ELDEN RING – Best Builds Collection (PVE / PVP)

Frequently Requested Builds

Helpful Information

What is a Build?

A build is an accumulation of your stats, armor, weapons, talismans, and any spells or incantations. A buff routine is not a build, nor is a spirit summon a build, (exception being mimic tear), and a save that has every stat past their soft cap is not a build, it’s just an overleveled character. Making a pre-thought-out build is recommended for optimizing damage output and survivability. If this is your first playthrough I highly recommend playing as blind as possible because nothing beats the joy of discovery and self-guided exploration on a first playthrough.

Some Information Regarding these Builds

Any build will be viable in PvE but the reverse (PvP) is not always true. 51 poise is the only relevant breakpoint for poise in PvE. However, I recommend at least getting 88 poise, a good way to achieve this is to use the armor optimizer in the build planner and plan for 88 poise. (109 is recommended as well, but not necessary. See the poise breakpoints sheet for more information). I also recommend removing any talisman that increases damage taken, such as soreseals, scarseals, and scorpion charms as well as dragoncrest greatshield (nerfed from 20% to 5%) for PvP. If you see a talisman like red/blue feathered branchsword that means it is a hardswap talisman that you swap to once you take significant damage.

You will almost always want to start with something like ritual shield -> blessed dew if you take chip damage -> blue feathered branch sword. Hardswap talismans will be on the left side for easier access.

PVE Builds

Strength

• (STR) Base Strength Build – Base Build to create/use other Strength Builds/Weapons.
• (STR) Bloodborne Cosplay Build – Reaper/Curved Sword/Halberd/Crossbow, use bleed grease to proc bleed faster.
• (STR) Guts Cosplay Build – Colossal/Crossbow.
• (STR) One Shot Rusted Anchor Build – Greataxe.
• (STR/DEX) Bloodhound Fang Build – Curved Greatsword, optimized further by Emerald Wolf.
• (STR/DEX) Ghizas Wheel Build – Colossal Sword, optimized further by Emerald Wolf.
• (STR/DEX) Sword of Milos Build – Greatsword/Axe.
• (STR/INT) Dark Moon Greatsword Build – Greatsword/Glintstone Staff.
• (STR/INT) Ruins Greatsword Build – Colossal Sword.
• (STR/INT) Starscourge Cosplay Build – Colossal/Glintstone Staff.
• (STR/FAI) Blasphemous Blade Build – Greatsword/Sacred Seal.
• (STR/FAI) Envoy Longhorn Bubble Build – Great Hammer/Sacred Seal.
• (STR/FAI) Giant Red Braid Build – Whip/Sacred Seal, optimized further by Emerald Wolf.
• (STR/FAI) Maliketh Cosplay Build – Colossal/Sacred Seal/Dagger.
• (STR/FAI) Marikas Hammer Build – Hammer.
• (STR/FAI) Crucible Knight Ordovis Cosplay Build – Greatsword/Sacred Seal/Greatshield.
• (STR/ARC) Marais Executioner Build – Greatsword, optimized further by Unlined-Betters, optimized further by Emerald Wolf.

Dexterity

• (DEX) Base Dex Build – Base Build to create/use other Dexterity Builds/Weapons.
• (DEX) Antspier Rapier Build – Thrusting Sword.
• (DEX) Black Bow Build – Bow.
• (DEX) Bolt of Gransax Build – Spear.
• (DEX) Cragblade Dex Build – Heavy Thrusting Sword.
• (DEX) Godslayer Greatsword Build – Colossal Sword.
• (DEX) Samurai Cosplay Build – Katana/Sacred Seal.
• (DEX/STR) Bloodhound Fang Build – Curved Greatsword.
• (DEX/STR) Sword of Milos Build – Greatsword/Axe.
• (DEX/STR) Ghizas Wheel Build – Colossal Weapon.
• (DEX/INT) Death Ritual Spear Build – Spear/Glintstone Staff, optimal for wing of astel too.
• (DEX/INT) Moonveil Build – Katana/Glintstone Staff.
• (DEX/INT) Death’s Poker Build – Greatsword/Glintstone Staff, optimized further by Emerald Wolf.
• (DEX/ARC) Eleonora’s Pole Blade Build – Twinblade.
• (DEX/ARC) Rivers of Blood Build – Katana/Katana.

Intelligence

• (INT) Base Intelligence Build – Base Build to create/use other Intelligence Builds/Weapons.
• (INT) Ultimate Crit Hit Build
• (INT) Night Comet Build
• (INT/STR) Dark Moon Greatsword Build
• (INT/DEX) Death’s Poker Build – Optimized further by Emerald Wolf.
• (INT/STR) Ruins Greatsword Build
• (INT/STR) Starscourge Cosplay Build
• (INT/DEX) Death Ritual Spear Build – Optimal for wing of astel too.
• (INT/DEX) Moonveil Build
• (INT/FAI) Grim Reaper Cosplay Build
• (INT/FAI) Sword of Night and Flame Build

Faith

• (FAI) Base Faith Build
• (FAI/STR) Blasphemous Blade Build
• (FAI/STR) Envoy Longhorn Bubble Build
• (FAI/STR) Giant Red Braid Build
• (FAI/STR) Maliketh Cosplay Build
• (FAI/STR) Marikas Hammer Build
• (FAI/STR) Crucible Knight Ordovis Cosplay Build – Needs more faith for incants.
• (FAI/INT) Grim Reaper Cosplay Build
• (FAI/INT) Sword of Night and Flame Build
• (FAI/ARC) Dragon Communion Build

Arcane

• (ARC) Base Arcane Build
• (ARC) Brainrot Bleed Build
• (ARC) Mohgs Sacred Spear Build
• (ARC) Star Fist Build – Blue dancer charm not really worth getting 2 tapped by any boss imo.
• (ARC/STR) Marais Executioner Build
• (ARC/DEX) Eleonora’s Poleblade Build
• (ARC/DEX) Rivers of Blood Build
• (ARC/FAI) Dragon Communion Build – Needs more faith for dragonmaw and greyolls.

