Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree – Best Sword & Shield Build - September 2024

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree - Best Sword & Shield Build

As a seasoned Elden Ring adventurer who’s spent countless hours dodging, parrying, and blocking my way through the Lands Between, I can confidently say that the Sword & Shield build is a force to be reckoned with – especially when paired with the Deflecting Hardtear.

In Elden Ring, you’ll discover a variety of dazzling attacks from distinctive weapon skills such as the Sacred Relic Sword and Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, along with spells like Comet Azur and Placidusax’s Ruin. These certainly pack a punch and can make short work of numerous challenging bosses in The Lands Between and the Shadow Realm of the Erdtree’s Shadow. However, it’s important to note that you don’t necessarily require these powerful abilities to complete the game. Many players have managed to finish Elden Ring using traditional builds like the Knight or Sword and Shield builds.

A Sword and Shield build comes pretty close to a Knight build — the only difference is that you need to carry a shield in the former, while it is optional in the latter. However, this might be easier said than done, as Elden Ring features many types of swords and shields to choose from. Additionally, you will also need to select various Talismans and level up your build to the right stats. Follow this guide to find the best weapon options for a Sword and Shield build in Elden Ring, along with the best stats and Talismans for the build.

Best Starter Class & Stats For Sword & Shield Build

Before you embark on designing your Sword and Shield character, it’s crucial to select the optimal starting class and focus on stat distribution. For a Sword and Shield build, the Bandit and Vagabond classes are highly recommended. The Bandit initially wields the Buckler, boasting one of the top parry abilities. On the other hand, the Vagabond equips the Heater Shield, offering fundamental Parry skills plus complete negation of physical damage.

When it comes to stats, make sure you first meet the minimum requirements for the sword and shield you intend to wield. Once those basics are covered, concentrate on boosting Vigor and Strength. If your weapon performs better with Dexterity, switch your focus from Strength to that instead. If you have extra runes at your disposal, consider pouring them into Faith to unlock potent Incantations such as [Incantation 1] and [Incantation 2].

This is a sample stat array for a Strength-centric Sword & Shield game build at level 150, starting with the Vagabond class.

Vigor	60
Mind	20
Endurance	30
Strength	65
Dexterity	13
Intelligence	9
Faith	25
Arcane	7

At levels above 150, you have two options: Continue pouring skill points into Strength until it hits 80, or assign runes to Endurance to boost your stamina and accommodate larger weapon and armor set loads.

Best Armaments For Sword & Shield Build

In the game Elden Ring, there are three categories of shields: small, medium, and large. The defending power of a shield is determined by its size and weight, so choosing the right one for your needs is essential. For players with a focus on parrying using a sword and shield, it’s important to select either a small or medium shield that comes equipped with a parry skill. On the other hand, if you prefer a higher guard value and offensive abilities granted by Ashes of War, then large shields are the ideal choice for you.

Best Shield Choices For A Sword & Shield Build

Here are some great shield suggestions for the Sword and Shield build in Elden Ring:

: The Buckler is a reliable shield with a useful parry skill called Buckler’s Parry. This shield is part of the starter equipment of the Bandit class. For other starter classes, the Buckler becomes available at Gatekeeper Gostoc’s shop after he opens the main gate. The Buckler’s Parry skill has one of the highest parry frames for countering an enemy’s attack.
: Like the Buckler, the Brass Shield is also an early game shield that remains valuable even in the later stages of the game. Among all medium shields, the Brass Shield has the highest Guard Boost stats while also boasting 100% physical damage negation. If facing an enemy who deals mostly physical damage, like Putrescent Knight or Malenia, you can use the Brass Shield to avoid all damage as long as you have enough stamina. Alternatively, you can use the or the .
: While it is the heaviest shield in Elden Ring, the Fingerprint Stone Shield offers excellent damage negation against all kinds of attacks. Though generally used in shield poke builds, you don’t necessarily need a thrusting weapon to make use of this shield. Feel free to pair it with your preferred choice of sword. However, if you don’t like the aesthetics of the Fingerprint Stone Shield, you can opt for the .

