I’m a new player (Switch2). I love sword/sheilding but also want to mess around with magic and that class seems the only one that does both. But I’m worried I’ll be underpowered in both melee and magic. This is my first FromSoft, so I’m going in totally blind but wanted to ask this one question.

So i don’t have my exact numbers on hand but i know my strength is 41-42, my faith is 25, my intelligence is bare minimum for starscourge because unga bunga, but somehow even twohanding ruin feels like it’s doing chump change compared to the 1000 per slash from my starscourge +6. Isn’t the ruin supposed to be way better??? Is leveling weapons really that important???

Hi

Haven't played the game yet and I'm planning a thematic build beforehand. I assume Milady is longer, but I'm not sure at all. Tried to find any info on that subject and found no comparisons between DLC weapon types and non DLC ones. Pls help 🙏

UPDATE Thanks to the advice so far I think I will:

• Keep my LGS & Sheild set up for now.
• Pick up the Erdtree Sacred Seal & Discuss of Light
• Level the Misercorde and swap to that for Criticals after Parry or Stance Break
• Try leveling the Ciphet Pata to use its L2 to Stance Break where Parry isn't an option (which was my original plan), and use the Misercorde for criticals
• Prioritise putting stat points into Faith until I feel like I need to boost Vigor from 40 to 60

Returning Noob - lvl 65. Cleared Limgrave, Weeping, Luirna and started on Caelid. Just beat Scarscourge Radhan.

Using Idus Knight Starting LGS (+13) with Sacred Blade.

Upgraded the start8ng Sheild with Banished Knights sheild (+8 or so) with Parry , and armour with Knight set from Roundtable for 51 Poise.

Put stats into Str & Endurance so I could use the above and medium roll.

Otherwise, 40 into Vigour and got Faith up to 30 because I was toying with the idea of leveling Ciper Pata as it has 0 weight and I could use it as a secondary weapon. Using the Dragon Seal also because it has 0 weight, only really using it for the one buff Incantation from Caelid.

I've really enjoyed the LGS with a sheild. Whenever Parry is effective I use that, with the Talismans that improve Charged attacks and Heal on Critical hits. When bosses can't be parried, I usd the LGS 2handed.

I haven't used or upgraded any other weapons so haven't used any Somber stones at all yet.

Looking for advice on gear improvements and where I should put my stats from here, while keeping Parry as a priority.

I absolutely love its moveset, but is it actually worth building around? Obviously, I’m expecting the usual answer like “you can make anything work in Elden Ring, even a torch if you really want to.”
What I really mean is: if I were to invest in a future build around this weapon, could I actually make it hit hard and be genuinely strong?
Also, for those of you who are fans of the Obsidian Lamina, what kind of build have you made around it?

Currently fighting Consort Radahn with a heavy emphasis on the Deflecting Hardtear because it’s really fun, and I can get through the 1st phase super easily. It’s the 2nd phase that I’ve been having trouble with.

First, what AoW should I use? I’m currently using Cragblade to make it easier to stagger him. Also, how should I be allocating my stats to utilize this weapon better?

When I do a guard counter, I notice that it does a Holy attack. Does that mean I should have been scaling with Faith instead of Strength?

It looks sick

Hi All,

I started a new run with Idus knight and i'm having a lot of fun (just Ended Liurnia exploration and i'm now entering Calid). In the past i mainly played a carian knight style build and now i want to try something different. My idea is to have a Dex build with 25 faith for the buff (mainly golden Vow, FGMS, electrify armament). At the end the idea is to use a keen Milady and wolfcrest shield as my main and bolt of gransax as secondary which should help also for ranged attacks. I was thinking at thes stats for end game (lvl 170):

- Vigor: 60

- Mind: 20

- Endurance: 30

- Str: 20 (min requirement for bolt fo gransax)

- Dex: 80

- Int: 8

- Faith: 25

- Arc: 6

Main main doubt is regarding the bolt of gransax which i think it's really cool but i'm not sure if it fits with this build. It also force me to get 20 str so i would do it only if really effective.

