Is Dual Wielding Better Than Two-Handing in Elden Ring? A Tarnished’s Guide

The age-old question, debated around countless Sites of Grace and fueling endless forum discussions: Is dual wielding better than two-handing in Elden Ring? The short answer is… it depends. There’s no single “best” option. Both styles are incredibly viable, but excel in different situations and cater to different playstyles. Dual wielding generally offers higher damage output and faster attack speeds, while two-handing provides a strength scaling bonus and altered movesets that can be invaluable for staggering enemies. Understanding the nuances of each is key to crafting a powerful Tarnished.

The Allure of Dual Wielding: Unleashing a Flurry of Steel

Dual wielding in Elden Ring, specifically power stancing weapons of the same class, is all about overwhelming your opponent with relentless attacks. When power stancing, you’ll access a unique moveset activated by the left trigger button (L1/LB), unleashing a simultaneous attack with both weapons. This is where the real damage potential lies.

Advantages of Dual Wielding

• Higher Damage Per Second (DPS): Power stancing significantly increases your attack speed, allowing you to inflict more hits in a shorter timeframe. This makes it devastating against bosses with smaller openings and enemies susceptible to status effects.
• Status Effect Buildup: Dual wielding doubles the application of status effects like bleed, frostbite, poison, and madness. This allows you to quickly trigger these effects, adding another layer of damage and utility to your attacks. Dual wielding katanas, for instance, becomes incredibly potent, rapidly inflicting bleed buildup.
• Versatility with Ashes of War: You can apply different Ashes of War to each weapon, granting you access to a wider range of skills and combat options.
• Sheer Aggression: Dual wielding encourages an aggressive playstyle, rewarding players who can maintain pressure and capitalize on enemy openings.

Disadvantages of Dual Wielding

• No Shield: The most obvious drawback is the inability to use a shield. This leaves you vulnerable to attacks and requires you to rely on dodging and spacing for defense.
• Stamina Management: The rapid attacks of dual wielding consume stamina quickly. Poor stamina management can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
• Stat Investment: To effectively power stance weapons, you need 1.5 times the required Strength and Dexterity stats of each weapon. This can be a significant stat investment, especially in the early game.
• Not All Weapons Benefit Equally: Certain weapon types benefit more from dual wielding than others. Twinblades, curved swords, and katanas are generally considered excellent choices, while slower, heavier weapons may not be as effective.

The Strength of Two-Handing: Power and Poise Breaking

Two-handing a weapon in Elden Ring is a more deliberate and strategic approach to combat. It provides a significant strength bonus and modifies your moveset, allowing you to deliver powerful blows that can stagger enemies and break their guard.

Advantages of Two-Handing

• 1.5x Strength Bonus: Two-handing multiplies your effective Strength stat by 1.5. This allows you to wield weapons that would otherwise be too heavy and significantly increases the damage output of Strength-scaling weapons.
• Modified Moveset: Two-handing unlocks a new moveset with different attacks, often including heavier, more powerful strikes that can stagger enemies and break their poise.
• Guard Breaking: The increased poise damage of two-handed attacks makes it easier to stagger enemies, opening them up for critical hits.
• Shield Compatibility (Situational): While primarily focusing on the weapon itself, you retain the ability to quickly switch back to one-handing and equip a shield for defensive situations if needed.
• Lower Stat Requirements (Initially): You can wield some heavier weapons earlier than you could dual wield.

Disadvantages of Two-Handing

• Slower Attack Speed: Two-handed attacks are generally slower than dual wielding, leaving you more vulnerable to enemy attacks.
• Less Status Effect Buildup: Without the rapid attacks of dual wielding, applying status effects can be more challenging.
• Less Damage Potential (Potentially): While each individual hit may deal significant damage, the lower attack speed can result in lower overall DPS compared to dual wielding, especially against enemies with small openings.
• Predictability: The slower, more deliberate attacks can make you more predictable in combat, allowing enemies to anticipate your moves.

