Elden Ring's multiplayer takes after its forebears' chaotic multiplayer where everything usually goes. Just like in the Dark Souls trilogy, multiplayer here has no rules. And of course, the tutorial is sparse and boasts the trademark Japanese minimalism. At the same time, the inventory for multiplayer tools can be quite cluttered; it doesn't take much to intimidate or perplex newcomers to the genre.
But the good news is that there are plenty of "Souls veterans" to help out other players. Some of these veterans are good, really. In any case, some multiplayer tools are more relevant than others when it comes to co-op, PvP, or just procrastinating the Elden Lord journey in the Lands Between. Consider placing these items in the hotbar/quick pouch or along with the flasks.
8 Tarnished's Wizened Finger
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: Finger Maiden's lifeless body in the Chapel of Anticipation, the tutorial area
The Tarnished Wizend Finger allows players to write messages on the ground which can then pop up in other players' worlds. It's by far the most efficient albeit anarchic way of communicating in Elden Ring. It's also a great expedition and pathfinding tool.
If players manage to discover a secret treasure, hidden path, or a trap, then can warn others using this tool. Or they can just write "Fort Night" or "dog" or "Finger But Hole" anywhere; or worse, mislead players into traps. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, Tarnished.
7 Furcalling Finger Remedy
- Item Type: Consumable (finite)
- Location: Crafted from Erdleaf Flowers
The Furcalling Finger Remedy is useful for when players are feeling lonely in the Lands Between. It's like a phonebook (that's boomer speak for "people you may know" list). It reveals the signs of people who are available for co-op or PvP.
Once revealed, players can then just pick a friendly (gold) or hostile (red) summon sign. Do note that there's a limit to how many people can fit in a specific game session (it's typically just four human players).
6 Tarnished's Furled Finger
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: In the tutorial cave
Tarnished's Furled Finger is a haven for people who love to play with others in co-op. It lets players put down a gold or friendly summon sight which will then appear in other players' worlds. It's thus most commonly used in boss fights or difficult game chokepoints.
Do be warned that summoning a co-op partner outside a boss arena opens up the host for an invasion. This is how the bulk of Elden Ring's invasion interactions happen because either activity has its own incentives.
5 Bloody Finger/Recusant Finger
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: White-Faced Varre in Rose Church/Volcano Manor
The Bloody Finger and Recusant Finger have the same purpose. They allow players to infinitely invade random players' worlds. The difference is that either of them belongs to different evil factions in the game and the Recusant Finger can be harder to obtain.
Regardless, these two are awesome upgrades compared to the finite Festering Bloody Finger tool. In an invasion, usually, there are no rules so feel free to heal, ambush, and fight dirty without any observance of dueling etiquette.
4 Duelist's Furled Finger
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: Frustrated Spirit northeast of Stormhill Shack, near the massive defunct colosseum
Some PvP players prefer more honorable 1v1 fights instead of the toxic slugfests that are invasions. In that case, the Duelist's Furled Finger is a more apt tool. It lets players place down a hostile summon sign so they can be summoned to another world for a (presumably) fair fight.
It's thus best to observe dueling etiquette when it comes to using this or summoning another player who has used this. The most important rule, of course, is no healing since the host has 14 flasks while the summoned duelist only has five.
3 Finger Severer
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: In the tutorial cave
So what to do when an invasion goes sour or a dueling match gets desecrated? For starters, players will be pleased to know that they can peace out from the other player's world using the Finger Severer. This can be used as long as the wielder isn't stunned or stuck in an animation.
Using it will send the player back to their original world thus interrupting or cutting any multiplayer session. Players also lose out on their potential rewards when they use this. For many players, it's also a good way of getting out from toxic fights or frustrating ganks.
2 Mimic's Veil
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: Stormveil Castle near the Grafted Scion mini-boss
The Mimic's Veil is a lovely tool that allows players to be creative or resourceful when it comes to invasions. It's an infinite tool that lets players disguise themselves as a random in-game environmental prop or furniture.
It does use FP per cast so there's a bit of luck involved when disguising as certain items. In any case, it's very useful for setting up invasion participants or invaded hosts for some nasty and hilarious ambushes.
1 Blue/White Cipher Ring
- Item Type: Reusable (infinite)
- Location: Twinmaiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold
While Elden Ring's multiplayer scene can be cutthroat and toxic, it can also— in contrast, be a haven of altruism and honor. Because Elden Ring, like its Dark Souls predecessors, also allow players to call for aid whenever someone's invading them.
The Blue Cipher Ring, when used, practically turns players into an on-call and ready invasion police where they can be summoned by a host to aid against an invader. Meanwhile, the White Cipher Ring is the "invadee" host's tool for when they want to ambush or gank the invader. So while invaders can make other players' lives difficult, the people they invade can also do the same. All's fair in the Lands Between.
Elden Ring is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.