PVP Builds

Strength

• (STR) Base Incantation Build
• (STR) Dagger Offlance Build
• (STR) Dragon Halberd Build – Cold in offhand has better synergy with dragon hal.
• (STR) Dual Lances Build
• (STR) Golem Halberd Build
• (STR) Pure Strength Enthusiast Build
• (STR) Shieldpoke Build
• (STR/DEX) Sword of Milos Build – Just a few talismans swaps and armor swaps and this is.
• (STR/INT) Helphens Steeple Build – More endurance instead of str to not lock GJA.
• (STR/INT) Cold Iron Cleaver Build – With offhand cold clayman harpoon.
• (STR/INT) Royal Greatsword Build
• (STR/FAI) Magma Wyrm/Blade Build – If you use 88 poise instead of 109, remove GJA.
• (STR/FAI) Crucible Knight Ordovis Cosplay Build – Needs more faith for incants.

Dexterity

• (DEX) Thrusting Sword Build – If going dex, antspur + rot would be better.
• (DEX) Dex Enthusiast Build – Endurance over dex. Locking GJA is bad.
• (DEX) Dual Katanas Build – Endurance over dex. Locking GJA is bad.
• (DEX/STR) Sword of Milos Build – Talismans swaps and armor swaps 4.
• (DEX/INT) Experimental Death Ritual Spear Build
• (DEX/FAITH) Deathblight and Other Dex Faith Stuff Build
• (DEX/ARC) Bloody Helice Build
• (DEX/ARC) Morgotts Cursed Sword Build

Intelligence

• (INT) Bastard Stars Build
• (INT) Carian Slicer Build
• (INT) Scythe Loretta’s Slash Build
• (INT/STR) Helphens Steeple Build – More endurance instead of str to not lock GJA.
• (INT/STR) Cold Iron Cleaver Build – With offhand cold clayman harpoon.
• (INT/STR) Royal Greatsword Build
• (INT/DEX) Experimental Death Ritual Spear Build
• (INT/FAI) Briar Sorcery Build
• (INT/FAI) True Combo Hybrid Build

Faith

• (FAI) Pure Faith Caster Build
• (FAI/STR) Crucible Knight Ordovis’s Cosplay Build – Needs more faith for incants. 
• (FAI/STR) Magma Wyrm / Blade Build
• (FAI/DEX) Deathblight and Other Dex Faith Stuff Build
• (FAI/INT) Briar Sorcery Build
• (FAI/INT) True Combo Hybrid Build
• (FAI/ARC) Madness Build – Silver tear mask, less arcane, more mind.

Arcane

• (ARC) Vulgar Militia Saw Build – Arcane Enthusiast build for PVP?
• (ARC) Bloody Flamberge Build – Mushroom crown and kindred of rot talis better.
• (ARC/DEX) Bloody Helice Build
• (ARC/DEX) Morgotts Cursed Sword Build
• (ARC/FAI) Madness Build – Silver tear mask, less arcane, more mind.

FAQ

Why Are All the Builds Made for 125-150? 

Optimal/meta for duels is at 125, this is where most activity and balance is to be had. Most players will beat the game around 125-150 so doing high level co-op is also more available at this level. Any build at 125 is a “complete” build and can be made viable even if they are hybrid builds. If you are higher than the build being showcased just work your damage stat(s) up to their final softcap and if you have any leftover stats you could put them into either: endurance for light roll or just more stamina, mind for more fp/casting, or faith for buffs such as golden vow/fmgs etc.

I Just Started this Build. What Should I Level / Do First?

I always recommend leveling vigor up first after you ensure you are at least medium rolling with the bare minimum requirements being met. If you are doing a build with weapons that can’t be accessed till late game I highly recommend picking a weapon from the same class/type with lower/similar requirements that you will use later. Some good early game weapons for any build are: uchigatana, broadsword, and estoc. Soreseal, axe talisman, and claw talisman are also good early game talismans. Feel free to upgrade this weapon to at least +24/+9 since besides max level smithing stones, they can all be bought. 

The Build I Want Requires NG+ What Do I Do?

If you are certain your build requires NG+ to fully access it then I suggest trading to get the items you need. There are plenty of DC servers that offer free trading services and if you are on PC you can always just use cheat engine. If this is your first playthrough and you do not feel like spoiling it by getting duped items then almost every item has a “lesser” equivalent that can be acquired in your first playthrough. (One scavenger one bandits curved sword for example instead of two scavs).

That’s all! I really appreciate it if you’ve made it this far. See you in the game!