Elden Ring Builds: 6 Paths for Heavy Weapon Lovers
If you're the kind of Tarnished who loves the feeling of a colossal weapon crushing enemies with one swing, then heavy weapon builds are likely your preferred playstyle in Elden Ring. From Greatswords to Colossal Axes, these builds aren't just about raw strength—they’re about careful planning, timing, and resource management. Whether you're smashing through mobs or staggering bosses, here are six heavy weapon paths that cater to power-focused players.
1. The Classic Strength Colossus Build
This is the quintessential heavy weapon path—stack Strength, equip the biggest weapon you can handle, and start flattening anything that moves. Weapons like the Great Club, Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade, or Ruins Greatsword fit perfectly here. Make sure to two-hand your weapon to get that 50% Strength bonus and take advantage of charged heavy attacks.
Tips: Prioritize Vigor and Endurance alongside Strength. You’ll need the stamina for multiple swings and the HP to survive the slow wind-ups. Farming cheap Elden Ring runes early on can help speed up stat investment.
2. The Giant Crusher Build
This build revolves around one weapon: the Giant-Crusher. With top-tier scaling and monstrous stagger potential, it turns you into a walking siege engine. Infuse it with Heavy Ashes of War like Lion’s Claw or Flaming Strike to add versatility.
Gear Tips: Combine it with the Bull-Goat Set for poise, and use Radagon’s Scarseal and Starscourge Heirloom to max out your Strength stat early. Consider farming or buy Elden Ring Items that improve poise and strength scaling for a smoother early experience.
3. Dual-Wield Ultra Greatswords (Power Stance Build)
For those who believe one massive weapon isn’t enough, dual-wielding Ultra Greatswords is the way to go. This setup lets you use the power stance moveset, which provides fast dual strikes despite the size of your weapons.
Recommended Weapons: Watchdog’s Greatsword, Zweihander, or Greatsword (Guts’ sword). This build is high-risk but incredibly rewarding when mastered. You’ll need high Endurance for weight and stamina, so consider farming cheap Elden Ring runes to push those levels faster.
4. Strength + Faith: Blunt Force with a Side of Holy
Blending heavy weapons with Faith gives you access to buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength and defensive miracles like Blessing of the Erdtree. This path works well with weapons like the Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade or the Great Mace.
Why It Works: You get to smash enemies while self-buffing and healing, perfect for solo play. Investing in incantations also helps deal with enemies resistant to physical damage.
5. The Stagger King: Strength + Arcane Bleed Hybrid
Although Arcane is typically associated with bleed builds, combining it with Strength and using weapons like the Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade (infused with bleed) makes for a devastating stagger-bleed hybrid.
How to Build It: Focus on Strength, Arcane, and a bit of Endurance. Use Seppuku or Bloody Slash to enhance bleed. It’s particularly useful in PvP where staggers and bleed procs are both deadly. Many players buy Elden Ring Items like smithing stones or talismans to optimize this path faster.
6. Colossal Weapon Tank Build (Endurance First)
If you want to be a walking fortress, this build is all about poise, HP, and carrying capacity. You won’t be rolling much, but you’ll be standing tall as bosses slam into your shield—or your chest—and you just keep swinging.
Recommended Gear: Troll’s Hammer, Giant-Crusher, or Prelate’s Inferno Crozier paired with the Erdtree Greatshield. Stack Vigor, Strength, and Endurance. The Bull-Goat Set or Tree Sentinel armor works well here, but they're heavy—consider farming or buy Elden Ring Items that reduce equip load or boost stamina.
Heavy weapon builds are some of the most satisfying and thematic ways to play Elden Ring. Whether you're soloing late-game bosses or stomping through NG+, these six paths offer powerful and customizable ways to embrace raw strength. Just be patient with timing, manage your stamina wisely, and don't forget to stock up on cheap Elden Ring runes early so you can level your stats into pure powerhouse territory.