While magic and dexterity-based builds offer fluidity and ranged options, nothing beats the raw power of Strength builds in Elden Ring. Strength-focused warriors dominate the battlefield by wielding colossal weapons, staggering enemies with overwhelming force, and breaking stances with ease. Whether you prefer crushing foes with a giant hammer, smashing through defenses with a greatsword, or mixing strength with magic, there’s a Strength build to match your playstyle.
This guide covers the six best Strength builds, detailing their weapons, armor, talismans, and strategies to help you unleash the full power of your Strength character.
Table of Contents
- 1 Why Strength Builds Dominate in Elden Ring
- 2 1. Crucible Axe Armor & Ordovis Greatsword Build
- 3 2. Golem Halberd Bull-Goat Armor Build
- 4 3. Dragon-Hunter Build (DLC)
- 5 4. Magma Blade Build – Fire-Focused Strength Hybrid
- 6 5. Highland Troll-Crusher Build – Colossal Strength Dominance
- 7 6. Carian Thrusting Shield Build – Strength Meets Defense
- 8 Want to Level Up Strength Builds Faster?
Why Strength Builds Dominate in Elden Ring
✔️ Colossal Damage Output – Strength weapons deal massive damage per hit, often staggering enemies.
✔️ Tanky & Resilient – Heavy armor and shields make Strength builds hard to take down.
✔️ Versatile Playstyles – Strength builds can incorporate Faith, Dexterity, or unique Ashes of War for more variety.
✔️ Stance Breaking & Critical Hits – High Poise damage breaks enemy stances, leading to devastating critical hits.
Now, let’s dive into the best Strength builds in Elden Ring.
1. Crucible Axe Armor & Ordovis Greatsword Build
🔥 Best For: High-damage, heavy armor, Faith hybrid playstyle
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Ordovis’s Greatsword
- Armor: Crucible Axe Armor
- Talismans:
- Godfrey Icon – Boosts charged Ash of War damage
- Taker’s Cameo – Restores HP upon defeating enemies
- Shard of Alexander – Increases skill damage
- Flock’s Canvas Talisman – Buffs Incantations
- Incantations: Flame, Grant Me Strength
- Ash of War: Golden Vow
🔹 Why It Works:
- Ordovis’s Vortex skill delivers massive AoE holy damage.
- Stacking Golden Vow & Flame, Grant Me Strength boosts attack power.
- Tanky armor + healing from Taker’s Cameo make this a resilient build.
💡 Pro Tip: Charge Ordovis’s Vortex before striking for maximum stagger and burst damage.
2. Golem Halberd Bull-Goat Armor Build
⚡ Best For: Tanking & high burst damage with colossal halberds
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Golem’s Halberd
- Armor: Bull-Goat Set (highest Poise in the game)
- Talismans:
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman – Improves damage resistance
- Curved Sword Talisman – Boosts counterattacks
- Bull-Goat’s Talisman – Maximizes Poise
- Axe Talisman – Boosts charged attack damage
- Ash of War: Royal Knight’s Resolve
🔹 Why It Works:
- Royal Knight’s Resolve boosts the first charged attack, leading to insane damage.
- Bull-Goat Armor allows players to keep attacking even when hit.
- High Poise makes it difficult for enemies to stagger you.
💡 Pro Tip: Time charged attacks right after dodging to unleash one-shot potential on enemies.
3. Dragon-Hunter Build (DLC)
🗡 Best For: Fast Strength build with high mobility
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana
- Armor: Rakshasa Set
- Talismans:
- Shard of Alexander – Boosts skill damage
- Godfrey Icon – Improves charged attack damage
- Two-Handed Sword Talisman – Enhances two-handed weapon attacks
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman – Boosts survivability
🔹 Why It Works:
- Mixing Strength & Dexterity speeds up attack animations.
- Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana has a versatile weapon skill that lets you strike from a distance.
- Perfect for players who like Strength but want faster combos.
💡 Pro Tip: Use quick slashes followed by a charged attack to break enemy stances efficiently.
4. Magma Blade Build – Fire-Focused Strength Hybrid
🔥 Best For: AoE fire damage and stagger potential
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Magma Blade
- Armor: Fire Knight Helm & Fire Knight Armor
- Talismans:
- Talisman of Dread – Boosts magma-based attacks
- Fire Scorpion Charm – Increases fire damage
- Shard of Alexander – Enhances weapon skill damage
- Two-Headed Turtle Talisman – Boosts stamina recovery
- Weapon Skill: Magma Shower
🔹 Why It Works:
- Magma Blade leaves fire pools, continuously damaging enemies.
- Stacking fire buffs amplifies damage output significantly.
- Fast stamina recovery lets players be aggressive.
💡 Pro Tip: Bait enemies into magma pools, forcing them to walk through fire damage before attacking.
5. Highland Troll-Crusher Build – Colossal Strength Dominance
💀 Best For: One-shot potential & high stagger damage
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Giant-Crusher (S-scaling Strength weapon)
- Offhand: Highland Axe (buffs roar-based attacks)
- Armor: Bull-Goat Set
- Talismans:
- Roar Medallion – Enhances roar-based skills
- Bull-Goat’s Talisman – Maximizes Poise
- Shard of Alexander – Boosts Ash of War damage
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman – Increases survivability
- Weapon Skill: Troll’s Roar
🔹 Why It Works:
- Troll’s Roar breaks enemy stances easily, opening them up for critical hits.
- Bull-Goat armor prevents stagger, letting players attack uninterrupted.
- Giant-Crusher is one of the strongest Strength weapons in the game.
💡 Pro Tip: Roar before attacking to apply buffs and increase the power of your next strike.
6. Carian Thrusting Shield Build – Strength Meets Defense
🛡 Best For: Balanced defense & offense with a unique weapon
Weapons & Equipment:
- Weapon: Carian Thrusting Shield (Heavy Infusion)
- Armor: Raptor’s Black Feathers (boosts jump attacks)
- Talismans:
- Two-Headed Turtle Talisman – Faster stamina recovery
- Curved Sword Talisman – Boosts counterattacks
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia – Enhances successive attacks
- Spear Talisman – Increases thrust attack damage
- Ash of War: Cragblade
🔹 Why It Works:
- Shield doubles as an offensive weapon, allowing players to block and attack simultaneously.
- Cragblade boosts thrusting power, making stance breaks easy.
- Perfect for tanky Strength players who still want attack versatility.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Guard Counters after blocking attacks to stagger foes easily.
Want to Level Up Strength Builds Faster?
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