TL;DR
- Strength builds deliver massive single-hit damage with heavy weapons but require careful stamina management
- Magic and Arcane builds offer powerful ranged options with unique utility spells and crowd control abilities
- Dexterity and Bleed builds excel at fast-paced combat with rapid status effect application
- Faith builds provide balanced offense and support with fire damage and healing capabilities
- Hybrid builds offer maximum versatility by combining multiple playstyles for adaptive combat
With the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC approaching (rumored for February 5, 2024), now is the perfect time to explore diverse character builds that will transform your Elden Ring experience. This comprehensive guide covers eight distinct playstyles, each offering unique combat approaches and strategic advantages.
Understanding build fundamentals is crucial for success in the Lands Between. Each build requires specific stat investments, weapon proficiency, and combat strategies that align with different player preferences and skill levels.
Strength Build
Strength-focused characters specialize in wielding massive weapons like greatswords and colossal hammers to deliver devastating blows that can stagger even the toughest enemies. This approach demands significant investment in strength and endurance attributes, complemented by supplementary faith and arcane stats for enhancing buffs and recovery capabilities.
The Colossal Knight Greatsword stands as the premier weapon choice for this archetype, featuring exceptional strength scaling and a distinctive weapon art that executes a ground-shattering slam attack capable of breaking enemy stances.
For protective gear, the Colossal Knight Set provides superior physical damage reduction while including a passive bonus that amplifies your damage output when your health drops below critical levels.
Strength-oriented playstyles appeal to gamers who enjoy delivering catastrophic damage in single strikes and prefer close-quarters combat engagements. Your character’s effectiveness scales directly with attribute strength, making strategic use of Elden Ring runes essential for maximizing this build’s potential.
Arcane Build
Combining strength with arcane attributes creates a formidable hybrid that enables wielding heavy armaments while simultaneously accessing the game’s extensive magical systems.
Arcane specialists primarily utilize sorceries and incantations that can inflict substantial damage against foes, empower allies, or weaken adversaries. These mystical abilities often produce distinctive effects including enemy staggering, stunning, or armor-penetrating properties.
Arcane practitioners frequently access utility spells such as teleportation, illusory magic, or area control capabilities, making them exceptionally versatile across diverse combat scenarios.
Magic Build
Magic specialists concentrate on unleashing catastrophic damage from safe distances while typically maintaining lower defensive capabilities and health pools. This approach necessitates high intelligence and arcane attributes, supplemented by dexterity investment to improve spellcasting velocity.
The Moonveil Staff serves as the optimal catalyst for this build, offering superior intelligence scaling and an exclusive skill that discharges a volley of tracking magical projectiles.
For protective equipment, the Moonveil Set delivers excellent arcane resistance alongside a passive enhancement that boosts your damage when your mana reserves remain completely full.
Elden Ring’s magical systems provide exceptional versatility and destructive potential, featuring an extensive selection of spells catering to various tactical preferences.
Dexterity Build
Dexterity-focused builds emphasize rapid, precise weaponry including rapiers and katanas designed to inflict hemorrhage damage and critical strikes. This approach requires substantial dexterity and vigor investment, complemented by faith and arcane attributes for enhancement spells and debilitating effects.
The Samurai Katana represents the ideal weapon selection, featuring excellent dexterity scaling and a unique skill that executes a lightning-fast slash with enhanced critical hit potential.
For defensive equipment, the Samurai Set provides superior bleed resistance while including a passive effect that accelerates your attack speed when suffering from hemorrhage status.
While dexterity weapons typically deliver less damage per individual strike compared to strength alternatives, they attack considerably faster and consume significantly less stamina per use.
Faith Build
Faith-oriented builds concentrate on employing flame-based incantations and consecrated weapons to immolate enemies while restoring ally health. This approach demands high faith and endurance attributes, supplemented by strength and intelligence for meeting weapon proficiency requirements.
The Fire’s Deadly Sin Sword serves as the recommended armament, featuring exceptional faith scaling and a distinctive skill that engulfs your blade in sacred flames.
The Fire’s Deadly Sin Set provides optimal fire damage resistance while including a passive enhancement that amplifies your fire damage output when you’re affected by burning status.
Bleed Build
Bleed-focused builds specialize in utilizing spinning weapons and specialized skills to deliver multiple rapid strikes that accumulate hemorrhage damage. This approach requires substantial dexterity and vigor investment, complemented by strength and endurance for weapon proficiency requirements.
The Spinning Reaper Scythe stands as the optimal weapon selection, featuring excellent dexterity scaling and a unique skill that performs a whirling attack with enhanced bleed accumulation.
The Spinning Reaper Set delivers superior bleed resistance while including a passive effect that intensifies your hemorrhage damage when executing spinning maneuvers.
Tank Build
Tank-oriented builds prioritize defensive capabilities, employing heavy armor and protective shields to absorb maximum incoming damage. Defensive specialists excel for players who prefer maintaining positional advantage and absorbing enemy assaults to protect their allies.
Hybrid Build
Hybrid configurations combine elements from two or more specialized builds, creating characters capable of utilizing both strength and magical abilities or combining dexterity with arcane powers. Multi-specialization approaches appeal to gamers who value tactical flexibility and adaptive combat capabilities.
The optimal build selection ultimately depends on your individual playstyle preferences and tactical priorities. While some players may discover magical builds provide the most engaging experience, others might find strength-focused approaches more satisfying. This comprehensive guide aims to assist your decision-making process for dominating the challenges throughout the Lands Between.
Action Checklist
- Assess your preferred combat style (close-range, ranged, support, or hybrid)
- Allocate primary stats according to chosen build requirements
- Acquire recommended weapons and armor sets through exploration or trading
- Practice advanced techniques specific to your build in safer areas
- Optimize your build through strategic use of Elden Ring runes and items
No reproduction without permission：GameCDjnh » Top 8 Best Builds in Elden Ring Master Elden Ring's top 8 character builds with expert strategies, gear recommendations, and playstyle insights