Do I Need Dexterity for a Strength Build in Elden Ring?

The short answer is: probably not, but it depends on the specific weapons you want to use and your overall build strategy. While a pure strength build focuses primarily on the Strength stat to maximize damage with heavy weapons, a small investment in Dexterity might be necessary to meet the minimum requirements of certain powerful strength-scaling weapons, or to open up some versatility in your playstyle. Let’s delve deeper into this topic.

Understanding Strength Builds in Elden Ring

A strength build in Elden Ring centers around maximizing physical damage output by investing heavily in the Strength stat. This allows you to wield colossal swords, hammers, and other heavy weapons that deal massive damage per hit. These weapons often have high Strength requirements, making Strength the core stat for this build. A primary goal is often to stagger enemies and deliver devastating critical hits. The emphasis is on raw power and the ability to stagger enemies quickly with each weighty blow.

Key Attributes for Strength Builds

• Strength: This is your primary damage stat. More Strength equals more damage with your chosen weapon. It will typically be your highest stat.
• Vigor: Essential for survivability. You need enough HP to withstand enemy attacks, especially when using slow, heavy weapons that leave you vulnerable.
• Endurance: Determines your stamina. Swinging heavy weapons consumes a lot of stamina, so a decent amount of Endurance is crucial. Also affects equip load, enabling you to wear heavier armor without being encumbered.
• Mind: Only necessary if you plan on using weapon skills (Ashes of War) frequently, as they consume FP.
• Dexterity: Typically kept at the minimum required level for your desired weapon. Sometimes is even untouched!
• Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane: Generally, these are not prioritized unless you’re aiming for a hybrid build.

When is Dexterity Needed?

Even in a Strength build, you might need some Dexterity for a few reasons:

• Weapon Requirements: Some of the most powerful Strength weapons have minimum Dexterity requirements. For example, some weapons require 12, 14, or even 18 Dexterity. Investing enough points to meet these requirements will allow you to wield those weapons effectively, even if their Dexterity scaling isn’t optimal for your build.
• Weapon Variety: While focusing on Strength, you might want to occasionally use faster weapons for certain enemies or situations. Having a small amount of Dexterity can allow you to switch to a Dexterity-scaling weapon when needed, adding versatility to your combat style.
• Early to Mid-Game Viability: In the early game, it can be beneficial to distribute points between Strength and Dexterity, making it easier to use a wider range of weapons until you acquire the ideal Strength weapons for your build. This is often referred to as a “quality build” during the initial phases of the game. You can always respec later.

Weapons That Might Tempt You to Level Dexterity

There are some weapons that scale well with strength that also require dexterity, like the following:

• Bloodhound’s Fang An excellent choice for any player to choose, the Bloodhound’s Fang requires a little bit of dexterity (18) to wield.
• Gargoyle’s Blackblade This weapon requires 22 dexterity to wield effectively.

Hybrid Builds: The Strength/Dexterity “Quality” Approach

While a pure Strength build is viable, you could also consider a Strength/Dexterity hybrid, often called a “quality build.” This involves leveling both stats relatively evenly. A hybrid approach offers:

• Weapon Versatility: You can use a wider range of weapons, including those with good scaling in both stats.
• Adaptability: You can switch between heavy, slow weapons and faster, more agile weapons depending on the enemy you’re facing.
• Balanced Playstyle: This build offers a mix of raw power and speed.

However, it’s important to note that spreading your stats too thin can weaken your overall damage output. You might not hit as hard as a pure Strength build or be as nimble as a pure Dexterity build. So, it’s crucial to choose weapons that benefit from both stats and to allocate your stats carefully.

Respec: A Game Changer

Elden Ring provides a respec mechanic, allowing you to reallocate your stats after defeating certain bosses. This gives you the flexibility to experiment with different builds and find the one that suits your playstyle best. You can start as a quality build and later respec into a pure strength build, or vice versa.

Focusing on What Matters

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to invest in Dexterity for a Strength build depends on your personal preferences, your chosen weapons, and your overall strategy. If your goal is to maximize damage with heavy weapons, then focus primarily on Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. But if you want more weapon variety or if you’re aiming for a more balanced playstyle, then consider adding a few points into Dexterity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the best starting class for a Strength build in Elden Ring?

The Vagabond is an excellent choice. It starts with high Vigor and Strength, giving you a solid foundation for a Strength build. The Hero class is also a popular choice due to its high starting Strength.

2. Which stats should I prioritize for a Strength build?

Strength, Vigor, and Endurance are the most important. Focus on getting your Strength up to the soft cap (around 50-60), then prioritize Vigor and Endurance for survivability and stamina management.

3. What are some good early-game Strength weapons?

The Greatsword, found in Caelid, is a fantastic early-game option. The Lordsworn’s Greatsword is another accessible and effective choice.

4. What’s the difference between Strength and Dexterity scaling?

Strength scaling means that the weapon’s damage increases with your Strength stat. Dexterity scaling means the damage increases with your Dexterity stat. Some weapons scale with both stats, while others scale primarily with one.

5. Should I two-hand my weapon for a Strength build?

Yes! Two-handing a weapon increases your Strength by 50%, allowing you to meet the requirements for heavier weapons and increasing your damage output. This is crucial for a Strength Build.

6. What’s the best armor for a Strength build?

Heavy armor with high poise is ideal. Lionel’s Set and the Bull-Goat Set are excellent choices. Remember to invest in Endurance to maintain medium load and avoid fat-rolling.

7. How important is Vigor for a Strength build?

Extremely important. Strength weapons tend to be slower, leaving you vulnerable. High Vigor ensures you can survive enemy attacks.

8. Can I use magic with a Strength build?

Yes, but it requires investment in Intelligence or Faith. If you want to use incantations, focus on Faith. For sorceries, focus on Intelligence. However, these become hybrid builds.

9. What are Ashes of War, and how do they benefit a Strength build?

Ashes of War are skills that can be applied to weapons, changing their scaling and adding special attacks. Look for Ashes of War that add Strength scaling or provide powerful offensive abilities.

10. Is it viable to respec my character later in the game?

Absolutely. Elden Ring allows you to respec your stats multiple times by using Larval Tears, giving you the flexibility to experiment with different builds.

11. How does equip load affect my character?

Equip load determines your movement speed and roll distance. Being at medium load (below 70% of your maximum equip load) is optimal for most builds.

12. What is “poise,” and why is it important for a Strength build?

Poise is a stat that determines how easily you can be staggered by enemy attacks. Higher poise allows you to withstand more hits without being interrupted, which is crucial when using slow weapons.

13. What are some good talismans for a Strength build?

The Claw Talisman (enhances jump attacks), Axe Talisman (boosts charged attacks), and Green Turtle Talisman (increases stamina recovery speed) are excellent choices.

14. How does Strength affect my ability to use shields?

Strength is required to effectively use most shields. Shields with high strength requirements offer better guard boost, reducing stamina consumption when blocking.

15. Where can I find more information about Elden Ring builds and strategies?

Explore online forums, wikis, and communities dedicated to Elden Ring. You can also find valuable resources on game design and game-based learning at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.