As both a gamer and a developer, I often found myself manually calculating character stats while planning builds in Elden Ring.
After repeatedly switching between spreadsheets, wikis, and character planners, I decided to build a dedicated Elden Ring Build Calculator.
This article shares some of the challenges and lessons learned during development.
The Problem
Elden Ring includes dozens of attributes, weapon requirements, scaling systems, and soft caps.
Players frequently ask questions such as:
How much Vigor should I level?
When does Intelligence hit diminishing returns?
Can I use this weapon at my current level?
How should I distribute stats for a Level 150 build?
Answering these questions manually can be time-consuming.
Choosing the Tech Stack
For this project, I chose:
Next.js
TypeScript
React
Tailwind CSS
The goal was to create a fast and responsive tool that works well on both desktop and mobile devices.
Server-side rendering and SEO were also important considerations because many users discover build calculators through Google search.
Implementing Stat Calculations
One of the biggest challenges was handling attribute calculations accurately.
The calculator needed to account for:
Base class stats
Attribute investment
Soft cap breakpoints
Weapon requirements
Rune level calculations
Even small mistakes could produce inaccurate build recommendations.
To improve reliability, all calculations were validated against in-game values and community resources.
User Experience Considerations
Many gaming tools become overwhelming because they expose too much information at once.
I focused on keeping the interface simple:
Immediate stat feedback
Clear level calculations
Mobile-friendly layout
Fast updates without page reloads
The goal was to make build planning accessible even for new players.
SEO for Gaming Tools
An interesting challenge was SEO.
Most gaming websites focus on articles, but tools can also generate significant organic traffic when they solve a specific problem.
Some strategies included:
Creating dedicated landing pages
Publishing supporting guides
Building internal links
Targeting long-tail search queries
Over time, this approach helped increase search visibility for relevant Elden Ring keywords.
The Result
The finished calculator allows players to experiment with builds before spending runes in-game.
If you're interested in seeing the project, you can try it here:
https://www.zosygo.com/elden-ring/tools/build-calculator
Final Thoughts
Building gaming tools combines several interesting disciplines:
Frontend development
Data modeling
UX design
SEO
For developers who enjoy games, creating utility tools can be a fun way to improve technical skills while helping a community solve real problems.
Have you built any gaming-related tools or calculators? I'd love to hear about your experience.
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