy melee, another on ranged magic or incantations, and someone else can act as a tank or support. Having too many glass cannons can lead to quick wipes, and having everyone be a tank means you won't do much damage. Discuss your strengths and weaknesses beforehand. Also, be mindful of your level and weapon upgrades. While password summoning helps connect players regardless of level, being drastically different in power can still be an issue. The game does try to scale things down for summoned players, but if one person is using a +10 weapon and the other a +0, it can still feel unbalanced. Try to keep your upgrades somewhat aligned, or at least be aware of the disparity.
Thirdly, know your role. If you're the host, you're the primary target and likely the one who needs to survive. If you're summoned, your primary goal is to assist the host. Don't try to pull aggro from the host unless you're built for it, and definitely don't try to rush ahead and fight bosses solo – that's the host's journey. Manage your Flasks wisely. Both host and summoned players have their own set of Sacred Flasks. Make sure you're not spamming them unnecessarily, as they are limited. If you need healing, try to find a safe moment or communicate your need. Remember that the player who is summoned gets sent back when they die or the boss is defeated. So, if you're the host and you die, your summoned friends will be sent back too. This emphasizes the importance of the host staying alive.
Fourth, understand the boss mechanics together. Before engaging a major boss, if possible, do a quick run-through together, or watch some videos on their attack patterns. Knowing what to expect – like a devastating AoE attack, a flurry of rapid strikes, or a specific phase change – can save your lives. Lastly, be patient and persistent. Elden Ring is a challenging game, and co-op is no exception. You will die. You will fail. Bosses will wipe your party. That's part of the experience! Don't get discouraged. Take breaks, regroup, and try again. The satisfaction of finally overcoming a tough challenge with your friends is one of the most rewarding aspects of Elden Ring co-op. So, grab your buddies, set those passwords, and get ready for some epic adventures in the Lands Between. Happy hunting, Tarnished!
