Best Elden Ring Best Builds For Beginners - Top 5 Early Game Builds
May. 23, 2024Best Elden Ring Best Builds For Beginners – Top 5 Early Game Builds
In this Elden Ring Builds for Beginners Guide, I’ll introduce you to my top five recommended starter builds for Elden Ring. These builds showcase strength and versatility, each falling into distinct archetypes. We’ll delve into aPaladin-style build, aMage-focused build, an agileSamuraibuild, a dual-wieldingBloodbladebuild, and a heavy-hittingStormbladebuild. Whether you prefer wielding magic, mastering the art of the blade, or embracing brute force, there’s a build here for you. So if you’re ready to embark on your journey with a powerful and optimized character, keep reading to discover the perfect build for your playstyle.
A mix of ranged and melee combat, as well as mounted that makes you feel like a proper Samurai while playing Elden Ring, and is wickedly effective.
The first build we’re going to discuss is theSamuraibuild, which is arguably the most popular beginner build in Elden Ring. While it may not be the absolute strongest, it is incredibly effective and easy to use right from the start.
To begin, select theSamuraistarting class and choose theGolden Seedas your initial gift for an extraSacred Flask. This simple choice provides a significant advantage early on.
One of the great strengths of theSamuraibuild is its excellent starting equipment. TheUchigatanais a solid weapon with the powerfulUnsheatheskill. Additionally, theLongbowand theMighty Shotskill offer strong ranged options. This means you don’t need to acquire new equipment immediately to make this build effective.
Thebleedeffect on theUchigatanais a major advantage. When you hit an enemy enough times, you trigger thehemorrhagestatus effect, which removes a large chunk of health based on the enemy’s max health. This is especially useful against bosses with large health pools. To maximizebleed, maintain aggressive attacks to build up the effect quickly, as it dissipates if you pause too long between hits. Typically, aim for one or two bleed triggers in a boss fight.
Unsheathe, the weapon skill of theUchigatana, is crucial for this build. To use it, either two-hand the weapon or remove the bow from your off-hand. Holding L2 positions your hand on the sword’s sheath, allowing you to execute a horizontal slice with R1 or an overhead slash with R2. The horizontal slice is effective against groups, while the overhead slash deals more damage and stagger, making it ideal for bosses. Each attack consumes FP, with the slice costing 10 FP and the overhead slash 15 FP. Focus on the R2 attack for its higher damage and stagger potential, especially against bosses.
In addition to melee combat, make good use of your bow.Mighty Shotis effective for thinning out enemies from a distance. Early on, you’ll need to craft arrows by purchasing aCrafting Kitand theNomadic Warrior’s CookbookfromMerchant Kaléfound in theChurch of Elleh. Use beast bones to craft arrows initially, but switch to buying them later for convenience and higher damage. Upgrading yourUchigatanaand bow should be your priority to boost damage output.
If you prefer the bow, consider switching to aShortbow, which you can buy on the beach. TheShortbowexcels in close-range combat, allowing for quick shots while jumping, running, or rolling, unlike the longbow. This flexibility makes it a great choice if you find yourself using the bow more frequently.
For a significant early upgrade, consider acquiring theNagakiba, one of the best weapons in the game. You can obtain it by defeating an NPC early on, although this will impact his questline. TheNagakibaoffers increased damage and range. To add theUnsheatheskill to it, defeat theTeardrop Scarabfor theAsh of Warand obtain theWhetstone Knifefrom theGatefront Ruins. These steps are quick and provide a substantial boost to your build.
In summary, thesamuraibuild is robust and versatile, making it an excellent choice for aggressive playstyles. Enjoy experimenting with this powerful build as you progress throughElden Ring.
A Dexterity warrior that focuses on melee attacks and the liberal use ofStorm Bladeto annihilate foes at any distance.
Next up is theStormbladebuild. This build focuses on using aGreatswordand theAsh of War: Stormblade, which not only provides a ranged projectile option but also allows for devastating point-blank attacks by hitting with both the weapon and the projectile simultaneously.
