Elden Ring's vast and challenging world demands optimal combat strategies. One effective way to boost your damage output and survive tougher encounters is by two-handing your weapons. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it and the benefits it provides.
Understanding the Benefits of Two-Handing
Two-handing your weapon in Elden Ring offers significant advantages:
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Increased Damage: This is the most obvious benefit. By wielding your weapon with both hands, you significantly increase its attack power, allowing you to deal heavier blows and stagger enemies more easily. This is crucial against bosses and challenging enemies.
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Improved Weapon Arts: Many weapon arts require two hands to use. These special attacks often deal substantial damage, inflict status effects, or provide valuable defensive capabilities. Unlocking these powerful abilities is a strong incentive for two-handing.
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Enhanced Posture Damage: Two-handed attacks are more effective at breaking an enemy's posture, opening them up for critical hits. This is particularly useful against enemies who have high poise.
How to Two-Hand a Weapon in Elden Ring
The process is incredibly simple:
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Equip your desired weapon: Ensure the weapon you want to two-hand is selected in your main hand.
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Unequip your off-hand: Open your inventory (typically by pressing the start button or the equivalent on your platform). Navigate to your off-hand slot and select "Unequip." You can even unequip a shield to free both hands.
That's it! You've now successfully two-handed your weapon. You'll notice the increased attack power and the ability to use any two-handed weapon arts associated with it.
Strategic Considerations for Two-Handing
While two-handing significantly boosts your damage, it comes with a trade-off:
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Loss of Shield: Two-handing forfeits the use of a shield, leaving you more vulnerable to attacks. Carefully consider your enemy's attack patterns and your defensive capabilities before choosing this tactic. Some enemies are best tackled with a shield, while others are easier to overcome with the raw damage increase.
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Stamina Consumption: Two-handed attacks typically consume more stamina than one-handed attacks. Be mindful of your stamina bar to avoid leaving yourself open. Consider using stamina-enhancing flasks or talismans if you find yourself running out of stamina frequently.
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Weapon Choice: Not all weapons are created equal. Some weapons are better suited for two-handed combat than others. Experiment with different weapons to find the perfect fit for your playstyle.
Optimizing Your Build for Two-Handed Combat
Maximize your damage output by focusing on these attributes:
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Strength: A higher strength stat significantly increases your damage output when two-handing most weapons. This is a critical stat to raise if you primarily use a two-handed combat style.
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Dexterity: While Strength is key, Dexterity influences attack speed and sometimes contributes to damage with certain weapons.
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Vigor: With increased damage comes a higher chance of taking damage too. Invest in Vigor for higher health to survive attacks you might otherwise falter from.
By understanding the benefits, drawbacks, and strategic considerations of two-handing in Elden Ring, you can significantly improve your combat effectiveness and conquer the Lands Between. Remember to adjust your tactics based on the specific challenges you face and to utilize the weapon arts available to you for maximum impact.
