By offering a limitless amount of ways to build and customize your character,Elden Ringremains impressively faithful to the Souls series. Although this is a delight for many long-time FromSoftware fans, it can be daunting for others! But fear not, because whether you are a veteran or beginner, this guide will offer valuable insight for all.
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At the start of a new save, players will have the choice between 10 starting classes, each with unique backgrounds and starting equipment. In this guide, we will go in-depth on our favorite archer: The Bandit.
Base Stats
To be quite frank, the Bandit may bethemost difficult starting class, aside from the wretch of course. This is due to the fact that the Bandit begins at a measly level 5, and the few stat points he does have mostly go into Arcane for some odd reason.
Intelligence
Bandit Base Stats
What this unfortunately means is that while most other classes could feasibly run straight to the first couple boss fights, the Bandit is going to need some work. Butdon’tlet this discourage you! The Bandit has many perks, and if built correctly can offer some of the mostrewarding, (and overpowered) gameplay in Elden Ring.
Starting Equipment
The Bandit comes equipped with the Long Knife, Buckler, and Short Bow. While none of these items are anything to really gawk at, the Short Bow is easily the star of the show. It should be utilized as much as possible, but unfortunately, arrows are alimitedresource in Elden Ring.
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The bandit armor, while notterrible,should be replaced with almost anything thatisn’tmade for magic-based builds. An easy way to get some better starting armor is from the enemies in front of Stormveil castle.
When creating your character, the Golden Seed is the only keepsake that should really be considered. This is pretty much true for every class in the game, although the stonesword key can be relatively useful if youreallyaren’t keen on choosing the Golden Seed. Generally, though, any other item becomesobsoletepretty early on in the game.
Leveling Up
It ishighlyrecommended that those choosing to play the Bandit should go for astealth-archerbuild, as this is what will make him/her really stand apart from other classes. Because of this, dexterity is going to be themost importantstat for the Bandit. Although, for the first few hours of gameplay it is a good idea to put some points into both Vigor and Endurance. The Bandit can very easily be overwhelmed when multiple enemies charge at the same time, and the ability to be able to run, jump, and shoot all at once will be vital to survival.
Important Gear
Getting more powerful gear should be animmediatepriority when playing as the Bandit. This includes items like bows and armor, but most importantly arrows. Be sure to immediately buy the crafting kit and arrow recipes from the vendor at the Church of Elleh in order to ensure a steady supply of arrows. Keep in mind that there are multiple types of arrows such as fire and poison, and their recipes can be found all across Limgrave.
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For a quick way to get arrows early game, head to the Artist’s shack and farm the nearby wildlife for thin beast bones and feathers. The longbow is another type of bow that will allow for more damage/range per arrow fired, at the cost of fire-rate. This is relatively easy to acquire as it can be purchased from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Round Table Hold. Remember though that the Round Table is only unlocked after making a first attempt at Margit, the Fell Omen in Stormhill.
How To Play A Bandit Class Character
As previously mentioned, playing a stealth/archer build is the most effective way to build the Bandit. This means that it is vital that you agro as few enemies as possible, andalwayskeep your distance. Try your best to manage stamina in order to do things such as jump and shoot at the same time.
There is quite a bit more leeway in how you can play when using a short bow as compared to a longbow, so act accordingly. When using the longbow, look for spots that allow a clear line of fire at the enemies while making it difficult for them to ever reach you.
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