I appear to be more interested in game strategies that promote learning and study than others.
System elements in games that encourage player research and the discovery of previously unidentified features usually pique my attention.
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U4GM - 8 Methods Elden Ring Uses for Item Crafting Compared to Other Souls Games
FromSoftware has always been known for creating atmospheric, punishing, and intricately detailed games. But with Elden Ring, the developers took a bold step by introducing a full-fledged crafting system—something previous Souls games only touched on in minimal ways. For long-time fans of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, this shift felt both refreshing and deeply strategic.
Drawing from my own time playing every Souls title and investing hundreds of hours into Elden Ring, here are eight ways this game redefines item crafting compared to its predecessors—while still keeping that signature sense of challenge. Whether you’re stockpiling Elden Ring items or looking to buy Elden Ring runes to help fuel your builds, understanding the depth of crafting in Elden Ring gives you a real tactical edge.
1. Crafting Anywhere, Anytime
Unlike earlier Souls games, where item customization was strictly limited to specific blacksmiths or NPCs, Elden Ring allows crafting on the fly—as long as you're not in combat. This opens up a world of flexibility. Whether you’re low on arrows deep in a dungeon or need a cure for rot in Caelid, you can craft exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.
In contrast, Dark Souls games required constant trips back to Firelink Shrine or Majula, often turning small mistakes into major backtracking. This mobile crafting in Elden Ring is a game-changer.
2. Diverse Range of Elden Ring Items
Crafting isn't just for healing or buffing. In Elden Ring, you can make firebombs, sleep arrows, poison pots, perfumes, and even status-inflicting darts. This wide range of Elden Ring items expands tactical options in both PvE and PvP.
I once crafted Sleepbone Arrows before heading into a particularly tough enemy camp. Putting half of them to sleep before even engaging saved me from being overwhelmed and completely changed the outcome.
3. Cookbooks Instead of Skill Trees
Crafting in Elden Ring is unlocked progressively via Cookbooks, which are found, bought, or looted throughout the world. This system replaces the need for crafting skill trees or NPC trainers, offering a more exploratory and immersive route.
In older Souls games, crafting was tied to upgrade paths and blacksmiths. While functional, it didn’t evolve beyond weapon tuning. In Elden Ring, cookbooks feel like hidden treasure maps unlocking power through knowledge.
4. Separation from Main Stats
Crafting doesn’t rely on any character stats like Intelligence or Faith. This means all players—regardless of build—can benefit from the system equally. It democratizes utility and allows even pure melee builds to experiment with ranged and support items.
In Dark Souls, pyromancy or miracle-based items required dedicated stat investment. Here, crafting bridges that gap. It’s one of the reasons I stopped having to respec just to access certain tools mid-game.
5. Integration with Resource Farming
Crafting in Elden Ring encourages players to engage with the environment. Crafting ingredients like Herba, Erdleaf Flowers, and beast bones are scattered throughout the Lands Between, making exploration more rewarding than ever.
In older games, item drops were often enemy-exclusive or tied to vendor inventories. I remember grinding Silver Knights in Anor Londo for hours just to get enough crafting materials. In Elden Ring, that kind of grind can be replaced with smart, intentional exploration—and for those short on time, it's reasonable to buy Elden Ring runes from services like U4GM to trade for essential items or materials.
6. Consumables Built for Specific Foes
Certain crafted items are tailored to counter specific enemy types. For example, Stanching Boluses are excellent against bleed enemies, while Preserving Boluses help you survive rot swamps. This level of specialization is rarely seen in earlier Souls titles, where most consumables were generic or overpriced from vendors.
One of my most memorable fights was against a rot-inflicting boss where I had no Preserving Boluses left. Crafting a few right before the attempt saved the run. It reinforced how preparation through crafting is just as important as your gear and stats.
7. Support for Stealth-Based Playstyles
Crafting isn’t just for damage or defense—many items support stealth, such as Soft Cotton for silent movement or Roped Pots for backline attacks. This adds an RPG depth that’s largely absent in the earlier Souls games, where stealth was never a real option.
After unlocking the crafting recipe for the Sentry's Torch and combining it with sleep pots, I was able to clear out an entire fort without being seen. That kind of tactical flexibility just didn’t exist before Elden Ring.
8. Crafting Enhances Role-Playing Freedom
Finally, Elden Ring’s crafting contributes to its open-world and role-playing freedom. You can build a poison rogue who crafts their own arrows or a battle mage mixing their own explosives. It reinforces the theme that you forge your own path, rather than following rigid class roles.
If you're trying new builds and don’t have the time to farm every crafting material, buying Elden Ring runes from a reliable service like U4GM can help you accelerate progress without breaking immersion or difficulty.
Crafting in Elden Ring is more than a quality-of-life feature—it’s a deeply integrated system that rewards exploration, creativity, and smart planning. Compared to previous Souls titles, it's one of the most meaningful upgrades to player agency and survivability.
Whether you're managing your stash of Elden Ring items, refining your combat strategy, or looking to buy Elden Ring runes to experiment with builds, understanding and utilizing the crafting system is key to mastering the Lands Between.