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Understanding Poise in Elden Ring: Reaching the Peak of Unstaggerable Power

The highest achievable poise in Elden Ring from a single armor set is 99.99, attainable with the Bull-Goat Set. However, reaching maximum poise isn’t always the optimal strategy. Understanding how poise works and the different thresholds for resisting various attacks is crucial for crafting a truly effective build.

The Nuances of Poise in the Lands Between

Poise in Elden Ring, unlike its Dark Souls 1 incarnation, combines elements of both Dark Souls 1 and Dark Souls 3. It’s not a simple on/off switch, but rather a system where your poise stat dictates how much punishment you can absorb before being staggered out of your actions. Higher poise allows you to trade blows more effectively, casting spells without interruption, or completing crucial attacks despite taking damage.

Poise Mechanics: How it Actually Works

Elden Ring’s poise system works on a hidden health bar principle. Each attack in the game deals a certain amount of poise damage. If the poise damage you take exceeds your current poise, you will be staggered. This interruption can be devastating in both PvE and PvP scenarios, leaving you vulnerable to follow-up attacks. It’s important to note that there’s a recovery period involved. After taking poise damage, your poise “health” refills over time. If you continuously get hit, the recovery period isn’t enough to make up the difference, leading to stunlock situations.

Target Poise Values

The Elden Ring community, particularly on Reddit and other forums, has extensively tested poise thresholds. While the absolute maximum poise is technically 99.99, diminishing returns and specific weapon breakpoints make certain values more practical.

Around 51 Poise: This is generally enough to avoid being staggered by one-handed straight swords, a common weapon type in PvP.
89-91 Poise: This is a sweet spot to withstand most common attack setups. With this value, you gain resistance to various weapon types.
91+ Poise: Achieving this higher value specifically helps against some attacks from two-handed heavy thrusting swords (HTS), offering greater protection.
Remember to always consider going 1 point higher than the poise damage you are trying to avoid. This is because your character will stagger upon reaching 0 poise.

Achieving High Poise: Armor, Talismans and More

Reaching optimal poise involves more than just slapping on the heaviest armor.

Armor Sets: The Bull-Goat Set obviously provides the highest poise. Other heavy armor sets like the Lionel’s Set and Crucible Axe Set offer substantial poise while potentially having better stat distribution for certain builds.
Talismans: The Bull-Goat’s Talisman is crucial for poise builds. It significantly increases your poise, allowing you to reach higher thresholds without sacrificing other stats.
Consumables & Spells: Certain consumables and spells can temporarily boost your poise, offering situational advantages. This might be helpful for a tough boss fight or a crucial PvP engagement.

Breaking Enemy Poise: Staggering Your Opponents

Poise isn’t only about defending against stagger; it’s also about inflicting it on enemies. Breaking an enemy’s poise opens them up for a critical hit, dealing massive damage.

Weapons of Stagger

Great Hammers: Weapons like the Giant-Crusher are renowned for their exceptional stagger potential. A fully charged heavy attack from a two-handed Great Hammer can stagger even the most resilient enemies.
Colossal Swords: The Starscourge Greatsword is an amazing colossal sword. Colossal weapons are excellent at dealing large amounts of poise damage.
Other Great Weapons: Greatswords, Greataxes, and other “Great” class weapons generally deal significant poise damage.

Ashes of War and Skills

Certain Ashes of War and weapon skills can further enhance your stagger potential. Consider options that increase impact damage or poise damage to maximize your ability to break enemy stances.

Summons for Stagger

Spirit Ashes can be invaluable for staggering enemies, especially bosses. Banished Knight Oleg is a notable summon that has a spinning gust attack that can stagger enemies. The Mimic Tear is also an excellent choice, as it can copy your weapon and skills, potentially doubling your stagger output.

Elden Ring: More Than Just Poise

Poise is a critical component of Elden Ring’s combat, but it’s not the only one. Understanding other stats like Robustness (resistance to bleed and frostbite), Armor Weight (influencing equip load and movement), and Damage Negation (physical, magical, and elemental resistances) is essential for creating a well-rounded and effective character.

Furthermore, while tanking hits can be beneficial, consider balancing it with stats like Vigor and weapon damage. The game rewards strategic attacks and knowing enemy patterns rather than purely relying on absorbing damage.

In conclusion, while the Bull-Goat Set offers the highest poise, effective poise management requires understanding the mechanics, knowing the enemy’s attack patterns, and optimizing your build for a specific playstyle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Poise in Elden Ring

Here are some frequently asked questions about poise in Elden Ring:

What is the maximum poise you can get in Elden Ring? The highest poise value achievable from a single armor set is 99.99, obtained with the Bull-Goat Set.
What is the recommended poise for PvP in Elden Ring? A commonly recommended value is around 51 poise to withstand one-handed straight swords. 89 to 91 poise allows you to withstand most setups or to withstand attacks from two-handed heavy thrusting swords specifically.
Does Elden Ring have Dark Souls 1 poise? No, Elden Ring’s poise system is a hybrid, combining elements from Dark Souls 1 (poise stat) and Dark Souls 3 (hyper armor during attacks).
How does poise work in Elden Ring? Each attack deals poise damage. If the poise damage exceeds your poise, you will be staggered.
What is the best talisman for poise in Elden Ring? The Bull-Goat’s Talisman is the best for directly increasing your poise stat.
What armor has the highest poise in Elden Ring? The Bull-Goat Set has the highest poise, with a value of 99.99.
What weapon has the highest poise damage in Elden Ring? Generally, fully charged heavy attacks from two-handed Great Hammers, like the Giant-Crusher, deal the highest poise damage.
How much poise does Malenia have in Elden Ring? Based on community testing, Malenia’s poise seems to be around 80 (though, it can be erratic). Some resistances may apply.
What is the best summon for stagger in Elden Ring? Banished Knight Oleg is a solid choice.
What is the best Colossal Sword in Elden Ring? The Starscourge Greatsword is a very strong option, particularly for quality builds.
How do I increase poise damage in Elden Ring? Equip weapons with high poise damage, use charged heavy attacks, and consider Ashes of War that enhance impact.
What is the best armor weight for Elden Ring? The best armor weight depends on your build and playstyle. Medium load is a good balance. The Bull-Goat armor set is for those who truly want to tank hits from any boss in Elden Ring.
What is the tankiest armor in Elden Ring? The Bull-Goat Set offers the highest physical defense and poise, making it the tankiest armor in the game.
What weapon kills Malenia easily? Many weapons can be effective, but Greatswords, especially when combined with status effects like bleed, can be used.
What does Robustness do in Elden Ring? Robustness is a stat that increases your resistance to bleed and frostbite build-up.

Remember to continue exploring the depth of Elden Ring’s stats and mechanics. Dive deeper into the world of gaming and learning at the Games Learning Society https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Their research is invaluable! By understanding these intricate aspects of the game, you’ll be better equipped to conquer the Lands Between.

What is the highest poise in Elden Ring?