Begin with theHeroclass, which has highStrengthand almost enoughDexterityto use theLordsworn’s Greatsword. Alternatively, choose a class that meets theDexterityrequirement and can two-hand the weapon with sufficientStrength. You might need to level upDexterityonce if you start with theHeroclass, or choose another class with at least 11 Strength to two-hand theLordsworn’s Greatsword.
Head toGatefront Ruinsimmediately. Avoid unnecessary fights, but feel free to activateSites of Gracealong the way. Pick up theLordsworn’s Greatswordfrom the back of the carriage and theWhetstone Knifeto enableAshes of Waron your weapons. Farm runes here if you need to upgrade your stats to use the weapon. Next, visit theWarmaster’s Shackand buy theStorm Blade Ash of War. Equip it to yourgreatsword. This initial setup allows you to start utilizing theStorm Bladeskill right away. While theLordsworn’s Greatswordis good initially, plan to replace it with a superior greatsword as you progress.
Upgrade yourgreatswordto at least +3 as soon as possible. You can find upgrade materials onStormhill, wheretrollscan smash glowing statues to releaseSmithing Stones, or farm them in the nearby mine.
Storm Bladeisn’t powerful enough to one-shot enemies early in the game. Use it to thin out groups or in close-range boss fights. Conserve FP for critical moments, and consider investing points inMindfor a larger FP pool, andVigorfor more health. The initialStorm Bladecast costs 10 FP, while subsequent casts cost 6 FP, making it more efficient to spam in tough situations.
You can applyFire Greaseto your weapon to increase damage. Purchase theCrafting Kitfrom theChurch of Ellehand find theArmorer’s CookbooknearGatefront Ruinsto craftFire Grease. GatherRoot ResinandSmoldering ButterfliesnearWarmaster’s Shackfor crafting materials. Note that theStorm Bladeprojectile isn’t affected byFire Grease, but the weapon itself will deal extra fire damage in close combat.
DefeatAlexanderearly to obtain theWarrior Jar Shard, which boostsAsh of Wardamage by 10%. While you can get a better version later without killing him, the early boost can be significant. Acquire theKnight SetfromRoundtable Holdfor 51 poise, preventing stagger from regular attacks while usingStorm Blade. Any armor set providing 51 poise will work, but theKnight Setis an accessible option. Upgrade to a bettergreatswordwhen possible.Banished KnightsinStormveil Castledrop excellent swords, and theIron Greatswordis another great option later in the game.
As you level up, align the scaling of your weapon with your highest stat, eitherStrengthorDexterity, by adjusting theAsh of War. This ensures you maximize your damage output as you progress through the game. ThisStorm Bladebuild is powerful from the start and remains effective as you upgrade your gear and stats. It’s ideal for players who enjoy aggressive, high-damage playstyles.
A Bleed-focused Build that uses the Bleed Status Effect to continuously rip off huge chunks of enemy health via dual blades.
The next build is theBloodbladebuild, which focuses entirely on bleed buildup to maximize damage output. Unlike theSamuraibuild, which benefits frombleedoccasionally, theBloodbladeis designed to fully exploit this mechanic. To start, I highly recommend selecting theWarrior class, as it begins with dualscimitars, perfect for this build.
When dual-wielding, use R1 to swing the right-hand weapon or L1 to perform a combo attack with both weapons simultaneously. This build focuses on using the L1 combo attacks to maximize the effectiveness of bleed buildup.
The first step is to acquire theWhetstone Knifefrom theGatefront Ruins. This item is essential for applyingAshes of Warto your weapons. Next, obtain theAsh of War: Bloody Slashby heading south toFort Haight. There, defeat the knight at the top of the fort to gain this powerfulAsh of War. He can be challenging with your initial setup, so wait for his attacks and punish him when he two-hands his sword.
ApplyBloody Slashto your right-hand weapon to enable the bleed effect and use the weapon skill. Next, obtain aLost Ash of Warfrom the merchant in the southwestern part of theWeeping Peninsulafor 3,000 runes. This involves some traveling but minimal combat. Farm runes from regular enemies to afford the purchase.
