Elden Ring, the much-anticipated action RPG from From Software and George R.R. Martin has captivated gamers worldwide with its rich lore, intricate world design, and challenging gameplay. A core aspect defining a player’s experience in Elden Ring is their character build. With a vast array of options available, each build offers unique gameplay mechanics and strategies, allowing players to tailor their adventure through the Lands Between to their personal preferences.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Elden Ring builds, exploring the best options for different playstyles, the essential stats to focus on, and tips to optimize your build for success.
Understanding Builds in Elden Ring
Before diving into specific builds, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental components that make up a character build in Elden Ring. These components include:
- Stats: The primary attributes that determine your character’s capabilities.
- Weapons and Armor: Equipment that influences your damage output, defense, and overall effectiveness in combat.
- Skills and Spells: Abilities that provide additional versatility and power.
- Playstyle: Your preferred approach to combat, whether it’s melee, ranged, magic, or a hybrid.
Essential Stats for Elden Ring Builds
Elden Ring features several key stats that players need to manage:
- Vigor: Determines your health pool. Higher Vigor means more hit points, allowing you to survive longer in battles.
- Mind: Affects your Focus Points (FP), essential for casting spells and using specific weapon skills.
- Endurance: Governs stamina and equipment load. Higher Endurance allows for more attacks, dodges, and heavier armor.
- Strength: Increases the damage of strength-scaling weapons and allows wielding heavier weaponry.
- Dexterity: Boosts damage for dexterity-scaling weapons and reduces casting time for spells.
- Intelligence: Important for sorcery spells and increases magic damage.
- Faith: Essential for incantations and boosts miracle effectiveness.
- Arcane: Influences item discovery and certain spells or abilities.
Top Elden Ring Builds
- The Pure Strength Build
Overview
The Pure Strength build is ideal for players who enjoy brute force and heavy weaponry. This build focuses on maximizing Strength to wield the most potent weapons in the game.
Key Stats
- Strength: Primary focus. Aim for 50-60 points to maximize weapon damage.
- Vigor: At least 40 points for survivability.
- Endurance: 30-40 points to handle heavy weapons and armor.
Recommended Weapons and Armor
- Weapons: Greatswords, Ultra Greatswords, Greataxes. Examples include the Great Club, Dragon Slayer Greataxe, and Lothric Knight Greatsword.
- Armor: Heavy armor sets like Havel’s Set or the Lothric Knight Set to maximize defense.
Playstyle Tips
- Heavy Attacks: Utilize charged heavy attacks to break enemy poise.
- Defense: Use a high-stability shield or two-hand your weapon for maximum damage.
- Buffs: Consider using weapon buffs like Magic Weapon or Lightning Blade to enhance damage.
- The Dexterity Build
Overview
The Dexterity build focuses on speed, precision, and versatility. Dexterity-based weapons are typically faster and allow for more fluid combat.
Key Stats
- Skill: Primary focus. Aim for 40-50 points.
- Vigor: 30-40 points for health.
- Endurance: 30 points for stamina.
Recommended Weapons and Armor
- Weapons: Katanas, Rapiers, Bows. Examples include the Uchigatana, Chaos Blade, and Black Bow of Pharis.
- Armor: Light to medium armor sets like the Black Leather Set or the Eastern Set for mobility.
Playstyle Tips
- Fast Attacks: Use quick, successive attacks to overwhelm enemies.
- Dodging: Rely on dodging rather than blocking to avoid damage.
- Critical Hits: Take advantage of parrying and backstabs for vital damage.
- The Intelligence Build
Overview
The Intelligence build is perfect for those who prefer casting powerful sorceries. This build focuses on maximizing spell damage and utility.
Key Stats
- Intelligence: Primary focus. Aim for 50-60 points.
- Mind: 30-40 points to increase FP.
- Vigor: 30 points for health.
Recommended Weapons and Armor
- Weapons: Staves, Magic-infused weapons. Examples include the Sorcerer’s Staff Moonlight Greatsword.
- Armor: Light armor sets like the Sorcerer Set to minimize weight and maximize casting speed.
Playstyle Tips
- Spellcasting: Utilize a variety of sorceries for damage, crowd control, and buffs.
- Distance: Maintain a safe distance from enemies while casting spells.
- FP Management: Keep an eye on your FP and use items or rest to replenish it.
- The Faith Build
Overview
The Faith build centers around miracles and incantations, offering healing, buffs, and powerful offensive spells.
Key Stats
- Faith: Primary focus. Aim for 50-60 points.
- Mind: 30-40 points for FP.
- Vigor: 30 points for health.
Recommended Weapons and Armor
- Weapons: Chimes, Talismans, Blessed weapons. Examples include the Saint-tree Bellvine Sunlight Talisman.
- Armor: Light to medium armor sets like the Cleric or Maiden Set.
Playstyle Tips
- Miracles: Use a mix of healing, defensive, and offensive miracles.
- Support: Play a supportive role in co-op, healing, and buffing allies.
- Divine Damage: Use faith-scaling weapons to deal holy damage to enemies.
- The Hybrid Build
Overview
The Hybrid build combines elements of melee and magic, offering versatility and adaptability in combat.
Key Stats
- Strength/Dexterity: Balance between these depending on your preferred weapons.
- Intelligence/Faith: Focus on one or both to enhance spellcasting.
- Vigor: 30 points for health.
- Endurance/Mind: Balance these to suit your stamina and FP needs.
Recommended Weapons and Armor
- Weapons: Weapons that scale with both physical and magical stats, such as the Moonlight Greatsword.
- Armor: Medium armor sets like the Knight Set for balanced defense and mobility.
Playstyle Tips
- Versatility: Switch between melee and magic depending on the situation.
- Buffs and Debuffs: Use spells to buff yourself and debuff enemies.
- Adaptability: Be prepared to change tactics based on enemy weaknesses and strengths.
FAQs
1 What is a built-in Elden Ring?
A built-in Elden Ring refers to the specific allocation of a player’s stats, equipment, spells, and abilities. Builds are tailored to different playstyles, such as melee combat, magic, or hybrid approaches, and can significantly impact gameplay.
2 How do I create a build in Elden Ring?
Creating a build involves:
- Choosing a starting class.
- Allocating attribute points to stats that support your playstyle.
- Selecting appropriate weapons, armor, and spells.
- Optimizing your equipment load and resistances.
Planning your build according to the type of combat you prefer is important.
3 How do I respec my character?
After defeating her, you can respec your character by using a Larval Tear and speaking to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, at the Raya Lucaria Academy. This allows you to reallocate your attribute points to suit a new build better.
4 How can I find the best equipment for my build?
Explore the world, defeat bosses, complete quests, and visit merchants to find the best equipment. Many powerful weapons and armor sets are hidden in challenging areas or require defeating formidable enemies.
5 Can I mix and match different build elements?
Absolutely! Mixing and matching build elements can create a unique and versatile play style. Experiment with different combinations of stats, weapons, armor, and spells to find the best.
Conclusion
Elden Ring offers many possibilities for character builds, each catering to different playstyles and preferences. Whether you prefer the raw power of a Strength build, the agility of a Dexterity build, the arcane might of an Intelligence build, the divine prowess of a Faith build, or the versatility of a Hybrid build, there’s a path to suit your journey through the Lands Between.
Experiment with different builds, optimize your stats and equipment and discover the unique playstyle that resonates with you. With the right build, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer the challenges that await in Elden Ring’s vast and treacherous world. Happy adventuring!