Regarding the swords in Elden Ring, you’ll find an array of choices for players, such as Straight Swords, Greatswords, Thrusting Swords, Curved Swords, and many more. Feel free to pick your favorite sword, and here are some dependable options:

Best Weapon Choices For A Sword & Shield Build

: This dagger is the best weapon for a parry-crit build, featuring the highest critical damage out of all weapons. Moreover, the Misericorde can be infused with Ashes of War, allowing you to change the weapon’s affinity to exploit an enemy’s weakness. However, if you’re aiming for a guard counter build, the Misericorde won’t be of much use.
: A simple and reliable weapon available right at the start of the game. While it doesn’t have any flashy moves or skills, it is the only greatsword with a 110 critical damage boost.

If you’re opting for a defensive build centered around guard counters, swords such as the and , or colossal swords like the and , are excellent choices. When equipped with the Deflecting Hardtear, your sword and shield setup transforms into an effective tool for breaking enemy stances.

Best Armors for The Sword & Shield Build

In the game Elden Ring, an abundance of stylish armor sets cater to player preferences. Yet, when deciding on an armor set, remember to prioritize poise, aiming for a minimum of 51 points to withstand most attacks from PvE opponents. Here are some suitable armor set suggestions for a Sword & Shield playstyle:

: This is one of the first armor sets you can farm in Elden Ring, and it comes with exactly 51 poise. You can farm the Godrick Knight roaming near Gatefront Ruins in Limgrave to collect all four pieces of the set. Alternatively, you can choose sets from other Knight factions, such as Redmane Knights, Leyndell Knights, Cuckoo Knights, and Gelmir Knights.
: Though a bit on the heavier side, the Beast Champion set is one of the tankiest armor sets in Elden Ring, featuring 72 poise and high damage resistances. The best part is how early you can obtain it. Defeat Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack in Limgrave to acquire the Beast Champion armor set without needing to progress his questline.
: Each piece of this Shadow of the Erdtree DLC armor set provides a 2% damage buff at the cost of a 2% increase in incoming damage. Players confident in their dodging (or blocking) skills can benefit from the Rakshasa set’s increased damage bonus.

Best Talismans For Sword & Shield Build

In the game Elden Ring, talismans play a vital role across all character builds. Though general talismans such as Erdtree’s Favor and Bull-Goat’s Talisman are handy for every build, it is advisable to pick talismans that enhance your specific build’s strength instead.

: This Talisman provides a simple 20% damage boost to guard counters, making it a must-have for any Sword and Shield build focused on guard counters. It can be picked up quite early from Stormveil Castle.
: With 100% physical damage negation on so many shields, being able to absorb damage from physical attacks feels almost like cheating. However, with hard-hitting bosses like Radahn and Malenia, your stamina will eventually run out, leading to a guard break. The Greatshield Talisman reduces stamina consumption when guarding attacks.
: If you’re using your shield for parrying, the Dagger Talisman should definitely be part of your build. It boosts the critical damage dealt by your weapon and also stacks with the high critical damage of weapons like Misericorde.
: For non-parry builds, the Shard of Alexander can be a great Talisman if you plan to use weapon skills. If a shield has no skill set for its Ash of War, you’ll be able to use the weapon’s skill instead. The Shard of Alexander Talisman increases the damage from all Ashes of War.
: This Talisman is useful if you’re using heavy shields like the Fingerprint Stone Shield or Verdigris Shield. It grants extra Equip Load, allowing you to equip heavy armor and armaments.

Here’s our comprehensive guide on crafting a Sword & Shield setup concludes. If you’ve got any thoughts or ideas about improving this build, don’t hesitate to contribute in the comment section so others can benefit as well!

2024-09-03 06:03