Making the Choice: Factors to Consider

Ultimately, the choice between dual wielding and two-handing depends on several factors:

• Weapon Type: Some weapons, like colossal swords, are almost exclusively used two-handed. Others, like daggers, benefit greatly from dual wielding.
• Build: A Strength-focused build may lean towards two-handing, while a Dexterity or Arcane build may find more success with dual wielding and status effects.
• Playstyle: Aggressive players who prefer to overwhelm their opponents may favor dual wielding. More cautious players who prioritize defense and strategic attacks may prefer two-handing.
• Enemy Type: Some enemies are more vulnerable to staggering and poise breaking, making two-handing a better option. Others are more susceptible to status effects, making dual wielding more effective.
• Personal Preference: Ultimately, the most important factor is what you find enjoyable and effective. Experiment with both styles to find what works best for you.

Conclusion: Mastering Both Styles for Victory

While dual wielding often boasts higher damage potential, two-handing offers unique advantages in terms of poise breaking and strategic combat. The true power lies in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each style and adapting your approach based on the situation. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different weapon combinations and Ashes of War to discover your preferred playstyle and conquer the Lands Between. Whether you choose to unleash a flurry of steel or deliver devastating blows, mastering both dual wielding and two-handing will make you a formidable Tarnished.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does two-handing a weapon double strength in Elden Ring?

No, two-handing a weapon multiplies your Strength stat by 1.5, not double.

2. Is dual wielding always better than two-handing for damage?

Not always. While dual wielding often results in higher DPS, two-handing can deal more damage per hit and break enemy poise more effectively. Against heavily armored enemies or those vulnerable to staggering, two-handing might be preferable.

3. What are the best weapons for dual wielding in Elden Ring?

Popular choices include:

• Katanas: Excellent for bleed buildup.
• Curved Swords: Fast attacks and good status effect application.
• Twinblades: Designed for rapid attacks when dual wielded.
• Daggers: Incredibly fast and can inflict poison or bleed quickly.

4. What are the best weapons for two-handing in Elden Ring?

• Colossal Swords: Massive damage and excellent poise breaking.
• Greatswords: A good balance of damage and speed.
• Hammers: Effective against heavily armored enemies.

5. How does power stancing work in Elden Ring?

To power stance, equip two weapons of the same class (e.g., two katanas) and hold the “Two-Hand Weapon” button (Triangle/Y) to enter the power stance mode. Then, use the left trigger button (L1/LB) to perform the unique power stance attacks.

6. What stats do I need for dual wielding?

You generally need 1.5 times the required Strength and Dexterity stats of each weapon to power stance them effectively.

7. Does two-handing increase skill damage (Ashes of War)?

Yes, two-handing increases the damage of Ashes of War if the weapon’s damage scales with Strength. The 1.5x Strength bonus will apply to the damage dealt by the skill.

8. What are the disadvantages of dual wielding besides the lack of a shield?

Besides the lack of a shield, dual wielding requires a higher stat investment, consumes more stamina, and may not be effective with all weapon types.

9. What is the advantage of two-handing a weapon?

The main advantages are the 1.5x Strength bonus, altered moveset, and increased poise damage.

10. Is dual wielding good for PvP in Elden Ring?

Yes, dual wielding can be very effective in PvP, especially with weapons that inflict status effects quickly. However, skilled players may be able to anticipate and punish predictable attack patterns.

11. Can you cast spells while dual wielding?

You can cast spells if your weapons only require vocal and material components. For spells with somatic components, you will need to sheath one of your weapons.

12. What class is best for dual wielding in Elden Ring?

The Warrior class is a solid starting point for dual wielding due to its high Dexterity. However, any class can be built for dual wielding with the right stat allocation.

13. Does dexterity increase damage for all weapons?

Dexterity increases damage for weapons that have Dexterity scaling. Weapons with a higher Dexterity scaling grade (S, A, B, etc.) will benefit more from Dexterity investment.

14. How does the Games Learning Society relate to Elden Ring?

While seemingly unrelated, GamesLearningSociety.org explores how games like Elden Ring can be used as learning tools. The problem-solving, strategic thinking, and perseverance required to succeed in Elden Ring are all valuable skills applicable in various aspects of life. You can learn more about the Games Learning Society at: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

15. Should I respec my character if I want to switch from two-handing to dual wielding?

Potentially. If your stats are heavily focused on Strength and you want to switch to dual wielding Dexterity-based weapons, respeccing your character using a Larval Tear may be necessary to optimize your build.