Elden Ring Milady Build - Dark Paladin Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)

Jun. 21, 2024

Elden Ring Milady Build – Dark Paladin Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)

In thisElden Ring Milady Build guide, I’ll be showcasing my Dark Paladin build. This is our second build for Shadows of the Erdtree. Like the first, it features a new weapon: the Milady, alight greatswordobtainable within thefirst five minutes of gameplay.

In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my light greatsword build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a flexible build that use buffs and overcome anything you throw at it then you might want to check this build-out.

We have over 110 Elden 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.

Light greatswords are exceptionally fast and fluid, and theMiladyis no exception. It attacks swiftly, delivering a series of quick strikes with a powerful strong attack that hits twice initially, and then two more times if followed up. Several weapons in Elden Ring share this dual-hit feature with the R2 attack, allowing for rapid attack power build-up, especially when combined with talismans and effects that boost attack power with quick strikes.

This weapon can deal a lot of damage quickly. We’ll keep spoilers to a minimum in this guide, avoiding boss names. We focus on two bosses from the early areas of the DLC, as well as parts of New Game Plus, to demonstrate the build with minimal spoilers.

You can acquire theMiladyvery early in the game, near thecastlefront. Pass theSite of Grace, enterCastle Ensis, proceed a bit, and turn left into a tower. Climb the ladder inside to find theMiladyin a chest. No need to fight tough enemies; you can avoid all of them and obtain the weapon quickly. See it on theElden Ring Maphere.

TheMiladyscales well withKeen, favoring dexterity over strength. While it can be used with strength, I prefer the Keen scaling for its impressive damage. However, this is not the only viable option.

I’ve incorporated two key elements into this build:Golden Vow, to boost damage and resistance, andCragblade, to enhance physical damage, stance damage, and effectiveness against blocking enemies. Initially, I usedCragbladeto test the build, and it remains a strong choice if you prefer that playstyle.

If you’re usingCragblade, I suggest buffing yourself withExalted Fleshfor increased physical damage and usingCragbladeto enhance your weapon. If you opt forGolden Vow, you’ll buff yourself and any allies around you, which is beneficial for cooperative play, and you can still useGreasesto buff your weapon. While the choice between these buffs isn’t critical,Cragbladeoffers slightly more damage, whereasGolden Vowprovides better protection, aligning with the theme of this build.

Protection is a key focus of this setup. Alongside using a shield, you’ll wear very heavy armor. The shield in question is theWolf Crest Shield, a new shield found further intoCastle Ensis. You don’t need to fight any bosses to get it, and it’s a fantastic medium shield with a 66Guard Boostwhen fully maxed out, and only a12 Strengthrequirement, which matches theMiladyweapon’s requirements. This allows you to invest heavily inDexterity.

You might wonder why use a medium shield in a block counter build. This setup isn’t strictly a block counter build, but it excels at block counters due to its high endurance and the shield’s 66Guard Boost, allowing you to block numerous attacks. You can block and counter when needed and seamlessly transition into combos, making this build highly effective.

Combined withGolden Vowand theOpal Cracked Tear, this setup provides robust physical and general protection, crucial for facing the hard-hitting enemies and bosses in the DLC. This high poise allows you to endure attacks and keep fighting without getting staggered, enhancing your survivability early in the DLC.

I recommend picking up and turning in as manyScadutree Fragmentsas you can early on. Doing so will not only boost your damage but also increase your resistance, which is crucial in theLand of Shadow. You should aim to have a+4 upgradebefore the first major story boss, granting you a substantial20% damage increaseand significant resistance.

The strategy for this build involvesblock counteringin individual fights, which typically staggers enemies and allows you to follow up with a combo. For tougher enemies, adopt an aggressive approach by usingR2 quick pressesto build up your attack power and take them out swiftly. This combination of blocking, countering, and aggressive attacking will help you handle various combat situations effectively.

For talismans in this build, I recommendMillicent’s Prosthesisbecause we’re focusing onDexterityscaling. This talisman grants an additional fiveDexterityand increases your attack power with each successive hit.

I also use theRotten Winged Sword Insignia, which is perfect for this build due to the rapid attacks. However, you can’t obtain bothMillicent’s Prosthesisand theRotten Winged Sword Insigniain the same playthrough unless someone drops one for you, so you might use theWinged Sword Insigniainstead.

Other valuable talismans for this build include theDragoncrest Greatshield Talismanfor additional protection, making it even harder to die in the DLC where enemies and bosses hit incredibly hard. This talisman can help mitigate some of that damage effectively.

Lastly, I recommendGreat-Jar’s Arsenal. This talisman is crucial for maintaining a medium roll with the heavy armor and 40Endurance. Without it, you risk being over-encumbered or stuck with a heavy roll, which isn’t ideal for mobility.

Alternative talismans for this build include theAxe Talismanif you frequently use charged heavy attacks, as it can help with staggering enemies. Additionally, theSpear Talismancan be useful if you prefer a full physical route withCragbladeto enhance thrusting attacks. However, I personally favor the R2 attack, so I don’t typically use theSpear Talisman.

Attribute-wise, we have 50Vigor, 20Mind, 40Endurance, 12Strength, 80Dexterity, 16Intelligence, 7Faith, 9Arcane.

The strategy revolves around usingGolden VowandCragblade.Golden Vow, when used as anAsh of War, allows you to apply greases to your weapon, providing flexibility in combat. You can use different greases likeBlood GreaseorDragon Greasedepending on the enemy’s weaknesses, optimizing your damage output for each encounter. WhileCragblademight give a slight edge in raw damage,Golden Vowoffers protection and buffs to nearby allies, making it invaluable in cooperative play.

When it comes toFlasks of Wondrous Physick, I recommend using theOpaline Hardtearto reduce incoming damage, which is essential for trading blows without dying. Additionally, include the tear that boosts your damage with rapid attacks, which aligns perfectly with this build’s focus on rapid R2 and R1 attacks.

ForGreat Runes,Morgott’s Great RuneandMalenia’s Great Runeare top choices.Morgott’s Great Runesignificantly increases your health, enabling you to withstand damage more effectively.Malenia’s Great Runeallows you to regain health upon quickly striking back after taking damage, which synergizes well with the rapid attack style of this build.

This concludes theDark Paladinbuild guide. I hope you’re finding these build recommendations useful. I’ll be covering a few more early game DLC builds that you can assemble within the first 5-10 minutes of starting the DLC, followed by builds for the mid and late stages. 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.