Elden Ring DLC: Top 9 Builds You Need To Try Now

Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has revolutionized the game’s combat ecosystem with an array of powerful new weapon combinations and specialized builds. These carefully crafted setups leverage the DLC’s unique equipment to create devastatingly effective character configurations that can handle even the most challenging content.

The expansion introduces eight distinct build archetypes that cater to different playstyles, from aggressive melee combatants to strategic spellcasters. Each configuration offers distinct advantages against specific enemy types and boss encounters, making build selection crucial for success in the Lands Between’s new challenges.

Sword of Night and Flame + Prince of Death’s Staff Faith Int Build

This exceptional hybrid configuration combines the devastating power of faith-based miracles with potent intelligence-scaling sorceries. The Sword of Night and Flame’s unique weapon art unleashes both magical and fiery devastation, while the Prince of Death’s Staff amplifies both death sorceries and fundamental incantations. For optimal performance, allocate points to reach 50 Faith and 60 Intelligence, enabling access to the most powerful spells while maximizing weapon scaling.

Critical to this build’s success is understanding spell timing and resource management. The Golden Land Ash of War delivers consecutive holy explosions that can chain for over 5000 damage when properly executed. Many players overlook the importance of timing these explosive bursts between enemy attack patterns, which is essential for maximizing damage output without leaving yourself vulnerable.

Sword Lance and Flame Spear Build

This dual-wielding setup exemplifies tactical versatility through its complementary weapon pairing. The Sword Lance provides exceptional reach and thrusting attacks for breaking enemy stances, while the Flame Spear delivers rapid, incendiary strikes that build up fire damage quickly. The shield projectile mechanic allows for consistent pressure application while maintaining defensive positioning.

Black Steel Greathammer Faith Build

Defensive specialists will appreciate this build’s exceptional guard counter capabilities. The Black Steel Greathammer delivers massive posture damage when countering attacks, often breaking enemy stances in just 2-3 successful counters. This weapon’s true strength lies in its diverse Ash of War compatibility, allowing for self-buffing, area denial, or emergency healing depending on your chosen configuration.

A common mistake with this build is being too aggressive with guard counters. Instead, focus on timing your blocks precisely and only counter-attacking when you have a clear opening. Pair with the Greatshield Talisman to reduce stamina consumption during blocks, enabling more frequent counter opportunities.

Milady Flexible Dexterity Build

The Milady weapon’s infusion flexibility makes it ideal for dexterity-focused characters who value adaptability. Its moveset delivers exceptional stance damage against shielded enemies and poise-heavy opponents. Experiment with Keen, Blood, or Poison infusions to tailor the weapon to your preferred combat approach.

Dexterity Build with Keen Backhand Blade

When fully upgraded, the Keen Backhand Blade achieves remarkable S-tier scaling in dexterity. Its unconventional moveset features rapid, sweeping attacks that catch opponents off-guard, complemented by quick backstep maneuvers that create distance while maintaining offensive pressure.

Advanced players should master the weapon’s unique combo transitions, which allow for fluid attack strings that maintain constant pressure. The backhanded slashes have unique timing that can interrupt enemy attacks if properly anticipated.

Dan’s Poisonous Footwork Build

This agile configuration combines Dan’s Footwork with the Divine Beast Frost Stomp to create a devastating status application machine. The build focuses on rapid poison accumulation through precisely timed strikes and area denial effects.

Arcane Build with Poison Flower Blooms Twice

The Poison Flower Blooms Twice skill revolutionizes arcane builds by dramatically accelerating poison buildup. This allows players to trigger poison effects multiple times during extended engagements, dealing consistent damage over time while maintaining mobility.

Bloodfiend’s Arm Bleed Build

Capitalizing on the Bloodfiend’s Arm’s exceptional bleed accumulation, this build can hemorrhage even the most resilient bosses when optimized. With Blood affinity infusion and proper stat investment in Strength and Arcane, the weapon becomes a staggering machine that rapidly depletes enemy health bars.

Overpowered Intelligence Build for Dragon Incantation

This spellcasting powerhouse focuses exclusively on maximizing the destructive potential of dragon-themed incantations. Proper intelligence allocation (70+ recommended) and specific talisman combinations can reduce casting time while amplifying spell potency.

Each of these elite builds provides distinct tactical advantages that can be further enhanced through proper stat distribution and gear selection. Understanding enemy vulnerabilities is crucial for selecting the optimal build for each encounter – certain bosses are particularly susceptible to specific status effects or damage types.

Common optimization mistakes include spreading stats too thinly across multiple attributes. Instead, focus on maximizing your primary damage stats while meeting minimum requirements for weapon usage. Always prioritize vigor to at least 40-50 for survivability in late-game content.

For players seeking to maximize their chosen build’s potential, consider consulting our Weapons Unlock Guide for detailed equipment acquisition strategies. Additionally, our Class Guide provides foundational knowledge for character development.

Advanced players should experiment with different Ash of War combinations to discover synergies that complement their playstyle. The Complete Guide offers comprehensive strategies for mastering these builds in various combat scenarios.

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