Mastering the Unga Bunga: Your Ultimate Elden Ring Strength Build Stat Guide
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So, you want to crush skulls and pulverize bosses in the Lands Between with sheer, unadulterated strength? Excellent choice, Tarnished! A well-optimized strength build in Elden Ring is a force to be reckoned with, turning you into an unstoppable juggernaut. But simply swinging a big stick isn’t enough. Knowing where to allocate your precious runes is crucial for maximizing your destructive potential. Let’s dive deep into the optimal stat distribution for dominating Elden Ring with a strength build.
The Core Stats: Building Your Foundation
For a pure strength build, these are the stats you’ll want to focus on, and how they should progress:
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Vigor: Your health pool. This is the most important stat early to mid game. Aim for 40 Vigor as soon as possible. Then push to 60 Vigor which is arguably the best breakpoint for damage resistance as well. Without HP, your damage doesn’t matter.
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Mind: Negligible. Stamina management is important, but can be gained through other methods. Ignore this one unless it’s enough to use your weapon skills one extra time.
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Endurance: Determines your stamina and equip load. You’ll want a lot of stamina to swing those colossal weapons. Furthermore, having a high equip load enables wearing heavier armor for better protection. Your goal should be at least 40 Endurance, but ideally 60 Endurance to comfortably wear the heaviest armor and weapons.
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Strength: The star of the show! This dictates your damage output with strength-scaling weapons. Aim for 80 Strength, which is considered the final soft cap. Reaching 54 Strength will provide 81 Strength due to two-handing. Don’t forget about talismans that buff strength for short periods as well.
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Dexterity: Keep this at the minimum required for your chosen weapon. Don’t be tempted to invest more; this is a pure strength build.
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Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane: These stats are generally not needed for a pure strength build. Keep them at their base values, unless a weapon you really want to use requires a minimum investment.
Prioritizing Your Stat Allocation: A Leveling Guide
Here’s a general guideline on how to allocate your stats as you level up, assuming you started as a class with relatively low stats in Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane (Vagabond or Hero are excellent choices):
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Early Game (Levels 1-50): Focus primarily on Vigor (40) and Endurance (20). Getting to 40 Vigor early will drastically improve your survivability. After reaching 40 Vigor, push Endurance so that you can wear heavier armour and effectively swing your colossal weapons. Bring Strength up to whatever minimum requirements for weapons that interest you, such as the Greatsword.
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Mid Game (Levels 50-100): Begin prioritizing Strength (60) while continuing to increase Endurance (40). Reaching 60 Strength allows you to wield some of the most powerful strength weapons in the game, like the Giant-Crusher.
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Late Game (Levels 100+): Maximize Strength (80) and Endurance (60). Once you’ve hit the key breakpoints for Strength and Endurance, you can start adding more points into Vigor (60).
Weapons, Armor, and Talismans: Gearing Up for Victory
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Weapons: Embrace the colossal weapons! The Greatsword, Giant-Crusher, Ruins Greatsword, and Starscourge Greatsword are all fantastic choices. Experiment with different weapons to find what suits your playstyle. Don’t overlook great axes, great hammers, and even some colossal swords.
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Armor: Prioritize poise and physical defense. The Bull-Goat Set is an excellent choice for maximum poise, preventing enemies from staggering you. Mix and match armor pieces to find a balance between protection and equip load.
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Talismans:
- Great-Jar’s Arsenal: Increases your maximum equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor.
- Erdtree’s Favor: Increases your maximum HP, stamina, and equip load.
- Green Turtle Talisman: Increases stamina recovery speed.
- Claw Talisman: Boosts jump attack damage, synergizing well with jump attacks.
Optimizing Your Playstyle: The Art of Unga Bunga
A strength build is all about poise breaking and dealing massive damage with each hit. Learn the attack patterns of enemies and bosses, and time your attacks to stagger them. Jump attacks are especially effective for staggering foes. Use weapon arts to unleash devastating blows and exploit enemy weaknesses. Remember, you are a tank. Take some hits to deliver even stronger hits.
This type of build might not be about elegance, but it sure is powerful and direct.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Strength Builds
1. Is a strength build viable in Elden Ring?
Absolutely! Strength builds are incredibly viable and can dominate both PvE and PvP. Their high damage output and ability to stagger enemies make them a formidable force.
2. What starting class is best for a strength build?
The Vagabond and Hero classes are generally considered the best starting classes for a strength build. They have high starting Strength and Vigor stats, giving you a solid foundation.
3. What is the best early-game weapon for a strength build?
The Greatsword is an excellent early-game weapon. It can be found in Caelid, and it deals high damage with good strength scaling. Other options include the Lordsworn’s Greatsword which can be purchased and upgraded early.
4. How important is poise for a strength build?
Poise is very important. High poise allows you to tank hits without being staggered, enabling you to deliver powerful counter-attacks.
5. What are the best talismans for increasing strength?
The Radagon’s Soreseal increases Strength, Vigor, Endurance, and Dexterity at the cost of increased damage taken. The Starscourge Heirloom also gives a flat Strength bonus.
6. Should I two-hand my weapon with a strength build?
Two-handing your weapon increases your Strength by 50%, allowing you to meet the stat requirements for heavier weapons or deal even more damage. This is typically recommended. At 54 Strength your attacks are effectively at 81 Strength.
7. What are the best Ashes of War for strength weapons?
Lion’s Claw, War Cry, and Cragblade are all excellent Ashes of War for strength weapons. They provide powerful buffs and unique attack options.
8. Does Strength affect my defense in Elden Ring?
No, Strength does not directly affect your defense. Your defense is determined by your armor and other stats like Vigor and Endurance.
9. Is it worth leveling Strength past 80?
The returns diminish significantly beyond 80 Strength. It’s generally better to invest those points into other stats like Vigor or Endurance.
10. Are there any strength weapons that scale with other stats?
Yes, some strength weapons like the Ruins Greatsword also scale with Intelligence. However, for a pure strength build, it’s best to focus on weapons with primarily strength scaling.
11. How does equip load affect my gameplay?
Equip load determines your mobility. Being at light load allows you to roll further and faster, while being at heavy load makes you slow and clunky. Aim for medium load (below 70% of your maximum equip load) for optimal mobility.
12. Can I use magic with a strength build?
While you can use some spells with minimal investment in Faith or Intelligence, it’s generally not recommended for a pure strength build. Focus on maximizing your physical damage output instead. However, you can use some incantations that buff yourself such as “Flame, Grant me Strength”.
13. How can I increase my poise in Elden Ring?
Poise is primarily determined by your armor. Wearing heavier armor with high poise values will increase your overall poise. Certain talismans, like the Bull-Goat’s Talisman, can also boost your poise.
14. What are some common mistakes people make with strength builds?
Common mistakes include neglecting Vigor, prioritizing damage over survivability, and spreading their stats too thin by investing in unnecessary stats like Intelligence or Faith.
15. Is there a meta level for PvP strength builds in Elden Ring?
The generally agreed-upon “meta level” for PvP in Elden Ring is around 125-150. This allows for diverse builds while still providing a challenge.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power
Building a powerful strength build in Elden Ring requires careful stat allocation, strategic gear choices, and a mastery of your chosen weapons. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an unstoppable force in the Lands Between. So, grab your Giant-Crusher, don your heaviest armor, and prepare to crush your enemies with the raw power of Strength! Good luck, Tarnished, and may your swings always connect!
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