How to use Elden Ring Summoning Pools and MP items

Elden Ring's mammoth open world is full of tough-as-nails bosses, random encounters and traps that will leave you watching the "You died" message and inevitable loading screen that follows. That's why many players want a little help to become the best Tarnished they can be, which is where Summoning Pools and Elden Ring's unique multiplayer comes into play.

In this guide to Elden Ring Summoning Pools, we explain how they work, how to activate them, and the important related items players should know about.

How do Summoning Pools work in Elden Ring?

First off, there have been some server issues resulting in players being unable to summon others in Elden Ring but at the time of writing, everything is fine and dandy.

To make your life a bit easier, or if you simply want to die against a tough boss alongside another Tarnished in Elden Ring, you will need to know how Summoning Pools work.

There are various summoning pools just about everywhere important, such as before boss fights, near Sites of Grace, and even close to open-world bosses. 

To activate a Summoning Pool in Elden Ring, players will need to interact with small, grey Effigies.

Once activated, the summoning of other Tarnished becomes available. 

With an active Summoning Pool, players can invite up to three friends or summon random strangers. The golden signs summon a co-op player, while the red signs summon an enemy player to fight to the death.

Importantly, players should always activate Summoning Pools in Elden Ring, even if they play offline and have no interest in co-op. This is due to the fact that NPC summons only appears once a Summoning Pool is activated in that area. You also can't summon Spirits using the Spirit Calling Bell unless you've interacted with the Effigy.

Elden Ring multiplayer items at Summoning Pools

Once you've activated a Summoning Pool in Elden Ring, you might only see a sign to summon an NPC. To see other players, you will need a Furlcalling Finger Remedy, which can be purchased from Merchant Kale for 1000 Runes, or crafted using two Erdleaf Flowers.

Once consumed, you can see the summon signs of other players. If you die, however, you will need to consume another one to summon players.

Check out a list and description of other Elden Ring multiplayer items that players can use at Summoning Pools below.

• Small Golden Effigy - Sends your sign to the Summoning 
• Small Red Effigy - Sends a PvP sign to a Summoning Pool.
• Small Golden Effigy - Send a PvE co-op sign to a Summoning Pool. (Allows others to summon you!)
• Tarnished's Furled Finger - Used to create a co-op sign, found at the start of the game.
• Finger Severer - Sends a player or yourself home (to your world).
• Festering Bloody Finger - Used to invade another player's world.
• Duelist's Furled Finger - Creates a red summoning sign for PvP.\
• Tarnished's Wizened Finger - Used to write messages to others. Can be used anywhere.
• Bloody Finger - Invade another player's world and battle to the death.
• Taunter's Tongue - Lure's invaders to your world.

So there you have it, a guide to the Summoning Pools in Elden Ring, and the important related items that might just make your journey into the Lands Between a bit easier.

• Read more: Where to find Blaidd the Wolfman in Elden Ring

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Featured image courtesy of FromSoftware.