Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

As a seasoned Tarnished adventurer who’s spent countless hours in Shadow of the Erdtree, I can confidently say that the Star-Lined Sword is a fantastic choice for those seeking a balanced, versatile weapon. With its unique Ash of War, Onze’s Line of Stars, and Transient Moonlight, you’ll have a toolkit that can handle most situations at midrange.


As a dedicated fan, I must say that one of my favorite Katanas in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the one crafted from the celestial bodies – it’s an ideal choice for a Tarnished character focusing on Dexterity with a touch of Intelligence. Not only does it deliver swift and precise attacks, but the sight of smashing enemies with a sword imbued with cosmic power is nothing short of breathtaking.

If you’ve just acquired the Star-Lined Sword or are currently strategizing on how to construct a whole character around it, building a Star-Lined Sword character in Elden Ring is relatively simple. The sword has a high dexterity scaling, swift katana moveset, and exclusive Ash of War that cater to quick attacks with your Ash of War. To help clarify, here’s some advice on crafting a Star-Lined Sword build in Elden Ring.

Pros & Cons Of The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Pros Cons
+ Onze’s Line of Stars has amazing reach – Short reach
+ Better for one-handed builds – Low strength scaling makes it bad for two-handing
+ Builds up blood loss – Most bosses won’t give you the chance to finish Onze’s Line of Stars
+ Deals magic damage – Onze’s Line of Stars isn’t a true combo against enemy Tarnished
+ Onze’s Line of Stars is great for roll catching
+ Katana moveset

As an ardent enthusiast, I’m captivated by the enchanting Star-lined Sword. This katana possesses a unique ability to inflict magical damage, accumulate bleed, and boasts a potent Ash of War. The primary attribute that amplifies its power is Dexterity, with secondary boosts coming from Strength and Intelligence.

What sets this particular weapon apart is its Ash of War ability called Onze’s Line of Stars. When triggered, it unleashes a double attack in broad sweeps ahead of the wielder. This Ash of War can be used three times in total, with each successive strike dealing more damage until the last attack, at which point the user is propelled into the air and executes a powerful overhead swing.

In player versus player (PvP) scenarios, Onze’s Line of Stars doesn’t result in an unavoidable sequence of attacks on Tarnished characters. But due to its wide sweep and large hitbox, it often causes opponents to instinctively roll away when caught within it. By timing the second set of strikes, you can strike your opponent with the initial attack set, prompting a panic roll, and then retaliate with the subsequent attack set as they attempt to evade.

The Star-Decorated Blade is visually attractive and boasts a robust set of moves, but it has some notable drawbacks. Compared to other katanas, its reach is relatively short. Moreover, if you opt to wield it with both hands, its low strength growth becomes a significant disadvantage. Furthermore, Onze’s Line of Stars skill sequence takes a considerable amount of time to execute fully, making it effective primarily against enemies with low defense but less so against bosses who might not allow enough time for the full combo. Typically, you’ll find yourself utilizing the initial two activations of Onze’s Line of Stars more frequently and the final hits only when provided with a prolonged opportunity for damage.

As a seasoned adventurer with years of combat under my belt, I can’t help but notice that the signs all point towards wielding the Star-Lined Sword as a one-handed weapon. With this in mind, it’s essential to consider what to put in my off-hand for optimal battle efficiency. Given my extensive experience, I believe that equipping a shield or another defensive tool would be wise, as it can help mitigate the weaknesses of the Star-Lined Sword and provide a measure of protection during close-quarters combat. However, depending on the specific situation and my own playstyle, I might opt for a secondary weapon like a dagger or a sling to deal additional damage and keep enemies at bay. In any case, choosing the right off-hand item can make all the difference in a tight spot, so it’s crucial to make an informed decision based on my skills, the environment, and the enemies I may face.

Best Shields To Use With The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Using a shield is generally a wise decision when wielding a one-handed weapon. Shields such as the Round Shield or Tower Shield offer nearly impenetrable physical defense during blocks, coupled with high Guard Boost. This means they can successfully ward off all incoming physical attacks for an extended duration, thereby protecting your character, Tarnished, from receiving damage while they are blocking.

Given that you’ve already armed the Star-Lined Sword with your elevated intelligence, you may opt to wield a staff instead for spellcasting. This action will boost the potency of your shield. Once done, feel free to revert back to the Star-Lined Sword whenever needed.

Best Staves To Use With The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

In this workplace, any team member can fit in well because fundamentally, you’re primarily focused on dexterity skills. Consequently, your primary role is to attack enemies from afar with spells and utilize them for additional purposes such as the Scholar’s Shield. Given this focus, the best options for you are the Intelligence-scaling staffs, namely the Staff of Wisdom and the Carian Regal Scepter. If you prefer to use more blade sorceries like Carian Piercer, then the Carian Glintstone Staff would be a suitable choice.

As a fan with an Intelligence score between 40 and 50, I’d argue that this particular weapon deserves a spot in your build. Even though you might not be using the sword part, its scaling at this level makes it a better choice compared to other staff options.

If you aim to surpass level 150, consider distributing 70 ability points each into Dexterity and Intelligence, and a few more into Mind. This will optimize your damage output with these abilities. Keep in mind that such choices will also raise the FP cost of your spells; ensure you have an adequate Mind investment to effortlessly cast your spells and utilize the Star-Lined Sword’s Ash of War for its damage. In this situation, those skills would be your best options for inflicting damage.

