Elden Ring Save Editor — Edit Runes, Stats, Level & Inventory

Last verified: 2026-09-30

Save file to edit

%APPDATA%\EldenRing\<SteamID>\ER0000.sl2

Elden Ring saves are NOT plain text. %APPDATA%\EldenRing\<SteamID>\ER0000.sl2 is a ~28 MB archive containing all 10 character slots (each with level, the eight base stats, current runes, inventory, equipped gear, spells, and world/quest flags) plus a save-header slot that stores each character's name, level and playtime for the load screen. A matching ER0000.co2 is the Steam Cloud copy. To edit: fully quit the game AND Steam (so Steam Cloud can't overwrite you), back up ER0000.sl2, then load it into an editor that understands the format — ER-Save-Editor (ClayAmore) or Elden Ring SaveForge (GUI, item database with icons), or souls_givifier for a quick rune/level max. Change what you need, save back over ER0000.sl2, and re-launch. Editing runes or the eight stats is low-risk; adding items with bad IDs or a stat that doesn't match your level is what corrupts a slot.

Elden Ring's save is a single ER0000.sl2 file at %APPDATA%\EldenRing\<SteamID>\, but it isn't text — it's an encrypted archive holding all 10 character slots plus a header. You can't open it in Notepad; you decode it with a save editor. Here is exactly which fields live in the file, which editors read them, and how to edit without corrupting a slot or tripping anti-cheat.

What you can edit and which tag to change

What it changes	XML tag	Example value	Notes
Runes (currency)	`slot → Runes`	`Runes = 999999999`	Held rune count. souls_givifier grants ~1 billion. Safe to change; it does not by itself fix your level or stats — you still need to level up in-game or edit the stats directly.
Character Level	`slot → Level`	`Level = 150`	Must equal the sum of your eight stats minus the starting-class baseline, or the load screen and stat page disagree. Good editors recompute Level from the stats automatically (a 'safe mode').
Base stats	`Vigor / Mind / Endurance / Strength / Dexterity / Intelligence / Faith / Arcane`	`Vigor = 60`	Each 1–99. These drive HP, FP, stamina, equip load and damage. Change these instead of just runes if you want a real build.
Inventory items	`slot → Inventory (item ID + quantity)`	`Rune Arc ×99`	Items are added by internal ID. A wrong/DLC-only ID on the base game can blank the slot. Editors with a searchable item database (SaveForge) are far safer than raw ID entry.
Equipped gear & talismans	`slot → Equipment`	`Right Hand 1 = Rivers of Blood`	Weapons carry an upgrade level; equipping a +25 weapon you don't own the smithing stones for is fine, but referencing a non-existent weapon ID crashes the slot on load.
Spells & Ashes of War	`slot → Sorceries/Incantations`	`Add Comet Azur`	Learned-spell flags. Adding a spell you lack the stat requirement for just means you can't cast it — not a corruption risk.
Character name	`header slot → Name`	`Name = Tarnished`	Stored twice — in the slot and in the save header used by the load screen. Rename tools update both; hand-editing only one desyncs the menu.

How to edit your Elden Ring save by hand

Fully quit Elden Ring AND exit Steam completely (or set Steam to offline) — otherwise Steam Cloud restores the old ER0000.sl2 the moment you relaunch and your edit is gone.
Open %APPDATA%\EldenRing\<SteamID>\ (press Win+R, type %appdata%, then open EldenRing and your SteamID folder).
Copy ER0000.sl2 AND ER0000.co2 to a safe backup folder before touching anything.
Open ER-Save-Editor or SaveForge, load ER0000.sl2, and pick the character slot you want to change.
Edit runes/stats/inventory. If you raise stats, let the tool recompute Level; if you add items, pick them from the tool's item database rather than typing raw IDs.
Save back over the original ER0000.sl2 (not a renamed copy — the game only reads ER0000.sl2).
Relaunch Elden Ring. If the slot shows your edits and loads, re-enable Steam Cloud. If it says 'save data corrupted', restore your backup and try smaller edits.

Prefer a save editor instead of raw XML?

Browser-based editors (souls_givifier, dsrsaveeditor / onlinesaveedit) edit the .sl2 entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded — which is convenient, but they still require you to disable Steam Cloud first and they can't validate item IDs as thoroughly as the desktop tools with a full database.

Mistakes that corrupt the save

Anti-cheat: use edited saves ONLY offline. Playing online with obviously edited stats/items (impossible values, illegitimate items) can get you soft-banned to a hacker matchmaking pool. Launch in offline mode after editing.
The .sl2 is bound to your Steam ID. Moving an edited save to another account requires re-signing the header to the new SteamID — most editors have a 'fix/patch SteamID' button for this.
Level must match your stats. Editing runes to a billion does NOT raise your level; editing stats without letting the tool recompute Level is the most common cause of a corrupt-looking slot.
Back up ER0000.sl2 before every edit — a single bad item ID corrupts the whole slot, and all 10 characters share one file.

Not sure where the file is? See the full Elden Ring save file location guide (every platform path), or the corrupted-save recovery guide if an edit broke your file.

FAQ

Where is the Elden Ring save file to edit on PC?

At %APPDATA%\EldenRing\<SteamID>\ER0000.sl2. Press Win+R, type %appdata%, open EldenRing, then your numeric SteamID folder. ER0000.co2 next to it is the Steam Cloud copy.

Can I get banned for editing my Elden Ring save?

You won't be banned for editing offline, but playing online with edited stats or illegitimate items can soft-ban you into a cheater matchmaking pool. Launch in offline mode after editing edited saves.

Why did editing runes not change my level?

Runes are held currency, not level. To raise your character level you must edit the eight base stats (or spend the runes in-game). Most editors have a safe mode that recomputes Level from the stats so the load screen matches.

Which Elden Ring save editor is safest?

Desktop tools with a searchable item database — ER-Save-Editor (ClayAmore) or SaveForge — are safer than raw editing because they validate item IDs and recompute Level. souls_givifier is fine for a quick rune/stat max.

Other games

Need another game or a quick backup? Use the Save Location Finder — pick any game to get its exact save path plus a ready-to-run backup command.