Whether you're venturing through the crumbling ruins of Limgrave or facing the horrors deep beneath Leyndell, every Tarnished knows that preparation is half the battle. In Elden Ring, consumables often mean the difference between a narrow escape and a frustrating death screen. Some items you’ll craft in batches, while others you'll hoard like precious relics. But when your inventory space is limited and you want to keep only the most essential tools on hand, these 13 consumables are the ones you should always carry.
1. Flask of Crimson Tears
The staple healing item. Obvious, yes—but it's worth emphasizing: never leave a Site of Grace without topping off your flask charges. Even the most experienced players underestimate how fast HP can vanish when surrounded.
2. Flask of Cerulean Tears
If you're using sorceries, incantations, or Ashes of War that rely on FP, this flask is non-negotiable. Dex or Strength builds might skip it, but hybrid or full caster builds live and die by their Cerulean reserves.
3. Staunching Boluses
Bleed builds are everywhere in PvP—and certain areas like Mohgwyn Palace make them a major PvE threat too. A couple of Staunching Boluses can save you when blood loss buildup hits critical.
4. Neutralizing Boluses
Poison is less dramatic than bleed but no less deadly, especially in areas like Caelid or Lake of Rot. Neutralizing Boluses are easy to overlook until it’s too late. Stock up or craft them if you can.
5. Preserving Boluses
Scarlet Rot is arguably the most dangerous status effect in the game. Without these boluses, the rot swamps in Ainsel River or the rot-infused enemies around Elphael will chew through even the tankiest builds.
6. Fire Grease
Applying Fire Grease to your weapon gives you a temporary damage boost, perfect for dealing with enemies weak to fire. It’s especially handy in early to mid-game zones where weapon infusions may not be available yet.
7. Magic Grease
Great for adding a bit of extra punch to physical weapons when facing enemies with low Magic resistance—particularly effective in later zones like the Mountaintops of the Giants or against certain Black Knife Assassins.
8. Pickled Turtle Neck
Stamina regen is often underrated in Elden Ring. In longer fights, especially against aggressive bosses or invaders, this consumable can drastically improve your ability to dodge, block, and strike.
9. Pickled Fowl Foot (Gold and Silver)
These two items boost rune acquisition and item discovery respectively. Farming sessions—whether you're trying to level up faster or searching for rare drops—are far more efficient with these in play. Many players who buy Elden Ring runes PS4 use these items to maximize in-game gains and minimize farming time.
10. Warming Stone
In co-op, Warming Stones can be clutch. They offer passive healing to everyone nearby, making them great for multi-phase fights or when your team is out of flasks. Solo players can also use them while hiding to heal quietly.
11. Bewitching Branch
This odd consumable can charm enemies into fighting for you. While situational, it’s incredibly powerful in areas with multiple enemies. It turns mobs into temporary allies, giving you breathing room in ambush-heavy dungeons.
12. Rune Arc
Once you've activated a Great Rune, this consumable unleashes its power. They’re rare, but if you’re heading into a major boss fight, popping a Rune Arc could be the edge you need. Some players opt to buy Elden Ring items PC just to ensure they have a decent Rune Arc stash.
13. Soft Cotton
Lightweight but invaluable—Soft Cotton muffles your footsteps and prevents fall damage from low heights. Perfect for stealthy approaches or navigating vertical dungeons where a missed step means death.
Carrying all 13 of these items might not always be possible, especially if you're deep in hostile territory with no merchant in sight. But prioritizing them depending on your build and the area you're exploring is key. From surviving rot swamps to squeezing out a clutch win in PvP, the right consumables offer more than just stat boosts—they provide tactical versatility and, often, a second chance.
So before your next journey into the Lands Between, take a moment to restock. You never know when that one bolus or grease might be the thing that saves your run.