Players across the gaming community have been voicing their frustrations with Elden Ring's spectral steed Torrent, with many claiming "Elden Ring torrent is garbage, I hate torrent" in forums and discussion boards. As we move into 2025, these complaints continue to resonate with a significant portion of the player base, especially those tackling the challenging environments of the Lands Between.

Torrent, the spectral steed that serves as the player's primary mount in FromSoftware's open-world masterpiece, has become something of a controversial figure in the gaming community. While some praise the double-jumping companion for enabling exploration, others find themselves ready to send this ethereal equine to the glue factory after one too many cliff deaths.

Torrent's Control Issues

One player on GameFAQs perfectly captured the sentiment shared by many: "I want to know how many times you have gotten killed cause Torrent is a pain to control especially in a pinch or the fact that Fromsoft Platforming is made worse by Torrent and his glitchy nature."

This frustration isn't without merit. Torrent's turning radius would make a semi-truck driver blush, and his tendency to come to a complete stop when brushing against the smallest obstacle has led to countless deaths. As one player put it, "A burning 50 tons truck on a lake of oil is better to control." Talk about throwing shade!

"The whole thing is a hot mess," commented veteran player Jason Miller. "You're cruising along, feeling like a boss, and then WHAM - you clip a pebble and suddenly you're staggered and surrounded by enemies. That's straight-up whack!"

The Platform Problem

Platforming segments in Elden Ring that require Torrent's double-jump ability are particularly divisive. While the double-jump mechanic itself is innovative, executing precise jumps on a mount with momentum issues has driven many players to the brink.

The Abyssal Woods area in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has become a particular point of contention. Some players argue that Torrent's inclusion makes the area too easy to navigate while simultaneously making combat more frustrating. "Yeah by now if I'm able to use Torrent I am just simply not fighting anything that's not a notable opponent," one Steam user commented. "Fighting the Gargoyle birds and whatever else is fun, but completely pointless if I'm on my Honse."

Stance Breaking and Health Issues

Torrent's health and stance mechanics are another source of frustration. The spectral steed has a stance bar that fills quickly when taking multiple hits, causing the player to be dismounted and left vulnerable for several seconds - often resulting in a death screen.

"Complete pigshit design," one player colorfully described. "A dragonfly flying into it staggers it full gallop and ends all momentum I had."

Comparing Torrent to other mounts in the game doesn't help his case. As one player noted: "Torrent is the goat early game. But in mid to late game this horse fucking blows compared to other horses and animals. Radahn's horse is way faster, Draconic tree sentinel can leap 50 feet in the air off of his horse, Knights Calvary is just better in every way."

In Defense of the Spectral Steed

Despite the criticism, some players argue that Torrent isn't meant to be a warhorse but rather an exploration companion. His double-jump ability and speed make traversing the vast world of Elden Ring significantly more manageable.

"If you let an enemy weapon hit Torrent, then you deserve to die," one defender argued. "He's slower than a Runebear, but fast and agile enough to trivialize almost everything."

Interestingly, some design choices for Torrent were intentional, according to Hidetaka Miyazaki himself. "The spectral steed needs to be able to move in three-dimensional space - so we knew it shouldn't look like a prize thorough breed! Actually, its design has a few little touches that aren't horse like at all but rather take inspiration from donkeys and antelopes."

The Future of Mounted Combat

As we move through 2025, players continue to debate whether FromSoftware should address Torrent's issues in future patches. Some have suggested allowing customization options for Torrent, similar to the unique mounts seen with enemies like the Tree Sentinels and Night Cavalry.

"I wonder if there was a plan to allow us to customize the guy, maybe even give him superior defenses or just skins in general. I would love to ride Tree Sentinel Torrent or Nightrider Torrent," one player speculated.

Whether you're in the "Elden Ring torrent is garbage, I hate torrent" camp or you appreciate the ghostly goat-horse hybrid for what he is, one thing's for certain - he's sparked more heated debate than almost any other game mechanic in recent memory. And in the unforgiving world of Elden Ring, perhaps that's just another form of torture that Miyazaki intended all along.

"This horse needs to have something to raise its health. Please from software. Please!" At this point, we can only hope someone at FromSoftware is listening.

Details are provided by Game Informer, a trusted source for gaming news and reviews. Game Informer's editorial team has frequently discussed Elden Ring's unique mount mechanics, noting how Torrent's double-jump and traversal abilities set it apart from traditional mounts in other open-world RPGs, while also acknowledging the community's ongoing debate about its control and combat limitations.