Understanding tender caps are key to find out how to stage up stats and runes in Elden Ring. That means, if the tender cap breakpoints, you’ll be capable to get the optimum return from the runes you’ve spent — versus receiving diminishing returns from extreme stats.
If that sounds a bit advanced, don’t fear; on this information, we’ll clarify every little thing there’s to learn about tender caps in Elden Ring.
What are tender caps in Elden Ring?
If you happen to’re no stranger to the Lands Between and Shadow of the Erdtree’s Realm of Shadow, you in all probability know the drill: defeat enemies, obtain runes, and use the runes to stage your stats at a Website of Grace. Every particular person stat may be leveled from 1 to 99, with 99 being the “laborious cap” — the restrict.
Beware, nevertheless, that there’s a distinction between leveling a stat from stage 30 to stage 31 or from stage 50 to stage 51, as you’ll obtain much less advantages when you’ve crossed a sure threshold. This threshold known as a “tender cap” or a “breakpoint” in Elden Ring. If you begin leveling a stat, the returns will initially stay the identical and even enhance with each new stage, however after reaching a sure breakpoint, the stat shall be soft-capped and the returns will grow to be much less and fewer.
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
As you possibly can see, the returns per stage have improved; as an alternative of 10 HP factors, you acquired 12 HP factors the second time. These rising returns will attain their peak when leveling Vigor from stage 39 to stage 40, with a whopping 48 HP factors gained (from 1402 HP to 1450 HP).
If you happen to proceed to stage your Vigor from stage 40 to stage 41, although, your HP will enhance from 1450 to 1476; a return of 26 HP factors. It’s nonetheless an enchancment, however clearly not almost as nice because the earlier 48 HP factors. From this level onwards, the quantity of HP gained from extra Vigor ranges will steadily decline. Stage 40 is subsequently known as the primary tender cap for Vigor.
And that’s not all; each Elden Ring stat has a minimum of two tender cap factors, as much as as many as 4. For Vigor, the quantity of HP gained from larger ranges will drop considerably after stage 60, as you’ll solely get between 3 and 6 HP factors per stage afterwards. Stage 60 is subsequently named the second tender cap for this stat.

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
The existence of soppy caps in Elden Ring doesn’t imply you need to cease leveling a stat after reaching such a breakpoint, however it does imply that you’ll want to thoughts your stat level allocation. Leveling Vigor from 40 to 60 can nonetheless be an ideal alternative, however you would possibly must prioritize different stats earlier than you accomplish that, because the returns from these upgrades could also be far higher. If you happen to’d wish to respec your present stats, go to Rennala within the Raya Lucaria library and choose “Rebirth”.
Elden Ring tender caps in 2025
Earlier than we dive into the main points, right here’s a fast overview of all tender cap breakpoints per stat sort in Elden Ring:
Let’s delve into every stat, one-by-one:

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Vigor improves HP, hearth resistance, and immunity. As talked about within the instance above, Vigor has rising returns earlier than reaching the primary tender cap at stage 40. That is superb, because it means you’ll obtain an increasing number of HP with each stage up till that time. Sadly, the drop-off is slightly steep, going from 48 HP to 26 HP factors — and even right down to solely 6 per stage after the second tender cap at stage 60.
Having a excessive HP is extraordinarily helpful for nearly any Elden Ring construct – it’s laborious sufficient to remain alive with out giving each enemy the likelihood to one-shot you. We subsequently suggest to hit the primary tender cap of stage 40, and proceed to stage 60 in case your playstyle wants it (frontline melee builds, for instance). Something above stage 60 is a waste of runes.

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Thoughts improves your FP and Focus. Focus is a pleasant defensive stat to have (protects in opposition to sleep and insanity) however FP, often known as “mana,” is much extra essential because it’s wanted to solid spells. With that in thoughts, you actually solely want as a lot Thoughts as you require FP to solid your magic. With a completely upgraded Flask of Cerulean Tears, you possibly can restore 220 FP — one full FP bar at Thoughts stage 38. Subsequently, Thoughts at +38 is subsequently the “candy spot” earlier than hitting the FP tender cap at stage 50 and Focus tender cap at stage 40.

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Endurance improves stamina, most gear load (permitting you to remain inside the “medium load” vary whereas carrying heavier armor, for instance), and robustness (resistance to bleed and frostbite). The quantity of stamina you’ll want relies on how a lot you eat; for those who’re utilizing a melee construct, you’ll usually need a minimum of +34 Endurance, a stamina and gear load candy spot that additionally presents some robustness.
If you happen to’re an endgame participant with a lot of runes to spend, you could hold going till the gear load tender cap at stage 60, as this lets you equip much better armor units whereas remaining in a below-heavy load vary.
Power and Dexterity tender caps

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Power and Dexterity enhance the injury handled armaments (weapons) scaling with these stats (often bodily/melee weapons). Though the breakpoints and minimal stats required depend upon the person armament, the bodily injury tender caps are usually at stage 20, 60, and 80.
In the beginning of your Elden Ring sport, must you resolve to wield a strength- or dexterity-scaling weapon, attempt to attain tender cap stage 20 as quickly as doable. Go as much as 60 as you progress additional (don’t neglect your Vigor, Endurance, and Thoughts tender caps), however there’s no must proceed previous the extent 80 tender cap.
Intelligence, Religion, and Arcane tender caps

Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Moreover enhancing armaments that scale with these stats, Intelligence boosts the facility of your sorceries, Religion will increase the facility of incantations, and Arcane improves standing buildup (for Arcane-scaling weapons).
Just like Power and Dexterity, the precise scaling relies on the armament you’re utilizing, however you usually must hit stage 20 for one of the best beneficial properties in early sport. Attempt to finally hit the tender cap round stage 50, however it’s not value it to transcend stage 80.
The defensive attributes (vitality, magic protection, and so on.) hit a really steep drop-off after stage 60.