Elden Ring: 17 Tips & Tricks The Game NEVER Told You

3. Your Character Is Fully Moveable While Paused

This requires a literal claw in terms of hand shape, as you'll be manipulating the D-pad along with the analogue stick, but as your character remains fully moveable while paused, you can evade enemies/the environment in the background using the analogue stick, while sorting your inventory/applying an item/changing weapons/crafting in the foreground, using the D-pad and face buttons.

Yes, this is the single strongest argument for a pause button or a more streamlined AI, but it can be done.

If - like me - you've acquired something you can't keep equipped constantly, like Radahn's greatbow, for example, yet you still want to use it in a fight or to pick off some enemies, the "claw tactic" comes into use while repositioning. Likewise for hitting "pause" while staying on the move and crafting on the fly.

Learn the claw tactic. It might just save your hide.