Elden Ring uses a binary save format that's significantly more complex than text-based save files. The game stores all character data in a single .sl2 file that can hold up to ten character slots. Editing these files requires understanding the binary layout — or using a tool like SaveEditor that abstracts away the complexity. This guide walks you through everything from locating your save to making your first edit safely.

Online Play Warning

Elden Ring uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) for online play. Playing online with modified save files can result in a permanent ban. If you edit your save, play in offline mode only. To do this, launch the game without EAC (use the eldenring.exe binary directly rather than the launcher), or disable your network connection before starting. FromSoftware has issued ban waves targeting modified saves, and bans are typically irreversible.

Where Are Elden Ring Save Files?

Elden Ring on PC stores save data in a single location. Console saves (PlayStation, Xbox) are stored on the system and typically cannot be extracted for editing without specialized tools.

Windows (Steam)

%AppData%/Roaming/EldenRing/<SteamID>/ER0000.sl2

The <SteamID>is your numeric Steam ID (a 17-digit number like 76561198012345678). If you have multiple Steam accounts, you'll see multiple folders. The save file is always named ER0000.sl2.

You may also see a ER0000.sl2.bak file alongside the main save — this is an automatic backup the game creates. Keep it safe.

Understanding the SL2 Binary Format

The .sl2file is a proprietary binary container used by FromSoftware across Dark Souls III, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. Here's what you need to know about its structure:

File Header

The first bytes contain a magic signature ( BND4) followed by file metadata. This header identifies the file as a valid FromSoftware save container.

Character Slots

The SL2 file contains up to 10 character save slots plus a header slot for global settings. Each slot is a separate data block within the container. The game reads the slot index to determine which character you're loading.

Checksums & Validation

Each character slot includes a checksum that the game verifies on load. If you manually edit bytes without recalculating the checksum, the game will detect corruption and refuse to load the save. SaveEditor recalculates checksums automatically after every edit.

What You Can Edit

Runes (Currency)

Runes are stored as a 32-bit unsigned integer within the character data block. The maximum value is 999,999,999 (the game's built-in cap). SaveEditor locates the rune offset for your selected character slot and lets you set any value up to that maximum. Note that "held runes" (on your person) and "stored runes" are tracked separately — held runes are what you lose on death.

Character Stats

Elden Ring tracks eight core stats: Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. Each stat is stored as a separate value within the character block. SaveEditor presents these in a clean interface where you can adjust each individually. The soft and hard caps still apply in-game (for example, Vigor's HP scaling drops off sharply after 60), but you can set any value from 1 to 99.

Your character level is calculated from your stats. The formula is: Level = (Vigor + Mind + Endurance + Strength + Dexterity + Intelligence + Faith + Arcane) minus your starting class base total, plus the class starting level. SaveEditor computes this automatically when you adjust stats.

Character Name & Appearance

Character names are stored as UTF-16 encoded strings in the save data. You can modify the name directly, but keep it within 16 characters (the game's maximum). Appearance data (face presets, sliders) is stored as a blob of bytes that maps to the character creation parameters. Editing appearance directly is possible but complex — it's usually easier to use Rennala's rebirth mirror in-game for cosmetic changes.

Backup Instructions

Because Elden Ring uses a binary format with checksums, a corrupted save can mean losing hundreds of hours. Always back up before editing.

Step 1: Locate your save

Open File Explorer, paste %AppData%/Roaming/EldenRing/ into the address bar, and open your Steam ID folder.

Step 2: Copy the SL2 file

Copy ER0000.sl2 (and ER0000.sl2.bak if it exists) to a backup folder. Name it with the current date for easy identification, e.g., ER0000_2026-04-05.sl2.

Step 3: Disable Steam Cloud (optional)

Steam Cloud can overwrite your local save with a cloud copy. In Steam, right-click Elden Ring → Properties → General → uncheck "Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud." Re-enable after you're done editing if desired.

Common Issues with Binary Editing

"Corrupted save data" on load

This almost always means the checksum is invalid. If you used a hex editor manually, you need to recalculate the checksum for the modified slot. SaveEditor does this automatically.

Character appears but crashes on load

Setting stats to values above 99 or below 1 can cause calculation overflows in the game engine. Inventory edits with invalid item IDs or impossible stack sizes can also trigger crashes. Stick to legitimate value ranges.

Steam Cloud conflicts

If Steam Cloud is enabled, launching the game after editing may trigger a sync conflict dialog. Always choose "Use local file" if you want to keep your edits. Better yet, disable Steam Cloud before editing.

Editing the wrong character slot

The SL2 file holds up to 10 characters. If you edit raw bytes at the wrong offset, you could corrupt a different character. SaveEditor shows you all slots with their character names so you can select the correct one.

Ready to Edit Your Elden Ring Save?

Upload your SL2 file to SaveEditor for a visual interface that handles checksums, slot selection, and value validation automatically.

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Elden Ring Save Editing: Runes, Stats & Character