To effectively utilize the elephant riding mechanic in Far Cry 4, follow these detailed steps:

1. Unlock the Elephant Rider Skill:
– Navigate to the skill tree and allocate 2 Skill Points to unlock the Elephant Rider skill. This skill is located on the right side of the skill layout.

2. Mounting an Elephant:
– Look for wild elephants in the game environment. When you find one, approach it and press and hold the Square button on PlayStation or X on Xbox to mount the elephant.

3. Controlling the Elephant:
– Once mounted, control the elephant like a vehicle using the left analog stick. You can increase its speed by pushing the left stick forward.

4. Attacking Enemies:
– To engage enemies, get close to them and press the right stick to use the elephant’s trunk to bash or throw foes. This is particularly effective for crowd control and can also damage vehicles.

5. Shooting from Above:
– You can fire your weapons while riding the elephant; however, exercise caution to avoid accidentally injuring the elephant.

6. Durability of Elephants:
– Elephants are robust and can absorb damage. Nonetheless, they can be killed by colliding with fast-moving vehicles, so be mindful of your surroundings.

7. Utilizing the Elephant Strategically:
– Consider charging into enemy outposts on the elephant to disrupt and damage groups of enemies. After the initial charge, you can dismount and finish off any remaining foes as the elephant continues to fight.

8. Aftermath of Elephant Death:
– If your elephant is killed, you have the option to skin it for meat. This meat can serve as bait to attract carnivores that may attack your enemies.

Summary of Key Points:
– Unlock the Elephant Rider skill in the skill tree.
– Mount an elephant by holding the appropriate button.
– Control movement with the left stick and charge with it.
– Attack with the right stick or use weapon fire from the elephant.
– Use elephants for crowd control and vehicle destruction; dismount to finish remaining enemies.
– Skin the elephant for meat if it dies, using it strategically against foes.

By following these guidelines, you can make the most out of the elephant riding mechanic and enhance your gameplay experience in Far Cry 4.