By: Anna Hubbard
6 June 2024
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With a launch date of June 21st, 2024, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is the talk of the town. How could it not be? As the only significant expansion planned for arguably the best game of all time, Shadow of the Erdtree promises a once-in-a-lifetime offering. Namely, a fully integrated bonus chapter with more of what we love about the critically acclaimed Elden Ring!
In the days leading up to its release, we thought it would be useful to explore how best to get your character in shape for the challenges ahead. As you can imagine, narrowing down the best Elden Ring builds to prepare your Tarnishedfor the much-anticipated DLC is no small task. The list of possibilities for customization is almost never-ending. It's what we love about the game!
There's also the caveat that we don't know to what extent Shadow of the Erdtree will nerf your current build's attack power, to replicate the sense of progression, exploration, and accomplishment you get from the base game.
I wouldn't sweat on that too much though. Regardless of what FromSoftware puts in place to ensure a good level of challenge, starting the DLC with as strong a build as possible will still make sense. I mean, The Lands Between is hard, and Shadow of the Erdtree won't take its foot off the pedal: "Players who look for that sort of challenge in our games will find a challenge on equal footing in the DLC as well" (Hidetaka Miyazaki of FromSoftware).
Taking the above into account, this article outlines some of the best builds we've come across in the community to help you prepare for the upcoming DLC. We hope you find it useful!
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
READ MORE: How to Prepare for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
Before we go any further, it's important to note that we can't take credit for creating these builds ourselves. Coming up with new builds isn't the purpose of the article. Rather, as ever, we express our huge appreciation and gratitude to the gamers who share their build discoveries with the community.
Instead, what we've tried to do is navigate our way through hundreds of creations, to handpick a selection of builds we think are worth exploring in preparation for the new DLC.
The builds are based on Strength; Dexterity; Intelligence; Faith; and Arcane, with a selection of outstanding hybrid builds to check out. Oh, and don't forget, if you like any of the builds below but don't yet have the necessary level stats, don't worry. You can always respec!
Now, without further ado, here are our 7 best Elden Ring builds we've found to help you prepare for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree:
- Colossal Knight (Strength)
- Glass Cannon Mage (Intelligence)
- Blasphemous Blade (Strength and Faith)
- Rivers of Blood (Arcane & Dexterity)
- Dark Moon Greatsword (Strength and Intelligence)
- Sacred Relic Sword (Faith and Dexterity)
- Spinning Reaper Bleed(Strength and Dexterity)
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Colossal Knight (Strength)
- Recommended Starting Class: Barbarian
- Key Stats: Mostly Strength along with Endurance and Vigor
- Weapon: Any great or colossal weapon
- Essential Items: Warcry Ash of War; Axe Talisman; Roar Medallion
A powerful early-to-mid game build courtesy of Fextralife, this is a build for those who like big swords and powerful blows. Its lengthy windup time makes it somewhat risky, but used appropriately its a build that can cause a lot of damage. That's to say, time your hit correctly and you'll be sure to flatten your foe. Especially in the earlier stages of the game.
As the game progresses, and more blows are required to finish off an enemy, the stamina aspect of the build becomes ever more important. The Colossal Knight's stamina reserves are big. Huge, even. But, you'll need all the stamina you can get when it comes to chaining attacks together in longer battles. Particularly against bosses. For this reason, in order to prepare your build for Shadow of the Erdtree, we recommend bolstering the Strength stat with Endurance and Vigor, as well as adding stamina-boosting and recovery items to any available talisman slots.
The Colossal Knight Strength build requires a greatsword or colossal weapon, alongside the Warcry Ashes of War. Warcry provides a damage buff. By changing your R2 attack to a charging attack with an overhead swing, it also allows you to interrupt your enemy's attack pattern with your charge attack, before crushing your foe with an overhead blow.
When it comes to talisman, the Axe Talisman will further increase the damage of these charge attacks, and the Roar Medallion will amplify all attacks after using Warcry.
