Summary

  • PvP has new territories in Elden Ring post-Shadow of the Erdtree update.
  • Various PvP builds like Shield Poker or Blight Sorcerer can offer unique playstyles.
  • Strength/Arcane, Dexterity/Intelligence builds can be deadly when split between stats.

Elden Ring is known for its brutal gameplay when facing bosses or a mass amount of enemies at once. The PvP landscape is a battleground of strategy, skill, and clashes between perfect builds. Players can adopt a range of playstyles, like a glass cannon sorcerer or a sluggish tank with a massive hammer, and make PvP a little more creative.

With the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, players gained access to new items and tweaks that have pushed PvP into new territory. The following will break down the best PvP builds that should help any duelist to enter the ring with confidence.

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7 Shield Poker Build

The Immovable Pokey Object

Elden Ring PvP Shield Poker

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 9
  • Endurance 50
  • Strength 48
  • Dexterity 20
  • Intelligence 12
  • Faith 15
  • Arcane 32

Weapons: Antspur Rapier and Fingerprint Stone Shield

Talismans: Green Turtle Talisman, Ertree’s Favor +2, Great Jar’s Arsenal, Blessed Dew Talisman

Spells/Incantations: Scholar’s Shield, Flame Grant Me Strength, Bestial Vitality

This build utilizes the Fingerprint Stone Shield as a means to block all damage, which is usually helpful in boss fights. The Barricade Shield Ash of War is the best defensive option, but for PvP, the Shield Crash Ash of War makes use of the shield’s Madness buildup, scaling with Strength. The Scholar’s Shield spell increases the shield’s damage negation should players desire full defense.

The Antspur Rapier should get the Repeating Thrust Ash of War as a means to build Scarlet Rot faster. Together with the shield, players can become a turtle-like warrior, keeping pressure with the Shield while getting some quick stabs in between.

6 Dexterity Intelligence Build

Carian Carnage

Elden Ring PvP Dexterity Intelligence

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 20
  • Endurance 20
  • Strength 12
  • Dexterity 60
  • Intelligence 33
  • Faith 25
  • Arcane 9

Weapons: Star-Lined Sword or Moonveil or Carian Sorcery Sword

Talismans: Graven-Mass, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Magic Scorpion Charm, Pearldrak Talisman +3

Spells/Incantations: Flame Grant Me Strength

This build offers the ability to make persistent attacks and break the opponent’s poise. Both Moonveil and the Star-Lined sword scale with Intelligence and Dexterity, making them essential and interchangeable depending on one’s playstyle. The extra points in Intelligence also give access to great spells like the Carian Piercer or Loretta’s Greatbow.

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With the focus on Dexterity in this build, the Star-Lined Sword offers the best in melee capabilities thanks to Onze’s Line of Stars Ash of War embedded into it. Moonveil works well with this build because of its Transient Moonlight Ash of War, which deals damage from afar and can be potentially backed up with ranged spells. The Carian Sorcery Sword from the DLC is a thrusting sword that doesn’t Bleed, but still scales well with Dexterity and Intelligence and also serves as a catalyst for casting spells.

5 Strength Arcane Build

Destroy & Create

Elden Ring PvP Strength Arcane

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 14
  • Endurance 34
  • Strength 54
  • Dexterity 12
  • Intelligence 7
  • Faith 8
  • Arcane 50

Weapons: Bloodfiend’s Arm or Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword

Talismans: Erdtree’s Favor +2, Great-Jar’s Arsenal, Shard of Alexander, Radagon’s Soreseal/Lord of Blood Exultation

Spells/Incantations: Bayle’s Tyranny, Flame Grant Me Strength

This build splits focus between Strength and Arcane, and the bonus of Talismans makes this build deadly. The DLC weapon Bloodfiend’s Arm with the Cragblade Ash of War is perfect for Bleed enthusiasts, as its strong attack sprays blood everywhere and the Cragblade effect makes it easier to stack Bleed and break poise. The Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword is another DLC weapon that scales with Strength and Arcane, and its powerful White Light Charge skill stabs the opponent and follows up with an explosion.

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For the Dragon Communion edge added to this build, Bayle’s Tyranny acts as a great way to destroy opponents. Its slow power up time requires a commitment to timing, but the damage is worth it, especially if the Rock Heart is used.

