An Elden Ring player in the Colosseum relied a little too heavily on their buffs and was subsequently defeated in a matter of seconds. Elden Ring's PvP continues to be a source of unique and hilarious moments, even over a year after the game was released.
FromSoftware's PvP can be a curious system, often spawning an entire set of unwritten rules and unofficial customs that one must abide by to avoid being decried as dishonorable. Elden Ring continued this etiquette trend, with players quickly establishing the Main Academy Gate as a dueling ground and compiling threads about what weapons/skills were considered disrespectful to employ. One unwritten rule of engagement is granting each other time to prepare, which will usually see Tarnished perform emotes or apply buffs. The latter is often held in much less regard.
A video posted to Reddit by Motor_Training1776 showcases a confrontation in a Colosseum. The PoV character stands there passively, following a welcoming wave, as their opponent immediately launches into casting a series of Elden Ring buffs that include Flame Grant Me Strength, Golden Vow, Howl of Shabriri, and Seppuku. The entire process takes nearly 16 seconds to complete, and the enemy subsequently rushes towards the player character, who awaits them like a truly stoic warrior.
A well-timed Unsheathe of their Katana not only staggers the heavily buffed enemy out of an attack but also deletes the majority of their remaining health. With no hesitation, a deadly follow-up slash is brought down upon them, unceremoniously rendering their 16-second energizer utterly meaningless in less than half the time. The victorious player proceeds to just stand in front of their enemy's collapsing body, no doubt satisfied with the swift and decisive victory.
Some of the comments praised the honorable fight fought by the victor and expressed displeasure toward the "buff spam" that is common in Elden Ring's PvP. One criticized the fact that allowing others to buff has practically become part of the expected etiquette but noted how entertaining it is to use the Law of Regression afterward. The incantation dispels virtually all status effects in the game, as well as the effects of consumables, sorceries, and other incantations. It is rather common to see players forfeit after being victim to the Law of Regression, as it makes builds dependent on buffs completely useless. But such a skill is unnecessary when an overzealous buff addict meets a Katana.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.