My Comprehensive Guide to the Best Builds in Elden Ring

As a full-time content creator and avid gamer who has sunk over 2,000 hours into Souls titles, I‘ve developed a bit of an obsession with Elden Ring since its launch. And by "bit" I mean playing for 8+ hours a day testing out virtually every weapon combination, spell and build imaginable!

In this definitive guide, I‘m going to leverage my real-world experience to help you understand the game‘s most powerful, enjoyable, and interesting builds. These aren‘t just theoretical concepts either – they have been honed through countless hours engaging in jolly cooperation and brutal invasions.

While Elden Ring gives you flexibility to develop your character organically, starting with an optimized build will make your maidenless Tarnished far more effective right off the bat. To help narrow down options, I have focused this guide on what I feel are the strongest beginner-friendly builds currently.

Let‘s get into it! For each highlighted build, I will cover:

• Recommended Starting Class and Summon
• Optimal Stat Allocation Priorities
• Weapon, Spell, Tools & Armor Recommendations
• Primary Playstyle and Tactics
• Sources & Testing Notes on Viability

I‘ll start with two classic archetypes then highlight some more unorthodox but equally awesome options.

The Lightning Lord (Strength/Faith Build)

If you want to roleplay as Thor decked out in glorious golden armor, this build brings the thunder…both figuratively and literally! By integrating colossal weapons with ancient dragon cult incantations, you can smash enemies with giant electrified hammers blessed by the gods themselves.

• Starting Class: Prophet (for strong Faith beginning allocation)
• Spirit Summon: Depends on challenge, but mimic works for most situations
• Vigor: 60+ (critical for survival in melee)
• Mind: 25-35 (mostly for summon mana usage)
• Endurance: 20+ (50+ if using greatshields)
• Strength: 55-80+ (hit minimums for desired weapons)
• Dexterity: 12-18 (for gear equip purposes only)
• Intelligence: 7-15 (optional sorceries, otherwise ignore)
• Faith: 50-80+ (power and access for incantations)
• Arcane: 7-15 (bleed builds benefit but not required)

Once your weapons are equipped and incantations unlocked, this build comes online fast. Core offensive trio is Blasphemous Blade, Golden Halberd and Siluria‘s Tree. Blasphemous Blade gives health regeneration which is great for sustaining extended fights. For even more damage, I prefer powerstancing colossals like the Giant Crusher.

Top lightning incantations to utilize:

• Lightning Spear – bread-and-butter range damage
• Honed Bolt – snipe field with tracking lightning
• Ancient Dragons‘ Lightning Strike – giant AoE smite

Always buff your weapons with Electrify Armament for big damage, and pop Golden Vow before boss encounters for a major offensive/defensive boost. This build stacks both weapon enhancements and personal attribute buffs for excellent synergy. Also use Flame, Grant Me Strength if combining with any Fire damage weapons.

In terms of armor I recommend stacking Poise – enemies will have a very hard time staggering you mid-attack combo. Good base sets to mix and match from include Tree Sentinel, Lionel‘s and Bull Goat. Throw on damage negation talismans like Dragoncrest Shield as needed for specific fights. Prioritize mitigating Holy damage since you‘ll be inflicting it often via transference.

For tactics, use ranged incantations to pull isolated enemies initially, then rush in to flatten them with your hammer‘s weapon art. Against large groups and bosses, rely more on hit-and-run melee strikes while using incantations as burst windows open up. Always be ready to dodge or block upcoming attacks between combos – with a slower strength build Poise should enable you to tank stray hits but don‘t be greedy!

Based on community testing and my own experience, this build can comfortably smash through all PvE content with proper skill. The major downside is lack of range flexibility compared to dedicated caster builds. You are also vulnerable to enemy Holy damage attacks. But it is extremely fun to Thor cosplay your way through the Lands Between!!

Ranni‘s Emissary (Dex/Int Build)

If channeling your inner frost mage sounds more appealing, combining nimble dexterity weapons with powerful magic can yield awesome results. By leveraging ranged cold sorceries and the exceptional Dark Moon Greatsword, this build enables elegant freezing destruction from all ranges.

I won‘t rehash similar sections, but key build specifics include:

• Starting Class: Prisoner
• Summon: Mimic or Lhutel the Headless for tanking
• Vigor: 50+
• Mind: 30+
• Endurance: 20+
• Strength: 16
• Dexterity: 55-80
• Intelligence: 60+
• Faith/Arcane: Base for requirements

Central weapons are the unique Dark Moon Greatsword with its killer Frost accumulation passive and strong Intelligence scaling, plus Rogier‘s Rapier for backup Dexterity damage. Offhand staff to enable ranged sorcery domination.

Key cold sorceries:

• Frozen Armament (weapon buff)
• Adula‘s Moonblade (crescent arc)
• Ranni‘s Dark Moon (tracking projectiles)
• Founding Rain of Stars (delayed burst)

This build wrecks shop from range while still dishing out solid melee DPS for more mobile fights. By chaining Frostbite procs you can tear through even endgame bosses with the vulnerability windows. Extremely versatile and fun! Downsides are lower vigor and poise so picking your shots carefully is key.

And those are just two of my favorite builds out of the dozens and dozens tested! Let me know which archetype appeals most to your Tarnished and I‘m happy to provide additional specifics and recommendations…

Now on to some more unorthodox but equally awesome options. Ever wanted to bleed bosses dry in seconds? Keep reading!

Rivers of Blood Twinkler (Arcane Bleed Build)

If the idea of a nimble blood mage darting around to deliver thousands of tiny cuts appeals to you, this build leverages high Arcane and the infamous Rivers of Blood katana to inflict absolutely massive hemorrhage procs.

By dual wielding Rivers of Blood in the main hand along with an Uchigatana or Nagakiba in the off hand with Seppuku Ash of War equipped, you can stack blood loss ungodly fast. Throw on Lord of Blood‘s Exultation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and Millicent‘s Prosthesis/Rotten Duelist Helm for even crazier burst potential.

Prioritize these stats for best results:

• Vigor: 40+
• Mind: 15+
• Endurance: 18+
• Strength/Faith: Base requirements
• Dexterity: 55+
• Intelligence: 15+
• Arcane: 50+

The full bleed build really comes into its own once you hit Arcane levels above 50 and have access to Rivers‘ unique Corpse Piler weapon skill. This absolutely chunk bosses when combined with all your damage buff trinkets as the hemorrhage detonates.

And there you have it – whether you prefer to slowly freeze enemies to death or violently bleed them dry, Elden Ring has no shortage of diverse and powerful builds to explore. These suggestions just scratch the surface of the options available. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different weapons, skills and stats to create your own unique Tarnished. Happy hunting, and may the good blood guide your way!

Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to provide advice to new Tarnished looking to git gud!!