So you’ve started your journey in the Lands Between, exploring the massive open world of Elden Ring. But have you figured out how to sprint and dash yet? If not, you’re missing out on some essential movement skills that will make traversing the world and dodging enemies much easier. We’ll show you how to unlock sprinting and dashing so you can zoom across fields, sprint through dungeons, and dodge roll away from danger. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be sprinting and dashing with the best of them.
Unlocking the Ability to Sprint
To sprint and dash in Elden Ring, you’ll first need to unlock the ability. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy to get.
- Defeat the first main boss, Margit the Fell Omen, at Stormveil Castle. This unlocks the ability to level up and strengthen your character.
- Focus on increasing your Endurance. This stat determines your stamina and equips load, allowing you to sprint further and faster while wearing heavier armor. Aim for at least 20-25 Endurance to start.
- Find a Site of Grace and level up your character. Each point in Endurance will increase your stamina by 3-5 points. More stamina means longer sprints!
- Equip lighter armor and weapons to increase your equip load. The lower your equip load, the less stamina sprinting will consume. Medium or light armor is best for sprinting.
- Double tap and hold the dodge button (Circle on PlayStation, B on Xbox) to sprint. Your character will start sprinting, consuming stamina. Release to stop sprinting.
- Manage your stamina carefully. Don’t deplete your entire bar sprinting, or you’ll be left exhausted and vulnerable. Stop sprinting when your bar is at 30-50% to recover stamina.
With some points in Endurance and the right equipment, sprinting and dashing will become second nature in Elden Ring. Now get out there and run free, Tarnished! The Lands Between await.
Stamina Management Is Key
To sprint and dash effectively in Elden Ring, you’ll need to manage your stamina. This green bar at the top left of your screen depletes with every action, from swinging your weapon to dodging attacks. Run out of stamina in the wrong moment and you’ll be a sitting duck.
First, don’t spam the sprint/dash button. Use short bursts instead of holding it down, and let your stamina recharge for a second between taps. This will let you cover ground quickly while always having enough left in the tank for an emergency dodge.
Second, level up your endurance. The higher your endurance stat, the bigger your stamina bar will become and the faster it will refill. This is especially useful for melee builds that rely on stamina for both attacking and evading. A few extra endurance points can be the difference between life and death.
Third, use stamina recovery items. The game offers consumables like Raisins and Dried Liver that temporarily boost your stamina recovery speed. Pop one of these before a tough fight or sprint to give yourself more leeway.
Lastly, know when to stop sprinting. Don’t run into an encounter with an empty stamina bar or you’ll be stunned and slaughtered. Stop sprinting with enough left for a dodge or block, and let it refill as you engage the enemy. With practice, stamina management will become second nature and you’ll be dashing across the Lands Between without a care.
Sprinting and Dashing – Know the Difference
To effectively explore the Lands Between in Elden Ring, you’ll need to know the difference between sprinting and dashing.
Sprinting
Sprinting allows you to move at a faster speed than walking by holding down the dodge button (Circle on PlayStation, B on Xbox) as you move the left stick in the direction you want to go. Sprinting is useful for quickly traversing open areas, escaping enemies, or rushing into combat. However, sprinting consumes stamina and you can only sprint for a limited time before needing to rest.
Dashing
Dashing, on the other hand, is a quick evasive maneuver used to dodge enemy attacks or create distance. To dash, quickly tap the dodge button while moving the left stick. Dashing consumes less stamina than sprinting and can be used repeatedly in quick succession. The trade-off is that dashing only provides a short burst of speed, while sprinting allows for continuous faster movement.
Using a combination of sprinting and dashing is key to survival in Elden Ring. Sprint to close the distance on enemies or escape dangerous situations, then dash to evade their attacks as needed. Manage your stamina carefully, though, as overusing either will leave you a sitting duck. With practice, you’ll be sprinting and dashing across the Lands Between like a pro in no time.
