Patch 1.08 for Elden Ring is here and it’s bringing us a great new PvP mode in the Colosseums. PvP has always existed in FromSoftware games, but this new update takes it to a whole new level, with up to six players being able to enter the arena at once, fighting in teams, duels, or a chaotic free-for-all.
With all the control over matchmaking and queues that you’d expect, getting into a match is easy, you just need to know where to go. We’ve got a list of all the Elden Ring Colosseum locations if you haven’t already found them. Once you’re there, coming out on top isn’t easy, so we’ll give you some tips to help you out.
Teamwork makes the dream work – Elden Ring
If you’re a proper beginner when it comes to PvP, you’re better off playing with a team when you start out. If you charge in on your own then more skilled players will wipe the floor with you, and you’ll never learn how to get better.
However, if you play as a team you can hang back a bit and focus on supporting your teammates, finding opportunities to strike and help out while your allies deal the damage. Not only will this make you far more likely to win a match, but it’ll help you learn by watching your teammates duel, and clue you into some tactics you might not have considered.
To play with a team you need to battle in the Limgrave Colosseum with the United Combat ruleset.
Rules and duels – Elden Ring
Once you’ve got your footing, heading into duels is the best way to train your skills, but you won’t have access to them everywhere. Here are the rulesets for each of the three Colosseums:
- Limgrave Colosseum – United Combat (teams) and Combat Ordeal (free-for-fall)
- Leyndell Colosseum – 1v1 Duels only
- Caelid Colosseum – All of the above modes, with the ability to use Spirit Ashes to summon assistants.
Move it, move it – Elden Ring
If there’s one thing everyone knows about Elden Ring, it’s that rolling is how you stay alive. That’s true in PvP as well, but you’ll find other players’ tactics a little more sophisticated than the game’s bosses. Jumping attacks are a favorite right now, with the best being able to carefully time their attack so it lands just as their opponent’s roll finishes.
If you’re a heavy roller, then you’re not going to fare very well in the Colosseum, you need to be extremely mobile, but don’t open yourself up for an attack unless absolutely necessary.
Heal at your peril – Elden Ring
Healing isn’t too difficult in a team battle, as you can hide behind your teammates fairly easily. The same cannot be said for duels. Healing takes a couple of seconds, during which you are completely vulnerable and your opponent will have free reign to finish you. If you must heal, do it only when you know you have a big enough opening, otherwise, you’ll come out of it with less health than you started with.
Similarly, make sure you have a quick ranged attack on you, such as throwing knives, to quickly interrupt an opponent if they try to heal.
Wizardry is mandatory – Elden Ring
It’s perfectly viable to go through the entirety of Elden Ring’s single-player without ever casting a spell – this is not the case in PvP. Ranged attacks give you a huge advantage right out of the gate, and magic is one of the easiest ways to spam out a bunch with little effort. You need to be using your FP pool as much as you possibly can.
Weapon Arts are just as crucial, with a heavy amount of Poise Damage letting you cut bulky foes down to size with ease. Even if you have no interest or past experience, acquire them.
Written by Dave Aubrey and Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.