Best Katanas To Use WIth The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

An alternative strategy could involve wielding a second katana in your non-dominant hand. This allows for a more diverse moveset with quick, multiple strikes at close range. For characters with a stat distribution of 70 Dexterity and 40 Intelligence, the recommended off-hand katanas are the and .

As a fan, I can’t help but rave about the Moonveil! It excels beautifully with Intelligence and Dexterity, making it a go-to choice for me. In tight spots, its extraordinary Ash of War comes in handy. Unlike the Sword of Night, the Moonveil inflicts more bleed and magical damage. This feature makes it a superior off-hand option if you’re planning to boost magic damage with talismans or similar buffs. Since your two katanas will benefit doubly from these enhancements, Moonveil becomes the clear choice for an enchanted edge. With Onze’s Line of Stars and Transient Moonlight at my side, I can tackle most midrange challenges like a boss!

In comparison, the Sword of Night is better if you need a counter to shielded enemies or if you need a better PvP weapon. The Sword of Night has a true combo from Witching Hour Slash into a an uncharged heavy attack. If you’re planning to fight other Tarnished, you can two-hand the Sword of Night during the fight and catch them with a sudden burst of damage when they least expect it. The Star-Lined Sword becomes the option to use when you want to catch rolls or attack multiple opponents at once with Onze’s Line of Stars.

Best Stats For The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Vigor 55–60
Mind 25
Endurance 30–34
Strength 10
Dexterity 60–70
Intelligence 21–60
Faith X
Arcane X

Vigor is always important to have in Shadow of the Erdtree since everything hits fairly hard, and you’re using a short range weapon. If you’re planning to go into PvP, you’ll want to err closer to 60 vigor rather than 55 to avoid any crazy one-shots from other players.

To make the most of your frequent use of your Ash of War, it’s recommended to boost your Mind stat up to around 25 so that you have ample FP for buffs, spells, or your Ash of War. If you intend to use your Ash of War less frequently, a smaller investment in the Mind stat could allow you to maximize the benefits of your Intelligence and spellcasting.

Using Onze’s Line of Stars doesn’t consume a lot of Focus Points (FP), but it does require a significant amount of energy to wield effectively. Having a high level of endurance (30 or above) will enable you to continue sword-fighting without quickly tiring.

Enhancing your damage with this star-adorned blade primarily depends on two factors: dexterity and intelligence. It’s worth noting that dexterity has a more significant impact on your damage output compared to intelligence. As you progress beyond level 150, it’s advisable to approach the soft caps of around 80 in both attributes for optimal benefits. However, if you intend to maintain your character at level 150, prioritize dexterity more heavily for a greater boost in your attack power.

Best Talismans For The Star-Lined Sword In Elden Ring

Star-Lined Sword Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The best talismans for the Star-lined Sword will make the most of its fast attacks, powerful Ash of War, and provide a way to give you more Stamina so you can keep attacking with your Ash of War.

Shard Of Alexander

At the conclusion of Alexander’s Quest, you’ll receive a talisman called the Shard of Alexander. If you frequently utilize your Ash of War, this artifact becomes essential in your build. The Shard of Alexander boosts your Ash of War’s damage by 15% in both player-versus-environment (PvE) and player-versus-player (PvP) scenarios. Given that Onze’s Line of Stars is your primary source of damage, the Shard of Alexander serves as a valuable enhancement to your offensive capabilities.

Two-Headed Turtle Talisman

Using Onze’s Line of Stars frequently or vigorously wielding the Star-Lined Sword can significantly deplete your Stamina. Having the talisman will alleviate some of this strain on your Stamina, ensuring that you have enough energy to utilize Onze’s Line of Stars whenever an opportunity for damage arises.

Greatshield Talisman

If your goal is to construct a defense system for dealing with extremely aggressive adversaries or withstanding numerous attacks over an extended duration, this setup would be suitable. When teamed with a shield boasting 100% physical damage nullification and Scholar’s Shield, you’ll have the ability to deflect through lengthy attack sequences, even against bosses like Malenia.

Millicent’s Prosthesis

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent honing my skills and building unique character builds, I can confidently say that the Star-Lined Sword talisman truly shines when used in a build focused on frequent attacks and prioritizing Dexterity. With years of experience under my belt, I’ve come to appreciate how versatile this sword can be within such a specific playstyle. The key lies in its compatibility with builds that attack often but haven’t yet reached the soft cap for Dexterity. In other words, it thrives when it comes to swift and agile characters who are always on the offensive. It’s an exciting addition to any build, adding a touch of finesse and power to your attacks without compromising speed or maneuverability. I can’t wait to see what else this talisman has in store for my future gaming adventures!

Using your Ash of War is the sole circumstance where this talisman will be active. Consequently, the +5 Dexterity bonus becomes more beneficial during regular sword attacks with the Star-Lined Sword. When an optimal moment arises to deploy it, you can unleash Onze’s Line of Stars for significant damage, which additionally boosts your standard attacks’ power for a brief period following the attack.

To enhance the damage you inflict with your Ash of War, consider upgrading the following: Your chosen weapon. If you haven’t yet surpassed the flexibility limit (soft cap) for Dexterity, prioritize Millicent’s Prosthesis for its upgrade.

Magic Scorpion Charm

As a long-time Elden Ring player with countless hours spent battling formidable foes and mastering various weapons, I can confidently say that the Magic Scorpion Charm is an invaluable asset for any magic-focused build. This enchantment truly shines when used in conjunction with the Star-Lined Sword and Moonveil, two iconic weapons known for their potent magical properties.

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2024-08-01 08:05