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Glass Cannon Mage (Intelligence)
- Recommended Starting Class: Astrologer
- Key Stats: Mostly Intelligence, along with some Dexterity and a bit of Strength
- Weapon: Moonveil Katana
- Essential Items: Moonveil Katana; Lusat’s Glintstone Staff; Cerulean Hidden Tear
- Best Spells: Comet Azur, Terra Magicus
It's the age old question: what's more important, brains or brawl? In this case, the intelligence focused Glass Cannon Mage courtesy of @TheGamingArea deals more damage than any other class in the game. The flipside? It will leave you extremely fragile. Basically, if you use this build in Shadow of the Erdtree, you will either obliterate a foe with ease, or you'll be hit from behind by a surprise attack whilst in the middle of battling a boss, and the strike will literally finish you off.
When using Glass Cannon Mage in Elden Ring, the power you wield as you gain access to Comet Azur and the Cerulean Hidden Tear and evoke one of the several powerful spells more than makes up for any such vulnerabilities, however. We're talking a 10 second constant beam of destructive energy at your disposal and no FP repercussions. Just be sure to equip yourself with one of the best spirit ash summons, so as to distract enemies and ensure your spells hit their target.
Defeat the Nox Swordstress and Nox Priest boss in the base game, and you can also pick up Lusat's Glinstone Staff as a reward. This will enhance the power of all sorceries. It will also eat away at FP, but hey, you know what they say about having your cake and eating it. You can't have it all!
In terms of hand weapons for the Glass Cannon Mage, we recommend the Moonveil Katana, which is dropped after the Magma Wyrm at the Gael Tunnel in Caelid. Truly, this sword serves up so much damage, especially when combined with the intelligence stat, it is bound to be nerfed. If it isn't, then you'll definitely want it for Shadow of the Erdtree!
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Blasphemous Blade (Strength and Faith)
- Recommended starting Class: Prophet or Confessor
- Key Stats: Mostly Faith and Strength, along with Vigor
- Weapon: Blasphemous Blade
- Essential Items: Taker's Flame; Carian Filigreed Crest; Shard of Alexander; Fire Scorpion Charm
Highlighted by YouTuber Jazza97, the Blasphemous Blade offers incredible damage output, combined with life-saving healing qualities that allows you to regain health with each hit. Surprisingly viable in PvP combat, this is a mobile build that can damage multiple enemies at a time thanks to the width and added hitbox of its weapon skill, the Taker's Flame, which delivers damage simultaneously with the blade and flame effect.
The Confessor or Prophet are good starting classes for this build thanks to their spread of Strength and Faith points. Increasing your Faith will further enhance the power of the Taker's Flame.
Endurance and Mind points are also important to ensure you are able to wield the Blasphemous Blade for long periods of time, and to raise your maximum Focus Point so that you can cast the Taker's Flame for longer.
The Carian Filigreed Crestwill lower the FP cost of Taker's Flame, as well as enhance its damage. The Fire Scorpion Charm Talisman will further increase the damage of Fire attacks, and the Shard of Alexander will increase the power of the Blasphemous Blade’s Ashes of War.
This is certainly a powerful build to prepare you for Shadow of the Erdtree. To get your hands on the Blasphemous Blade, you will need to complete the Volcano Manor quest line, trading in the Remembrance of the Blasphemous with Enia at the Roundtable Hold.
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Rivers of Blood (Arcane & Dexterity)
- Recommended starting Class: Bandit
- Key Stats: Mostly Arcane and Dexterity, with a good amount of Strength
- Weapon: Rivers of Blood
- Essential Items: Rotten Winged Sword Insignia Talisman; Corpse Piler weapon skill
A popular and staple build in the Elden Ring community, different versions of the Rivers of Blood build make their appearances in almost every PvP duel. With arguably the best weapon in Elden Ring (the Rivers of Blood weapon), Rivers of Blood is definitely a build to adopt and customize when preparing for Shadow of the Erdtree.
This is especially true considering that, lightly nerfed in the 1.06 patch, the attack power of the River of Blood's Corpse Piler weapon skill was later increased in patch 1.07, reinstating the devastating bleed effect its flurry of attacks inflict on opponents.
With a recommended Bandit starting class, the Arcane and Dexterity stats are vital to the Rivers of Blood build. Add to this, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia Talisman, and we're talking crazy levels of power.
Downside? You've got to reach the late-game Mountaintops of the Giants region and defeat Bloody Finger Okina in order to get your hands on this epic weapon. Easier said than done!
