Elden Ring: Best Settings for Smoother Performance and Clearer Combat

For the most reliable starting point, turn Ray Tracing off when frame rate or resolution becomes unstable. On PC, also test Motion Blur: Off and Depth of Field: Off if attacks and movement look obscured. Ray tracing is the setting with an explicit performance warning from Bandai Namco; the two clarity switches are visual-preference recommendations, not guaranteed frame-rate fixes.

The short answer: use a stability-first profile

Elden Ring’s best settings depend on your platform and hardware, so there is no universal preset that guarantees the same result everywhere. The practical approach is to change one relevant option, observe whether the problem improves, and keep the setting that matches your priority.

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• PC: Open System > Graphics > Ray Tracing Quality and set it to OFF if performance is unstable or ray tracing was enabled unintentionally. If combat visuals feel smeared, try Motion Blur and Depth of Field off. Bandai Namco also advises checking third-party mouse-control applications and verifying game files for certain PC problems.
• PS5: If the frame rate is unstable, Bandai Namco’s Version 1.16 notes suggest trying Rebuild Database from the console’s Safe Mode. This is a possible troubleshooting step, not a guaranteed repair.
• PS5 and Xbox Series X: Ray tracing is documented under Game Options > Ray Tracing. Disable it when stability matters more than its visual effects.
• Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One: The cited ray-tracing instructions do not document the same menu path for these platforms, so do not assume that the Series X or PS5 control exists on every console.

These recommendations apply to the game versions covered by Bandai Namco’s official patch documentation, which lists PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Steam as supported platforms. Bandai Namco’s Version 1.09 notes identify the platform support and the ray-tracing controls.

Set a baseline before changing anything

A short baseline test prevents you from chasing several symptoms at once. Use the same save, area, and type of encounter whenever possible. A busy fight with several enemies, a quick camera turn, and a traversal section can reveal different problems, so note which situation actually feels poor.

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1. Write down your current ray-tracing, Motion Blur, and Depth of Field choices.
2. Play for a few minutes without changing anything. Note whether the issue is stutter, a generally low frame rate, reduced resolution, blur, or an error message.
3. Change only the setting that matches that symptom.
4. Return to the same encounter and compare the result rather than relying on memory.

This method is especially useful on PC, where the same option can behave differently on different graphics cards and complete system configurations. It also keeps a visual preference from being mistaken for a technical repair.

Why ray tracing is the first setting to check

Ray tracing changes the way some lighting and reflections are rendered, but Bandai Namco warns that enabling it can affect both frame rate and resolution. That makes it the clearest documented trade-off between visual effects and smooth play in the available official guidance.

When a fight feels uneven, check ray tracing before changing several other options. An accidental toggle can leave you troubleshooting the wrong problem, especially after an update or when moving between graphics profiles. Bandai Namco repeated this warning in its Calibration Update 1.12.2, which reminds PC players with unstable frame rates to verify that ray tracing has not been set to ON.

Turn it off as a diagnostic test even if you like the effect. If stability and image resolution improve, you have identified a meaningful trade-off. If nothing changes, restore the option only if you prefer the lighting and reflections; continue investigating the platform-specific steps below for the remaining symptom.

PC menu path

1. Launch Elden Ring and open the main menu.
2. Choose System.
3. Open the Graphics tab.
4. Find Ray Tracing Quality.
5. Set it to OFF, then return to the game and check the same type of encounter that was stuttering.

The path and the recommendation to switch the option off when performance is unstable come from Bandai Namco’s Version 1.16 patch notes. Turning the option off is a diagnostic step as well as a possible final setting: if the problem remains, ray tracing was not the only cause.

PS5 and Xbox Series X menu path

1. Open the game’s Game Options.
2. Select Ray Tracing.
3. Disable it when you want to prioritize stable performance and resolution.

This is the documented path for PS5 and Xbox Series X in the Version 1.09 notes. The source does not provide an equivalent path for Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, so treat those platforms separately rather than assuming the same control is present.

Make combat easier to read on PC

Two settings in PC Gamer’s Elden Ring settings guide are aimed at reducing visual obstruction: Motion Blur: Off and Depth of Field: Off. Motion blur can soften the image during camera or character movement, while depth of field can leave parts of the scene intentionally out of focus. Disabling both gives you a clearer presentation to evaluate during attacks, rolls, and camera turns.

These switches should not be presented as guaranteed performance upgrades. The guide describes them as settings recommendations and notes that results depend on your graphics card and the rest of your PC build. If your frame rate is already stable but the action looks hard to follow, try the clarity changes independently so you know which one helped.

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A controlled clarity test

1. Record the current state of Motion Blur and Depth of Field before changing anything.
2. Turn Motion Blur off and replay a familiar combat situation.
3. If the image is still difficult to parse, turn Depth of Field off as well.
4. Keep the combination that makes enemy movement and your own attacks easiest to track. If the visual difference is not useful to you, restore your preferred setting.

