Navigating the sprawling world of The Lands Between on foot can quickly become a daunting task for new players. Fortunately, Elden Ring provides players with a loyal spectral steed named Torrent to drastically speed up exploration and aid in open-world combat. Knowing how to unlock Torrent early and utilize his capabilities effectively is fundamental for surviving your grand journey.
How to Unlock Torrent in Elden Ring
Unlocking your horse requires meeting the maiden Melina early in your adventure. Players must venture out into Limgrave and rest at three open-world Sites of Grace to trigger her first appearance. Resting at the Gatefront Site of Grace is often the most direct way to initiate this critical dialogue cutscene.
During this encounter, Melina will offer you a alliance and hand over the Spectral Steed Whistle. Accepting her terms grants you immediate access to Torrent whenever you are outdoors. This essential item serves as the key to summoning your mount throughout your entire playthrough.
Equipping and Summoning Your Spectral Steed
To call Torrent into action, you must first equip the Spectral Steed Whistle to your Quick Items menu or Pouch. Placing the whistle in your Pouch slots allows for quick hotkey access without cycling through your consumable items. Pressing the corresponding button instantly summons Torrent directly beneath you for a seamless transition into riding.
Keep in mind that Torrent can only be summoned in outdoor areas and expansive open dungeons. You will not be able to call your steed inside tight indoor locations, catacombs, or during specific multiplayer sessions. If Torrent takes critical damage and disappears, you can spend one Flask of Crimson Tears to call him back immediately.
Mastering Mounted Movement and Combat
Riding Torrent offers unique advantages, such as the ability to perform a double jump mid-air to reach high ledges. This extra mobility allows players to scale cliffsides and utilize Spiritspring gusts to launch high into the air. Masterful use of mounted movement makes traversing treacherous environments much safer and faster.
Combat while mounted also shifts your strategy significantly by prioritizing hit-and-run tactics against massive foes. Swing your weapon to the left or right depending on which side your enemy approaches for maximum damage. Using Torrent's speed enables you to strike heavy open-world bosses and retreat before they can execute counterattacks.
Healing and Caring for Torrent in Battle
Torrent possesses his own separate health bar that drains as he absorbs incoming attacks from enemies. If Torrent loses all his health, you will be unmounted and knocked to the ground, leaving you briefly vulnerable to enemy follow-ups. Monitoring your steed's health status during intense battles is vital to avoiding dangerous knockdowns.
Players can heal Torrent in the middle of combat by feeding him crafted items like Raisins. Gathering Rowa Berries across the landscape lets you craft simple food treats that restore Torrent's health points instantly. Keeping a stock of snacks ready ensures your mount remains healthy during long boss fights.
