Elden Ring players are already tearing through the game without leveling up

The Souls games by FromSoftware are known for their difficulty, yet they are also fair and mechanically consistent (except when it's humorous). Which is why these games, which typically see players finish a playthrough at level 90–120, can be defeated without ever seeing the level-up screen, and the "soul level one" run and its variants have become a cherished tradition in the Souls speed and challenge run community.

Ongbal and LobosJr, two Soulsborne challenge runners, have progressed deep into Elden Ring at rune level one, killing some of the game's toughest bosses with low health, endurance, and damage, such as Malenia and the Godskin Duo.

Ongbal only publishes to YouTube and made a name for themselves with some very bizarre Sekiro challenges. The Wretch (the only class that starts at level one) and their default club, which has been modified with the "cold" infusion for additional frostbite damage.

Lobos has been a fixture in the Souls challenge run community for years—I first became aware of him through his all-bosses Dark Souls 2 speedruns, but his no-weapon, no-HUD Bloodborne run is a personal favorite. In his level one run, Lobos has used a variety of weapons, but the Misericorde thrusting sword proved effective against the mega-hard secret boss Malenia, and he also appears to be getting a lot of use out of the exceedingly deadly Ringed Finger club. Rather of the traditional Souls series dodge-and-attack rhythm, both Lobos and Ongbal make great use of the Buckler shield's generous parry window to set up critical blows for the majority of their damage-dealing.