When it comes to building your character and progressing in Elden Ring, acquiring the right gear and resources can make a huge difference. Players often face the question: Should you grind for Elden Ring items in-game, or purchase them through third-party services like Elden Ring item packs for sale?
Having played over 200 hours across multiple characters and builds, I’ve explored both routes. Below are 7 key comparisons based on firsthand experience to help you decide what fits your playstyle and goals best.
1. Time Investment
In-Game: Grinding for Elden Ring items in-game demands a significant amount of time. Farming runes, rare drops, or materials from specific enemies can take hours, especially if you’re aiming for optimized builds.
Third-Party: Purchasing Elden Ring item packs for sale dramatically cuts down that time. Within minutes, you can receive powerful weapons, armor, and crafting materials to boost your gameplay.
Personal Take: As a working adult with limited gaming hours, buying items gave me more time to actually enjoy the core content like boss fights and exploration.
2. Customization and Specificity
In-Game: You can target specific items through known drop locations or quest lines, but RNG (random number generation) can still be frustrating.
Third-Party: Sellers often let you choose exactly which items you want, or offer curated bundles designed for certain builds (e.g., Strength, Faith, Dex).
Personal Take: I once farmed for the Rivers of Blood katana for two days. Buying it would’ve saved a lot of frustration.
3. Legitimacy and Safety
In-Game: Everything earned in-game is 100% safe and within FromSoftware’s intended gameplay systems.
Third-Party: Buying from reputable sources is generally safe, but risks exist. Low-quality sellers might provide hacked items or get your account flagged.
Tip: I only buy from trusted platforms with strong reviews and transparent item descriptions.
4. Cost
In-Game: Free, but costs your time and patience.
Third-Party: Costs real money. Prices for Elden Ring item packs for sale vary depending on the number and rarity of items.
Personal Take: I treat item purchases like DLC—if the value I get in enjoyment and time saved is worth it, I consider it a fair trade.
5. Progression Impact
In-Game: You earn a deep appreciation for every achievement and gradually understand game mechanics better.
Third-Party: Speeds up progression, which can sometimes skip natural learning curves and reduce the game’s challenge.
Personal Take: I use third-party packs only after I’ve cleared the game once. It keeps the first run pure and helps me enjoy new builds later.
6. Multiplayer Fairness
In-Game: Balanced, since everyone starts from the same ground.
Third-Party: Buying powerful gear early can create imbalance in PvP and co-op, especially if your character level is still low.
Note: I avoid PvP with purchased items to maintain fairness in community play.
7. Build Experimentation
In-Game: Harder to test multiple builds due to rune and gear scarcity.
Third-Party: Easier to experiment with new builds, since you can quickly acquire different sets of Elden Ring items without grinding.
Personal Take: I enjoy creating themed builds—like a pure mage or dual greatsword tank—and item packs let me switch roles quickly.
Both in-game grinding and third-party purchases have their place in Elden Ring. If you value the organic experience and challenge, stick with earning your gear. But if time is short or you want to explore more builds, purchasing Elden Ring item packs for sale can be a practical and enjoyable alternative—so long as it’s done responsibly.
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