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Dark Moon Greatsword (Strength and Intelligence)
- Recommended starting Class: Astrologer
- Key Stats: Mostly Intelligence, then Strength, with some Dexterity
- Weapon: Dark Moon Greatsword
- Essential Items: Sword of Night and Flame; Carian Filigreed Crest Talisman.
- Spells: Flame Sweep; Comet Azur
Astrologer is a good starting class for Dark Moon Greatsword, the Elden Ring version of the classic FromSoftware Moonlight Greatsword.
A reliable and popular melee build located in Progress Ranni's questline, Dark Moon Greatsword blends a touch of magic with its powerful Strength and Intelligence-based weapon. This is thanks to its signature skill, also known as Moonlight Greatsword, that transmits beams of moonlight with each heavy swing.
A key to unlocking the power of the Sword of Night and Flame, the Dark Moon Greatsword casts 2 spells; the Flame Sweep spell, and the even more potent Comet Azur spell. With the Comet Azur spell, your sword will be able to blast cosmic energy from its tip, deadly enough to obliterate most bosses.
Combine the Comet Azur spell with the Carian Filigreed Crest Talisman to decrease the FP cost of your weapon skills, and you can blast away without fear of burn out. All in all, Dark Moon Greatsword is a solid choice build to prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree.
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Sacred Relic Sword (Faith and Dexterity)
- Recommended starting Class: Confessor
- Key Stats: Mostly Faith and Dexterity, with some Strength
- Weapon: Sacred Relic Sword
- Essential Items: Wave of Gold; Carian Filigreed Crest talisman; Ash-of-War Scarab helmet; and Shard of Alexander talisman
If you manage to defeat the final boss in Elden Ring, you deserve a reward. And a good one at that! Fortunately, FromSoftware delivers.
Your prize comes in the form of the Sacred Relic Sword. A strong greatsword, complete with the incredible Wave of Gold weapon skill. Trust us, you won't be disappointed! Activate the Wave of Gold and stand back as a large surge of holy light expands through the air to destroy all enemies in sight.
One of the deadliest weapons in the game, this destructive skill was enhanced in patch 1.04 to reduce the FP cost and ensure a speedier cast. It's damage and poise damage were subsequently reduced for PvP in patch 1.09, but honestly, the power of this potent weapon skill remains pretty much unmatched. This makes Sacred Relic Sword one of the best builds to prepare you for Shadow of the Erdtree.
A focus on Dexterity and Faith increases the damage of your sword attacks and Wave of Gold. The Carian Filigreed Crest talisman and Ash-of-War Scarab helmet lower the FP cost of the weapon skill, making it incredibly cheap to cast. The Shard of Alexander talisman then makes your cast that much more powerful, by increasing the damage inflicted by weapon skills. The result is devastating!
Pre-Order your copy of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for a great price at 2Game today!
Spinning Reaper Bleed (Strength and Dexterity)
- Recommended Starting Class: Confessor, or Vagabond
- Key Stats: Strength and Dexterity
- Weapon: Grave Scythe, or any weapon with bleed effects and as long reach
- Essential Items: Grave Scythe; Spinning Weapon Ash of War; Rotten Winged Sword Insignia; anything that boosts the bleed effect
Courtesy of RageGamingVideos, the Spinning Reaper Bleed build is the endgame bleed build to end all bleed builds. (Now, that's a tongue twister!).
Focussing on the fun yet devastating Spinning Weapon Ash of War, a skill that makes your weapon spin rapidly in the air, landing dozens of hits in just a few seconds, Spinning Reaper Bleed is particularly effective against larger enemies. What's more, as hits count as weapon hits, all your usual weapon buffing tricks will combine with Spinning Weapon to result in massive bleed effects.
Although the inspiration of this build was the Grave Scythe, any long-reached bleed effect weapon will be effective as long as you add the Spinning Weapon Art of War. You'll also want to add the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia to buff damage. To enhance the build even further, you can equip Millicent’s Prosthesis, or put the Thorny Cracked Tear on your Flask of Wondrous Physick.
Although super effective when used appropriately, we should mention that this build isn't without its risks. Namely, the build's difficulty in catching multiple, or more mobile opponents with its airborne spin. For this reason, it may not be the best choice for PvP. However, against any big and powerful less agile brute you encounter in Shadow of the Erdtree, you'll be laughing all the way to victory!
