Mastering Elden Ring's Two-Handed Weaponry: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide delves into the mechanics and strategies of two-handing weapons in Elden Ring, exploring the benefits, drawbacks, and optimal weapon choices.
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How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring | Why Two-Hand in Elden Ring | Downsides of Two-Handing | Best Weapons for Two-Handing
How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring
To wield weapons with two hands in Elden Ring, press and hold E on PC, Triangle on PlayStation, or Y on Xbox, then initiate an attack. The attack will utilize either your left or right-hand weapon, depending on which is selected. Remember to check your control settings if these defaults have been altered. This method also works while mounted, allowing for seamless weapon switching between melee and magic. However, weapons requiring two hands due to Strength requirements must be two-handed before mounting.
Why Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring?
Two-handing offers significant advantages:
- Increased Damage: Strength is boosted by 50%, significantly amplifying damage, especially for Strength-scaling weapons.
- Altered Movesets: Some weapons gain unique attack properties and damage types when two-handed.
- Accessibility: Allows wielding weapons normally beyond your Strength capabilities, optimizing stat allocation.
- Ash of War Access: Avoids defaulting to shield skills, granting full access to your weapon's Ash of War.
Downsides of Two-Handed Weapons
While generally beneficial for Strength builds, two-handing has drawbacks:
- Altered Attack Patterns: Attacks change; adapt your strategy accordingly. Sometimes, sacrificing damage for situational effectiveness is wise.
- Build Dependency: Less effective for Dexterity or other non-Strength builds. Experiment to find the optimal approach.
Best Weapons for Two-Handing
Generally, large, Strength-scaling weapons are ideal: Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and Colossal Weapons. The Two-Handed Sword Talisman (Shadow of the Erdtree update) further enhances damage with two-handed swords. Consider weapons like the Greatsword, Zweihander, Fire Knight's Greatsword, or the Giant-Crusher for diverse options.
Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Update: This article was updated on 1/27/25 by Liam Nolan to provide more insight into two-handed weapon combat in Elden Ring.
