Elden Ring, the sprawling action RPG from FromSoftware, has captivated players with its intricate world and tough combat. One of the most important elements to master as you explore the Lands Between is managing your inventory. With so many items to pick up, weapons to choose from, and armor to equip, it can quickly become overwhelming. Here are 17 essential tips to help you streamline your inventory management, giving you the edge as you navigate this challenging world.

1. Organize Your Inventory Regularly

It's easy to collect a vast amount of items in Elden Ring, but as your inventory fills up, it becomes harder to find what you need in a pinch. Set aside time to regularly go through your items, discard duplicates, and keep only the most essential gear. This simple practice can save you time and frustration when you're gearing up for a tough battle.

2. Prioritize Key Consumables

In Elden Ring, consumable items like healing flasks and buffs are your lifeline in combat. Always prioritize keeping a stock of healing items and status-effect cures. Don’t let your consumables run low—especially when you're deep in a dungeon or exploring a challenging area.

3. Use the Item Menu Efficiently

The item menu is vast, and navigating through it can take time. To speed up your gear changes mid-combat, use the quick item slots. Assign your most frequently used items to these slots, so you can access them with a single button press, without wasting precious moments.

4. Manage Weapon Loadouts

Weapon variety is crucial in Elden Ring, but carrying too many weapons can slow you down. Focus on keeping a primary weapon for general use and a secondary weapon for specific situations. Keep a few specialty weapons for bosses or tough enemies, but avoid carrying too many different ones to avoid clutter.

5. Know When to Upgrade and When to Drop

Upgrading weapons and armor is a huge part of progressing through Elden Ring, but sometimes you’ll find yourself holding onto items that you no longer need. If you’ve upgraded a weapon or armor set, there’s no reason to keep the lower-level versions. Drop them for a more efficient use of your inventory space.

6. Use Storage to Your Advantage

The Elden Ring world is vast, and you're going to be picking up a lot of items as you explore. Rather than clogging up your inventory with unnecessary items, use the storage boxes found at safe havens like the Roundtable Hold. Store extra gear, materials, or weapons that you don’t need immediately, but might use later.

7. Farming for Materials? Keep Only What’s Necessary

When you're farming for materials like crafting items or upgrade materials, it can be tempting to grab everything you come across. However, be strategic—only collect what you need for your current upgrade goals, and consider selling or discarding unnecessary materials to keep your inventory manageable.

8. Don’t Overcrowd Your Quick-Equip Menu

Your quick-equip menu is crucial when engaging in Elden Ring's fast-paced combat. Keep it streamlined with your most used gear and items, so you’re not scrambling through a list during intense moments. Limit it to essentials like healing flasks, buffs, and your primary weapon.

9. Sell Unused Gear

It’s easy to fall into the habit of holding on to every weapon, piece of armor, or trinket you come across. However, if you’re not using it and don’t plan on upgrading it, consider selling it to vendors for useful runes. This can free up valuable inventory space for the items you really need.

10. Utilize Weight Management

Carrying too much weight will slow you down and affect your stamina and dodge abilities. Keep an eye on your equipment load and adjust your armor and weapons accordingly. Light or medium builds are often the most versatile, allowing for faster mobility and more effective combat.

11. Don’t Overlook Key Items

Certain key items are essential for progressing in quests or unlocking hidden areas. Keep track of your key items and make sure they’re readily accessible in your inventory. Losing track of important items can halt your progress or lead to unnecessary backtracking.

12. Optimize for Boss Fights

When preparing for a boss fight, make sure your inventory is set up for success. Keep a variety of buffs, healing items, and offensive tools, such as spellcasting items or throwable explosives. It’s also a good idea to keep a specific weapon that you know is particularly effective against that boss.

13. Minimize Backtracking

Planning ahead is key in Elden Ring. If you're heading into a dangerous area, try to anticipate what you’ll need—whether it’s healing, specific tools, or buffs. This will reduce the amount of backtracking you need to do when you inevitably find yourself short on supplies.

14. Use Materials Wisely

While materials can be found all over the world, you don’t need to carry excessive amounts of them. Crafting is an important part of Elden Ring, but managing what you carry can save space. Prioritize carrying materials that are most useful for your current objectives and enemies.

15. Organize Your Armor Sets

In Elden Ring, armor sets play a huge role in your protection, but carrying every possible armor combination can be overwhelming. Instead, organize your armor by weight, type, and purpose. For example, keep a light armor set for speed and a heavy set for tanking damage. You don’t need to carry them all at once, just the ones relevant for your current exploration.

16. Craft on the Go

In many instances, you’ll need to craft items quickly while exploring. Make sure you have your crafting materials organized and within easy reach in your inventory, so you can make what you need when you need it. Don’t wait until you’re at a crucial moment to realize you don’t have the materials for a necessary item.

17. Make Use of Fast Travel

With the vast world of Elden Ring and its many dungeons, you’ll often find yourself far from the places you want to be. Use the fast travel system to quickly return to the Roundtable Hold or other locations where you can store items, reorganize, or buy supplies.

Mastering your inventory in Elden Ring can make all the difference in your exploration and combat effectiveness. By applying these tips, you’ll be able to navigate the world with greater ease and enjoy a smoother experience, whether you’re traversing vast lands or facing off against deadly foes. Keep your gear optimized, your consumables stocked, and your inventory organized for a more efficient journey through the Lands Between.