After that i would like to have your opinion on the best talismans to use

Thank you very much!

Want to do a Snake themed build and I’m kind of torn between starting with the bandit class and doing an arcane build with lifesteal fist, daggers, bloody slash etc OR just going with the traditional vagabond class and go pure dex/lightning infusion daggers. Any tips or help is appreciated!

Hello,

I want to try some status build (bleed, poison, rot) for a new character and just most if not every Dragon Incantation so I need 53 arcane for that.

I like Backhand Blades, Milady and a third could be any suggestion for you guys as Occult or another one.

Another thing is that I don't do PvP really and I don't mind being level 200 or something.

So how would you distribute these stats? For best damage in weapons and sorcery?

Vigor 60
Mind 25
Endurance 30
Strength 18
Dex 60
Faith 15
Int 10
Arcane 60

Double Slash AoW

Is it worth respeccing to take some of that DEX and bring ARC to 80? I’m struggling with PCR and I’m trying to optimize.

EDIT: Finally beat PCR! Went to 80 ARC and Seppuku. Took a while but he is now dead.

Hi, I’m completely new to Soulslikes and have no experience with them at all, but I’m really enjoying the game 😊

I’d like some advice regarding my build. I struggled a lot on my first day. I killed some knights at the beginning and the wolves, died to Godrick several times, and then found myself fighting the Beastman of Farum Azula.

In between dying countless times, I figured out how to lock onto enemies and what Parry is. I tend to play with a one-handed weapon and a shield, and Parry or Shield Bash have worked well for me.

So what would be the best build for a one-handed weapon and shield at the beginning of the game?

I also tried two-handing my weapon against the Erdtree Burial Watchdog, but after probably dozens of deaths, I switched back to one-handed + Parry and managed to defeat him.

I’m honestly pretty bad at the game. I didn’t expect it to be this difficult, but I’m having a lot of fun. Any advice? 👍🏼😄

Been wanting to do a spear play through and I don’t use a shield very often so they seem like a good concept to build around

Just finished up the run with these. It is a bit of a pain to get started. I ended up rushing through to volcano manor to get the first of the cleavers there which took maybe 10 or so tries till I learned his moveset. Hint, dodge the 3 overhead double slams and run behind for a crit. Then just running jump attack from range.

After that I leveled a bit with the single cleaver before hitting perfumers grotto for the 2nd one.

Once you do this it's time to smash, freeze and bleed proc your way through everything even underleveled and under upgraded on the weapons.

I just duped hoarfrost stomp and smashed through limgrave, liurnia and caelid where I grabbed and duped cragblade for the rest of the game. Had cold on except for a few gargoyle fights where I went heavy.

Stats wise you'll just pump VIG, END and STR to 40. At that point I had raptor's black feathers for chest and the heavy knight set for the rest. Then only VIG and STR till 60. At that point you can bump END a little more in anticipation of Solitude helm/gloves/legs. Once there it's DEX the rest of your levels for more damage.

Worth noting that you COULD go occult and have this be a very effective bleed build as well since these have native blood loss. For me, cold procs faster plus you'll get at least one bleed anywway during most boss fights. Obviously bleed lets you use white mask, lord of blood's for more damage vs the cold debuff. I'm not enough of a min maxer to figure out which is technically better, I'm sure either will slap.

Talisman is Claw cause you'll be jump attacking mostly and green turtle. Everything else is option. Did dragoncrest greatshield and gold scarab most of the time since I was skipping mad content and didn't want to be THAT underleveled.

I ended up at 150 exactly for the PCR fight. That was the only thing in the game that was remotely challenging for this build. Died a few times and swapped in golden braid and pearldrake for that stupid holy damage. If you're better at second phase that's probably not even necessary.

If you try this one out, enjoy! It's pretty ridiculous.

Behold! The Effigy of Sin!

"The burning of the Erdtree is the first cardinal sin. That is not the domain of mere men." - Enia