There is a good reason that Elden Ring won the game of the year 2022. It is by far the most accessible FromSoftware game, which makes it easy enough for beginners to pick even if they aren't the biggest Soulsborne enjoyers. Yet there is a healthy amount of difficulty which keeps even the veterans entertained and coming back for more.

A player can choose to use the Blasphemous blade with the Mimic Tear to have a fun and relaxing session. Meanwhile, someone else can do a club-only run without using any summons or Spirit Ashes.

With more than 100 bosses and 30 weapon types, you already have a lot to play with just in the base game. When you add Shadow of the Erdtree DLC to the mix, you won't get bored with the game anytime soon.

However, once you get used to a certain playstyle, there is a good chance you will stick to it, and the next set of playthroughs will start feeling the same.

For example, in your first playthrough, if you used Giant-Crusher as your primary weapon but in your second run you use two of them to go full unga-bunga mode, the game will feel practically the same.

So, to keep things fresh for you, here are the 10 best ways to make your second Elden Ring playthrough different.

Try A Weapon From A Different Weapon Class

New Weapon, New Me

Let us start this list with a very simple yet effective way to change the way you play Elden Ring: Try out a new weapon from another weapon class.

For example, Greatsword also referred to as Guts Greatsword by many, is one of the most popular weapons in the game.

While it does excellent physical damage, most people often use it for its heavy poise damage. As such, you would be inclined to change its Ash of War to Lion's Claw and the affinity to Heavy. This way, you will break the enemy's poise in a few hits.

Simply switching from Greatsword to Star Fist will make a fun yet noticeable change to the way you play. Star Fist is a Fist-type weapon. As such, you'll end up sacrificing the range of a Greatsword to do more damage, but with consecutive hits.

The weapons in the above example both scale with Strength and Dexterity. You can experiment further with other stuff by including Faith, Intelligence, and Arcane to try weapons that can even inflict different types of damage.

Try A New Build

I Unga, Therefore I Bunga

While this method may seem similar to the above example, the need to level up different stats distinguishes a new build from simply switching to another weapon.

So, if your previous build was a Strength only where you put in a few levels in Dexterity, you can change to something like pure Intelligence or Str/Int, which will force you to respect. Depending on the spells you employ, you can level up Intelligence and Mind.

So, if you like to use the Giant-Crusher, you could still achieve a similar effect with the Gavel of Haima to bonk your enemies with magic damage instead of physical damage.

Of course, there are plenty of other sorceries, like Swift Glintstone Shard, Cannon of Haima, Comet, Spiral Shard, and the most popular, Comet Azur.

Change Your Playstyle

Slow Down A Bit, Or Get Super Aggressive

Changing your playstyle may not seem like much initially, but once you start playing, you will see how difficult or easier things can get depending on the boss or enemy you are fighting.

What I mean by changing your playstyle is, for example, switching to a more active approach if you tend to play passively or vice versa.

If this method ties in a bit too much with the above methods of trying a new weapon or build, you can make things different by throwing in a shield. Or by removing it.

Suppose you are a very aggressive player who likes to dual-wield or dual-handle your weapons. Equipping a shield changes your play, as you will use your one-handed parry weapon. This lets you block or parry more enemy moves with your shield, changing your playstyle.

Now, if you are a passive player who takes their time and only attacks when there is an opening, you can try experimenting with the Buckler paired with its Ash of War Buckler Parry. Guarding with a buckler is pretty useless, so you will mostly be looking for parries, opening more possibilities for ripostes.

Similarly, players who rely on shields can unequip them and switch to a dual-handed weapon like the Godskin Peeler or Elenora's Poleblade to keep things fresh.

Try A Cosplay Run

No, I Am Malenia Blade Of Miquella

As the name suggests, a Cosplay run is where you cosplay as the character you want to play.

Now, what makes this type of run fun is that you not only look like your favorite character but also equip their weapons and armor and learn the relevant sorceries or incantations to get as many of their moves as possible.

To this day, Malenia is notorious for her difficulty. She is the only demigod in the game that you can't get to until you defeat Morgott. While defeating her is an achievement on its own, you can use her remembrance to get one of the best Dexterity weapons in the game: the Katana Hand of Malenia.

What makes this weapon special is its Ash of War, which lets you do the waterfowl dance. If you duplicate her remembrance, you can even get Scarlet Aoenia, which isn't the best incantation but gives you access to another of her main moves.

Now, pair this up with her armor, and you are pretty vulnerable to a lot of enemy attacks. This forces you to learn her moves and adapt your playstyle to match more with hers.

Malenia is just one such example. You could also become Morgott and use his Cursed Sword or play as Godrick by using his Axe and Grafted Dragon.

Do Consumables Only Run

No Weapons? No problem!

Consumables are super useful in Elden Ring and are something that you definitely shouldn't sleep on.

While the name may suggest things like Golden Runes to quickly get some runes or edibles such as Pickled Turtle Neck or Exalted Flesh to temporarily boost your stamina recovery and physical attack, it isn't restricted to those.

If you have ever used a Freezing Pot to cancel Malenia's Waterfowl, Kukri to build up bleed, or Poison Bone Dart to inflict poison while dealing some damage, you have used consumables in this game.

In a Consumables-only run, the goal is to complete the game without using weapons, incantations, or sorceries. As you may've guessed, you only use Consumables.

Now, you might think that the game restricts you to only 30 Kukris per fight or before you rest at a site of grace. The trick is to use multiple consumables.

So, you can go into a fight with things like Bone Dart, Poison Bone Dart, Crystal Dart, Throwing Daggers, Fan Daggers, Kukri, and all the different Aromatics and Spraymists.

