This is a list of all the best builds in Elden Ring. Read on to learn more about the different stats and equipment for each build, as well as see which build is best to use for the Shadow of Erdtree DLC.
List of Contents
- Best Builds Tier List
- Best Builds for DLC
- Build Creation Tips
- Related Guides
Elden Ring Best Builds Tier List
List of Best Builds
Build | Rating and Explanation |
---|---|
Spell Blade Build | Rank: • Excels in both close and medium range combat.• Great for dealing with bosses. • Easy and awesome to use. |
Pure Strength Build | Rank: • Deals extremely physical high damage.• Jump attacks are easy to time and execute. • Can easily stagger enemies. |
Rellana's Twin Blades Build | Rank: • Overall weapon damage scales with every damage stat except for Arcane.• Fast Attack Speed due to the weapons being Light Greatswords. • Has access to incantations that buff damage and survival. |
Strength Faith Build | Rank: • Can alternate between multiple strong spells and weapons.• Stats allow you to wield the powerful Blasphemous Blade. • Can use numerous buffs to increase damage and survival. |
Arcane Bleed Build | Rank: • Focuses on applying Bleed to enemies.• High burst damage with frequent Bleed procs. • Easy and fun to use. |
Sorcery Build | Rank: • Allows you to defeat enemies in a distance.• Highest burst damage potential with the right set up. • One of the safest builds to use due to the range it offers. |
Dexterity Build | Rank: • Swift build that let you to move fast and deal multiple strikes.• Dealing multiple hits work well with status effects. • Requires good dodging. |
Pure Faith Build | Rank: • Allows you to engage enemies in mid to long range.• Uses different incantations to fit different encounters. • Gives you access to multiple buffs so help your damage and survival. |
Dexterity Faith Build | Rank: • Attacks are easy to use and execute.• Best against undead enemies. • Damage falls quickly due to the high holy resistance of end game bosses. |
Strength Dexterity Build | Rank: • Fun build that allows you to use numerous unique weapons.• Focuses on strength and dexterity. • Lacks in damage and difficult to use compared to other builds. |
Spell Blade Build
Spell Blade Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
40 | 30 | 30 | 16 | 18 | 80 | 6 | 9 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Dark Moon Greatsword | Moonveil |
The Spell Blade build focuses on close to midrange combat, utilizing weapons that scale well with Intelligence, such as the Dark Moon Greatsword and the Moonveil katana.
With the high investment in Intelligence, this build also has access to different sorcery spells, giving you more options for engagement.
Pure Strength Build
Pure Strength Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 10 | 40 | 80 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 7 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Giant-Crusher | Greatsword | Prelate's Inferno Crozier | Grafted Blade Greatsword |
The Pure Strength Build benefits from heavy-hitting weapon types such as Greatswords, Colossal Weapons, and other similar types that scale primarily in Strength.
The challenge however, is that this build requires a lot of Endurance investment. You will have to look for ways to compensate for weight management through either special Talismans or mixing armor.
Best Strength Build Guide
Rellana's Twin Blades Build
Rellana's Twin Blades Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 23 | 25 | 7 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Rellana's Twin Blades | Milady | Blasphemous Blade | Golden Order Seal |
This build functions as an all-rounder type build that scales with every stat. The flexibility of this build allows you to wield a variety of weapons like Moonveil and Blasphemous Blade before acquiring the Twin Blades.
The downside to this build is the level of investment needed before it truly shines, as well as never specializing in any one form of damage, making this build and effective Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none option.
Rellana's Twin Blades Build Guide
Strength Faith Build
Strength Faith Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 20 | 28 | 60 | 15 | 9 | 40 | 7 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Blasphemous Blade | Ordovis' Greatsword |
This build prioritizes Strength and Faith, making use of hard-hitting weapons that scale from both attributes and powerful incantations. This is a balanced build that focuses both on aggression and utility.
Incantations are used to increase the damage you deal such as Flame, Grant Me Strength, apply status effects such as Howl of Shabiri, and even recover health such as Bestial Vitality.
Best Strength Faith Build Guide
Arcane Bleed Build
Arcane Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 40 | 9 | 11 | 60 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Reduvia | Morgott's Cursed Sword | Rivers of Blood | Eleonora's Poleblade |
The Arcane attribute dictates the effectiveness of status buildups such as Bleed. This build prioritizes that along with Dexterity which is often a pair requirement for one of best Arcane weapons in the game such as Rivers of Blood and Morgott's Cursed Sword.
By investing into Arcane, you will also be able to meet the requirements of several other strong weapons such as Eleonora's Poleblade, and if you decide to make a switch to a Strength and Arcane hybrid, Marais Executioner Sword and Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear.
