Elden Ring Hand-to-Hand Build - Frost-Fu Monk Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)

Jun. 22, 2024

Elden Ring Hand-to-Hand Build – Frost-Fu Monk Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)

In thisElden RingHand-to-Hand Build guide, I’m going to be showcasing myFrost-Fu Monkbuild, which utilizes the newHand-to-Handweapon. This weapon has garnered significant interest since the pre-launch gameplay trailers, and in this guide, I’ll demonstrate how I use it, what strategies work best with it, and provide a quick tutorial on how to acquire it swiftly within the game. Finding this weapon can be tricky if you don’t know where to look, but I’ll make it easy for you on theElden Ring Map.

In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Hand to Hand build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a Kung Fu build that uses both your hands and feet to deals unrelenting damage to anything and to anyone then you might want to check this build-out.

We have over 110Elden Ring builds. Each one is meticulously crafted to offer unique playstyles, strategies, and experiences, ensuring there’s something for every adventurer in the Lands Between. Whether you seek the raw power of heavy weapons, the finesse of spellcasting, or the versatility of hybrid builds, our collection has you covered. Explore the depths of the game’s mechanics and unleash your full potential with our diverse array of builds.

The weapon we’re using for this build is calledDryleaf Arts, which you can obtain fromDryleaf Dane, one of the NPCs in the game. Apologies for the slight spoiler, but to acquire this weapon, you’ll need to locate this character.Dryleaf Daneis found in theMoorth Ruins, southeast of theSite of Gracethat appears after exiting the other side ofCastle Ensis. This Site of Grace is calledHighroad Cross. AtHighroad Cross, there is an item or gesture you need to pick up. When you reach theMoorth Ruins, use that gesture onDaneto trigger a fight. Once you defeat him, you’ll obtain the weapon.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to go throughCastle Ensis, which involves a major boss fight, you can skirt around the side of the castle into the swampy area and use theSpiritspringto reachFort of Reprimand. From there, you can go through a tunnel to arrive at the same location. I haven’t tested this route personally, so I’m not sure if the NPCs will be present, but it’s worth trying if you want to avoid the boss fight or get the weapon early.

I’ve tested this weapon and its skill,Palm Blast, and found several notable aspects.Dryleaf Artsscales equally with bothStrengthandDexterity. I tested different infusions:Quality,Heavy, andKeen.Heavyperformed slightly better thanKeenandQualityfor pure physical damage. However, I chose theCold Infusionfor a few reasons. The damage scaling with Cold is similar to Heavy, and it adds aFrostbitebuildup on enemies, causing them to take more damage and often flinch during your combos. This can be particularly useful against tougher enemies.

For theAsh of War, I switched fromPalm BlasttoDivine Beast Frost Stomp, a newAsh of Warobtained by trading in the remembrance of theDivine Lion Beastboss fromBelurat Tower Settlement. This change was made becauseDivine Beast Frost Stompbenefits more from Cold Infusion than Heavy Infusion.

Palm Blasthas a long animation that deals significant damage in a small area around you, but it requires close range and interrupts your rapid attack sequence. In contrast,Divine Beast Frost Stomphits enemies from a distance in a cone shape, preventing them from reaching you. It’s versatile, effective for clearing groups of enemies, and can interrupt bosses. Charged, it deals extra damage and range, making it a great addition for versatility in combat.

This weapon excels in a two-handed setup, functioning almost like a paired weapon. The two-handed attack pattern includes a rapid sequence of hits, while the one-handed pattern is different. I prefer the runningR2combo for its punch-kick sequence and the jumpingR2attack for its double kick, which feels reminiscent ofMortal Kombat’s Kung Lao. These moves deal solid damage, move you forward slightly, and deal good stance damage.

While I don’t use an offhand weapon, you could equip something like theSacrificial Axefor FP recovery or a boost from items like theGreat Turtle Shell. Notably, this weapon only weighs one unit, making it an excellent candidate for theBlue Dancer Charm, which boosts damage when your equip load is low. Pair it with light armor to maximize this benefit.

