By a Dedicated Tarnished Who’s Died Too Many Times to Count
Elden Ring, from the legendary team at FromSoftware, is renowned for its brutal difficulty, intricate lore, and expansive open world. But beyond what the developers created, there’s an entire community of fans crafting their own unique ways to play the game — challenges that turn the Lands Between into an entirely new experience.
As someone who has spent hundreds of hours wandering through Limgrave and battling my way to the Haligtree, I’ve tried many of these fan-made challenges myself. Some made me rethink my combat strategies; others tested my patience and grit. If you’re looking to add excitement to your next Elden Ring run, here are the best fan-made challenges you should attempt.
1. The Rune Level 1 (RL1) Challenge
One of the most popular community challenges, the RL1 run requires you to never level up from your starting Rune Level. It’s brutal. Every boss becomes a true test of skill, positioning, and timing. My own RL1 run against Margit took hours of practice. But the thrill of beating him with no stat advantage? Unmatched.
If you’re thinking of trying this and don’t want to farm endlessly, some players choose to buy Elden Ring runes for non-upgrade purposes like item purchases or crafting. Just remember: leveling up ruins the whole RL1 challenge — so keep those fingers away from the grace menu!
2. The No-Hit Run
Inspired by speedrunners and Soulsborne legends, this challenge means exactly what it says: no damage taken, from start to finish. I personally haven’t completed this one (yet), but watching pros dodge every attack with pixel-perfect timing is something else. If you're interested, start by mastering boss patterns and learning enemy placements.
To prep for this kind of run, some players boost early game survivability through gear. That’s where Elden Ring runes for early game boost can help — pick up better weapons or upgrade your spirit ashes without grinding endlessly.
3. The Pacifist Run
What if you never swung a sword? This challenge limits you to dealing damage only via summoned spirits, status effects, or environmental traps. It’s slow, it’s unconventional, and it’s oddly satisfying. I tried this during my third playthrough, and the strategic thinking required gave the game a whole new dimension.
A strong early-game summon like Lone Wolf Ashes can carry you far — just make sure they're upgraded. And yes, I did use some Elden Ring runes for early game boost to upgrade my spirits quickly. Totally worth it.
4. The Cosplay Build Run
Ever wanted to play as Guts from Berserk? Or maybe recreate your favorite anime character or historical warrior? The cosplay run is less about difficulty and more about creativity. You build your character around the theme — weapons, armor, even behavior. I once did a full “Dark Knight” cosplay run with only greatswords and heavy armor, refusing to use magic. Immersive and fun.
To get your cosplay going early, many players buy Elden Ring runes to afford the right gear and weapons as soon as possible. It helps cut down on the grind and lets you focus on the roleplaying experience.
5. The Randomizer Run
Using community-made mods, this challenge randomizes enemy placements, items, and even bosses. You might walk into what should be an easy encounter — only to find yourself face-to-face with Malenia. It’s chaotic and hilarious. My first randomizer run had Radahn in place of a Tree Sentinel. It didn’t go well.
This one requires playing on PC with mods, but the unpredictability is pure gold. If you're looking for a wild twist on familiar territory, this is it.
Elden Ring’s fan-made challenges are a testament to the game’s depth and its passionate community. Whether you’re testing your limits with a RL1 run or creating your dream cosplay build, each challenge adds fresh life to an already incredible experience.
As someone who loves experimenting with different builds and approaches, I can say firsthand that these challenges have kept the game exciting even after multiple playthroughs. And if you want to ease some of the early-game grind, consider using Elden Ring runes for early game boost — or buy Elden Ring runes to jump-start your builds and dive straight into the action.
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