Surviving the punishing depths of Elden Ring’s many dungeons requires more than just skill with a sword or mastery of magic—it takes smart preparation, especially when it comes to healing. The dungeons are teeming with deadly traps, hidden enemies, and relentless bosses, and running out of healing options halfway through can lead to yet another journey back from a Site of Grace. This guide focuses on how to combine the best Elden Ring items for healing, allowing you to extend your dungeon runs and reduce frustrating setbacks.

Whether you’re a new Tarnished or a veteran of the Lands Between, these six tips will help you make the most out of your healing arsenal.

1. Use Flask of Crimson Tears Strategically

The Flask of Crimson Tears is your go-to healing item, but how and when you use it makes a huge difference. Don’t chug it after every hit—practice damage mitigation and dodge timing to minimize the need to heal. Additionally, make sure to upgrade your flasks with Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears. These Elden Ring items significantly boost your healing efficiency, especially important in longer dungeon crawls where Sites of Grace are scarce.

2. Pair Healing Talismans with Your Gear

Items like the Blessed Dew Talisman slowly regenerate your health over time. While the regeneration rate is slow, it becomes incredibly valuable over the long haul. Equip it in dungeons with frequent but minor enemy encounters, where you can recover between skirmishes. Combine this with defensive Elden Ring items weapons like shields that boost your survivability and reduce how often you need to heal in the first place.

3. Use Physick Mixes with Healing Effects

The Flask of Wondrous Physick is one of the most customizable Elden Ring items. You can mix different Crystal Tears to create the perfect healing combo. For dungeon survival, combine the Crimson Crystal Tear (which restores HP) with the Opaline Bubbletear (which provides a protective shield). This dual effect gives you both a healing boost and a layer of damage protection—perfect for unexpected ambushes or tough mini-bosses.

4. Bring Healing Incantations (Even if You’re Not a Caster)

You don’t have to be a full-on Faith build to benefit from healing magic. Basic incantations like “Urgent Heal” or “Blessing of the Erdtree” can be life-savers in prolonged fights. These can be cast even in the thick of combat, giving you flexible healing when your flasks run dry. Don’t forget that casting speed and FP cost matter, so pair your incantations with the right Sacred Seal and mind investment.

5. Stock Up on Consumable Healing Items

Beyond your standard flasks, there are numerous consumable Elden Ring items that can top off your health in emergencies. Items like the Starlight Shard or the Hefty Beast Bone-based meat dishes grant slow HP regeneration or instant boosts. While they often require a bit more prep time and inventory management, these consumables shine when used between encounters or while waiting for enemies to approach.

6. Choose Weapons That Support Your Healing Strategy

Some Elden Ring items weapons come with weapon skills that offer healing effects. For example, the “Blasphemous Blade” restores HP with each kill, making it incredibly effective in enemy-dense dungeons. Similarly, weapons with the “Prayerful Strike” Ash of War can heal you on a successful hit. Incorporating these tools into your build reduces your reliance on flasks and gives you a constant source of in-combat healing.

Mastering the art of healing is essential for any Tarnished hoping to explore every corner of Elden Ring’s treacherous dungeons. By combining the right Elden Ring items—from talismans and flasks to incantations and healing-based Elden Ring items weapons—you can extend your dungeon delves significantly and face greater challenges with confidence.

The Lands Between may be unforgiving, but with preparation and strategy, you’ll find yourself lasting longer and dying less. And in Elden Ring, that’s the real victory.