Elden Ring Spirit Steed and Mounted Combat
The Spirit Steed can be used to travel long-distances. Players basically ride it on horseback. The Spirit Steed could also be used to store items and as a combat mechanism where players can attack their enemies while riding the creature.
Torrent looks like a horse. They have a white mane, and they are made from blue ethereal energy.
How to get Spirit Steed Torrent
It is easy to unlock the Spirit Steed in Elden Ring. Simply explore the world to find Sites of Grace across the map. Sites can be used as fast travel points - same logic as the classic Bonfires from the Dark Souls games. After you have found at least three Sites of Grace, you will be able to receive Spectral Steed Whistle from Melina. This key item is used to summon Torrent quickly and can then be used again to dismount.
Notes:
- You can summon Torrent (your horse / spirit steed) using the Spectral Steed Whistle you got from Melina.
- Multiplayer: Torrent can't be used during PVP or Coop sessions. Torrent is not essential, however. This was done to balance.
A great mount for a vast open world
Mounted Combat is an established feature of the game. It is not known yet if Mount Cosmetics, Equipment or related items are available in the game.
Horse combat can be a fun and convenient skill to master. While you are not in combat, your Spirit Steed can be summoned and particular platforms can be used to get the horse to higher zones. They are usually found near the feet of tall structures and look like a blue swirling pool on the ground. Your character is propelled high into the air, and you can move in any direction you wish. This allows you to reach tall structures. Torrent is not subject to fall damage while landing on these Jump pads.
Mounts are necessary in order to deal with distances and save time. You can summon Torrent from anywhere in the world by using the Spectral Steed Whistle. Torrent will quickly form from blue energy under your feet so you don't lose any momentum. To escape faster attacks, you can make Torrent sprint forward at a rapid pace to escape.
Double Jumping with Torrent
Double Jump is a great way to climb rocky cliffs. But this is a Mount-Only feature. It can be used to avoid area attacks by staying above the ground. Torrent can be summoned in the open world but not in Legacy dungeons, smaller dungeons, and catacombs.
Mounted Combat in Elden Ring
You can also fight your enemies with Torrent. Weapons have different movesets when on horseback. You can perform ranged attacks in any direction, while the camera is still tracking the mount. This adds a nice flair to battles. But casting a spell can slow Torrent down.
Mounted Combat is not always convenient due to the way that some enemies fight. Mounts need lots of space, so fighting on a mount may not be the best option in certain situations. If you take enough hits you will fall off Torrent and be vulnerable to severe damage for a while. You must dodge enemy attacks when mounted. You can also fight off mounted enemies. We advise you to use Spear for such fights.
Locking on enemies can be very effective at times, allowing you to quickly circle around your target.
Torrent is able to take out larger enemies using slower attacks. The attacks of your mount have a very short delay - so timing is crucial. You should keep moving forward past the enemy and then turn back to attack again. Otherwise, they can attack you if you stand too close to an enemy.
Attacks cannot be dodged by rolling, nor blocking when on horseback. Instead, you need to put some distance and ride Torrent away from the battle area. For hordes or weaker enemies, you should stick to the side of the group and use your charged heavy attacks. You should not be in the center of a group. Or else you will most likely get knocked out. For ranged enemies, you should lock on to them and then revolve around them quickly in order to get closer while dodging their projectiles. It can be difficult to attack enemies that have faster attacks. If you get too close, you may get hit. It can be difficult to aim your attacks against enemies moving faster than you. It is difficult to maneuver in tight spaces so you should consider walking.
If they are open-world bosses, you can fight them on Torrent. Horse combat can be used against Flying Dragon Agheel and Tree Sentinel to avoid certain attacks that are difficult to dodge on foot.
How to heal and re-summon Torrent
Rowa Raisins (made from Rowa Berries) can heal Torrent if he takes damage. If Torrent dies, you will be stunned for several seconds and fall to the ground. Torrent can usually be re-summoned unless you are in the middle of a boss fight.