Choosing the Best Keepsake in Elden Ring
In Elden Ring, the choices you make at the beginning of the game can significantly influence your experience in the vast and perilous world of the Lands Between. One of the most crucial decisions you'll face early on is selecting your Keepsake, a special item that can either give you a helpful advantage or sit idly in your inventory. Whether you're looking for something to enhance your survival or a tool for exploring hidden areas, picking the right Keepsake can make all the difference as you embark on your journey. In this guide, we'll explore the best Keepsake in Elden Ring and explain why it might be the perfect choice for your adventure.
What Is a Keepsake in Elden Ring
Keepsakes are special items in Elden Ring that players can choose at the start of the game. Each Keepsake offers unique benefits, ranging from increased health regeneration to access to otherwise unreachable areas. The right Keepsake can provide a much-needed edge, especially for players who are new to the game or the Soulslike genre. As you progress through Elden Ring, you'll encounter challenging enemies and bosses, making the right Keepsake selection critical for survival.
The Best Keepsake: Golden Seed
Objectively, the best Keepsake in Elden Ring is the Golden Seed. Choosing this item at the start of the game gives you an immediate advantage by allowing you to gain an additional charge for your Sacred Flask. The Sacred Flask is essential for healing and restoring Focus Points (FP), which are crucial for casting spells and using special abilities. Having an extra flask early on can make a significant difference in your ability to survive the many threats that await you in the Lands Between.
While you'll encounter more Golden Seeds as you explore the world, starting with an extra one can ease the difficulty of the early game, where every bit of healing counts. This can be particularly useful when you face tougher enemies or bosses, allowing you to focus more on learning their attack patterns rather than worrying about running out of healing resources. Moreover, as you progress through the game and perhaps even venture into future expansions like Shadow of the Erdtree, having those extra flask charges will continue to benefit you, especially as the challenges become more demanding.
An Alternative Choice: Stonesword Key
For players who are more experienced with Soulslike games, the Stonesword Key is another excellent Keepsake option. This item allows you to unlock Imp Statues, granting access to hidden areas and valuable loot early in the game. One notable area that the Stonesword Key unlocks is the Fringefolk Hero's Grave dungeon, which can be accessed before you even encounter the infamous Tree Sentinel, one of the first mini-bosses you're likely to face in Elden Ring.
Completing the Fringefolk Hero's Grave dungeon rewards you with a Golden Seed, effectively giving you the same advantage as starting with the Golden Seed Keepsake but with the added benefit of acquiring other valuable items along the way. However, be warned: the enemies and the boss in this dungeon are much tougher than what you'll find in the surrounding Limgrave area. This challenge is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards can be well worth the effort if you're up for it.
The Stonesword Key can also be saved for other Imp Statues throughout the game, many of which guard powerful Elden Ring Items or lead to shortcuts that can be extremely helpful in navigating the Lands Between. While Golden Seeds are plentiful throughout the game, Stonesword Keys are rarer, making them a valuable resource that can be strategically used to enhance your exploration and combat capabilities.
Why the Golden Seed is Ideal for First-Timers
If you're new to Elden Ring or the Soulslike genre, the Golden Seed is undoubtedly the best Keepsake to choose from. The early game in Elden Ring is notoriously difficult, and having that extra healing or FP restoration can provide the necessary boost to help you get through tough encounters. The added flask charge allows you to make more mistakes as you learn the game's mechanics, making it an invaluable tool for first-time players.
On the other hand, experienced players who are familiar with the series might prefer the Stonesword Key for the additional challenge and the early rewards it can unlock. This choice allows for a more adventurous start, giving players access to powerful items and areas that can further enhance their gameplay.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Keepsake in Elden Ring is a decision that can shape your early game experience and set the tone for your journey through the Lands Between. For most players, the Golden Seed offers the best balance of utility and advantage, providing extra healing or FP restoration that can be a lifesaver in the game's most challenging moments. However, for those who seek a greater challenge and the opportunity to unlock hidden areas, the Stonesword Key is an excellent alternative that rewards bold exploration and skill.
As you gather Elden Ring Runes and collect powerful Elden Ring Items, your choice of Keepsake will continue to impact your journey, making the game's early challenges more manageable or providing you with tools to discover secrets hidden within the world. No matter which Keepsake you choose, remember that Elden Ring is a game of discovery and perseverance, and your choices will define your path through its unforgiving but rewarding world.