Sword & Shield Build in Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree

Elden Ring lets you wield flashy swords and spells that make you feel like a powerhouse. While these can be invaluable in taking down some of the more problematic bosses, they are not needed to conquer the game. Thousands of players have proven that more classic builds-such as the Knight or Sword and Shield-work equally well.

A Sword and Shield build in Elden Ring takes a very traditional and defensive approach, like that of a Knight, but with a required shield to help in survivability. Sorting through the many swords and shields present in Elden Ring may be daunting, though selecting the right combination is critical in optimizing one's build. You will want to pick your armaments with care and invest your stats wisely, equipping the right talismans so that your character is geared up for a defensive but effective journey through the Lands Between.

The guide will go into detail on the best weapon options, stat distribution, and Talismans to use in your Sword and Shield build. Whether heavy, brutally defensive kinds of play are your thing or you like to be a bit more agile, we have some suggestions for individual tastes. Further, we go a little into the pros and cons of different sword and shield combinations in this regard, which should help you make informed choices according to your preferences and goals.

Best Starter Class & Stats For Sword & Shield Build

Choosing the starting class and distribution of stats is pretty important for being able to set a good foundation for your Sword and Shield build. The two really good starting classes in this respect would be the Bandit and Vagabond. First off, the Bandit's Buckler has one of the best parry skills; secondly, the Vagabond's Heater Shield strikes a great balance between physical damage negation and basic parrying abilities.

Build like normal, so unlock the minimum stat requirements for both the sword and shield that you are going to use. Once you have the minimum stats for the tools of the trade, invest in Vigor and Strength-the former will further your survivability, the latter the damage. If that sword scales with Dexterity, then invest in that over Strength, obviously. Want a strong Faith-based build? Invest in that for access to several strong Incantations, such as Flame, Grant me Strength, and Golden Vow.

Here is a recommended stat distribution for Level 150 to build the Strength-oriented Sword and Shield using the Vagabond starting class: •     Vigor : 60 •     Mind : 20 •     Endurance : 30 •     Strength : 65 •     Dexterity : 13 •     Intelligence : 9 •     Faith : 25 •     Arcane: 7 Of course, above level 150 you can still upgrade your build adding more points in Strength to reach up to 80 or scale runes on Endurance to take more stamina and equip load.

Best Armaments for Sword & Shield Build

Shields in Elden Ring vary in shape and size, greatly influencing their capacity to block. The minor ones will barely let protection up, yet be very useful for parrying-a most necessary skill taken into view within the builds of Sword and Shield. Medium shields assume a proper balance between parrying capability and defense: a form of jack-of-all-trades shields. Bigger shields are heavier and less agile; they boast the best guard strength and can use high-profile offensive Ashes of War for more "defensive" players.

Best Shields for a Sword & Shield Build

A good shield in Elden Ring will go a long way in upping your defenses in a Sword and Shield build. Here are some of the best shields that you will want to go for:

Buckler: The classic pick for beginners, Buckler is a reliable parry and very easy to attain from Gatekeeper Gostoc. Buckler's Parry skill itself is quite effective at countering most strikes.

Brass Shield: This medium shield has excellent negation of physical damage with the Guard Boost skill, hence it's quite versatile when it comes to its use in the game. This works great against enemies like Putrescent Knight and Malenia.

Fingerprint Stone Shield: This heavy shield provides great protection from all types of attack. Often utilized in a shield poke build, though works well with literally any sword. Verdigris Greatshield can be a great option for those who like the look of it more.

Sword of Choice: Elden Ring features multiple swords that players will leverage depending on their playstyle. The most common include Straight Sword, Greatsword, Thrusting Sword, and Curved Sword. It is advised to try a bunch of them and see which style will fit with the character.

Best Weapon Choices For A Sword & Shield Build

Misericorde: This slender dagger is legendary for its very strong critical damage and, therefore, is perfect for parry-crit builds. Also, because it is able to be infused with Ashes of War, it can be a versatile weapon for exploiting enemy weaknesses. However, for the majority of players who would want a guard counter kind of playstyle, this will prove less effective due to Misericorde's small reach and weight.

Lordsworn's Greatsword: Along with being quite reliable, versatile, and available early in the game, the greatsword provides a quite significant addition to critical damage without sacrificing practicality. Boasting simplicity in the moveset and durability overall, this is a strong choice for players of all skill levels.

Greatswords, like the Claymore and Flamberge, or even Colossal Swords like the Zweihander and Greatsword, are really good to consider for guard counter builds. With the Deflecting Hardtear, these turn into an absolute monster of a disruptor weapon with really strong counters.

Best Armors for The Sword & Shield Build

With Elden Ring having a bunch of different armor sets, players can find a wide variety of different builds to play. While aesthetics are one thing, poise is very important to ensure survivability, especially against some of the toughest PvE enemies in the game. Typically, 51 poise is a good minimum amount that's recommended for tanking most hits.

Sword & Shield build, here are some good choices:

• Godrick Knight Set: Much more reliable for early game; has 51 poise. It is also quite easily available from the Godrick Knight patrolling around Gatefront Ruins.

• Beast Champion Set: Heavier and more protective, featuring 72 poise with very good resistances against damage. Acquire by killing Knight Bernahl at Warmaster's Shack.

• Rakshasa Set: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, this set offers damage in exchange for taking more damage. This is generally for players who are very confident in dodging/ blocking.

These sets offer you both protection and style as you can adapt your character according to your playstyle.

Best Talismans For Sword & Shield Build

Talismans are a great part of optimizing your build in Elden Ring. While Erdtree's Favor and Bull-Goat's Talisman work for any character, many players find their own personalized equipment that matches their style of play. Thus, to get the most from your Sword & Shield build, one may try the following specialized Talismans: 

• Curved Sword Talisman: This talisman becomes almost required in builds that focus on using guard counters due to the enhanced damage output it gives to your counterattacks.

• Greatshield Talisman: This talisman works when the player relies heavily on the shield; it reduces stamina consumption to maintain guard against powerful foes.

• Dagger Talisman: Applies very well to parry-heavy builds, increasing your critical damage output. Such a talisman works nicely with the likes of Misericorde.

• Shard of Alexander: If you plan on using any weapon skill, then this Talisman will increase the damage of all Ashes of War, really putting a boost in your offense.

 • Great-Jar's Arsenal: If most of your builds use heavy armor and weapons, then this Talisman gives more Equip Load, so you can use those without having to sacrifice mobility.

 These will no doubt further improve the performance a lot when careful selection is made for the Sword & Shield build in Elden Ring.

This concludes our guide on how to set up Sword and Shield in Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree; thus, we hope you now know it all about the setup.