To access theRoundtable Hold, ride aroundStormveil Castleand use theSite of Gracethere, promptingMelinato transport you. Alternatively, travel toCaelidor deliberately lose toMargitinStormveil Castle. AtRoundtable Hold, duplicate theAsh of War: Bloody Slashat the blacksmith and apply it to your left-hand weapon, ensuring both weapons have bleed buildup.
Upgrade your weapons early on. Collect free upgrade materials onStormhillor from caves and merchants. Focus on upgrading both weapons, prioritizing the right-hand weapon to enhance theBloody Slashdamage. In boss fights, this dual bleed setup will significantly deplete their health, thanks to their large health pools.
Consider farmingBandit’s Curved Swordsfrom theChurch of Pilgrimage. These swords are some of the strongest curved swords in the game and can increase your base damage. It might take several hours to farm two, but the damage boost is worth the time investment.
Upgrade your armor to achieve at least 51 poise, allowing you to continue attacking without being staggered.The Knight SetfromRoundtable Holdis a good early game option. High poise is crucial for this aggressive build, as maintaining bleed buildup requires constant attacks and trading damage with enemies.
Eventually, you can swap outBloody Slashfor anotherAsh of Warwithblood infusionif desired. This approach provides a strong foundation for adual-wield curved swordbuild focused on bleed buildup, making it highly effective from the early stages of the game.
A Strength/Faith Build that focuses on the use of Block Counters and buffs to slash enemies to pieces.
Next, let’s explore thePerfect Paladinbuild. This is an excellent choice for beginners, offering tankiness and reliability through block counters and buffs, although it lacks the raw damage of some other starter builds. It uses a seal to cast buffs acquired throughout the game.
For a Paladin build, starting as either aConfessoror aVagabondis advisable. TheVagabondhas superior armor, while theConfessorstarts with asealand some initial spells.Paladinsfocus heavily on block countering, which is done by holding the block button, letting an enemy hit your shield, and then pressing the heavy attack button to perform a counter. This usually staggers the enemy, allowing for a critical strike, which often finishes them off and provides invincibility frames during the animation.
Begin by obtaining theWhetstone Knifefrom theGatefront Ruinsto change theAsh of Waron your weapon toSacred Blade. Once you have your horse, head to theThird Church of Marika. From there, go past theWarmaster’s Shack, east along the road, and down the cliffs to find aTeardrop Scarab. Defeating it grants you theAsh of War: Sacred Blade, which you should apply to your weapon, either a broadsword or longsword, depending on your starting class.
Next, farm at theGatefront Ruinsfor a good shield, better armor, and a suitable sword. There are three shields to target: theLordsworn’s Shield, theGilded Greatshield, and theBrass Shield. TheBrass Shield, the best medium shield in terms of guard boost, reduces the stamina drain from blocking.Greatshieldslike theLordsworn‘s andGilded Greatshieldscause enemies to bounce off, making block counters easier, though they are heavier and have higher strength requirements. TheLordsworn’s Shieldis a great shield with a lowstrengthrequirement of 16, making it quickly accessible. It’s heavy and doesn’t offer 100% physical damage resistance, but it’s useful for block counters.
For a sword, theLordsworn’s Straight Swordis ideal, as it has a 110 critical multiplier compared to the 100 of the broadsword or longsword. Another option is theNoble’s Slender Sword, which has a longer reach and the same critical multiplier but is harder to farm. Farm theknightsandwarriorsin theGatefront Ruinsfor better armor, aiming for over 51 poise to prevent interruptions during block counters andSacred Bladeattacks.
Sacred Bladeprovides a ranged option and buffs your weapon. It’s efficient point-blank as both the blade and projectile can hit the enemy. Although not FP efficient for spamming, it’s useful for rebuffing your weapon. Initially, you can set the infusion to standard or holy. Holy infusion adds more damage, but some early game bosses resist holy damage. Switching to standard infusion before these fights can be beneficial, then switching back to holy afterward.
Confessorsstart with aFinger Seal, useful for casting incantations. If you need a seal, buy one from theRoundtable Holdvendor. Eventually, switch to theClawmark Seal, which scales withstrengthandfaith. As you’ll need high strength for a greatshield, this seal will complement your build. Acquire it by defeating theTibia Marinerboss near theThird Church of Marika, then giving theDeathrootto theBeast Clergymanaccessed through a nearby portal.
