Understanding gentle caps are key to stage up stats and runes in Elden Ring. That method, if you already know the gentle cap breakpoints, you’ll have the ability to get the optimum return from the runes you’ve spent — versus receiving diminishing returns from extreme stats.
If that sounds a bit advanced, don’t fear; on this information, we’ll clarify every part there may be to find out about gentle caps in Elden Ring.
What are gentle caps in Elden Ring?
In the event you’re no stranger to the Lands Between and Shadow of the Erdtree’s Realm of Shadow, you in all probability know the drill: defeat enemies, obtain runes, and use the runes to stage your stats at a Website of Grace. Every particular person stat will be leveled from 1 to 99, with 99 being the “laborious cap” — the restrict.
Beware, nevertheless, that there’s a distinction between leveling a stat from stage 30 to stage 31 or from stage 50 to stage 51, as you’ll obtain much less advantages when you’ve crossed a sure threshold. This threshold is known as a “gentle cap” or a “breakpoint” in Elden Ring. If you begin leveling a stat, the returns will initially stay the identical and even enhance with each new stage, however after reaching a sure breakpoint, the stat will probably be soft-capped and the returns will change into much less and fewer.
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
As you possibly can see, the returns per stage have improved; as an alternative of 10 HP factors, you acquired 12 HP factors the second time. These rising returns will attain their peak when leveling Vigor from stage 39 to stage 40, with a whopping 48 HP factors gained (from 1402 HP to 1450 HP).
In the event you proceed to stage your Vigor from stage 40 to stage 41, although, your HP will enhance from 1450 to 1476; a return of 26 HP factors. It’s nonetheless an enchancment, however clearly not practically as nice because the earlier 48 HP factors. From this level onwards, the quantity of HP gained from extra Vigor ranges will steadily decline. Degree 40 is subsequently referred to as the primary gentle cap for Vigor.
And that’s not all; each Elden Ring stat has at the least two gentle cap factors, as much as as many as 4. For Vigor, the quantity of HP gained from greater ranges will drop considerably after stage 60, as you’ll solely get between 3 and 6 HP factors per stage afterwards. Degree 60 is subsequently named the second gentle cap for this stat.
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
The existence of soppy caps in Elden Ring doesn’t imply you need to cease leveling a stat after reaching such a breakpoint, but it surely does imply that it’s good to thoughts your stat level allocation. Leveling Vigor from 40 to 60 can nonetheless be a fantastic selection, however you would possibly must prioritize different stats earlier than you accomplish that, because the returns from these upgrades could also be far higher. In the event you’d prefer to respec your present stats, go to Rennala within the Raya Lucaria library and choose “Rebirth”.
Elden Ring gentle caps in 2025
Earlier than we dive into the main points, right here’s a fast overview of all gentle cap breakpoints per stat sort in Elden Ring:
Let’s delve into every stat, one-by-one:
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
Vigor improves HP, fireplace resistance, and immunity. As talked about within the instance above, Vigor has rising returns earlier than reaching the primary gentle cap at stage 40. That is superb, because it means you’ll obtain an increasing number of HP with each stage up till that time. Sadly, the drop-off is moderately steep, going from 48 HP to 26 HP factors — and even all the way down to solely 6 per stage after the second gentle cap at stage 60.
Having a excessive HP is extraordinarily helpful for nearly any Elden Ring construct – it’s laborious sufficient to remain alive with out giving each enemy the likelihood to one-shot you. We subsequently advocate to hit the primary gentle cap of stage 40, and proceed to stage 60 in case your playstyle wants it (frontline melee builds, for instance). Something above stage 60 is a waste of runes.
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
Thoughts improves your FP and Focus. Focus is a pleasant defensive stat to have (protects in opposition to sleep and insanity) however FP, often known as “mana,” is much extra necessary because it’s wanted to solid spells. With that in thoughts, you actually solely want as a lot Thoughts as you require FP to solid your magic. With a totally upgraded Flask of Cerulean Tears, you possibly can restore 220 FP — one full FP bar at Thoughts stage 38. Subsequently, Thoughts at +38 is subsequently the “candy spot” earlier than hitting the FP gentle cap at stage 50 and Focus gentle cap at stage 40.
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
Endurance improves stamina, most gear load (permitting you to remain throughout the “medium load” vary whereas carrying heavier armor, for instance), and robustness (resistance to bleed and frostbite). The quantity of stamina you’ll want is dependent upon how a lot you eat; when you’re utilizing a melee construct, you’ll usually need at the least +34 Endurance, a stamina and gear load candy spot that additionally affords some robustness.
In the event you’re an endgame participant with a number of runes to spend, it’s possible you’ll maintain going till the gear load gentle cap at stage 60, as this lets you equip much better armor units whereas remaining in a below-heavy load vary.
Power and Dexterity gentle caps
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
Power and Dexterity enhance the harm handled armaments (weapons) scaling with these stats (often bodily/melee weapons). Though the breakpoints and minimal stats required depend upon the person armament, the bodily harm gentle caps are usually at stage 20, 60, and 80.
At first of your Elden Ring recreation, do you have to determine to wield a strength- or dexterity-scaling weapon, attempt to attain gentle cap stage 20 as quickly as potential. Go as much as 60 as you progress additional (don’t overlook your Vigor, Endurance, and Thoughts gentle caps), however there’s no must proceed previous the extent 80 gentle cap.
Intelligence, Religion, and Arcane gentle caps
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco by way of Polygon
In addition to bettering armaments that scale with these stats, Intelligence boosts the ability of your sorceries, Religion will increase the ability of incantations, and Arcane improves standing buildup (for Arcane-scaling weapons).
Much like Power and Dexterity, the precise scaling is dependent upon the armament you’re utilizing, however you usually must hit stage 20 for the very best beneficial properties in early recreation. Attempt to ultimately hit the gentle cap round stage 50, but it surely’s not value it to transcend stage 80.
The defensive attributes (vitality, magic protection, and so forth.) hit a really steep drop-off after stage 60.
