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Stats aren't everything when it comes to Elden Ring. Far more important is your ability to dodge enemy attacks and take advantage of their weaknesses. That being said, having good stats will help you survive longer, wield better weapons, and cast the most powerful sorceries and incantations.

RELATED: Elden Ring: Stats Explained

Like some of FromSoft's previous games, there is a specific way to level up. You don't gain experience from defeating enemies or turning in side quests, you'll have to instead spend your hard earned runes. Which, to be fair, you can get from defeating enemies. Here are the ins and outs of leveling up.

Where To Find A Maiden

Elden Ring Site of Grace Menu

One of the first things you'll learn in Elden Souls is that you are maidenless - multiple NPCs will comment on this and veterans of the Soulsborne games will take the hint that in Elden Ring, you level up by speaking to a certain NPC - a maiden.

To meet the character who will become your maiden, you will need to visit three Sites of Grace in the main world of Elden Ring - that is, not inside a dungeon. She will offer you a deal and become your maiden if you accept. This means that you can use her services to level up by spending runes.

How To Level Up

Elden Ring Leveling Up Stats

Once you have forged a pact with Melina, you will be able to level up at any Site of Grace in the game. To do so, rest at a Site of Grace and choose the Level Up option. This will bring you to a screen where all of your stats are laid out.

Here's what you need to know about leveling up.

  • Every time you increase a stat by one, your level increases by one.
  • The cost of a stat increase is tied to your level. If you are level 20, the cost of increasing a stat will be the same no matter which stat it is.
  • Leveling up at level one costs 673 runes, with the cost of a level up getting larger exponentially. Eventually, single level-ups will cost many thousands of runes.

Early Game Rune Farming

• When you see a large skull with golden, glowing eyes, roll over it or run it over with Torrent. It will break and drop a Golden Rune. These can be used or sold to increase your rune count.

• Farming the enemies at the Gatefront Ruins is a good way to accrue a decent amount of runes quickly, as well as get used to taking out large groups of enemies.

• Try to use your runes as soon as you can, whether it's for leveling up or buying things. If you die and then die a second time before picking your runes up, they're gone forever.

NEXT: Elden Ring: Complete Guide And Walkthrough