Before upgrading your gear, ensure you have the desired items to avoid wasting materials. Prioritize upgrading your weapon, then your seal, and finally your shield. Upgrading the shield increases guard boost over time, but initially focus on your weapon and seal to maximize damage and buffs.
Lastly, remember to prioritize acquiring the gear you want before starting the upgrading process to avoid wasting upgrade materials. Ensure you have theNoble’s Slender SwordorLordsworn’s Greatsword, theBrass ShieldorLordsworn’s Greatshield, and theClawmark Sealbefore beginning upgrades. Since you won’t use many incantations early on, hold off on upgrading the finger seal. Instead, focus on upgrading your weapon first, followed by your seal, and then your shield. While upgrading your shield increases guard boost, it’s not essential in the short term compared to weapon and seal upgrades.
By following these steps and prioritizing your gear and upgrades, you’ll set yourself up for success with thePerfect Paladinbuild, mastering block counters and utilizing buffs to become a formidable force in Elden Ring.
A pure ranged Build that focuses on ranging enemies down from afar, without the need to ever engage in melee combat.
Lastly, let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of theMagebuild, a compelling choice for players who prefer a strategic approach to combat, leveraging spells to control the battlefield and dispatch enemies from a distance.
MagesinElden Ringpossess a unique advantage in their ability to maintain distance from adversaries while dealing damage, minimizing the risk of close-quarters combat. This playstyle emphasizes careful positioning and resource management, as mages rely heavily on their FP (Focus Points) to cast spells. Therefore, acquiring theGolden Seedearly on to gain an additional flask and prioritizing FP restoration when upgrading flasks are essential strategies for sustaining spellcasting throughout encounters.
The foundation of a mage’s power lies in their spell repertoire, which they gradually expand by rescuingSorceress Sellenand acquiring additional scrolls.Sorceress Sellen, found in theWaypoint Ruins, serves as the primary source of spells early in the game. Players must navigate through dangerous enemies to reach her, highlighting the importance of preparation and skillful execution in securing valuable resources.
Once armed with spells, mages journey toCaelidto obtain theMeteorite Staff, a formidable weapon with S scaling and no upgrade requirements. This staff serves as the cornerstone of a mage’s offensive capabilities, delivering potent magical attacks without the need for extensive upgrades. Additionally, theRock Slingspell, located nearby, offers a versatile option for dealing physical damage and staggering resilient foes, complementing the mage’s spell arsenal.
Crafting an effective spell loadout is crucial for success as a mage, balancing offensive spells likeGlintstone PebbleandRock Slingwith utility spells such asGlintstone Arcfor crowd control.Carian Slicerprovides a valuable melee option for close-quarters combat scenarios, ensuring mages can defend themselves effectively when enemies breach their ranged defenses.
To further enhance their spellcasting prowess, mages seek outMemory Stonesscattered throughout the world, unlocking additional spell slots to accommodate a broader range of spells. These stones represent significant milestones in a mage’s progression, allowing them to adapt their spell loadout to suit various challenges encountered on their journey.
In summary, the mage build offers a compelling and rewarding playstyle for those who enjoy strategic combat and the thrill of wielding powerful spells. By mastering the art of spellcasting, mages can overcome formidable foes and emerge victorious in the perilous lands of Elden Ring.
As we wrap up our discussion on these five solid early-game builds, it’s worth mentioning that I’ve skipped the nitty-gritty steps to get them rolling. Talismans, those crucial customization bits, haven’t been thoroughly covered because, you start with just one slot, and there’s a ton more to snag as you progress.
I’ve aimed to give you a quick and dirty rundown of each build so you can jump right in and start playing without getting bogged down in the details. As you level up and face tougher challenges, you’ll stumble upon more Talismans and tweak your setup to match your evolving style and needs. If you need more details, I suggest checking the respective guides for these builds.
Follow these pointers, dive into Elden Ring, and embrace the vibe of each build as you navigate through the diverse strategies they offer. So, gear up, hone your skills, and get ready to conquer the wilds of the Lands Between.
As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
