How To Run In Elden Ring

In Elden Ring, movement is the key to success in combat! FromSoftware games have some of the most complex combat systems in all of gaming, and Elden Ring is no different.

Throughout the playtime of this vast, sprawling game, you will be tested many times by devious bosses and perilous terrain. Movement is sometimes the only weapon you have to wield; as such, it can be important to master it if you want to survive!

But how to run in Elden Ring? This might seem like a simple question, but some small nuances within their movement system are important to know.

If you’re wondering about everything to do with running and movement in Elden Ring, then you’ve come to the right place!

This article will give you a comprehensive breakdown of movement in Elden Ring and hopefully tell you some hidden tips you don’t already know about!

So let’s get right into it, Tarnished One! 

How Do You Get Your Character To Run In Elden Ring?

So let’s start off with the basics of movement. If you’ve already loaded up the game, then you’ve probably worked out how to walk. The right analog stick will move your character no matter your console.

But you’ll also probably notice that your character moves fairly slowly by default. This can be frustrating when trying to traverse the huge map of the Lands Between that Elden Ring Offers.

You need one button to speed up your character into a sprint. If you’re playing on a PS4 or a PS5, this button is the circle button. On Xbox, it is the B button.

Pressing this button while your character is in motion will double their speed, and you’ll be able to zoom around much faster. If your character is not in motion and you tap the B or Circle button, you’ll likely notice that your character will roll. 

This is because the button doubles up as an evade button. Getting the hang of making your character spring and making your character roll can be a little weird at first, but with a small bit of practice, you’ll be able to navigate between the two commands without any difficulty. 

So now your character is running! Pretty cool, right? However, this new state of movement does come with a price! Sprinting in Elden Ring will slowly drain your stamina bar. In the section below, we’ll explain everything to do with stamina and what happens if you run out.

Stamina And Running In Elden Ring 

Stamina is one of the few base stats in Elden Ring. In short, you’ll find the green bar in the top left corner of your screen, below your health (red bar) and magic (blue bar).

You can think of stamina as the resource you have to perform physical actions. Attacking, running, dodging, and a few other actions cause the stamina bar to deplete. When it goes to zero, you will no longer be able to perform these actions until it has filled back up.

If you’re just walking around the world and not pressing any buttons, you’ll notice that your stamina bar will not move. However, as soon as you start to perform actions, they will begin to deplete. Each action has a specific number of stamina that it consumes, and this includes running.

When you’re sprinting in Elden Ring, you’ll first notice that your stamina bar starts to deplete. This happens over time, and if you continue to run, it will fall all the way down to zero. When you run out of stamina, you run out of time to run!

So let’s put this into an in-game example. You’re in Stormveil Castle, and one of those blasted grafted birds is chasing you (if you’re yet to encounter them, prepare for pain and suffering).

You don’t want to fight it, so you’ve decided your best option is to run. You press down the B or Circle button to get out of there, but the bird isn’t letting up! You run quite a way, and then suddenly, your character stops moving so fast. You look up at your stamina bar, and it’s empty! 

From here, the bird catches up with you and deals a devastating blow, causing you to die and your runes to disappear. This is an all too common scenario within Elden Ring, but it’s one that can be avoided if you learn to manage your stamina better.

How To Manage Stamina When Running

Your Stamina bar will replenish itself, but only if you stop sprinting. More experienced players will learn how to dip in and out of the sprint action to maximize their speed while allowing the bar to replenish. 

Going back to our earlier, Grafted Bird example, if you were to vary your speed a little—dropping in and out of the sprint action as you try to get away—you’ll be more likely to get away.

This can be vital in certain encounters and even in boss fights that require you to run away from certain attacks.

How Can I Run For Longer In Elden Ring?

If you want to run for longer in Elden Ring, you must invest stat points into stamina. When you level up by consuming runes, you must place some in the ‘Endurance’ option.

This will increase your stamina points, make the stamina bar longer, and allow you to run for longer periods.

You can also increase your stamina by using a few different items. For a full list, check out the Elden Ring Wiki here. 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Like everything in Elden Ring, the base command for running is simple, but there are a few things you’ll need to learn to master it.

We hope that this article has given you some insight into how to use the sprint command to your advantage, and we hope that it serves you well when battling through the Lands Between. Best of luck, tarnished one!