Because the available PC guidance does not provide controlled benchmarks for specific GPUs, these are starting choices rather than a universal “best” preset. The full editorial recommendation is in PC Gamer’s PC settings guide.

Platform-by-platform troubleshooting

PC: unstable frame rate

Start with the ray-tracing check above. If Ray Tracing Quality is already off, Bandai Namco’s Version 1.16 guidance identifies another possible source: third-party applications that control mouse behavior. Deactivate those applications temporarily and test the game again. The note does not promise that closing a particular utility will fix every frame-rate problem; it identifies the software category as something to check.

• Confirm Ray Tracing Quality is OFF.
• Temporarily close or disable third-party mouse-control software.
• Retest the game before changing additional graphics options, so you can identify whether the change mattered.

If performance remains unstable after those checks, the cited material does not establish a current, model-specific graphics preset or a guaranteed hardware solution. Avoid treating a setting guide written for one PC build as a benchmark for another. A new graphics card, controller, optimization utility, or streaming subscription is not established as necessary by these troubleshooting steps.

PC: “Inappropriate activity detected” without cheating

Bandai Namco’s Version 1.16 notes recommend verifying the game files before restarting when this message appears without cheating. File verification checks the installed data for inconsistencies; the official advice is to complete that check and then restart the game. Use your platform’s built-in file-verification command rather than downloading an unverified repair tool.

1. Close Elden Ring.
2. Run the game client’s Verify integrity or equivalent file-check function.
3. Wait for the check to finish and repair any files it reports.
4. Restart the game and see whether the message returns.

This procedure is a troubleshooting recommendation, not evidence that every false detection has the same cause. If the message persists, record exactly when it appears and consult the current platform support guidance rather than repeatedly changing graphics options.

PS5: unstable frame rate

For PS5, Bandai Namco’s Version 1.16 notes suggest using Rebuild Database from the console’s Safe Mode. The publisher presents this as a possible way to improve an unstable frame rate, not as a guaranteed fix. Follow Sony’s current Safe Mode instructions for entering that menu, then select Rebuild Database and allow the process to finish before launching Elden Ring again.

Do not interpret this step as a graphics preset. It is a console-maintenance measure recommended for a specific symptom, so try it only after confirming the game and console are behaving normally in other respects. Do not interrupt the process, and do not substitute a factory reset; the cited instruction is specifically Rebuild Database.

Choosing between stability, clarity and visual effects

The settings below address different problems. Ray tracing is a visual-effects choice with an official performance and resolution caveat. Motion Blur and Depth of Field are clarity choices from an editorial PC guide. Keeping those categories separate prevents you from expecting one switch to solve a different symptom.

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Use the table as a decision aid, not as a ranking. For example, a player who values reflected lighting may keep ray tracing on after accepting a less stable image, while a player learning attack timings may prefer every clarity aid to be off. Neither choice is a universal requirement.

A practical decision flow for common symptoms

“The game is stuttering or the frame rate feels unstable.”

1. Identify the platform first; the available official instructions differ between PC, PS5, and PS5/Xbox Series X.
2. On PC, check System > Graphics > Ray Tracing Quality and turn it off if enabled.
3. On PS5 or Xbox Series X, check Game Options > Ray Tracing and disable it for the test.
4. On PC, deactivate third-party applications that control mouse behavior, then retest.
5. On PS5, consider Rebuild Database from Safe Mode if instability continues.
6. Change only one additional setting at a time. The cited sources do not provide controlled benchmarks that would justify a universal PC preset.

“Combat looks blurry, but performance is acceptable.”

1. On PC, set Motion Blur to Off.
2. Retest a familiar fight.
3. If portions of the scene still look out of focus, set Depth of Field to Off.
4. Keep ray tracing based on your preferred visual effect and stability; do not assume the clarity switches replace the ray-tracing check.

“I cannot find the ray-tracing option.”

Check your platform against the documented menu paths. The sources specifically identify System > Graphics > Ray Tracing Quality on PC and Game Options > Ray Tracing on PS5 and Xbox Series X. They do not document that same path for Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One. Absence of the menu on one of those systems should not be treated as proof that a PC or Series X instruction applies there.