It can be a surprising experience as these can do some serious damage. A Perfumer's Talisman boosts the potency of perfume Elden Ring items by 20%, in case you need help.

Do A Randomizer Run

Wait, Godfrey Shouldn't Be In Limgrave

There is a mod known as "Elden Ring Item and Enemy Randomizer" in Nexus Mods by thefifthmatt to set up a randomizer run. You should know how it works if you have ever done a Pokémon Nuzlocke challenge.

In a Randomizer run, you can change what items and enemies spawn in a region. So, while you may be familiar with an enemy's attacks, their location, and how to fight them, the situation drastically changes in a Randomizer run. You can find Starscourge Radhan in Elden Throne or Godskin Duo in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

Moreover, a random chest can give you something as powerful as Remembrance of the Black Blade, while defeating Maliketh can get you Golden Rune 1 or probably a Melted Mushroom.

You also don't find weapons and upgrade materials in their usual spots, so leveling them up gets tricky. You end up forced to make use of what you have.

Just make sure you set up a way to acquire at least 2 Great Runes and the Rold Medallion so you don't lock yourself out of progressing. Because if that happens, you will have to restart a new run.

Do An RL1 Run

No Leveling Up Yourself

While the above methods on the list have been more fun and experimentation, doing an RL1 run is where you start entering the more "Git Gud" zone.

RL1 stands for Rune Level 1, meaning you cannot level up your character. This isn't new; and has been around since the Dark Souls days with the SL1 or Souls Level 1 challenges.

You start the game as a Wretch class, giving you a build preference. But what seems like a weakness is, ironically, the most interesting thing about an RL1 run.

With the right Talismans, you can play with many different builds. This type of run forces you to think twice before equipping any random Talismans you come across first. Instead, you'll be keen to learn more about them and the various buffs they provide and adapt to your playstyle.

For example, if you want to use the Greatsword on an RL1, you might feel it isn't doable as Wretch only gets 10 Strength, and the Greatsword requires 31 Strength to properly wield it. But you can very easily use it.

To do that, equip Radagon's Soreseal to get +5 Strength, Starscourge Heirloom to get another 5 Strength, and Haima Glintstone Crown to get +2 Strength. Finally, dual-hand the weapon to use it as usual.

You can even use buffs like Godrick's Great Rune, Strength-knot Crystal Tear, and Oath of Vengence to increase it by 20 for a specific time. Similarly, you can use many other Dex weapons, Incantations, or Sorceries with the right Talismans and buffs.

An RL1 run tests your skills and shows how difficult this game can get. Even a simple choice of what weapon and armor you equip matters.

Do A No-Hit Run

Dodge Everything, Or Die Trying

A No-Hit run is one of the most prestigious and challenging ways to replay Elden Ring. The goal is simple: complete the game without getting hit a single time. That means no enemy attack, trap, or environmental hazard can touch you. Taking even a single hit requires you to restart from the beginning.

While this may sound insane, many speedrunners and hardcore players have successfully done it. The trick is to learn enemy attack patterns to the point where you instinctively dodge or parry every move. It requires a deep understanding of boss behaviors, enemy placements, and movement mechanics.

To make things slightly easier, most players allow the use of Ashes of War, incantations, and summons to minimize risk. However, some go full hardcore and avoid even these aids, making it a true test of skill.

If you're an Elden Ring veteran looking for the ultimate challenge, a No-Hit run might be your next big adventure.

Use A Different Quest Order

Break The Usual Path

One of the best things about Elden Ring is its open-world structure, allowing players to tackle different regions and bosses in any order. However, most players tend to follow a familiar route, like starting in Limgrave, heading to Liurnia, then Caelid, Altus Plateau, and finally the Mountaintops of the Giants.

To shake things up, try taking a completely different route. Skip Stormveil Castle and head straight to Liurnia, or challenge yourself by going to Caelid early. You can even attempt to reach high-level areas like Consecrated Snowfield before tackling easier zones.

Another option is to prioritize different NPC questlines. If you ignored Ranni's quest in your first playthrough, focus on it in your second run. Similarly, exploring hidden areas like Mohgwyn Palace or Deeproot Depths earlier than usual can create a fresh experience.

Changing your route will not only make the game feel new but also impact which gear and spells you obtain, further altering your build and playstyle.

Change The Ending You Get

Rewrite The Fate Of The Lands Between

Elden Ring has six different endings, each offering a unique conclusion to your journey. Most players aim for the Age of Fracture (the default ending) in their first playthrough. However, your second run is the perfect opportunity to explore the choices.

Here are the main endings you can aim for:

Age of the Stars - Follow Ranni's questline to leave the Lands Between and begin a new cosmic age.

Lord of Frenzied Flame - Embrace chaos and burn everything in an apocalyptic ending.

Blessing of Despair - Help Dung Eater spread his curse for a bleak and unsettling world.

Age of Order - Restore a divine balance through Goldmask's teachings.

Age of the Duskborn - Side with Fia to bring a new cycle of death and rebirth.

Each ending requires specific choices and quests, making your second playthrough feel vastly different. If you previously followed a heroic path, try embracing the Frenzied Flame this time for an opposite experience.

By following these ten ways to change up your second playthrough, you'll find new challenges, fresh experiences, and even more reasons to appreciate Elden Ring's depth. If you're looking to enhance your second playthrough of Elden Ring, acquiring Elden Ring items and Elden Ring runes can make a big difference in experimenting with new builds or taking on tougher challenges. Whether you're experimenting with weapons, pushing yourself with extreme difficulty runs, or altering your story choices, there's always something new to discover in the Lands Between.