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Elden Ring is home to a vast selection of Elden Ring Items, weapons, magic, and combat styles enough to inspire dozens of unique and overpowered builds. In this guide, we'll walk through nine of the most fun and powerful builds in the game, from faith-fueled fire warriors to bleed monsters that melt bosses in seconds. Whether you're looking for a high-damage powerhouse or something just plain satisfying to play, there's something here for you.

1. All-Fire Mady Build (Faith / Flame Art / Powerstanced)

This build focuses on Mady weapons with Flame Art affinity, perfect for New Game Plus players who can obtain two. Equip one Mady with Flame Spear and the other with Flaming Strike for successive fire-laced hits. With 80 Faith and support from Godslayer Seal or Giant's Seal, you can layer fire incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength, or Giant's Flame Take Thee. Top it off with the Fire Scorpion Charm, Godfrey Icon, and Shard of Alexander for boosted damage and charged skill power.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 27 END, 80 FTH

·Tear Combo: Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear + Thorny Cracked Tear

·Poise: 53+

2. Black Steel Great Hammer + Prayerful Strike (Sacred Tank Build)

A powerful Strength/Faith combo, this build uses Sacred Affinity on the Black Steel Great Hammer paired with Prayerful Strike. Each hit heals you and deals massive poison damage. Add Black Flame's Protection for survivability, and you're effectively a walking fortress. Perfect for difficult encounters and boss rushes.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 28 END, 25 STR, 65 FTH

·Talisman Picks: Sacred Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Two-Handed Sword Talisman

·Use With: Godslayer Seal, Golden Vow, Blessing of the Erdtree

3. Rivers of Blood + Rot Hybrid (Arcane / Bleed / Rot Build)

This build blends Rotten Breath and Rivers of Blood to great effect. Open with Rotten Breath to inflict Scarlet Rot, then switch to Rivers of Blood to layer on bleed procs. Despite rot being less aggressive than bleed, the combination synergizes well, especially for bosses with big HP bars.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 53 ARC, 25 FTH

·Weapons: Rivers of Blood + Dragon Communion Seal

·Buffs: Flame, Grant Me Strength, Rotten Breath

·Armor: White Mask, Solitude/Rakshasa Set

4. Holy Guard Counter Build (Faith / Strength Tank)

A unique take on counterplay, this build revolves around Guard Counters using the Iron Greatsword in Sacred Affinity, paired with the Black Steel Greatshield (or Fingerprint Shield if preferred). Stack Barricade Shield and Sacred Blade to punish enemies with massive holy counterattacks.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 35 END, 35 STR, 50 FTH

·Gear: Sacred Scorpion Charm, Greatshield Talisman, Arsenal Charm

·Ashes: Barricade Shield, Sacred Blade

·Tear Combo: Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear + Bloodsucking Cracked Tear

5. Black Knife + Reduvia (Faith/Bleed Hybrid)

Mixing the stealthy and swift Black Knife with the Reduvia dagger creates a fast-paced dual build that delivers Holy and Bleed damage simultaneously. Faith buffs like Golden Vow and Blessing of the Erdtree help amplify both survivability and burst.

·Stat Spread: Balanced between FTH, ARC, and DEX

·Talisman Combo: Lord of Blood's Exaltation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

·Seal: Dragon Communion Seal

·Playstyle: High mobility, bleed/holy burst

6. Black Flame Apostle Build (Faith / DoT / Incantations)

Utilizing the power of Black Flame Blade, Scouring Black Flame, and Black Flame Ritual, this build melts bosses over time. You can go to Eld.gg to buy Elden Ring Runes and use Godslayer's Seal, stack Flock's Canvas Talisman, and trigger Kindred of Rot's Exaltation if you're also applying rot effects.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 40+ FTH

·Weapons: Godslayer's Greatsword or any fast weapon with Black Flame Blade

·Tear Combo: Faith-knot Tear + Flame-Shrouding Tear

7. Dual Gargoyle Twinblades (Bleed & Flame Hybrid)

Take two Gargoyle Twinblades, one with Seppuku, the other with Flaming Strike. Stack Bleed and Fire damage for an incredible burst. Ideal for fast-paced, aggressive playstyles that focus on quick poise breaks and huge bleed procs.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 50 DEX, 40 ARC

·Armor: White Mask

·Talismans: Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Fire Scorpion Charm

8. Colossal Crusher Build (Strength / Earthshaker)

Nothing says OP like a +25 Great Club or Prelate's Inferno Crozier smashing everything in your path. Stack Flame, Grant Me Strength, Roar Medallion, and Highland Axe for maximum Ash of War damage. Pair with Lion's Claw or Earthshaker for boss-level knockdowns.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 60 STR

·Best For: Boss staggering, PvE carnage

·Tear Combo: Strength-knot + Stonebarb Cracked Tear

9. Faith/Lightning Build (Dragon Cult Magic)

Using Vyke's War Spear or Bolt of Gransax, this lightning build takes advantage of the Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike, Lansseax's Glaive, and Lightning Spear. Buff with Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength for overwhelming area damage.

·Stats: 60 VIG, 45 FTH

·Seal: Gravel Stone Seal (for Dragon Cult spells)

·Best AoE Build: Great for mob clearing and Dragon bosses

Final Thoughts

These nine builds all bring something powerful and fun to the table-whether you're burning everything in sight with Faith Fire, healing through enemies with Prayerful Strike, or bleeding bosses dry with Rivers of Blood. Try them out, tweak them to your liking, and find what best fits your playstyle. Elden Ring gives players unmatched freedom-so build boldly, Tarnished.