Top 25 Elden Ring Builds That Work in Any Playthrough
Elden Ring offers near-limitless customization for your character, but not every build scales well across multiple playthroughs. Some lose effectiveness in New Game Plus, while others only come online late in the game. Whether you're a first-time Tarnished or diving into Journey 3+, these 25 builds are reliable, powerful, and proven to hold up in any stage of the game.
1. Strength/Faith Blended CrusherUtilizing weapons like the Ruins Greatsword or Maliketh’s Black Blade, this build mixes raw damage with high-impact incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength.
2. Dexterity Bleed Katana BuildUchigatana, Rivers of Blood, or Nagakiba pair beautifully with Seppuku or Bloodflame Blade. Still effective even after balance patches.
3. Intelligence Mage Glass CannonRelying on Comet Azur, Stars of Ruin, and Terra Magica, this high-damage build clears bosses fast but requires good positioning.
4. Paladin Hybrid BuildCombining Faith-based buffs and solid melee via weapons like the Golden Order Greatsword, this build is great for solo play or co-op.
5. Arcane Status Effect EngineLeans into Arcane scaling and weapons like Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, causing bleed, poison, and madness all at once.
6. Frostbite Greatsword SetupWeapons like the Dark Moon Greatsword or Royal Greatsword pair well with Cold-infused ashes for reliable frost buildup and high stagger potential.
7. Faith Dragon PriestFocuses on dragon incantations via the Dragon Communion Seal. Use Rotten Breath and Ekzykes’s Decay for powerful AoE effects.
8. Quality Greatsword KnightBalanced STR/DEX investment lets you use virtually any weapon efficiently. The Claymore, Bastard Sword, and Great Stars all shine here.
9. Dex/Int SpellswordMoonveil and Loretta’s Mastery form the core of this fast-hitting build that mixes katana play with ranged sorceries.
10. Heavy Armor PyromancerWears Bull-Goat armor for poise while casting fire-based incantations like Flame, Fall Upon Them and Giantsflame Take Thee.
11. Poison Dagger AssassinA stealthy, status-focused build using Dagger of Rykard or Reduvia with Poison Mist and Scarlet Aeonia for silent takedowns.
12. Dual Colossal BruiserDouble Great Clubs or Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade with Endure or War Cry creates a tanky, high-damage juggernaut.
13. Cleric of the ErdtreeLeans into healing, buffs, and holy damage. Great for co-op and PvE support, using weapons like the Erdtree Greatshield or Coded Sword.
14. Faith/Arcane Madness BuildUses Frenzied Flame incantations to destroy enemies with insanity. Requires careful stat tuning but great for chaotic combat.
15. Dexterity Dual-WielderTwinblade or Power-Stanced curved swords give you unmatched DPS and roll-catching potential in both PvE and PvP.
16. Gravity SorcererWith spells like Rock Sling and Meteorite of Astel, this underused sorcery build can stagger giants and bosses with ease.
17. Poison Bleed HybridDual-wielding Serpentbone Blade or Venomous Fang combined with Seppuku and Poison Armament keeps enemies constantly ticking.
18. Spear and Shield DefenderGreat for players who prefer a cautious, control-heavy style. Treespear and Erdtree Greatshield make a solid combo.
19. Int/Faith Death SorceryPrince of Death’s Staff lets you scale with both Int and Faith, casting death sorceries like Ancient Death Rancor and Explosive Ghostflame.
20. Pure Strength Giant KillerWield colossal weapons like the Prelate’s Inferno Crozier or Great Club and flatten foes with charged heavy attacks.
21. Dual-Wield Magic SwordsmanCold Uchi in one hand, Moonveil or Rogier’s Rapier in the other. Versatile, fast, and dangerous at mid-range.
22. Hybrid Crossbow TrapperUse the Pulley Crossbow or Crepus’s Black-Key Crossbow with traps and projectiles to create zones of control.
23. PvP Focused Red Tear BuildCombines Red-Feathered Branchsword, Ritual Sword Talisman, and buffs while staying under 20% HP. Risky, but deadly in duels.
24. Shield Greathammer TankHeavy shield in one hand, Great Mace or Brick Hammer in the other. Focuses on poise and slow but unstoppable momentum.
25. All-Rounder Build for Casual RunsA medium armor, medium weapon build with balanced stats. Allows you to switch between ranged, melee, and magic depending on what you find or prefer.
No matter your experience level, these builds can carry you through multiple playthroughs, from your first trip through Limgrave to NG+5 and beyond. They're adaptable, proven in both PvE and PvP, and easily adjusted based on gear availability or patch changes.
If you're ever short on time or struggling to gather key components, some players turn to the Best Place to buy Elden Ring Runes or look for the Best site to buy Elden Ring Items to fast-track their builds. Regardless of how you choose to progress, having a solid foundation is what turns a casual run into a memorable adventure.