In the opening hours of Elden Ring, exploration is both thrilling and overwhelming. With minimal guidance and a vast open world full of hidden secrets, it's easy to miss early-game tools that can make a huge difference. Identifying the right Elden Ring items during this period sets the foundation for a smoother and more enjoyable journey. Whether you're planning a magic-heavy build or a brute-force melee approach, this guide highlights the essential items to seek out—and also touches on smart items to buy Elden Ring for added support.

Flask of Wondrous Physick (Third Church of Marika)

One of the first powerful utility items you can acquire is the Flask of Wondrous Physick. Found at the Third Church of Marika in eastern Limgrave, this flask offers a customizable buff that can be adjusted based on your needs. Early on, pairing it with the Crimson Crystal Tear for HP recovery or the Greenburst Crystal Tear for stamina regeneration provides a huge advantage during difficult encounters.

Spirit Calling Bell (Renna at Church of Elleh)

After acquiring Torrent, return to the Church of Elleh at night to meet Renna. She provides the Spirit Calling Bell, which allows you to summon Spirit Ashes—some of the most helpful Elden Ring items for tough battles. These spirits act as companions, drawing aggro and dealing damage. The Lone Wolf Ashes provided early on are especially useful for beginners.

Map Fragments and Site of Grace Discoveries

While not traditional inventory items, map fragments and Sites of Grace are critical for successful exploration. Limgrave’s map fragments can be found near stone obelisks marked on the blank map. These will orient you to important locations where valuable Elden Ring items are hidden and prepare you for areas that house key NPCs or bosses.

Twinblade (Dragon-Burnt Ruins)

Located underground in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins, the Twinblade is a high-speed, double-hit weapon perfect for Dexterity-based builds. It’s accessible early and provides fast, stylish combat with good scaling—an excellent weapon for players who want to get ahead before investing in upgrades.

Ashes of War – Determination and Flaming Strike

Ashes of War are a core mechanic in Elden Ring’s customization system. Early options like Determination (from a scarab near Agheel Lake) or Flaming Strike (found in the Weeping Peninsula) offer substantial bonuses to physical damage and elemental effects. Equip them to your weapons to experiment with different combat styles before committing to a specific build.

Radagon’s Scarseal (Fort Faroth)

Though risky to obtain early, Radagon’s Scarseal in Caelid boosts Strength significantly, helping you meet weapon stat requirements sooner. It increases damage taken, so it’s a trade-off, but for power-focused builds, this talisman is one of the most impactful Elden Ring items you can acquire before mid-game.

Lantern (Nomadic Merchant)

Exploring caves and catacombs without a light source is dangerous and frustrating. Fortunately, a lantern is available from a merchant at the Liurnia Lakeshore or other Nomadic Merchants for a reasonable number of runes. It frees up your shield hand and makes nighttime or dark-area exploration much more manageable.

Crafting Kit (Merchant Kale)

The Crafting Kit, bought from Merchant Kale at the Church of Elleh, unlocks the item crafting system. This allows you to make arrows, healing items, and status cure consumables with materials found in the wild. It’s one of the most practical items to buy Elden Ring early, giving you more flexibility during long treks without returning to grace points constantly.

Best Early Items to Buy Elden Ring

While most early items can be found through exploration, it’s worth knowing where to efficiently supplement your inventory. If you're short on upgrade materials or need a specific Spirit Ash or talisman for your build, sourcing them through a reliable seller like U4GM saves time and ensures you’re not underpowered for critical early bosses. For newer players, investing in rune packs or basic smithing stones can make weapon scaling and stat progression much less stressful.

The early stages of Elden Ring are where first-time players lay the groundwork for long-term success. By securing the right Elden Ring items—whether through discovery or through smart purchases—you increase your survivability, adaptability, and damage potential. Every item you pick up matters, so explore with curiosity, fight with intent, and never hesitate to seek out the items to buy Elden Ring if you find yourself stuck.