Respecting in Elden Ring allows you to completely reassign your stat points, opening the door to new weapons, playstyles and spells. Whether you’re moving on from a starter build or reworking your character for a specific boss or PvP, these are some of the strongest and most rewarding builds to switch to.
Strength Build (Colossal Weapons)
Ideal for: PvE tanking, trading hits, stagger damage
Primary stats: Strength, Vigor, Endurance
A strength build capitalises on the raw power of colossal weapons such as the Greatsword, Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade or Ruins Greatsword. After respeccing, invest heavily in Strength to unlock two-handing bonuses and equip heavier gear. Vigor and Endurance keep you in the fight longer and support poise-heavy armour. Use buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength to further enhance your damage output.
This build excels at boss fights where trading damage is viable and thrives in close-quarters PvE. In PvP, it can punish players who overcommit.
Dexterity Build (Katanas and Curved Swords)
Ideal for: Fast melee combat, bleed builds, PvP
Primary stats: Dexterity, Vigor, Endurance, Arcane (optional)
Dexterity-focused builds offer fast, stylish combat and powerful status effects. Katanas such as Rivers of Blood or Nagakiba scale well with Dexterity and, when combined with Arcane, apply bleed rapidly. The Scavenger’s Curved Sword is another strong choice, especially dual-wielded.
Lightweight armour and quickstep-style mobility make this build ideal for players who favour hit-and-run tactics and agile movement.
Intelligence Build (Sorcery)
Ideal for: Ranged combat, AoE, boss melting
Primary stats: Intelligence, Mind, Vigor
Switching to a full sorcery build opens up access to powerful spells like Comet Azur, Stars of Ruin and Loretta’s Mastery. Glintstone Staffs such as Lusat’s or Azur’s enhance raw magic damage but consume more FP.
This build plays best with space and line-of-sight. Use Spirit Ashes to draw aggro and cast from range. In PvP, combine fast spells with mobility to avoid being rushed down.
Faith Build (Incantations and Hybrid Melee)
Ideal for: Support, versatility, fire/lightning/holy builds
Primary stats: Faith, Mind, Vigor, Strength or Dexterity (hybrid)
Faith builds offer the broadest toolkit, ranging from healing and buffs to devastating spells like Lightning Spear or Frenzied Burst. You can opt for a pure caster style or blend it with melee using weapons like the Blasphemous Blade or Golden Order Greatsword.
This setup is particularly strong for co-op and open-world exploration. In solo play, it requires careful management of FP and cast time.
Arcane Build (Bleed and Status)
Ideal for: Bleed, poison, and versatility
Primary stats: Arcane, Dexterity, Vigor
Arcane builds have risen sharply in popularity, especially due to bleed-centric weapons like Morgott’s Cursed Sword, Rivers of Blood and the Dragon Communion Seal for incantations. Arcane boosts bleed build-up and also unlocks access to unique spells such as Swarm of Flies or Bloodflame Blade.
It’s a glass cannon in PvP but excellent for chunking bosses in PvE, especially if they’re susceptible to bleed.
Quality Build (Strength and Dexterity Hybrid)
Ideal for: Weapon variety, adaptability
Primary stats: Strength, Dexterity, Vigor
If you’re unsure which style you want to lock into, the Quality build gives you access to the widest variety of weapons at decent scaling. Greatswords like the Claymore, weapons like the Bloodhound’s Fang, and even some halberds thrive under this setup. It lacks the extremes of specialised builds but makes up for it with flexibility.
Faith and Strength Hybrid (Paladin/Crusader Style)
Ideal for: High defence, buffed melee
Primary stats: Strength, Faith, Vigor, Mind
This niche but powerful build combines buff-heavy casting with heavy melee. It allows you to wield weapons like the Erdtree Greatsword or the Giant’s Red Braid while casting defensive spells, healing, and utility buffs like Blessing of the Erdtree or Flame, Grant Me Strength.
It plays best in drawn-out fights, allowing you to recover and outlast enemies.
Tips for Switching Builds
- Always reallocate stats with your equipment and spells in mind. Aim to meet minimum stat requirements with room for scaling.
- Experiment with Ashes of War to find what matches your new build’s strengths.
- Use Larval Tears wisely. While not overly rare, you can’t respec endlessly in one playthrough.
- Consider adjusting your armour load to suit your new endurance level.
Whether you want to smash through bosses, outpace enemies with bleed, or rain down destruction from a distance, respeccing lets you approach Elden Ring on your own terms. The best build is the one that aligns with how you want to play next.