Shadow of the Erdtreeenemies hit like an absolute freight train, especially if you haven’t collected manyScadutree Fragments. In successive playthroughs, once you know their locations and can quickly collect them, wearing lighter armor becomes more feasible. However, I don’t recommend light armor in the DLC because the enemies hit so hard that you’ll likely die very quickly. One advantage of not wearing light armor and avoiding theBlue Dancer Charmroute is that having 51 poise allows you to continue attacking through enemy hits and maintain your long combo chains.

For armor, I’m usingDane’s Hat,Messmer Soldier Armor, andHorned Warriors GauntletsandGreaves, which contribute to my desired appearance. These armor pieces can be obtained early in the DLC. There might be better armor sets for this style later in the game, but my builds are aimed at players in the middle or early stages of the DLC who haven’t defeated all the bosses or collected all the items. This setup allows for a quick build assembly.

The downside is that this armor doesn’t naturally provide 51 poise, so I use theBull Goat’s Talismanto achieve that. I favor the fashion of this armor, which has a monkish, roguish look. If you were min-maxing, you’d choose armor that offers 51 poise or more by default, especially if you’re opting for protection over theBlue Dancer Charmroute. This would free up a talisman slot, but I prioritize fashion, so it is what it is.

ForTalismans, I have theBull-Goat’s Talismanequipped. You could replace this withRotten Winged Sword InsigniaorMillicent’s Prosthesis. Both work well because they increase attack power as you stack hits.

Shard of Alexanderis another excellent choice for boosting weapon skill damage, potentially allowing you to one-shot enemies depending on yourScadutree Fragmentscount.

Other useful talismans include theDragoncrest Greatshield Talismanfor added protection. Even if you’re not using heavy armor, it provides significant defensive benefits.

However, if you prefer lighter armor and are using theBlue Dancer Charm, it’s even more essential. If you find yourself charging up yourAsh of Waroften, consider theGodfrey Icon, which boosts charged spell and skill damage. Pairing it withShard of Alexandercan significantly enhance your weapon skill damage.

Additionally, theClaw Talismanis great if you frequently use the jump R2 attack while dual-wielding or two-handing this weapon. It boosts the damage of jump attacks, which are excellent for closing gaps and dealing significant damage. If you favor this attack style, consider usingRaptor’s Black Feathersor another DLC armor set that boosts jump attack damage.

Vigor:50 – This is the minimum to ensure survival. If you opt for the light armor route and use theBlue Dancer Charm, you’ll want to increase this to around 60-65.

Mind:29 – This is higher than necessary. You can likely drop this to 20, especially if you aren’t usingDivine Beast Frost Stompfrequently. During testing, I found that 20Mindis sufficient without causing FP issues.

Endurance:30 – This attribute is crucial due to the high stamina consumption from attack combinations. If you lowerMindto 20, you can boostEnduranceto 40, providing even more stamina and allowing for heavier armor for added protection.

Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence:35 each – This balance is optimal for the build’s scaling across these stats. During testing, increasing any of these stats by five points resulted in the same attack rating improvement. This spread is ideal for playing as a martial artist.

Faith and Arcane: You don’t need anyfaithorarcanefor this build.

For theFlask of Wondrous Physick, I use theThorny Cracked Tearto increase damage with rapid attacks, which is essential for a fast attack build. If you encounter stamina issues, you might opt forGreenburst Crystal Tearinstead. While I typically don’t have stamina problems, another good option is theMagic-Shrouding Cracked Tearto boost the damage of yourDivine Beast Frost Stomp. SinceDivine Beast Frost Stompdeals 100% magic damage, this tear significantly enhances its effectiveness.

When it comes toGreat Runes,Godrick’s Great Runeis an excellent choice as it boosts six out of the eight stats you use in this build.Radahn’s Great Runeis another good option, providing extra health, stamina, and FP. If you chooseRadahn’s, you can likely lower yourMindeven further, reallocating those points to damage stats, endurance, or health.

That wraps up myFrost-Fu Monkbuild. I hope you enjoyed this one. I know many were eager for a hand-to-hand combat build, and this weapon has quickly become one of my favorites. It looks cool, feels great, plays well, and is highly effective. 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.