Vagabond’s Starting Steel: A Deep Dive into the Longsword in Elden Ring
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The default weapon for the Vagabond class in Elden Ring is the Longsword. This versatile blade, coupled with a 100% physical damage blocking shield, provides a solid foundation for players venturing into the Lands Between. The Longsword’s balanced attributes, reasonable range, and ability to accept infusions make it a surprisingly effective weapon, even when compared to many other starting options. It allows for quick attacks and provides a reliable base for various builds, ensuring the Vagabond is well-equipped to face the early challenges of the game.
Unpacking the Vagabond’s Arsenal
The Vagabond class is often chosen by players seeking a blend of strength and survivability. The starting equipment reflects this focus:
- Longsword: A straight sword with balanced attributes and good range.
- Heater Shield: Offers 100% physical damage negation, crucial for early defense.
- Halberd: A heavier weapon providing reach and strong attacks.
- Leather Armor Set: Provides decent early-game protection without hindering movement.
While the Halberd offers more power, the Longsword’s versatility and speed often make it the preferred choice for new players learning the ropes.
Why the Longsword? A Weapon for All Seasons
The Longsword’s appeal lies in its adaptability. Here’s why it’s a great starting choice:
- Balanced Stats: It doesn’t demand extreme stat investment, allowing players to explore different build options.
- Fast Attacks: The quick attack animations make it easy to interrupt enemy attacks and land multiple hits.
- Good Range: Offers decent reach, keeping players at a safe distance while still dealing damage.
- Infusion Potential: Can be infused with Ashes of War to change its damage type and add unique abilities.
This last point is particularly important. By applying Ashes of War, the Longsword can be tailored to specific enemy weaknesses or to complement a player’s evolving build.
Beyond the Longsword: Building a Vagabond
While the Longsword is an excellent starting point, the Vagabond’s strength lies in its potential for diverse builds. Some popular options include:
- Strength Builds: Focus on heavy weapons like the Grafted Blade Greatsword or Greatsword, emphasizing raw damage and staggering power.
- Quality Builds: Balance Strength and Dexterity to wield a variety of weapons effectively. The Claymore is a classic choice for this build.
- Tank Builds: Maximize Vigor and Endurance to withstand heavy damage while dealing consistent damage.
- Hybrid Builds: Incorporate Faith or Intelligence to add magical abilities to the Vagabond’s arsenal.
The armor choice is also crucial. While the starting Leather Armor is serviceable, many players gravitate towards the Raptor’s Black Feathers for its unique jump attack bonus.
Early Game Progression: From Limgrave to Beyond
The early hours of Elden Ring can be challenging, but the Vagabond is well-equipped to handle them. Key strategies include:
- Exploration: Limgrave is full of valuable resources, including weapons, armor, and crafting materials.
- Ashes of War: Experiment with different Ashes of War to find one that complements your playstyle.
- Leveling: Prioritize Vigor to increase survivability and Strength to boost damage output.
- Summoning: Don’t be afraid to summon Spirit Ashes for assistance in tough battles.
Defeating early bosses like Margit, the Fell Omen, and Godrick the Grafted, opens up new areas and opportunities for progression. Remember that while Margit is often considered more challenging initially, both encounters are crucial for advancing the main storyline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Vagabond and its Weaponry
What is the best weapon type for a strength-based Vagabond build?
For a strength-based Vagabond build, Greatswords and Colossal Swords are excellent choices. The Lordsworn’s Greatsword, Grafted Blade Greatsword, the Claymore, and simply “The Greatsword” itself are all highly recommended due to their high damage output and scaling with Strength.
What are the best early-game weapons for the Vagabond?
Besides the Longsword, excellent early-game weapons include the Flail, Great Axe, Bloodhound’s Fang, Reduvia, Uchigatana, and Great Épée. These weapons offer diverse move sets and damage types, allowing players to adapt to different enemy encounters.
Can the Vagabond dual-wield weapons?
Yes, the Vagabond can dual-wield weapons using the powerstancing mechanic. This involves equipping two weapons of the same type, significantly increasing damage output and allowing for unique attack combinations.
What stats should I prioritize for a Vagabond build?
The most important stats to prioritize are Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. Strength increases damage output with melee weapons, Vigor improves survivability by increasing health, and Endurance allows for more attacks and dodges before running out of stamina.
What is the strongest weapon in Elden Ring overall?
The Blasphemous Blade is often cited as one of the strongest weapons in Elden Ring, thanks to its powerful Taker’s Flames Ash of War and its ability to heal the user with each hit.
Is the Axe of Godrick a good weapon?
The Axe of Godrick is a decent weapon, especially for strength-based builds. It scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity, offering slow but powerful attacks.
Is the Grafted Blade Greatsword a good weapon?
The Grafted Blade Greatsword is a strong weapon, particularly for Strength builds. It deals high physical damage and scales well with Strength, making it capable of dealing over 1,000 damage per hit when fully upgraded and wielded two-handed.
What weapon does the first boss (the Scion) drop in Elden Ring?
The Scion, the tutorial boss, drops the Golden Beast Crest Shield and the Ornamental Straight Sword upon defeat (although most players will likely die to it the first time around).
What is a good one-handed weapon option for the Vagabond?
The Broadsword is an excellent one-handed weapon option. It has good Strength scaling when made Heavy with an Ash of War, and its default Weapon Skill, Square Off, is very effective in the early game.
Why is the Vagabond considered one of the best starting classes?
The Vagabond is considered one of the best starting classes due to its balanced stats, making it suitable for various builds, and its strong starting equipment, which provides a solid foundation for exploring the Lands Between. Its high starting Vigor also makes it resilient in the early game.
What should I upgrade first as a Vagabond?
It’s generally recommended to upgrade Vigor and Strength first. Vigor provides more health, making you more resistant to enemy attacks, while Strength increases your damage output with melee weapons.
What is Godrick the Grafted weak to?
Godrick the Grafted is particularly weak to Bleed and Poison damage. Using weapons or skills that inflict these status effects can significantly reduce his health.
Does the Vagabond need Dexterity?
While Strength is the primary stat for many Vagabond builds, Dexterity shouldn’t be ignored entirely. Some weapons require a certain level of Dexterity to wield, and it can also improve weapon skill casting speed.
What makes the Blasphemous Blade so popular?
The Blasphemous Blade is popular due to its high damage output, its unique Taker’s Flames Ash of War, and its ability to heal the user with each hit. Its scaling with Faith, Dexterity, and Strength also makes it viable for a variety of builds.
What should I do after defeating Godrick the Grafted?
After defeating Godrick, continue following the path south from his boss room. This will lead you through a courtyard swarmed with soldiers and down a long flight of stairs to another courtyard. From there, head east to discover the Limgrave Tower Bridge Site of Grace, which is essential for progressing further in the game.
Exploring the world of Elden Ring and understanding the intricate mechanics of weapon builds is a fascinating topic that relates to game design, player agency, and the larger impact of games on learning and development. For those interested in this relationship, the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org provides a wealth of resources and research.