Common mistakes when tuning Elden Ring

• Changing everything at once: If ray tracing, blur, depth of field, and other options all change together, you cannot tell which adjustment affected the symptom.
• Calling clarity a performance fix: Motion Blur and Depth of Field off may make combat easier to read, but the cited guide does not establish a frame-rate improvement.
• Assuming console menus are identical: The official ray-tracing path is documented for PS5 and Xbox Series X, not every console listed in the platform support notes.
• Using a PC preset as a benchmark: PC Gamer explicitly ties results to the graphics card and PC build, and the available sources contain no current controlled tests across GPU models.
• Buying hardware before checking settings: The documented troubleshooting starts with ray tracing, mouse-control applications, file verification, and (on PS5) database rebuilding. It does not establish that a new GPU, controller, optimization utility, or streaming service is required.
• Assuming an update cannot change a menu: The named instructions come from specific patch notes. If labels differ on your installed version, use the wording in that version and consult the current publisher support page.
• Treating one bad area as a complete verdict: Compare the same encounter after each change. A setting that helps one camera angle or effect may not explain every performance complaint.

What the available evidence can—and cannot—tell you

Bandai Namco’s official notes provide concrete menu locations and platform-specific troubleshooting, but they do not publish a current benchmark showing how many frames a particular setting gains on a named GPU or console. PC Gamer’s recommendations are useful for establishing a clarity-oriented starting point, not for predicting identical results on every computer.

That distinction matters when you compare settings. A stable, clear image is a personal target shaped by your hardware and visual preference. Use the documented paths, make one change at a time, and judge the result in the game rather than treating an internet preset as a guarantee.

Supported versions and source dates

The platform list comes from Bandai Namco Europe’s Version 1.09 patch notes dated March 23, 2023. The PC and PS5 troubleshooting suggestions cited here come from Bandai Namco Entertainment America’s Version 1.16 notes published in 2025. The ray-tracing reminder for PC appears in the Calibration Update 1.12.2 dated June 20, 2024. The Motion Blur and Depth of Field recommendations come from PC Gamer’s 2022 PC settings guide. Menu labels and behavior can change with later patches, so use the in-game wording you see on your installed version when it differs from an older note.

Quick checklist before you resume a difficult fight

• Confirm which platform you are using and follow only its documented menu path.
• Check ray tracing first whenever frame rate or resolution is unstable.
• On PC, test Motion Blur off and then Depth of Field off if movement is hard to read.
• Close third-party mouse-control software during a PC troubleshooting test.
• Verify PC game files if “Inappropriate activity detected” appears without cheating, then restart.
• Use PS5 Safe Mode’s Rebuild Database only as the suggested possible remedy for persistent unstable frame rate.
• Keep notes on each change so you can restore a preferred visual profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I turn ray tracing off in Elden Ring?

If frame rate or resolution is unstable, yes: turning it off is the clearest publisher-documented troubleshooting step. Bandai Namco warns that ray tracing can affect both. Keep it on only if you prefer its visual effects and the trade-off is acceptable.

How do I make Elden Ring combat clearer on PC?

Set Motion Blur to Off, replay a familiar encounter, and then try Depth of Field Off if parts of the scene still look out of focus. PC Gamer presents these as clarity-oriented choices, not guaranteed performance fixes.

Where is the ray-tracing setting on PC?

Open System, choose Graphics, and find Ray Tracing Quality. Set it to Off for a stability test.

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Where is ray tracing on PS5 or Xbox Series X?

Open Game Options and select Ray Tracing. Those are the menu locations documented by Bandai Namco for PS5 and Xbox Series X.

What if I cannot find ray tracing on Xbox Series S, PS4, or Xbox One?

The cited instructions do not document the same control for those systems. Do not assume the PS5 or Series X path applies; use the menus and support information for your installed version.

Can mouse software cause Elden Ring frame-rate problems on PC?

Bandai Namco advises temporarily deactivating third-party applications that control mouse behavior when frame rate is unstable. Test again before changing more graphics options.

What should I do about “Inappropriate activity detected” when I did not cheat?

Close the game, verify its files with your platform’s built-in integrity check, allow repairs to finish, and restart. This is the publisher’s troubleshooting recommendation for that situation.

Does PS5 Rebuild Database guarantee smoother performance?

No. Bandai Namco suggests Rebuild Database from Safe Mode as a possible step for unstable frame rate. It is console maintenance, not a guaranteed graphics fix.

Do I need a new GPU or optimization utility for these settings?

Nothing in the documented guidance establishes a need for new hardware, an optimization utility, a controller, or a streaming service. Check the listed settings and troubleshooting steps first.

Are these settings guaranteed to deliver a specific FPS?

No. The cited material contains no controlled, current benchmarks across GPU models or consoles. Results depend on platform, graphics hardware, system configuration, and visual preference.

The Bottom Line

For smoother Elden Ring performance, check ray tracing first and turn it off when frame rate or resolution is unstable. On PC, Motion Blur Off and Depth of Field Off can make combat easier to read, but they are clarity choices rather than promised FPS upgrades. Follow the platform-specific troubleshooting steps, change one option at a time, and judge the result on your own system.

Quick Recap

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