It is impossible to create a unique, effective build with the game's extensive range of stats, weapons, spells, and abilities. Character builds shape your playstyle and determine how you handle the game's challenges. Whether you prefer melee combat, magic, or a hybrid of both, a well-planned build can significantly improve your journey through the Lands Between. The following guide provides a comprehensive overview.
Core Build Strategies 
Strength Builds
Focus on wielding large weapons with high damage output. Key attributes are Strength (obviously), Vigor for health, and Endurance for stamina and equip load.
•Weapons: Greatswords, Colossal Weapons, etc.
•Tactics: Use heavy attacks, jumping attacks, and Ashes of War that maximize stagger potential.
Dexterity Builds
Emphasize speed, critical hits, and often incorporate bleed effects.
•Weapons: Katanas, Curved Swords, Daggers, or Bows.
•Tactics: Quick strikes, exploiting counter hits, and using weapons with inherent bleed like the Rivers of Blood.
Intelligence Builds
For those who favor magic, focusing on Sorceries.
•Weapons: Staves, Intelligence-scaling weapons like the Moonveil Katana.
•Spells: Glintstone Sorceries, Moonlight Greatsword, etc.
•Tactics: Long-range sniping with spells, using weapon skills that enhance magic attacks.
Faith Builds
Utilize Incantations for healing, buffs, and offensive spells.
•Weapons: Seals for casting, weapons that scale with Faith like the Blasphemous Blade.
•Incantations: Healing spells, Lightning Spear, Beast Claws, etc.
•Tactics: Mix of close combat with divine interventions, using incantations that fit the situation.
Arcane Builds
Often combined with other stats, but focuses on exploiting status effects like Bleed, Poison, or discovering items' hidden potentials.
•Weapons: Anything with Bleed buildup or Arcane scaling.
•Tactics: Rapid application of status effects, using items and spells that benefit from high Arcane.
Hybrid Builds
Combining two primary stats like Dexterity/Intelligence or Strength/Faith for versatility in both melee and magic:
•Example: A Samurai using Moonveil (Dex/Int) or a Paladin with both holy spells and a sacred-infused weapon (Str/Fai).
General Tips for All Builds 
•Vigor: Never neglect this, as survivability is key in "Elden Ring."
•Endurance: Affects both stamina for actions and equip load for armor and weapons.
•Ashes of War: These can be swapped out to fit the situation, providing flexibility in combat.
•Spirit Ashes: Use them to complement your build; tanky spirits for ranged builds, or vice versa.
•Talismans: Choose talismans that enhance your build's strengths, like increasing damage, reducing FP cost for skills, or enhancing specific types of damage.
•Rebirth: Utilize Larval Tears to respec if your initial build isn't working out or if you want to try something new after acquiring new weapons or spells.
•Community Sentiment: From X posts and other community interactions, there's an emphasis on experimentation. Builds are often tweaked with new discoveries or patches, so staying engaged with the community can provide new insights or optimized strategies.
Conclusion
Elden Ring offers a wide variety of builds, so every player can find the build that fits their needs. There is a build for every type of adventurer, whether you're a heavy-hitter, a nimble dexterity fighter, a powerful sorcerer, or a versatile hybrid. Elden Ring encourages flexibility and adaptability, so don't be afraid to adjust your build as you progress and face new challenges as you play.
