UTPLAY Ranks Elden Ring Best Strength Builds & Weapons

Elden Ring offers players an enormous array of weapons and builds to choose from. Strength builds that utilize heavy, hard-hitting weapons are a popular choice, especially after the recent 1.10 patch buffed many strength weapons and items. In this guide, we'll highlight some of the best strength builds and weapons to use in Elden Ring.

Overview of Strength Builds

Strength builds in Elden Ring focus on high Strength attributes and massive weapons that can stagger enemies or shred through their health bars. Leveling Endurance is also important to ensure you can wear heavy armor items while still medium rolling. Strength weapons come in three main categories:

Colossal Swords: The heaviest and hardest-hitting weapons like Grafted Blade Greatsword. High damage and stance breaking at the cost of slow swing speeds.
Great Hammers: Blunt weapons like Giant Crusher that smash through guards and deal massive poise damage. Slow but devastating charged R2s.
Greataxes: Axes like Executioner's Greataxe offer chopping and stance-breaking moves. Faster than colossal swords but slower than great hammers.

No matter the strength weapon, the key is patience. Don't get greedy with your swings. Wait for openings to unleash your most powerful charged heavy attacks.

Best Strength Weapons

Here are some of the top strength weapons for runes to build around in Elden Ring:

Grafted Blade Greatsword

This colossal sword defines raw damage. It can easily chop through enemy health bars with its 110 strength requirement and S-tier strength scaling. The weapon skill, Grafted Dragon, enhances charged strong attacks.

Giant-Crusher

With 130 strength required to wield it, Giant-Crusher boasts the highest attack rating of any colossal weapon. The charged R2s will flatten enemies and break their stance quickly. Use Royal Knight's Resolve to further enhance the insane damage.

Prelate's Inferno Crozier

This fiery greathammer inflicts strike, fire, and stance damage. Its skill, Flame of the Fell God, slams the hammer down to create an eruption. Wearing the Fire Scorpion Charm boosts its incantation damage.

Executioner's Greataxe

While slower than some greataxes which cost millions of runes, the Executioner's Greataxe hits brutally hard. Its 110 strength requirement is demanding but pays off. The Raptor of the Mists ash of war allows devastating jump attacks.

Starscourge Greatsword

A unique colossal weapon, the Starscourge Greatsword is actually two swords wielded together. The weapon skill Starcaller Cry launches you upwards and slams down for high poise damage.

Best Ashes of War

These are some ideal ashes of war to apply to your strength weapons:

Royal Knight's Resolve: significanly boosts your next attack's damage. Great on slow colossal weapons.
Giant Hunt: provides a charging thrust attack that can stagger enemies.
Lion's Claw: performs a forward somersault slash with high poise damage.
Wild Strikes: flurry of frontal attacks that is very effective on greathammers.
Ground Slam: slams weapon down to generate an AoE shockwave explosion. High poise damage.

Recommended Stats

Vigor: At least 40-60 to boost your health and survivability in late game.
Mind: Base of 15-20 for weapon skills, can ignore if not using spells.
Endurance: 20-25 or more to medium roll in heavy armor.
Strength: 60+ is ideal to reach damage soft caps on colossal weapons.
Dexterity: Minimums to wield your chosen weapon.

Best Talismans

Erdtree's Favor +2: essential for boosting health, stamina, and equip load.
Radagon's Soreseal: adds significant strength and endurance at the cost of more damage taken.
Great-Jar's Arsenal: increases maximum equip load to wear bulky armor.
Claw Talisman: boosts jump attack damage.
Raptor's Black Feathers: enhances successive attacks, including jump attacks.

Armor Sets

Some recommended armor include:

Bull-Goat Set: extremely high poise and damage negation.
Lionel's Set: strong balance of poise and defense.
Scaled Set: has solid poise and immunity to rot.
Tree Sentinel Set: great lightning and holy damage resistance.

Playstyle Tips

When using colossal and heavy strength weapons:

Wait for openings to charge R2s and jump attacks.
Stagger enemies and riposte them after breaking stance.
Use weapon skills to enhance your most powerful attacks.
Reduce equip load enough to medium roll for mobility.
Tank hits with heavy armor when trading blows.

In summary, strength builds can wield some of the most hard-hitting weapons in Elden Ring. Focus on Vigor, Endurance, and lots of Strength to smash through enemies with staggering power. Patience is key as you wait for the right moments to unleash charged heavy blows that will fell any foe.

Source: https://www.utplay.com/news/3354--top-5-elden-ring-110-best-strength-builds--weapons-2023