Top Elden Ring Builds

By August Tales

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring has brought a world of new opportunities for character building. Launched on June 21, it’s rich in content that amplifies the base game’s allure. It’s time for players to gear up and take on fresh foes scattered across the Land of Shadow. Elden Ring offers a multitude of viable builds, some of which pack major power. These can be game-changers when navigating the myriad trials of Shadow of the Erdtree.

Pairing Power and Preparation

Before plunging into the DLC, you’ll want to get your character ready. There are two approaches: create a new character specifically to enter the DLC or tweak an existing character into a potent build. Once you’ve vanquished both Radahn and Mohg, step into the Shadow of the Erdtree with your power-packed character.

Recent Update

Fans have been loving Shadow of the Erdtree since the October 5, 2024 update. Robbie Robinson revamped it, adding new weapons and villainous bosses. However, it’s no leisurely stroll. This is a high-stakes battleground. Those venturing into this new turf should arm themselves with the right builds.

Status Meltdown

Scarlet Rot and Poison melt away boss health like nothing else. These devastating statuses that normally gnaw at players can be turned against bosses. This strategy shines against beefy, stubborn adversaries. Enemy-farming in the Haligtree rewards players with Rotten Crystal Spears that induce Scarlet Rot.

Weapons can be coated with Rot Grease if you’re unable to acquire the Spears. Using the Coil Shield also has its benefits — its ability inflicts a potent poison. Other useful tools include Poison and Scarlet Pots which can be launched at bosses from a safe distance. But be warned, while Malenia’s Scarlet Aeonia is eye-catching, it’s rather slow.

A Clash of Arcane & Faith

Arcane boasts significant bleed capabilities, while Faith wields powerful dragon incantations. Marry these two forces to coordinate an array of weapons and spells. Just remember to distribute points wisely, especially if your character is still at a low level. Allocate just enough points in Faith to unlock your chosen weapons and spells, then concentrate on Arcane.

Dragon Lightning Priests

Strange as it may sound, one strategy is to model your build after the Dragon Lightning Priests. Based on a Faith build, this incarnation centers around Lightning damage. Practicing dragon slaying in Elden Ring is crucial to procuring the best incantations. A tip for pulling off this build is to carry two seals, a unique component to boost your Dragon incantations.

Frostbite is a potent status effect in Elden Ring, and decking your character in Frost-infused gear can give you the upper hand in many circumstances. Frost-inflicting magic or weapons can work, though a Strength/Intelligence build will grant the most versatility. The damage of Frostbite lasts for roughly 30 seconds, during which time cumbersome enemies also receive an additional 20% damage.

Underrated Holy Damage

Despite the underutilisation of holy damage by Elden Ring players, holy weapons are distinctive and beautiful. The Coded Sword and the Cipher Pata, the physical manifestation of the cryptic language used by the two fingers, are especially standouts. Holy damage is largely situational but can make for a flashy and fun build for those who stick with it.

In Defense of Faith

Unlike previous FromSoftware games, Elden Ring gives more options for heavily faith-focused players aside from spells and incantations. As well as high-faith scaling weapons like the Winged Scythe or the Blasphemous Blade, Elden Ring has a vast choice of incantations which cover almost every type of damage in the game.

Able Agility: Dexterity Build

Dexterity builds are viable strategies in FromSoftware games for their blend of speed and strength. Dexterity weapons can weave in and out of enemies, quickly doling out damage while avoiding incoming attacks. Elden Ring offers a wide array of dexterity weapon types, providing options for every player’s unique tactics.

Spellbinding Sorcery

Sorcery builds give players the chance to down enemies from a distance with powerful spells. There are numerous sorceries on offer in Elden Ring —each one playing a distinct role and offering different damage types. Therefore, regardless of the situation in Shadow of the Erdtree, there will be a spell ready to turn the tide.

Deceptively Deadly: Glass Cannon Mages

Going for a Glass Cannon build in Elden Ring can be a game changer, especially for those who love magic. Despite their low stamina, Glass Cannon Mages can do an incredible amount of damage in a short amount of time. They use spells like Comet Azur and Terra Magica to maximize their magic damage while using Talismans to reduce FP consumption.

Sturdy Strength Build

Strength builds are a popular choice across FromSoftware’s repertoire, as they allow characters to deal massive damage with a single swing and stagger enemies for bonus hits. Elden Ring offers a range of large and hefty strength weapons, each varying from colossal swords to giant war hammers.

A Hybrid of Strength & Intelligence

Fusion builds that blend strength and intelligence have an embarrassment of weapon choices in Elden Ring. Magic damage is consistent, and most enemies in Elden Ring do not feature high resistance to it. Thus, magic damage can be used reliably, and players need not fret about alternating damage types.

In a Class of Its Own: Quality Build

If you’re keen on trying all that Elden Ring offers, then a quality build may be your best bet. With a variety of weapons, spells, and items under your belt, it’s the easiest way to ensure you don’t miss out on any exciting new DLC content. This all-rounder build is particularly handy for those wanting to test new weapons before settling on them, considering that respecs are limited in Elden Ring.