If there's one thing that Elden Ring does better than other FromSoftware games, it's creating a true sense of player freedom. There are a near-unlimited number of viable builds in Elden Ring, heaps and heaps of unique armors to wear, tons of new tools to use, and of course a sprawling overworld whose size (and depth) rivals all but the most legendary RPGs.
No FromSoftware game would be complete without some level of cosmetic customization, though, and Elden Ring includes a new system for altering existing armors: Tailoring. Armor Alterations don't change anything about your gear's stats or abilities, but it does give you far, far more ways to stand out and make a character that looks exactly as you envision.
How To Get Tailoring Tools In Elden Ring
Some useful key items, like the Crafting Kit, can be bought from merchants throughout the Lands Between. Others must be found or earned from bosses. The Tailoring Tools and Sewing Needle are of the latter, requiring players to actually defeat two bosses before being acquirable.
Head to the Coastal Cave, just below the Church of Elleh fields and the initial Site of Lost Grace. Bring a Torch with you because it's extremely dark in this area. There are a number of demi-human enemies in this cave standing in between you and the area boss, but most can be killed without much hassle. Defeat the Demi-Human Chiefs at the end of the Coastal Cave to earn the Tailoring Tools as a reward for the boss fight. Top tip: don't warp to the surface after this boss fight, keep exploring the caves to find a beautiful (and useful) location.
How To Alter Armor Appearance
After acquiring your Tailoring Tools and Sewing Needle, a new option will appear at Sites of Lost Grace. Selecting "Alter Armor" brings up a new menu that shows equipped and stored armors. Scroll over each to see the alternate appearances available – Prophets, for example, can remove the wheel around their neck by using Tailoring Tools.
There is a small cost associated with Armor Alterations, which is actually a very steep cost early on. If you aren't worried about the way your character looks, it's best to avoid spending Runes on this feature until later on. In the mid to late game, the price of Armor Alterations is not much of a hurdle at all.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.