Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

As a seasoned Elden Ring veteran, I wholeheartedly endorse this Death Knight build for those who crave high damage output and a formidable defense against incoming attacks. The strategic combination of spells and consumables outlined here will undoubtedly elevate your gameplay experience to new heights.


In the additional content for Elden Ring titled Shadow of the Erdtree, Death Knights have been introduced as optional bosses. These formidable adversaries are a tough test even for seasoned Tarnished players. Loyal to their deceased lord, Godwyn the Golden, these knights have been tainted by death. Don’t underestimate them, as they harness the potent spells of the Dragon Cult and possess lethal life-draining grips.

In “Shadow of the Erdtree,” you have an opportunity to face off against two formidable Death Knights, each vanquished rewarding a distinct weapon. These Death Knights are some of the most stylish adversaries the game has to offer, and many players aspire to mimic their impressive move sets. The following build aims to fulfill that desire by enabling you to channel the unyielding spirit of these dark knights in their full, grim splendor.

How To Get Death Knight Armor Set & Overview

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

You can find these items on a Death Knight’s body within the Darklight Catacombs. To reach this location, ride your horse southward from the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace, then navigate through the tombstones that protrude from the rocks using parkour skills.

The Death Knight Armor, with all of its pieces combined, provides moderate damage negation and a medium equipment load but offers a disappointing 47 poise. However, you can increase this poise to 63 by equipping the .

How To Get Death Knight’s Twin Axes & Overview

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

You’ll get the Death Knight’s Twin Axes once you defeat the weaker Death Knight located at the end of the Fog Rift Catacombs. Defeating this tough adversary will also reward you with the Crimson Amber Medallion +3, which boosts your maximum health by 10%.

In Elden Ring, the Death Knight’s Twin Axes are two axes that players who prefer power-stancing will find appealing. These axes can be enhanced up to +10 using Somber Smithing Stones and a specific upgrade material. Here are the necessary attributes to handle the weapon efficiently, along with their respective scaling:

Attribute Level Scaling
Strength 14 C
Dexterity 12 D
Faith 16 C

How To Get Death Knight’s Longhaft Axe & Overview

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

As a devoted player, I’ve just conquered the formidable Death Knight nestled within the Scorpion River Catacombs. Unlike his counterpart in the Fog Rift Catacombs, this foe boasts an impressive health pool. In the heat of battle, I not only emerged victorious but also claimed two extraordinary weapons: the Longhaft Axe and a unique artifact, the Cerulean Amber Medallion +3. This enchanting medallion bestows a 12.5% boost to my maximum Focus Points (FP), making it an invaluable addition to my arsenal.

The Longhaft Axe, wielded by Death Knights, is primarily enhanced by strength and performs optimally when held with both hands. Much like the Death Knight’s Twin Axe, you can upgrade the Longhaft Axe to a +10 level using Somber Smithing Stones and an Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stone. Here are the necessary attributes and scaling for this Greataxe:

Attribute Level Scaling
Strength 23 B
Dexterity 10 E
Faith 18 D

Best Character Attribute Distribution For Death Knight Build

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

To maximize the power of a Death Knight’s axes, which scale with both strength and faith, consider constructing a build that includes a few spells as well. The selected character traits are designed to support the efficient use of both Death Knight axes, allowing for smooth transitions between them. Additionally, the significant focus on faith grants you access to potent faith-based spells.

As a seasoned gamer nearing level 190, I’ve come across an attribute distribution that seems tailor-made for characters at my level. It serves as a handy guide for fellow gamers who are also around the same level, offering valuable insights to optimize our characters!

Attribute Level
Vigor 60
Mind 26
Endurance 30
Strength 66
Dexterity 20
Intelligence 9
Faith 50
Arcane 8

When you wield the Death Knight’s Longhaft Axe with both hands, your strength increases by 50%, significantly enhancing the axe’s physical attack power.

