FromSoftware's Elden Ring is a masterpiece of deep mechanics, punishing difficulty, and hidden complexity. One of the most important—and easily overlooked—aspects of the game is item management. With such a massive variety of consumables, upgrade materials, talismans, and crafting components, it's surprisingly easy to misuse or even waste your most valuable Elden Ring Items.Having sunk over 200 hours into multiple characters and playstyles, I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes. So, to help you get the most from your journey through the Lands Between, here are seven practical tips to ensure your items are used wisely.

1. Don’t Use Upgrade Materials Too EarlySomber Smithing Stones and regular Smithing Stones are limited, especially in early areas. It’s tempting to upgrade the first cool weapon you find, but that +6 or +9 investment could be better used on a late-game weapon you’ll use for longer. I upgraded the Great Epee early on, only to find the Blasphemous Blade later—and realized I couldn’t bring it to full strength without significant farming.

2. Check What Items Are Used for Before Consuming ThemBefore popping a Rune Arc, Larval Tear, or Remembrance, read the item description. Rune Arcs, for instance, are rare and best used with a Great Rune active. Larval Tears are essential for respecs via Rennala, and Remembrances can often be traded for powerful weapons or spells rather than just consumed for runes. I once consumed a Remembrance for a few thousand runes without realizing it could have netted me a unique spell perfect for my build.

3. Store (Don’t Sell) Rare Crafting MaterialsSome crafting items like Sacramental Buds or Aeonian Butterflies are scarce and needed for high-tier consumables. They may seem useless early on, but later in the game or in NG+, they’re vital. Keep your storage organized and resist the urge to sell them for quick runes.

4. Use Buff Items in Boss Fights, Not Trash MobsConsumables like Fire Grease, Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tears, or Boiled Crab offer significant advantages, but they’re best reserved for boss encounters or PvP. Using them on random field enemies may feel good in the moment, but it’s inefficient. I used all my Magic Grease in Liurnia without realizing how much I’d miss it in the Carian Study Hall boss fight.

5. Experiment With Items in a Controlled Area FirstBefore throwing on a new talisman or trying a rare consumable mid-battle, test it in a controlled environment. Many players waste items trying to understand their effects during a boss fight, which can lead to panic and poor decision-making. I lost a valuable Bewitching Branch trying it out on a Crucible Knight—only to find it doesn’t work on them.

6. Organize Your Quick Item SlotsPutting too many items in your quick-use slots can cause confusion during fast-paced fights. Keep essentials like flasks, buffs, and heals on-hand, but store situational items elsewhere in the pouch or inventory menu. During my first Radahn fight, I accidentally used a Flask of Wondrous Physick instead of a healing flask—lesson learned.

7. Invest in Pouch and Inventory FamiliarityMany players overlook the pouch system entirely. Items placed in the pouch (accessed with a long-press of the item-use button) are far easier to access in critical moments. This is especially useful for switching between healing and buffing items without the risk of scrolling through the entire item wheel mid-combat.

As you venture deeper into the game, managing your inventory becomes not just a convenience, but a strategic advantage. If you're looking for an easier way to boost your build or test new setups, sourcing cheap Elden Ring Items can save you hours of farming and allow more time to explore and enjoy the game.The world of Elden Ring rewards patience, preparation, and smart item usage. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll preserve your most valuable resources and ensure that when the moment counts, you’re fully equipped to face it.