U4GM - 5 Proven Methods to Recover Lost Elden Ring Items After Dying
Dying is an inevitable part of Elden Ring. Whether you’re overwhelmed by enemies in a dungeon or caught off guard during an invasion, setbacks are part of the journey. While Runes can be recovered by returning to your bloodstain, Elden Ring items lost during death can feel more painful—especially rare drops or consumables used just moments before dying.
After spending hundreds of hours exploring the Lands Between, I’ve run into my fair share of unfortunate deaths, including losing precious talismans, crafting materials, and even quest-related gear. Over time, I’ve developed and tested a few reliable methods to recover lost Elden Ring items—and in this guide, I’ll share the top five that work.
These approaches work whether you're farming, running through NG+, or experimenting with gear you’ve obtained from vendors or when you order Elden Ring items online.
1. Return to the Location of Death Immediately
The simplest solution is often the most effective: retrace your steps to the exact location where you died. This works best when you're certain the enemies that killed you are still in the area and haven’t despawned or reset. If your items dropped as part of the environment (e.g., via a fall or explosion), they often remain until you reload the area.
I once died in Nokron after triggering an explosion trap and losing a rare smithing stone. Instead of resting at a Site of Grace, I sprinted back and found the item still where it fell.
Tip: Avoid fast-traveling or quitting the game until you retrieve what you lost—doing so can sometimes trigger an area reset, wiping the dropped item.
2. Check Your Inventory and Storage Chest
Sometimes, it’s not that you lost the item—it’s that it’s been auto-stored. Elden Ring has a feature that automatically transfers items to your storage chest if your carry weight or inventory slots are maxed.
After one death in Elphael, I thought I’d lost a rare item from a Putrid Tree Spirit. Later, I realized it was sitting safely in the storage chest at the Roundtable Hold.
Before panicking, visit any Site of Grace and use the "Item Storage" option to see if your supposedly lost gear was safely stashed away.
3. Use Save Data Backups (Advanced Players)
If you’re playing on PC or PS5, it’s possible to back up your save data manually before entering a risky zone. This method is especially useful if you’ve just ordered Elden Ring items from a drop-trading service and want to ensure nothing is lost.
While it’s not officially endorsed by FromSoftware, many long-time players use this method responsibly to avoid losing unique or hard-earned gear after sudden crashes or ambushes.
I personally used a backup during my NG+ run before fighting Malenia—losing a key talisman just before the fight would’ve set me back hours. The save file restored everything without issue.
Reminder: Avoid abusing this feature for repetitive re-rolls; it should be used to preserve hard-earned items, not to game the system unfairly.
4. Use the Multiplayer Summon System for Assistance
If your gear was dropped in a difficult or enemy-heavy zone, consider summoning help through Furlcalling Finger Remedy or Duelist’s Furled Finger. Other players can help clear the path so you can safely retrieve your items.
Once, I lost a Dragonwound Grease item near the edge of Mohgwyn Palace—right in the middle of a blood swamp. By summoning a co-op partner, I was able to distract the surrounding enemies and recover the item.
The cooperative community in Elden Ring is surprisingly helpful, and multiplayer often turns tense retrievals into smooth recoveries.
5. Reacquire the Item Through Re-farming or Marketplaces
For items that can’t be retrieved by traditional means—especially if they were used just before dying—your best option might be to refarm the item or order Elden Ring items again through trusted vendors.
The Elden Ring item marketplace is especially useful if you’re on a time crunch or don’t want to spend hours re-clearing dungeons. I once lost a max-upgraded Somber Smithing Stone while testing a new weapon. Rather than replaying the entire Haligtree region, I reordered the item to get back on track quickly.
This is a practical, safe solution for players who want to enjoy the game’s challenges without losing hours of progress due to a random mistake or bug.
Losing Elden Ring items is never fun—but with a little patience and the right approach, it’s almost always reversible. From checking your storage chest to using co-op allies or restoring backups, there’s usually a way back.
Personally, I’ve recovered dozens of lost items using the strategies above, and they’ve saved me from countless frustrating setbacks. And when recovery isn’t possible, the Elden Ring item marketplace can help get you back on your feet without grinding for hours.
Must Read: Is Buying Elden Ring Runes Bannable?