Best Talismans For Death Knight Build

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

In the game ‘Elden Ring’, talismans play a crucial part in shaping your gaming strategy according to your preferred playstyle. These talismans offer unique advantages such as dealing extra damage, enhancing resistance, and even nullifying physical attacks. The selected talismans below are strategically chosen to reinforce the Death Knight build and offset the reduced resistance that comes with wearing the Death Knight armor:

  • : You can find the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman in Miquella’s Haligtree, and equipping this talisman boosts your damage negation by 20%.
  • : The Two-Handed Sword Talisman can be picked up from a treasure chest in the Temple Town Ruins. This talisman increases your attack power by 15% when wielding the same weapon with both hands. However, this buff is not applicable when dual wielding weapons in each hand.
  • : The Shard of Alexander talisman is rewarded upon completing Iron Fist Alexander’s quest line. Equipping this talisman increases the power of your weapon skills by 15%.
  • The Bull-Goat’s Talisman can be found in the Dragonburrow Cave in Caelid. This talisman is guarded by Runebear. Equipping the Bull-Goat’s Talisman increases your overall poise by 33%.

Best Buffs, Spells & Consumables For Death Knight Build

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

To truly elevate this Death Knight build, consider adding specific spells and items that boost your overall damage output while simultaneously reducing damage received. In the game, you’ll find a rich selection of support spells designed to enhance your character, the Tarnished. Here are three powerful incantations ideal for maximizing damage output and engaging enemies from afar:

  • : The Golden Vow incantation can be found in the Corpse-Stench Shack on Mt. Gelmir. This spell requires 25 Faith to cast and grants a 15% increase in damage dealt while reducing damage received by 10%, with the buff lasting 80 seconds.
  • : You can find the Flame, Grant Me Strength behind Fort Gael in Caelid. You’ll need 15 faith to cast this incantation, and it offers a 20% damage buff to your physical and fire attacks, with the effect lasting 30 seconds.
  • : The Knight’s Lightning Spear is a new incantation introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree. This spell can be found in the Scorpion River Catacombs and is an excellent choice for ranged combat.

You can stack Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength to dish out massive damage numbers!

Besides these three spells, you might want to think about adding the Wondrous Flask of Physick to enhance your setup. This will provide additional adjustments to your build and increase the elemental damage of your weapons. The Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear and Stonebarb Cracked Tear are great options for swiftly breaking enemy stances, and they work perfectly with the lightning Ash of War on both axes.

  • : You can obtain the Lightning-Shrouding Tear upon defeating the Erdtree Avatar in northeastern Liurnia. This tear increases your lightning attacks by 20% and the effect lasts for 3 minutes.
  • : The Stonebarb Cracked Tear is obtained upon defeating the Putrid Avatar in northeastern Caelid. This tear increases your stance damage by 30% and the effect lasts for 30 seconds. Given the shorter buff window, you should consider adopting an aggressive playstyle in the first 30 seconds of confronting the boss.

Death Knight Build Playstyle Recommendation

Elden Ring: Death Knight Build Guide

As a seasoned adventurer with years of battling undead monstrosities under my belt, I can confidently say that this Death Knight build is a game-changer. Unlike other builds that rely heavily on character stats to wield powerful weapons, this one allows me to fully utilize both Death Knight axes without being held back. With 30 Endurance points, I can comfortably wear the full Death Knight set and equip both axes while maintaining a medium equipment load. This setup not only grants me the necessary power to take down even the most formidable of foes, but also provides me with the flexibility to carry additional items such as a torch, an extra dagger, or a parrying small shield without feeling weighed down. I highly recommend this build for any aspiring Death Knight looking to make their mark in the world of the undead.

As a gamer, I can effortlessly adapt my strategy by toggling between the Longhaft Axe and Twin Axes according to the game’s circumstances. The Twin Axes are perfect for swift attacks and power-stancing maneuvers that can overpower enemies, while the Longhaft Axe shines when it comes to breaking stances and its impressive Blinkbolt Ash of War.

As a fan, I’ve found myself in a situation where I can’t adjust the Ash of War along either axis on my weapons. In such cases, I’ve discovered that the Twinblade, hidden in the Shadow of the Erdtree, could serve as an enticing alternative. This blade possesses inherent holy damage and is capable of being enriched with a diverse array of Ashes of War.

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2024-08-10 14:04