I just completed my first run on Elden Ring tonight.
315 hours played, level 195. Confessor. My primary combat stats were Dex/Faith with about a 60/60 in each.
I played the game 100% blind and avoided all discussion and videos about the game. I also played on Xbox One, and since I don't subscribe to Gamepass or Live Gold I played without the ability to see messages or bloodstains, and lacked the ability to help others or get invaded by players.
In short, the game is just amazing, and I was still discovering whole new regions right up until the very end. And I know for a fact there's still more to discover in future playthroughs because I avoided certain quests/allegiences in the name of roleplaying, and there were still several inaccessible areas that I suspect are directly unlocked/related to these allegiances.
A simple Flail carried me through the first third of the game. I kept it maxed out as best as could as I progressed, and almost exclusively used the Wild Swings art for massive blood loss and freeze buildup (with a certain whetstone). Wild Swings was the ultimate boss killer during this period, just laying waste to everything.
The Winged Scythe carried me through the rest of the game, and it was a fantastic Faith/Dex weapon, especially because of how the skills allows me to leap forward toward mobile or aggressive enemies from a distance.
I also used Vyke's spear later on to deal with birds, best solution I had for them. And started relying on the Godslayer sword during a few endgame fights where other weapons just weren't curring it, most notably that horrendous bitch, Malenia.
The hardest boss in the game for me, BY FAR, was Malenia. I was stuck on her for a solid week while still exploring and leveling up along the way in an effort to match her. And oh boy did that pay off, when I managed to find an item nearby that made a huge difference in my survivability during that fight.
My favorite Spirit summon was Headless Luhtel, and I used him almost exclusively during all boss fights. He was my first legendary Spirit and he was one hell of a tank during almost every encounter. I didn't use him for Malenia though, relying instead on the Avionette Soldiers because they're insane and do a much better job of helping me break poise. The drawback was adding another body to a fight which actually helps her, but the payoff was that Headless Luhtel can't hold her attention like them.
I'm on the fence about starting a new character or playing NG+. I would love to try a drastically new and different build, but I feel a bit overwhelmed having to farm all the same talisman and weapons again.
This game surprised me time and time again, and I was fully enraptured since the start.
