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Elden Ring offers a massive playground for building creativity, combining classic Dark Souls mechanics with brand-new systems and Elden Ring Items. Whether you're a fan of raw strength, tricky magic, or something in between, there's a build here that's guaranteed to make your journey through an absolute blast.

I turned back to Elden Ring and wanted to share some of the most fun, powerful, and downright OP builds I've been playing lately. From classic knight setups to crazy magic swords, here are my top picks for your next run!

1. Stormblade Quality Claymore Build

A balanced, reliable all-rounder that's great for anyone looking to combine strength and dexterity. This build uses the Claymore with the Stormblade infusion, offering both solid damage scaling and flexibility.

· Weapon: Claymore +25 (Stormblade infusion)

· Shield: Heavy Black Steel Greatshield (no skill needed)

· Armor: Black Knight set + Solitude Helm

· Talismans: Enraged Divine Beast, Greatshield Talisman, Arsenal Charm +1 (or Great-Jar's Arsenal), Bloodsucker's Seal, Faith Talisman

· Stats: 60 Vigor, 21 Mind, 40 Endurance, 40 Strength, 35 Dexterity, 25 Faith

· Buffs: Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Blessings

Why it's fun: This is a classic knight build that can tank hits, dish out consistent damage, and scale well with both strength and dexterity. Perfect for new players or those who like the "shield and sword" style but want to add a bit of flair with Stormblade's unique qualities.

2. Cold Giant Hunt Greatsword Build (NPC Invader Slayer)

NPC invaders can be a pain in Elden Ring, but this cold affinity Giant Hunt Greatsword build destroys them.

· Weapon: Cold Giant Hunt Greatsword +25 with Giant Hunt Ash of War

· Armor: Solitude Helm + part of Black Knight set, Greybird Chestpiece (great for jump attacks)

· Talismans: Shard of Alexander, Claw Talisman (jump attack boost), Arsenal Charm +1, Ritual Sword Talisman, Faith Tier, Green Burst Crystal Tier

· Stats: 60 Vigor, 20 Mind, 32 Endurance, 60 Strength, 13 Dexterity, 20 Intelligence, 25 Faith

· Buffs: Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Blessings(that you can buy Elden Ring Items to improve your ability)

Why it's OP: You'll stagger NPC invaders relentlessly, flipping them midair and leaving them no chance to retaliate. The cold affinity also gives you frost buildup, making this build effective against both invaders and bosses.

3. Ranni's Twinblades Reloaded (Magic + Melee Hybrid)

A highly versatile build blending melee combat with devastating sorcery.

· Weapons: Ranni's Twinblades +10, Lucatiel's Glintstone Staff +10

· Armor: Part of the Raptor's Black Feathers set (Rock Shasa set)

· Talismans: Shard of Alexander, Magic Scorpion Charm, Alabaster Lord's Cameo, Melina's Prosthesis, Bloodsucker's Seal, Crack Tier, Magic Tier

· Stats: 55 Vigor, 21 Mind, 23 Endurance, 16 Strength, 17 Dexterity, 16 Intelligence, 33 Faith

· Spells: Glintstone Ice Spear, Glintstone Stars, Terra Magicka

· Buffs: Golden Vow, Flask of Wondrous Physick, Blessings

Why it's fun: This build lets you effortlessly switch between devastating twinblade combos and powerful ranged sorceries. The magic beams from the twinblades can deal massive damage (~8,000 damage per beam on Dragon Tree Sentinel) and provide great crowd control.

4. Frozen Needle Charge Attack Build

A more niche and challenging build focused on the charge attacks of the Frozen Needle rapier.

· Weapon: Frozen Needle +10 (two-handed for poise damage)

· Armor: Lightweight for fast rolling

· Stats: Balanced to favor Vigor, Mind, and Dexterity

· Playstyle: Use charge attacks for ranged frost projectiles and poise damage, complemented by fast successive hits

Why it's different: This is not the strongest build, but it offers a unique challenge and playstyle with ranged frost projectiles and charge attacks. It could evolve into a fun parry build with a shield for players who want to mix offense and defense creatively.

5. Classic Knight Build

A timeless classic - heavy armor, shield, and sword play that focuses on defense and reliable offense.

· Weapon: Quality Claymore or longsword

· Shield: Greatshield (heavy for blocking and poise)

· Armor: Full Knight sets like Banished Knight or Black Knight

· Talismans: Defensive and stamina-boosting talismans

· Stats: High Vigor and Endurance for survivability

Why it's reliable: Perfect for players who want straightforward combat without complicated mechanics. Great for learning boss patterns and surviving tough fights.

6. Faith-Based Holy Weapon Build

Focuses on buffs, healing, and offensive miracles to dominate the battlefield.

· Weapons: Blessed or holy-infused weapons with Sacred Seals

· Spells: Golden Vow, Blessing of the Erdtree, Flame, Grant Me Strength

· Talismans: Increases to healing and spellcasting speed

· Stats: High Faith, decent Vigor, and Mind

Why it's effective: Combines offense and defense with healing and buffs, excellent for both PvE and PvP.

7. Quality Strength/Dexterity Build with Greatswords

Uses high scaling weapons that benefit from both strength and dexterity, such as the Claymore or Greatsword.

· Weapon: Quality Claymore or Greatsword +25

· Armor: Medium to heavy armor for balance

· Talismans: Damage and stamina related

· Stats: Balanced Strength and Dexterity

Why it's versatile: You get a lot of damage while maintaining decent poise and stamina. Great for players who want a mix of offense and tankiness.

8. Pure Sorcery Glass Cannon

Max intelligence, focusing on sorcery for high damage output but low defense.

· Weapon: Staff with high scaling

· Spells: Glintstone Comet, Stars, and others

· Armor: Light robes to maximize casting speed

· Talismans: Boosts to sorcery damage and casting speed

· Stats: 60+ Intelligence, Mind for FP

Why it's rewarding: High-risk, high-reward gameplay that requires careful positioning but obliterates enemies with magic.

9. Bleed Build with Katanas or Daggers

Focuses on fast attacks and status buildup.

· Weapon: Uchigatana, Bloodhound's Fang, or other bleed weapons

· Armor: Light for fast rolls

· Talismans: Boost bleed damage and buildup

· Stats: Dexterity-focused

Why it's fun: Fast-paced, aggressive combat that excels in PvP and PvE with high burst damage.

Final Thoughts

Elden Ring's diverse weapon and stat system allows for endless experimentation, and these builds represent just a slice of the possibilities. Whether you prefer the brute force of giant swords, the elegance of sorcery, or the trickery of bleed builds, you're sure to find something fun and powerful here.