Elden Ringoffers plenty of flashy attacks through unique skills from weapons like theSacred Relic Swordor Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, as well as spells like Comet Azur and Placidusax’s Ruin. While these are undoubtedly powerful and can help you breeze through many formidable bosses in The Lands Between andShadow of the Erdtree’s Shadow Realm, you don’t really need them to beat the game. Time and time again, players have finishedElden Ringwith classic builds like the Knight build or the Sword and Shield build.

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, asElden Ringfeatures many types of swords and shields to choose from. Additionally, you will also need to select variousTalismansand level up your build to the right stats. Follow this guide to find the best weapon options for a Sword and Shield build inElden Ring, along with the best stats and Talismans for the build.

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Best Starter Class & Stats For Sword & Shield Build

Before you head out to create your Sword and Shield build, it’s important tochoose the right starter classand prioritize your stats.Bandit and Vagabond are the best classes for a Sword and Shield build. The Bandit starts with the Buckler, which has one of the best parry skills, while the Vagabond comes with the Heater Shield, featuring the basic Parry skill along with 100% physical damage negation.

As for stats, your first priority should be to reach the minimum requirements for the sword and shield you plan to use. After meeting the base requirements, focus on leveling up Vigor and Strength. If your sword scales better with Dexterity, prioritize that instead of Strength. If you have runes to spare, consider investing in Faith to access strong buffing Incantations likeFlame, Grant me StrengthandGolden Vow.

The Erdtree in Elden Ring

Here is an example stat array for a level 150 Strength-focused Sword & Shield build featuring Vagabond as the starter class:

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Elden Ring: Most Overpowered Weapon Of Each Category, Ranked Player using radahn’s rain weapon skill

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Beyond level 150, you can either invest more points into Strength until it reaches 80, or allocate runes to Endurance to gain more stamina and increase your equip load for carrying heavier weapons and armor sets.

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Best Armaments For Sword & Shield Build

InElden Ring, shields come inthree sizes: small, medium, and large. A shield’s guarding capability depends on its size and weight. For this reason, you must be mindful of the shield you pick. For a parry-focused Sword and Shield build, you will need a shield with a parry skill, available only for small and medium shields. However, if you want high guard value and offensive Ashes of War, large shields are the way to go.

Best Shield Choices For A Sword & Shield Build

Here are somegreat shield suggestionsfor the Sword and Shield build inElden Ring:

As for the sword,Elden Ringoffers many options for players to choose from, including various Straight Swords, Greatswords, Thrusting Swords, Curved Swords, and more. You can choose your preferred sword, but here are a few reliable weapons:

Best Weapon Choices For A Sword & Shield Build

If you’re going for a guard counter build, Greatswords like theClaymoreandFlamberge, or Colossal Swords like theZweihanderandGreatsword, are strong picks. Paired with theDeflecting Hardtear, a guard counter Sword and Shield build becomes a stance-breaking machine.

Best Armors for The Sword & Shield Build

Elden Ringfeatures many great armor sets with a varied set of aesthetics, giving players the freedom to choose their fashion. However, there is one crucial factor to consider when picking an armor set — poise. Ensure that the armor set provides a minimum of 51 poise, as this will allow you to tank most hits from PvE enemies. Here are some armor set recommendations for a Sword & Shield build:

Best Talismans For Sword & Shield Build

Talismans are crucial to all builds inElden Ring. While versatile Talismans likeErdtree’s Favorand Bull-Goat’s Talisman are useful in all builds, it’s better to choose Talismans that specifically boost your build’s power.

With this, our Sword & Shield build guide comes to an end. If you have any suggestions for this build, feel free to share them in the comments to let other Tarnished know!