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FromSoftware's open-world epic Elden Ring continues to captivate players with its mix of brutal combat, atmospheric storytelling, and unmatched freedom of exploration. While many builds focus on raw power-whether it's colossal greatswords or high-damage sorceries-there's a unique thrill in taking a stealth-focused approach. For players who want to channel their inner assassin, sneak past enemies, and strike from the shadows, the stealth build offers one of the freshest ways to replay the Lands Between.

This guide breaks down the best stealth build in Elden Ring, covering starting classes, weapons, armor, talismans, and spell choices to maximize your sneaky playstyle. Whether you're looking to experience the game like an open-world Assassin's Creed or outsmart your foes in PvP, this build has you covered.

Best Starting Class & Stat Priorities

The ideal starting point for a stealth build is the Bandit class. It begins with high Dexterity, solid Arcane, and access to a dagger-the perfect tool for critical hits. The Wretch is also viable if you prefer full control over your stat allocation.

·Primary Stat: Dexterity (boosts daggers, bows, and critical weapons)

·Secondary Stats: Vigor (health) and Endurance (stamina and equip load)

·Optional Stats: Faith (for Black Knife Blade or Black Flame incantations), Intelligence (for stealth sorceries like Unseen Form), Arcane (if using bleed weapons)

Because Elden Ring doesn't have direct "stealth" stats, your goal is to maximize critical hit potential while supplementing with gear that reduces detection.

Weapons for the Stealth Assassin

Stealth builds thrive with daggers, bleed setups, and precise ranged options. Here's the recommended Elden Ring Items:

·Main Hand: Misericorde - Found in Stormveil Castle. With the highest critical modifier in the game, it's perfect for backstabs and ripostes.

·Alternative Main Hand: Black Knife Blade - Dropped by the Black Knife Assassin. It requires Faith but grants access to the Blade of Death skill, adding lore flavor and ranged pressure.

·Off-Hand: Reduvia Dagger - Earned by defeating Bloody Finger Nerijus. Excellent for bleed buildup when paired with Misericorde.

·Ranged Option: Black Bow - Found in Leyndell. Provides flexible ranged damage and fits thematically with an assassin build.

·Shield (Optional): Buckler - Comes with the Bandit class. Its Buckler Parry has one of the most generous parry windows, setting up more critical strikes.

With this setup, you'll shred enemies in one or two crits while still having ranged tools for flexible engagement.

Ashes of War

Ashes of War define your mobility and damage options. For stealth, prioritize evasive and bleed-oriented choices:

·Bloodhound Step - One of the best evasive skills in the game, letting you dodge in any direction with invisibility frames. Perfect for disengaging or closing gaps.

·Raptor of the Mists - Triggers an evasive teleport when struck. Great for counterplay and PvP.

·Bloody Slash - Adds bleed damage to Misericorde or other infused weapons.

·Barrage - Use with Black Bow for rapid-fire arrows, useful when sniping unaware enemies.

Buy Elden Ring Items to pair evasive Ashes with high-crit weapons, ensuring you stay alive while striking from the shadows.

Armor: The Black Knife Set

There's really only one choice for a true stealth assassin-the Black Knife Armor Set. Found in Ordina, Liturgical Town, this sleek set not only looks the part but also silences your footsteps completely.

With this equipped, enemies have a harder time detecting you, especially when crouched. This allows you to get into position for backstabs or sneak through areas without triggering every mob. If you want to optimize further, you can swap the helmet for a stat-boosting helm, but keeping the full set maximizes immersion and stealth.

Best Talismans

Talismans take this build from good to great by enhancing crit damage, survivability, and stealth. Recommended picks:

·Dagger Talisman - Boosts critical hit damage (perfect with Misericorde).

·Assassin's Crimson Dagger - Restores HP on critical hits, keeping you sustained.

·Concealing Veil - Reduces detection when crouched. Extremely helpful for infiltration.

·Lord of Blood's Exultation - Raises attack power when blood loss occurs. Great synergy with bleed builds.

Alternative options include Crepus's Vial (for silent movement if you're not wearing Black Knife Armor) or Millicent's Prosthesis (for Dexterity scaling).

Spells & Incantations for Stealth

While spells aren't mandatory, they add another layer of utility. Depending on whether you invest in Faith or Intelligence, you can choose:

Faith Path:

·Darkness - Creates a shroud of black smoke that reduces enemy vision.

·Black Flame - Adds thematic ranged damage if you've invested enough in Faith.

Intelligence Path:

·Unseen Form - Turns you nearly invisible, perfect for infiltration.

·Night Comet / Night Shard - Silent sorceries that are hard to dodge.

Pick one route rather than splitting stats across both, as spreading too thin weakens your damage.

Gameplay Tips & Strategy

The stealth build isn't about trading blows-it's about controlling the battlefield:

1. Scout from crouch. Stay low and plan routes through dungeons or encampments.

2. Prioritize backstabs. Misericorde's crit damage can one-shot most humanoid enemies.

3. Use bleed to handle bosses. Pair Reduvia with a bleed-infused Misericorde to stack blood loss quickly.

4. Stay mobile. Bloodhound Step and parries give you the tools to avoid taking damage.

5. Mix ranged and melee. Open with a bow shot or sorcery, then close in for a silent kill.

Against other players in PvP, stealth isn't about invisibility alone-it's about unpredictability. Use evasive Ashes and parry setups to punish mistakes, then finish with devastating crits.

Final Thoughts

The stealth assassin build in Elden Ring is perfect for players who want a different experience than the usual strength or sorcery meta. By combining high-critical daggers, silence-enhancing armor, evasive Ashes of War, and utility spells, you can transform Elden Ring into a game of shadows and sudden death.

It's not the most forgiving build-mistakes can be costly-but for those who master patience and precision, few things in the Lands Between feel as satisfying as striking unseen and vanishing before anyone knows you were there.