Sorcery Build
Sorcery Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 38 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 80 | 7 | 9 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Meteorite Staff | Lusat's Glintstone Staff | Prince of Death's Staff | Carian Regal Scepter |
This build primarily focuses on pure sorcery, using Staffs and having Intelligence as its main attribute. This is ideal for use in frequent range combat using spells like Comet Azure and with some close-range spells such as Carian Slicer for backup.
This build requires a lot FP management as a tradeoff, making one of the best builds to use with tears like the Cerulean Hidden Tear.
Pure Dexterity Build
Pure Dexterity Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 80 | 9 | 8 | 20 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Nagakiba | Guardian's Swordspear | Bolt of Gransax | Dragon King's Cragblade |
This build focuses Dexterity and comes with weapons that are easy and quick to use. Speed and aggression are the name of the game and this build benefits from doing consecutive damage to enemies and bosses.
One of the best weapons that scale of Dexterity is the Nagakiba. Since you will use fast-hitting weapons for this build, having the Winged Sword Insignia and even its stronger version is recommended.
Pure Faith Build
Pure Faith Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
50 | 36 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 80 | 10 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Erdtree Seal | Godslayer's Seal | Dragon Communion Seal | Golden Order Seal |
The Incantation Build is based on Faith and primarily uses Incantations and Seals for combat. There are various seals and incantations to choose from, some being good choices such as Catch Flame as a basic attack and Golden Vow for a damage buff.
Dexterity Faith Build
Dexterity Faith Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
40 | 29 | 20 | 16 | 60 | 7 | 45 | 12 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Halo Scythe | Winged Scythe | Godslayer's Greatsword | Black Knife |
The Holy Build prioritizes both Faith and Dexterity. This combines the swift combat of Dexterity-oriented playstyles and the utility of incantations. At close-range, you can engage with quick attacks, and at range, you can use some ranged weapon arts like that of the Halo Scythe and incantations.
You may find some weapon arts to be limited in this build style due to the higher availability of Dexterity and Arcane weapon pairs, so you will still have to play carefully.
Strength Dexterity Build
Strength Dexterity Build Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGR | MND | END | STR | DEX | INT | FAI | ARC |
40 | 10 | 24 | 55 | 55 | 9 | 15 | 7 | The stats shown are for level 150 characters. |
Weapon Recommendations | |||||||
Ghiza's Wheel | Stormhawk Axe | Bloodhound's Fang | Zweihander |
This is a build that focuses primarily on levelling both Strength and Dexterity to take advantage of weapons that scale from both attributes like Bloodhound's Fang, Stormhawk Axe, and Ghiza's Wheel.
Note that this build will only shine at higher levels, since you will have to balance both core stats that often benefit more when invested pure or paired with other stats at a low level.
When you have not reached the higher levels yet, it is best to invest into a pure stat build first such as all Dexterity for the Bloodhound's Fang or all Strength for Great Stars.
Best Builds for Shadow of Erdtree DLC
Spell Blade Build and Pure Strength Build
The best builds to take on the Shadow of Erdtree DLC would be the Spell Blade and Smasher builds due to the sheer strength and ease of use offered by both builds.
If enjoy a playstyle where you're up close bashing enemies left and right, then the Pure Strength Build is for you. On the other hand, if you prefer to keep a good distance while dishing out high magic damage, then the Spell Blade Build is a great option.
Best DLC Builds for Shadow of the Erdtree
Build Creation Tips
Build Around Your Starting Class
Making a build may be easier depending on what starting class you use in Elden Ring since they have a starting fixed stat distribution. For example, having Vagabond with a Strength build in mind will have you worry less in investing into Dexterity for getting some early game weapons.
This is stat distribution will also be the base stats of your character whenever you decide to respec attribute points by offering Larval Tears to Rennala in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
The Best Starting Classes
Have Enough Vigor and Endurance
Vigor is what you want to prioritize the most to prevent being one-shot killed by bosses and enemies.
In any build, Vigor and Endurance are essential above other stats related to aggression and utility. This is because they:
- Dictate how much punishment you can take before death (Vigor).
- Dictate the equipment (weapons and armor) you can have at different weight loads (Endurance). Medium and Light loads are recommended.
- Dictate how much stamina you can use for dodge rolls, attacks, and other related actions (Endurance).
In short, all of these are related to survival. To ensure that you are the top of your combat performance, also make sure that you live long enough to do so.
Level Mind to Spell and Skill Use
Leveling up Mind means increasing the amount of FP you can use for weapon arts, spells, and even Spirit Ashes. Some of these are expensive FP-wise, so make sure to check if you have a high enough FP capacity to use them.
Levelling Mind Can Be Optional
If your build and playstyle does not require much investment into the above options that require FP, you can ignore investing into this stat and focus on others instead. Similarly, you can focus all of your flask allocation for restoring your HP instead.
Elden Ring Related Guides
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Recommended Guides
Popular Guides | |
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How to Two-Hand Weapons | How to Dual Wield Weapons |
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How to Get the Horse | New Game Plus Guide |
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