Elden Ring is already a challenging game by design, but for some of us, that’s not enough. After my third playthrough, I found myself craving a deeper test of skill—something that would push my reflexes, planning, and patience to the absolute limit. That’s when I began experimenting with self-imposed rules. These aren’t cheats or mods—just limitations that completely change how you approach the game.
In this guide, I’ll share 7 self-imposed rules I’ve personally tried to make Elden Ring far more difficult—yet deeply rewarding. Whether you’re a veteran looking to rekindle the thrill or someone chasing the ultimate bragging rights, these challenges will elevate your gameplay.
And yes, even with these rules in place, you may still need to buy Elden Ring runes if you want a fair shot—especially if you’re experimenting with new builds under such restrictions. Let’s dive in.
1. No Spirit Ashes
Spirit Ashes are powerful allies in Elden Ring, especially for solo players. Removing them means every boss fight becomes a pure one-on-one showdown. I tried this during my Faith build run, and the difference was night and day—fights like Godrick or Malenia became intense duels that demanded full focus and perfect timing.
2. No Summoning Other Players
While summoning is a core feature in the game, going full solo adds a whole new level of challenge. I remember facing Mohg, Lord of Blood, completely alone. It took me six hours to learn his patterns, dodge perfectly, and finally land the killing blow. The satisfaction afterward? Totally worth it.
3. Use Only Basic Weapons (No Upgrades)
Limiting yourself to unupgraded or +1 weapons forces you to make every move count. During one playthrough, I stuck with the starting Longsword all the way through, only reinforcing it once. Every encounter became about spacing, timing, and creativity rather than overpowering enemies with damage output.
If you’re attempting this rule and still want to experiment with other gear types, you might want to buy Elden Ring runes to afford equipment quickly—especially if you’re testing different strategies on the fly.
4. No Armor or Minimal Armor
This was one of the most brutal yet strangely fun restrictions I tried. Playing a nearly naked character with only a cloth wrap and no physical resistance meant I had to dodge everything flawlessly. The increased mobility made some battles easier, but any mistake was instantly fatal. It transformed even minor enemies into serious threats.
5. Perma-Death Challenge
You die once? Start over. This is the ultimate test of consistency and mental strength. I attempted this run with a Samurai build and reached Altus Plateau before falling to a random misstep against a Tree Sentinel. Painful, yes—but it taught me the importance of planning and patience.
6. No Healing During Boss Fights
Denying yourself the use of Flasks during boss battles is like playing on hard mode, inside hard mode. I completed this challenge against Starscourge Radahn, and it forced me to learn his attack patterns so thoroughly that I beat him without taking a single hit by the end. It was the most “in-the-zone” I’ve ever felt while gaming.
7. Spend All Runes Immediately or Lose Them
To simulate the risk of high-stakes adventuring, I set a rule to spend all runes within 3 minutes of earning them—otherwise, I had to discard them. No hoarding, no grinding. It made me value every fight and think hard about where my resources went. If you want to stick to this rule but still try out new weapons or spells, using services like Elden Ring currency instant email delivery helped me gear up quickly without breaking the immersion.
These self-imposed challenges aren’t for the faint of heart, but they breathe new life into the Lands Between. By limiting your tools and resources, you’ll find new depth in Elden Ring’s combat, exploration, and story. And if you ever hit a wall, there’s no shame in finding smart ways to stay equipped—whether you buy Elden Ring runes or use Elden Ring currency instant email delivery services to stay competitive with your build choices.
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