Elden Ring, the critically acclaimed action RPG by FromSoftware, features a deep and complex character progression system. One of the key mechanics that players need to understand is soft caps—hidden stat breakpoints that determine the efficiency of leveling up attributes. Knowing how soft caps work can help you allocate your runes wisely, ensuring your character reaches peak performance without wasting levels.
What Are Soft Caps in Elden Ring?
Soft caps in Elden Ring refer to points at which increasing a stat starts yielding diminishing returns. Every attribute—whether it’s Vigor, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane, Endurance, or Mind—has specific soft caps that affect how much benefit you get per level.
Before reaching a soft cap, investing in an attribute provides significant boosts to related stats, such as HP, FP, stamina, damage scaling, and resistances. However, once you hit a soft cap, the gains become smaller, making it less efficient to continue leveling that stat.
Understanding these breakpoints is crucial to optimizing your build, whether you’re focusing on melee combat, sorcery, faith-based incantations, or hybrid playstyles.
Elden Ring Soft Caps for All Stats
Each attribute in Elden Ring has two or three soft caps, meaning that after specific points, the stat’s effectiveness starts decreasing. Below is a breakdown of the soft caps for each major attribute:
1. Vigor (HP and Fire Resistance)
Vigor controls your total HP and increases fire resistance. Investing in Vigor is essential for survival, especially against tough bosses.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 40 – Large HP increases per level.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 60 – Smaller HP increases.
- Hard Cap: Level 90 – Minimal HP gains after this point.
Best Strategy: Aim for 60 Vigor if you want to maximize survivability in PvP and PvE. Going beyond 60 gives very little benefit.
2. Mind (FP and Focus Points for Magic and Skills)
Mind affects your FP pool, which determines how many times you can cast spells or use Ashes of War.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 50 – Big FP increases.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 60 – Much smaller gains.
Best Strategy: If you’re using magic or spirit summons often, aim for at least 50 Mind for an optimal balance of FP and efficiency.
3. Endurance (Stamina and Equip Load)
Endurance governs stamina (used for attacking, dodging, and blocking) and equip load (which determines if you can wear heavy armor).
- Soft Cap for Stamina: Level 50 – Stamina gains stop increasing after this.
- Soft Cap for Equip Load: Level 60 – Minimal benefits beyond this level.
Best Strategy: 50 Endurance is enough for stamina-heavy builds, while 60 is useful if you’re using ultra-heavy armor.
4. Strength (Physical Attack Scaling and Weapon Requirements)
Strength determines the damage output of Colossal Weapons, Greatswords, and other heavy weapons.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 20 – High damage scaling.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 55 – Moderate damage scaling.
- Hard Cap: Level 80 – Extremely low returns after this point.
Best Strategy: If using Colossal Weapons, go up to 60 Strength for maximum damage.
5. Dexterity (Weapon Scaling and Casting Speed)
Dexterity affects damage scaling for katanas, rapiers, bows, and faster weapons. It also slightly increases spell casting speed and reduces fall damage.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 20 – Good scaling.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 55 – Moderate scaling.
- Hard Cap: Level 80 – Minimal gains.
Best Strategy: If focusing on Dex weapons, aim for 55–60 Dexterity for peak performance.
6. Intelligence (Sorcery Scaling and Magic Resistance)
Intelligence boosts sorcery damage and allows the use of powerful Glintstone spells.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 20 – Strong scaling.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 50 – Good scaling.
- Hard Cap: Level 80 – Very low gains.
Best Strategy: 60 Intelligence is recommended for pure sorcery builds.
7. Faith (Incantation Scaling and Holy Damage)
Faith is used for casting incantations such as healing, buffs, and fire/lightning spells.
- Soft Cap 1: Level 20 – Strong scaling.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 50 – Moderate scaling.
- Hard Cap: Level 80 – Minimal gains.
Best Strategy: If you’re playing a Faith-based build, aim for 60 Faith.
8. Arcane (Status Effect Buildup and Item Discovery)
Arcane affects bleed, poison, and madness buildup while also boosting Item Discovery (increasing the chances of enemies dropping rare loot).
- Soft Cap 1: Level 20 – Good scaling.
- Soft Cap 2: Level 50 – Moderate scaling.
- Hard Cap: Level 80 – Minimal gains.
Best Strategy: If using bleed builds (Rivers of Blood, Eleonora’s Poleblade, or Reduvia), 50–60 Arcane is optimal.
How to Use Soft Caps to Build the Perfect Character
1. Maximize Efficiency with Hybrid Builds
If you’re creating a hybrid build, balance your stats carefully. For example:
- A Strength/Faith Paladin might aim for 55 Strength and 50 Faith.
- A Dex/Int Spellblade could go for 55 Dexterity and 50 Intelligence.
- A Bleed Samurai Build should focus on 55 Dexterity and 50 Arcane.
2. Don’t Waste Runes on Hard Caps
Once a stat hits its hard cap (usually level 80), leveling it further is pointless. Instead, invest in secondary stats like Vigor or Endurance to improve survivability.
3. Consider Respeccing if Needed
If you’ve already spent points inefficiently, use Larval Tears to respect your character at Rennala in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
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Final Thoughts on Elden Ring Soft Caps
Understanding soft caps is essential to building the perfect character in Elden Ring. Whether you’re going for a melee powerhouse, a swift dexterity fighter, a sorcery master, or a bleed-based rogue, knowing when to stop leveling a stat ensures you get the most out of your runes.
If you’re struggling to decide, stick to these key breakpoints:
✔ 60 Vigor for survival.
✔ 50–60 Strength or Dexterity for melee damage.
✔ 50–60 Intelligence or Faith for magic builds.
✔ 50 Arcane for status-effect builds.
By optimizing your stats around these soft caps, you’ll be able to take on Elden Ring’s toughest bosses, dominate PvP, and fully enjoy the Lands Between without wasting a single rune.