Elden Ring: Mount Combat Explained

Elden Ring it is FromSoftware's version of the "Open Field" genre, which blended seamlessly with their tried and true Soulslike playstyle, are known and loved by their fans. Since the Elden Ring's The Lands Between world is so much more extensive than its previous games, you can traverse areas on your trusty Spectral Steed, Torrent.

While we're not sure if Torrent is the only mount you'll have access to in the Elden Ring, that Torrent has a proper name and a summoning whistle indicates that there will be more mounts in the game. But speculation aside, Torrent feels great in the Elden Ring and offers plenty of fascinating ways to tackle the open world.

Note: The information provided below is based on the Elden Ring network test, which was conducted in November. The finished product could change a few things or even offer different assemblies.

The basics

Your trusty spectral steed, Torrent, can be summoned in an instant within the open areas of the Elden Ring, allowing you to cover great distances quickly while facing formidable enemies along the way. Also, Torrent is a great way to get to places that are not possible on foot. Torrent offers many new mechanics, which can be difficult to master at first. But, in the style of FromSoftware, once you understand the feel and systems of the game in a mount, you will fall in love with it.

When using Torrent, it is important to note that you cannot block incoming attacks and lose access to some items. Additionally, you will also have to worry about their health alongside your own when engaging in combat while in Torrent. Not only is Torrent a companion of yours, but the Spectral Steed is an essential part of the Elden Ring tour, combat, and exploration, meaning you must take care of it and defend it with your life.

Combat encounters

In The Lands Between, you'll encounter a variety of enemies as you travel through its vast open fields, including knights, spontaneous boss encounters, and many other beasts that can appear at different times of the day. And while Torrent is not a requirement to take on any of the enemies you encounter, it will certainly give you better odds if you resort to the Spectral Steed.

Mount's combat is responsive, engaging, and some of the most exciting parts we experienced in the Elden Ring Network Test. Combine it with massive boss encounters and you have some of the best horse combat we've seen in a long time. However, it can take some getting used to, which we'll try to tackle with this guide.

Mounted combat controls

When in a mount, combat encounters are handled differently in the Elden Ring and can feel a bit out of place at first for those who don't anticipate it. You can't block incoming attacks to begin with, and you have to jump or run to evade them completely. Additionally, it now emits both bumper and trigger attacks on its controller.

What this control scheme accomplishes is allowing you to properly queue your attacks along with your enemy's positioning, rather than relying on the game to change stance for you or being forced to circle back towards the enemy to put them on your side. "dominant". .

For example, if you press R2 / RT, it will perform a strong attack on the right side of Torrent. But conversely, if you press L2 / LT, it will send a strong attack to Torrent's left, hitting that pesky enemy that perhaps you didn't know you could hit unless you turned around again. The same rules apply to light attacks linked via L1 / LB and R1 / RB bumpers, respectively.

How to heal your mount

Fighting a boss on a hill in the Elden Ring

As mentioned above, when engaging in combat encounters in Torrent, you will have to keep up with healing yourself and the Spectral Steed. However, the same rules do not apply, as swallowing the contents of the Crimson Tear vial will have no effect on Torrent's healing.

However, the good news is that you can create a consumable to feed Torrent, which will increase his health in no time. To heal Torrent, you must have Rowa Raisins, which you can create with a Rowa Fruit by accessing the crafting menu. Rowa Fruit is found in The Lands Between and is relatively common to find in most areas.

We suspect there will be more ways to heal Torrent in the full Elden Ring release but as of now, Rowa Rasins' creation is the only confirmed way to do it. Additionally, you can cast some spells while in Torrent, presumably allowing you to use healing spells to heal the spectral steed.

How to revive your mount

Ride Torrent into an encounter with a Dragon boss in the Elden Ring

In the unfortunate event that Torrent falls in battle, you can revive him if you have a Flask of Crimson Tears to spare. However, if you don't currently own one, you won't be able to bring Torrent back unless you can restore your Flasks, rest in a Place of Grace, or also fall in combat.

Fortunately, if Torrent dies, he won't be gone forever, proving how important the Spectral Steed is to world exploration, history, and more. Keeping Torrent alive will be a daunting task for many at first, but after getting over the slight learning curve, you'll face formidable enemies without breaking a sweat as you ride through the night, cutting everything in your way.

Mounting limitations

While riding your mount in combat is an exciting experience, you can't always rely on it to get the job done. And, in some cases, it's not even possible to summon Torrent, allowing you to tackle the situation the old-fashioned way. However, these limitations are for good reason, and they also make you appreciate Torrent more, which you should always do.

You cannot summon Torrent in legacy dungeons, mini dungeons, catacombs, and during online sessions (both PvE and PvP). While it is unfortunate, it makes sense in terms of balance and even for the benefit of the player. Torrent is poorly handled in tight and cramped areas and can be a problem for enemies on foot, especially invaders. However, we would be lying if we said we don't want a PvP area with mount combat in the Elden Ring.

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