4 Blight Sorcerer Build

The Bringer of Darkness

Elden Ring PvP Blight Sorcerer

Stats:

  • Vigor 45
  • Mind 22
  • Endurance 13
  • Strength 17
  • Dexterity 25
  • Intelligence 68
  • Faith 47
  • Arcane 7

Weapons: Prince of Death Staff and Eclipse Shotel / Grave Scythe

Talismans: Two Fingers Heirloom, Sacred Scorpion Charm, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Crimson Amber Medallion

Spells/Incantations: Ancient Death Rancor, Explosive Ghost Flame, Tibias Summons, Eternal Darkness, Fias Mist, Death Lightning, Golden Vow, Blackflames Protection

This build has the potential to devastate opponents using a combination of sorceries and incantations. The setup of the Eclipse Shotel in one hand and the Prince of Death Staff in the other maximizes damage output. The Staff casts spells and the Shotel builds up Death Blight if the opponent draws too close.

At a distance, players should equip the Grave Scythe with Phantom Slash Ash of War, which should be the main melee aspect of this build. Otherwise, holding multiple spells and rotating between them will bewilder opponents and provide windows of opportunity to strike or regain composure.

3 Full Strength Build

Smash and Run

Elden Ring PvP Full Strength

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 10
  • Endurance 40
  • Strength 80
  • Dexterity 18
  • Intelligence 9
  • Faith 15
  • Arcane 7

Weapons: Greatsword or Giant-Crusher

Talismans: Radagon’s Scarseal, Bull-Goat, Great Jar Arsenal, Erdtree’s Favor +2

Spells/Incantations: Flame Grant Me Strength, Bestial Vitality

Should players dream of colossal weapons that can take chunks of health out of their enemies, this build offers this up with a deep investment in Strength and Endurance. The Talismans in this build are necessary to achieve full strength. The two weapons can be wielded in each hand, meaning double the attack power.

The Greatsword with Lion’s Claw Ash of War is great for physical and poise damage. The Giant-Crusher, also with Lion’s Claw Ash of War, is another perfect addition to this build, and both weapons are recommended depending on the style one chooses. The Royal Knight’s Resolve Ash of War could be a game ender, as it buffs the damage of the next landing attack by 80% and cannot be parried.

2 Arcane Bleed Build

Blood Rogue

Elden Ring PvP Arcane Bleed

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 20
  • Endurance 22
  • Strength 18
  • Dexterity 39
  • Intelligence 9
  • Faith 11
  • Arcane 60

Weapons: Nagakiba or Rivers of Blood or Eleonora’s Poleblade or Reduvia

Talismans: Lord of Blood Exultation, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Shard of Alexander, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

Spells/Incantations: None

This build is for those who want to strike fast and utilize Bleed. For players who don’t have Rivers of Blood or prefer not to use it, the Nagakiba with the Blood Blade Ash of War is the perfect substitute. Both weapons scale with Dexterity, and this builds high Arcane level offers great Arcane-based damage. Bleed is one of the easiest and most devastating effects to apply to opponents.

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Should players want a little more reach, Eleonora’s Poleblade offers a bloody way to rush enemies with the Bloodblade Dance skill. The Reduvia dagger has great range with its skill as well, offering a long-distance way to stack Bleed and pressure opponents.

1 Faith-Based Build

The Ultimate Blasphemous Blade

Elden Ring PvP Blasphemous Blade

Stats:

  • Vigor 50
  • Mind 30
  • Endurance 30
  • Strength 15
  • Dexterity 15
  • Intelligence 9
  • Faith 70
  • Arcane 10

Weapons: Blasphemous Blade and Erdtree Seal

Talismans: Erdtree’s Favor, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Shard of Alexander, Crimson Amber Medallion

Spells/Incantations: Pest-Thread Spears, Wrath of Gold, Flame, Grant Me Strength

This build is centered around one of the best weapons in the entire game: the Blasphemous Blade. The high points in Faith ensure this sword’s powers deal the most damage possible. Any excess points should be dumped into Strength or Dexterity as the sword scales with Faith, Strength, and Dexterity.

Holding the Erdtree Seal in the other hand allows the use of incantations. The best incantation to use for damaging opponents in this build is the Pest-Thread Spears found in the DLC. This incantation should strike fear in anyone who’s been swarmed by lesser kindred of rot pests.

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Elden Ring
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10 /10
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Released
February 25, 2022
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Developer(s)
From Software
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
The Erdtree in Elden Ring
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