You’re getting flattened. One minute you’re dodging a lunging Crucible Knight, and the next, you’re staring at the "You Died" screen because your health bar just isn't beefy enough or your stamina ran dry mid-roll. It happens. But honestly, the biggest handicap isn't your skill—it's your gear. Specifically, it's that empty space where an Elden Ring talisman pouch should be.
Most players start the game with a single talisman slot. It’s pathetic. You’ve got these incredible trinkets—Erdtree’s Favor, the Claw Talisman, the Green Turtle—and you’re forced to choose just one? That’s a recipe for frustration. You need more slots. You need four of them, actually. But FromSoftware doesn't just hand them over. They make you bleed for them. If you’re still running around Limgrave or Liurnia with only two slots, you’re basically playing the game on hard mode for no reason.
The First Hurdle: Margit’s Grudging Gift
Margit, the Fell Omen. He’s the first real "wall" for most players. He stands at the entrance of Stormveil Castle, swinging that giant glowing hammer and making life miserable for anyone under level 20. But here’s the thing: beating him isn’t just about getting into the castle. It’s about your first Elden Ring talisman pouch.
Once you deplete his health bar, the item drops automatically. You don't have to loot a chest or talk to an NPC. It just appears in your inventory, and suddenly, your build possibilities double. You can now stack a defensive talisman with an offensive one. It’s a game-changer.
But what if you skip him? Some players take the side path around Stormveil to reach Liurnia early. If you do that, you’re still stuck with one slot. The game eventually forces your hand, though. If you bypass Margit and head straight for the capital or other major bosses, you might find yourself underpowered because you lacked the utility those extra slots provide. It’s a ripple effect. One less slot means less poise, or slower mana regeneration, or less damage on your jump attacks. It adds up.
The Roundtable Hold and the Two Great Runes
The second Elden Ring talisman pouch is where things get a bit more complicated. You can't just kill a specific guy in a field. You have to prove you’re a serious contender for the throne. This involves collecting two Great Runes.
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Usually, this means taking down Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil and Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in Raya Lucaria. They are the "easiest" two, though "easy" is a relative term when Rennala is chucking literal moons at your head. Once you have two Great Runes tucked into your inventory, you need to head back to the Roundtable Hold.
Find Enia, the Finger Reader. She’s the creepy, hunched-over lady sitting in the room with the Two Fingers. Talk to her. She’ll congratulate you on your progress and hand over the pouch.
A Strange Bug (And How to Fix It)
Sometimes, Enia doesn't give it to you. This happened to a lot of players early on. You’d kill the bosses, show up, and... nothing. If you miss this interaction and progress too far—specifically, if you trigger the burning of the Erdtree later in the game—Enia might become unavailable or her inventory might change. If that happens, don't panic. You can usually find the pouch for sale at the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold. It’s a safety net FromSoftware put in so you don’t get permanently locked out of a fourth slot. It costs 1,000 Runes, which is basically pocket change by that point in the game.
Godfrey, First Elden Lord (The Golden Shade)
The final Elden Ring talisman pouch is locked behind a mandatory story boss in Leyndell, Royal Capital. You’ll eventually run into the Golden Shade of Godfrey. He’s big, he’s glowing, and he loves to stomp the ground.
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This fight is a pure mechanical check. He’s aggressive, but his moves are predictable. Once you put him down, the third and final pouch is yours. This brings your total capacity to four slots.
Having four slots is the "endgame" state. It allows for specialized builds that actually function. For example, a "Tank" build might use the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, the Great-Jar's Arsenal, the Erdtree's Favor +2, and the Bull-Goat's Talisman. Without all four slots, that build is just a guy in heavy armor who can’t roll. The synergy between these items is what makes or breaks your experience in late-game areas like Miquella’s Haligtree or Crumbling Farum Azula.
Why the Pouch System Exists
FromSoftware is intentional about this. They don't want you to be a god in the first hour. By gating the Elden Ring talisman pouch behind major milestones, they control the power scaling of your character. It forces you to prioritize. Early on, do you want more health or more stamina? Later, do you want faster spell casting or lower FP costs?
It’s also about exploration. The game rewards you for following the "intended" path through the Shardbearers. While Elden Ring is an open world, the pouch system is one of the few linear progression tracks that remains consistent across almost every playstyle.
Common Misconceptions
- Can you find more than four? No. Four is the hard cap. Even in New Game Plus (NG+), you cannot get a fifth slot. If you pick up a pouch in NG+ that you already have, it does nothing.
- Do I have to kill Godrick and Rennala? Not necessarily. Any two Great Runes will work. You could kill Radahn and Rykard if you’re a masochist, then go see Enia.
- Is it possible to "delete" a pouch? No, they are key items. They stay with you.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run
If you’re starting a new character or realized you’re under-slotted, here is how you should handle it.
First, stop wandering aimlessly in Caelid. Go straight to Stormveil. Use spirit summons if you have to, but get Margit out of the way. That second slot is the most important jump in power you'll get in the first ten hours.
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Second, focus on Rennala. She’s arguably the most straightforward Great Rune bearer after Godrick. Once she’s down, warp to the Hold immediately. Don't wait. Get that third slot from Enia before you forget.
Third, don’t ignore the Twin Maiden Husks. If you’re at the end of the game and only have three slots, check their shop. It’s highly likely you missed the Enia trigger, and your final pouch is sitting there waiting for a few Runes.
Finally, audit your talismans. A pouch is only as good as what you put in it. If you have four slots but you’re using low-tier versions of the Flamedrake Talisman, you’re wasting potential. Go find the "+2" variants or the legendary versions hidden in the late-game corners of the map. The pouch provides the space, but your exploration provides the power.
Get those four slots. The bosses in the Mountaintops of the Giants aren't going to show you any mercy, and you're going to need every advantage you can carry.