Many players finishing their first few hours in Elden Ring quickly start asking the same question: how to trade in Elden Ring, and what items can actually be shared with other players. Trading exists in Elden Ring, but it is intentionally limited, easy to misunderstand, and very different from traditional RPG trading systems.
This guide explains exactly how to trade in Elden Ring, how multiplayer trading works, which items can be shared, which ones are completely locked, and how to avoid losing valuable gear in the process.
How Trading Works in Elden Ring
To understand how to trade in Elden Ring, you first need to know that the game does not have a dedicated trading menu. There is no confirmation window, no trade screen, and no protection system. All trading is done manually by dropping items on the ground during a multiplayer session.
Both players must be online and connected to the servers. One player summons the other into their world using cooperative multiplayer items. Once both characters are in the same instance, the trading player simply drops the item, and the other player picks it up.
This system fits Elden Ring’s minimalist multiplayer design, but it also means players must understand the rules before attempting to trade anything valuable.
What You Need Before You Can Trade
Learning how to trade in Elden Ring requires access to online multiplayer. Both players must be able to summon or be summoned, which means having the necessary multiplayer items and being in an area that allows co-op play.
Trading works most reliably in cooperative sessions rather than invasions. While invasions technically allow item drops, co-op is safer and avoids unnecessary risk. Once summoned, both players can freely move around and perform item drops.
Step-by-Step: How to Trade in Elden Ring
This is the only numbered list in the article and shows the exact process from start to finish.
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One player uses a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to reveal summon signs in their world.
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The other player places a summon sign using a Tarnished’s Furled Finger.
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After the summon is complete, both players meet in the same location.
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The player giving the item opens their inventory, selects the item, and chooses “Leave.”
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The receiving player picks up the dropped item from the ground.
Once the item is picked up, the trade is complete. There is no way to reverse it.
What Items Can Be Shared in Elden Ring
A major part of understanding how to trade in Elden Ring is knowing which items the game allows you to share. Most standard equipment and materials are tradable.
Weapons can be traded, including swords, axes, staves, bows, shields, and seals. Armor pieces such as helmets, chest pieces, gloves, and leggings can also be dropped and shared. Talismans that provide passive bonuses are fully tradable as well.
Crafting materials like bones, flowers, and animal parts can be shared freely. Ammunition such as arrows and bolts can also be traded, which is useful for ranged builds early on.
Weapon Upgrade Restrictions You Must Know
One of the most important rules tied to how to trade in Elden Ring involves weapon upgrade levels. Even though weapons are tradable, the receiving player cannot pick up a weapon that is upgraded higher than any weapon they have previously owned.
For example, if a player has never possessed a weapon above +5, they will be unable to pick up a +10 weapon dropped by another player. This rule applies separately to standard weapons and somber weapons.
Because of this restriction, most experienced players trade weapons in their unupgraded form to ensure compatibility.
Items That Cannot Be Traded
Just as important as learning how to trade in Elden Ring is understanding what the game permanently locks to your character. Any item tied directly to progression or core power systems cannot be dropped or shared.
Rune items cannot be traded in any form. Key items required for story progression are locked. Remembrances from major bosses cannot be shared, nor can Great Runes. Spells, sorceries, and incantations are also non-tradable, and Ashes of War cannot be dropped directly.
If an item is essential to story flow or character scaling, Elden Ring prevents trading entirely.
Can You Trade Runes in Elden Ring?
A very common misconception when players search how to trade in Elden Ring is the idea of rune trading. You cannot drop runes, rune items, or currency for another player.
The only way to help another player gain runes is by assisting them in combat or boss fights, allowing them to earn runes naturally. This restriction exists to prevent duplication exploits and preserve progression balance.
Is Trading Safe or Can You Lose Items?
Trading in Elden Ring is generally safe if done carefully, but it does carry risk. If the receiving player disconnects, dies, or leaves the world before picking up the item, the dropped item may disappear permanently.
There is no item recovery system for dropped gear. This means trading should only be done with trusted players and in safe locations. Always confirm that the receiving player is eligible to pick up the item before dropping it.
Best Reasons to Trade in Elden Ring
Once you fully understand how to trade in Elden Ring, it becomes a useful tool rather than a gimmick. Trading is commonly used to equip alternate characters, share rare weapons between friends, test builds without replaying the entire game, and prepare PvP characters efficiently.
Many players also use trading to focus on fashion builds by transferring armor sets between characters.
Multiplayer Limitations That Affect Trading
Trading only works during active multiplayer sessions. You cannot trade while offline, and you cannot access storage or merchants while co-op is active. Some locations also restrict summoning entirely, making trading impossible in those areas.
Understanding where and when multiplayer is allowed helps prevent confusion when attempting to trade.
Why Elden Ring’s Trading System Is Limited
The developers intentionally designed trading to be restrictive. Elden Ring emphasizes exploration, challenge, and individual progression. Trading exists to support cooperative play, not to bypass the core experience.
By limiting what can be shared, the game maintains balance while still allowing players to help one another in meaningful ways.
Final Thoughts on How to Trade in Elden Ring
Learning how to trade in Elden Ring removes a lot of confusion for new and returning players. While the system lacks convenience features, it is reliable once you understand the rules.
You cannot lose everything, you cannot break progression, and with careful planning, trading becomes a powerful tool for co-op play and build experimentation. If you trade safely and respect the restrictions, Elden Ring’s trading system works exactly as intended.
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