Elden Ring

Hey there, Tarnished! So, you've jumped into Elden Ring on PC and noticed things feel a bit… clunky when you're just trying to navigate the menus? Yeah, it's a common hiccup. The game, bless its challenging heart, doesn't always automatically switch over to keyboard and mouse controls, even if you've got no controller plugged in. This can lock you into that first info box right when you start, which is super annoying. The very first thing you'll want to do is sort out your default controls so you're not fighting the UI.

Here’s the quick rundown: Head over to the System menu from the main screen. Once you're there, look for the Sound and Display tab. Inside that tab, you'll find a line called Device for On-Screen Prompts. Just use your arrow keys or your mouse to switch that setting from 'Game Pad' to 'Keyboard and Mouse'. Boom! Menus should feel way more natural now.

It's a small tweak, but trust me, it makes a world of difference when you're trying to manage your inventory, level up, or just figure out where you're supposed to go next without a controller getting in the way.

Alright, Tarnished! One of the most useful items you'll get your hands on early in Elden Ring is the Flask of Wondrous Physick. Think of it as a customizable potion that lets you mix two Crystal Tears to get all sorts of temporary buffs. It's a real game-changer, especially when you're facing tough bosses or exploring dangerous areas. You'll want to grab this as soon as you can!

The Flask itself is found at the Third Church of Marika. This is a pretty significant landmark, located north of the Mistwood area in Limgrave. It's a safe spot, and you'll often find friendly NPCs there. Just head to the church, and you'll find the Flask waiting for you. Make sure to rest at a Site of Grace nearby to replenish its charges.

The real magic of the Flask comes from the Crystal Tears. These little gems are found scattered throughout the Lands Between, most commonly at the bases of Minor Erdtrees. Each tear grants a different effect, from boosting your health and stamina to enhancing your damage or even preventing rune loss upon death. You can mix and match any two tears to create a unique elixir tailored to your current needs. For example, you could combine a tear that boosts your maximum HP with one that slowly regenerates HP over time, or perhaps one that increases your Strength with another that enhances charged attacks.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the tears you can find:

• Ruptured Crystal Tear — Causes an explosion.
• Greenspill Crystal Tear — Boosts maximum Stamina.
• Cerulean Crystal Tear — Restores Focus Points (FP).
• Crimson Crystal Tear — Restores Hit Points (HP).
• Strength-Knot Crystal Tear — Boosts Strength.
• Faith-Knot Crystal Tear — Boosts Faith.
• Dexterity-Knot Crystal Tear — Boosts Dexterity.
• Winged Crystal Tear — Reduces Equipment Load.
• Spiked Cracked Tear — Enhances Charged Attacks.
• Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear — Enhances Magic Attacks.
• Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear — Enhances Lightning Attacks.
• Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear — Enhances Holy Attacks.
• Twiggy Cracked Tear — Prevents Rune loss on death.
• Crimsonburst Crystal Tear — Restores HP over time.
• Opaline Bubbletear — Provides a temporary damage negation buff.

Remember, you can only mix two tears at a time, and the effects are temporary. Experiment with different combinations to see what works best for your playstyle and the challenges you're facing. Happy mixing!