Elden Ring’s open-ended approach to character building allows for a staggering variety of viable PvE setups. But some combinations of stats, weapons, spells, and talismans stand out for their raw efficiency, reliability, and sheer damage potential against bosses and mobs alike. This guide covers the strongest PvE builds, whether you prefer brute strength, deadly sorcery, or hybrid flexibility.
1. Bloodlust Dex Build (Rivers of Blood)
Stat Focus: Dexterity, Arcane, Vigor
Weapon: Rivers of Blood (Katana)
Ash of War: Corpse Piler (innate)
Armour: White Mask
Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Shard of Alexander, Green Turtle Talisman
Why it works: The Corpse Piler skill unleashes rapid, bloody slashes with high stance damage and blood loss buildup. Combined with Arcane scaling and buffs from Lord of Blood’s Exultation and the White Mask, this build can quickly melt through even late-game bosses.
2. Strength Colossal Build (Greatsword/Giant-Crusher)
Stat Focus: Strength, Endurance, Vigor
Weapon: Greatsword (Colossal Sword) or Giant-Crusher
Ash of War: Lion’s Claw or Flaming Strike
Armour: Bull-Goat Set or Crucible Tree Set
Talismans: Radagon’s Scarseal, Green Turtle Talisman, Claw Talisman, Erdtree’s Favour
Why it works: Colossal weapons stagger enemies with ease, and Lion’s Claw adds fast, powerful somersault slams that ignore much of the weapon’s typical slow pace. The poise and armour allow you to trade hits confidently.
3. Intelligence Mage Build (Comet Azur + Support)
Stat Focus: Intelligence, Mind, Vigor
Weapon: Lusat’s Glintstone Staff
Spells: Comet Azur, Terra Magica, Stars of Ruin, Glintstone Pebble
Armour: Queen’s Crescent Crown
Talismans: Graven-Mass Talisman, Magic Scorpion Charm, Radagon Icon, Primal Glintstone Blade
Why it works: Set up with Terra Magica and unleash Comet Azur with full FP and staff boosts. This glass cannon setup excels at boss deletion, particularly with Cerulean Hidden Tear active in your Physick to negate FP cost temporarily.
4. Faith Fire Build (Blasphemous Blade)
Stat Focus: Faith, Vigor, Mind
Weapon: Blasphemous Blade
Ash of War: Taker’s Flames (innate)
Armour: Raging Wolf Set or scaled light-medium
Talismans: Fire Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Erdtree’s Favour, Flock’s Canvas Talisman
Why it works: Taker’s Flames deals high fire damage and heals on hit, making it ideal for long boss fights. Paired with Flame, Grant Me Strength and buffs, it delivers consistent area damage while keeping you healthy.
5. Bleed Arcane Build (Seppuku Twins)
Stat Focus: Arcane, Dexterity, Vigor
Weapon: Dual-wield Nagakiba or Uchigatana with Seppuku
Ashes of War: Seppuku x2
Armour: White Mask
Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Kindred of Rot’s Exultation, Radagon’s Scarseal
Why it works: Dual Seppuku rapidly builds bleed, which stacks with procs from both weapons. With proper timing and spacing, this build shreds through bosses with massive burst damage.
6. Quality Build (Balanced Physical)
Stat Focus: Strength and Dexterity equally
Weapon: Claymore, Bloodhound’s Fang, or Ruins Greatsword
Ash of War: Bloodhound’s Step or Flaming Strike
Armour: Cleanrot Set or Raging Wolf
Talismans: Radagon’s Scarseal, Claw Talisman, Erdtree’s Favour, Green Turtle Talisman
Why it works: Offers solid damage scaling across the board with adaptable movesets. Excellent for players who want variety and flexibility while retaining powerful melee output.
7. Faith Lightning Build (Dragon Slayer)
Stat Focus: Faith, Dexterity, Vigor
Weapon: Bolt of Gransax or Sacred-infused Spear
Spells: Lightning Spear, Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike, Flame, Grant Me Strength
Armour: Tree Sentinel Set or mix for fashion + weight
Talismans: Lightning Scorpion Charm, Flock’s Canvas Talisman, Radagon Icon, Erdtree’s Favour
Why it works: Strong ranged and melee lightning options that scale with Faith. Ideal for open areas and multi-target fights, with Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike wrecking larger bosses in seconds.
8. Dexterity Bleed Build (Reduvia or Scythe variant)
Stat Focus: Dexterity, Arcane
Weapon: Reduvia, Scavenger’s Curved Sword, or Grave Scythe
Ashes of War: Seppuku, Bloody Slash
Armour: Light gear for mobility
Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Shard of Alexander, Green Turtle Talisman, Erdtree’s Favour
Why it works: Fast attacks plus bleed buildup makes this great for PvE swarms and humanoid bosses. The scythe’s range and stance damage also make it a great PvE farming tool.
9. Pure Sorcery Build (Battle Mage)
Stat Focus: Intelligence, Mind
Weapon: Azur’s Glintstone Staff or Academy Glintstone Staff
Spells: Rock Sling, Loretta’s Greatbow, Glintblade Phalanx, Shard Spiral
Armour: Raya Lucarian Robes or Lusat Set
Talismans: Graven-Mass Talisman, Radagon Icon, Magic Scorpion Charm, Erdtree’s Favour
Why it works: A slightly more balanced take on the full mage, with a diverse toolkit for both crowd control and bosses. Rock Sling is especially effective against enemies with high magic resistance.
10. Incantation Hybrid Build (Beast and Flame)
Stat Focus: Faith, Strength, Mind
Weapon: Beastclaw Greathammer or Erdtree Seal
Spells: Flame of the Fell God, Bestial Sling, Catch Flame, Giantsflame Take Thee
Armour: Beast Champion Set
Talismans: Flock’s Canvas Talisman, Fire Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Erdtree’s Favour
Why it works: Combines hard-hitting fire spells with fast beast incantations. Excellent for aggressive players who want to pressure bosses from both close and mid-range.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
The best PvE build ultimately depends on your preferred playstyle. But these builds have been tried, tested, and consistently outperformed others across Elden Ring’s toughest encounters. From high-impact colossal weapons to devastating bleed setups and spellcasting glass cannons, each of these options brings something dangerous and dependable to the field.
