Swinging Colossal Power: Maximizing Attack Speed with Heavy Weapons in Elden Ring
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So, you want to swing those colossal weapons in Elden Ring like a whirlwind, eh? Let’s cut straight to the chase: you can’t drastically increase the raw swing speed of Colossal Weapons or other heavy hitters. Elden Ring’s combat system doesn’t allow for straightforward alterations to a weapon’s base attack animation speed via stats like Dexterity. However, don’t despair, Tarnished! There are still savvy methods to make your heavy weapon gameplay feel significantly faster and more fluid. The trick lies in optimizing your character build, understanding the game mechanics, and employing clever combat tactics. This guide delves into all of these strategies, ensuring you become a master of wielding these behemoths.
Understanding the Limitations and Maximizing What You Can Control
The core principle to accept is that Elden Ring’s combat is designed around deliberate actions. Colossal Weapons are intentionally slow, trading speed for incredible damage and staggering power. Trying to force them to swing like daggers is futile. Instead, focus on mitigating the drawbacks of slow attacks while amplifying their strengths.
Equip Load Management: The Foundation of Agility
Your Equip Load, determined by your Endurance stat and the weight of your equipped gear, is the single most significant factor influencing your character’s agility. A heavier Equip Load leads to slower rolls, shorter distances covered by rolls, and reduced invulnerability frames.
- Light Load (below 30%): Grants the fastest rolls, longest roll distance, and maximum invulnerability frames. Difficult to achieve with Colossal Weapons unless heavily investing in Endurance.
- Medium Load (30% – 70%): A balance between protection and agility. Manageable for Colossal Weapon builds with careful armor choices and Endurance investment.
- Heavy Load (70% – 100%): Noticeably impacts roll speed and distance. Generally not recommended for melee-focused builds.
- Overburdened (over 100%): Prevents rolling altogether. A death sentence in most combat scenarios.
Strive to maintain a Medium Load at the very least. To achieve this, consider the following:
- Armor Selection: Opt for lighter armor pieces that still provide decent protection. Prioritize poise and resistances strategically rather than pure defense.
- Talismans: The Arsenal Charm and its upgraded versions significantly increase your Equip Load limit, allowing you to wear heavier armor without becoming overburdened. The Erdtree’s Favor talisman also increases Equip Load, HP, and Stamina, making it a valuable all-around choice.
- Endurance Investment: Leveling Endurance directly increases your Equip Load limit and Stamina, both crucial for wielding heavy weapons effectively.
Strategic Combat Maneuvers: Outsmarting Your Enemies
Since you can’t directly speed up your swings, you must become a master of positioning, timing, and weapon arts.
- Jump Attacks: Jump attacks are generally faster than regular attacks, especially with Colossal Weapons. They also inflict significant stagger damage, creating opportunities for critical hits.
- Roll Attacks: Use roll attacks to quickly close the distance and deliver a blow. Experiment with different roll attack timings to find what works best for each weapon.
- Weapon Arts: Many Colossal Weapons possess powerful weapon arts that can stagger enemies, deal massive damage, or provide temporary buffs. Learn the timing and range of your weapon’s art to use it effectively. Consider the Lion’s Claw Ash of War, known for its forward momentum and stagger potential.
- Two-Handing: Two-handing a weapon increases your Strength by 50%, allowing you to meet the Strength requirement of some weapons even with lower Strength stats. Two-handing also alters the moveset, often providing faster or more powerful attacks. Zweihander swings faster when two handing.
- Stamina Management: Running out of stamina leaves you vulnerable. Pay close attention to your stamina bar and avoid over-committing to attacks.
Leveraging Status Effects and Stagger
Colossal Weapons excel at inflicting status effects and staggering enemies. Utilize this to your advantage.
- Status Effects: Consider weapons with innate bleed, frostbite, or poison buildup. Inflicting these status effects can significantly weaken enemies, compensating for slower attack speed.
- Stagger: Focus on attacks that inflict high stagger damage, such as jump attacks and charged heavy attacks. Staggering an enemy creates an opening for a critical hit or a series of follow-up attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Dexterity increase swing speed with heavy weapons?
No. Dexterity does not increase the swing speed of weapons in Elden Ring, regardless of weapon type. Dexterity primarily affects casting speed and weapon requirements.
2. Does weapon weight affect attack speed?
Indirectly, yes. Weapon weight contributes to your Equip Load, which directly impacts your roll speed and distance. Slower rolls make you more vulnerable during attacks, making it feel like you’re attacking slower.
3. What’s the fastest Strength weapon in Elden Ring?
The Beastman’s Cleaver is often cited as one of the fastest Strength-scaling weapons due to its relatively low weight and decent attack speed compared to other Strength weapons.
4. Is it better to upgrade Zweihander or Claymore?
It depends on your playstyle. The Zweihander excels as a powerful two-handed weapon, while the Claymore offers more versatility with its moveset and compatibility with shields.
5. Should I infuse my Zweihander with an element?
It depends on your build. Infusing a weapon with an element removes its original stat scaling and adds elemental damage. If you have high Faith or Intelligence, elemental infusions can be beneficial. Otherwise, leaving it uninfused may be better.
6. Is Greatsword or Giant-Crusher better?
Giant-Crusher generally deals more damage at maximum upgrades, but the Greatsword has better range and a more versatile moveset. Choose based on your preference for damage versus utility.
7. Can you dual wield Zweihanders?
Yes, you can dual wield Zweihanders as long as you meet the Strength and Dexterity requirements and have sufficient Equip Load.
8. What is the best dual wield Colossal weapon combination?
The Giant-Crusher and Prelate’s Inferno Crozier are a popular and powerful combination for dual-wielding Colossal Weapons, especially for Strength builds.
9. What are the best talismans for heavy weapon builds?
Essential talismans include the Arsenal Charm (and its upgrades) for increased Equip Load, Erdtree’s Favor for increased Equip Load, HP, and Stamina, and talismans that boost damage, such as Shard of Alexander for increased Weapon Art damage.
10. Does two-handing a weapon make it swing faster?
Not directly. Two-handing primarily affects Strength scaling and moveset. However, the altered moveset can feel faster in some cases, particularly with the Zweihander.
11. What stats should I prioritize for a Colossal Weapon build?
Prioritize Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. Strength is essential for damage, Vigor for survivability, and Endurance for Equip Load and Stamina.
12. Is the Godslayer Greatsword faster than other Colossal Swords?
Yes, the Godslayer’s Greatsword has a slightly faster moveset than most other Colossal Swords, making it a good option for those who want a bit more speed without sacrificing significant damage.
13. How important is Poise when using heavy weapons?
Poise is very important. High Poise allows you to withstand enemy attacks without being staggered, letting you complete your own attacks. Armor with high Poise is essential for trading blows effectively.
14. Where can I learn more about Elden Ring’s mechanics and design?
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offers resources and research on game design and learning through games. While not specific to Elden Ring, it can provide broader insights into game mechanics.
15. What is the best way to practice using heavy weapons in Elden Ring?
Practice against a variety of enemies, including both slow and fast-moving opponents. Experiment with different attack timings, weapon arts, and combat maneuvers to find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to die – learning from your mistakes is part of the process!
Conclusion
While you can’t magically transform a Colossal Weapon into a rapier, by carefully managing your Equip Load, mastering strategic combat maneuvers, and leveraging status effects, you can significantly enhance the fluidity and effectiveness of your heavy weapon gameplay in Elden Ring. Remember, the key is to adapt your playstyle to the weapon’s strengths and overcome its limitations through skill and strategy. Now go forth, Tarnished, and crush your enemies with the might of your colossal arms!