Elden Ring Character Builds Score: Build Variety

Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s open-world masterpiece, offers players an unparalleled level of freedom when it comes to character customization. Unlike previous Soulsborne titles, the sheer diversity of weapons, spells, armor sets, and playstyles in Elden Ring allows for an almost limitless number of viable builds. This article explores the depth of build variety in Elden Ring, evaluating how different playstyles compare in terms of effectiveness, creativity, and adaptability.

The Foundations of Build Variety

At its core, Elden Ring’s build variety stems from three key elements:

1. Stat Allocation & Scaling – The game’s eight primary stats (Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane) allow for deep specialization or hybrid approaches.
2. Weapon & Spell Diversity – With over 300 weapons and 170 spells, players can mix and match to create unique combat styles.
3. Ashes of War & Infusions – The ability to modify weapon skills and scaling ensures that even basic weapons can fit into niche builds.

These systems work together to ensure that no two builds need to feel the same.

Tiered Build Archetypes

While Elden Ring encourages experimentation, certain build archetypes stand out due to their effectiveness, versatility, or sheer fun factor. Below, we categorize them based on their performance in both PvE and PvP.

S-Tier: Dominant & Versatile Builds

These builds excel in nearly all situations, offering high damage, survivability, and adaptability.

• Strength/Greatshield (Unga Bunga) – Colossal weapons paired with a greatshield provide staggering power and defense. Weapons like the Giant-Crusher or Prelate’s Inferno Crozier can one-shot enemies when optimized.
• Dexterity/Bleed (Rivers of Blood & Seppuku) – Fast-hitting katanas and daggers with bleed effects melt bosses and invaders alike. The Rivers of Blood katana remains infamous for its overpowered weapon art.
• Intelligence/Sorcery (Comet Azur Nuke) – High-Intelligence builds with spells like Comet Azur or Stars of Ruin can delete bosses from range, making them ideal for glass cannon playthroughs.

A-Tier: Strong but Specialized Builds

These builds are highly effective but may require more finesse or specific conditions to shine.

• Faith/Incantations (Dragon Cult & Black Flame) – Lightning spears and dragon breaths offer high burst damage, while Black Flame incantations excel against high-HP enemies.
• Arcane/Occult (Status Effect Spam) – Weapons infused with Occult scaling maximize bleed, poison, or madness buildup. The Reduvia dagger and Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear are standout choices.
• Hybrid (Spellblade & Dark Moon Greatsword) – Combining Intelligence with Strength or Dexterity allows for versatile melee/magic hybrids. The Dark Moon Greatsword is a prime example of this synergy.

B-Tier: Fun but Situational Builds

These builds are enjoyable but may struggle in certain encounters.

• Pure Archer (Bow-Only Challenge) – While bows have improved since Dark Souls, they still lack the raw power of melee or magic builds. The Lion Greatbow and Black Bow are the best options.
• Dual-Whip (Bleed/Frost Whips) – Whips offer unique range and crowd control but suffer from slower attack speeds. The Urumi and Hoslow’s Petal Whip can be deadly in the right hands.
• Pure Fist (Fist Weapons Only) – Fists like the Star Fist or Caestus are fast but lack reach. Still, a well-timed Spinning Slash can be devastating.

C-Tier: Niche or Meme Builds

These builds are more for fun than efficiency.

• Torch-Only (Flame of Frenzy) – Torches deal minimal damage but can be amusing in PvP. The Sentry’s Torch has niche utility against invisible enemies.
• Shield Bash (No Weapon, Just Blocking) – A true challenge run where players rely solely on shield bashes and guard counters.
• Bubble Mage (Envoy’s Long Horn) – The Envoy’s Long Horn’s bubble attack is hilarious but inconsistent.

The Impact of Patches on Build Viability

FromSoftware has continuously balanced Elden Ring through patches, buffing underused weapons and nerfing overpowered ones. For example:

• Rivers of Blood & Bleed Nerfs – Once the undisputed king of PvP, Rivers of Blood saw reduced bleed buildup in later patches, making it less oppressive.
• Sorcery Buffs – Previously weak spells like Crystal Barrage received significant damage increases, improving pure mage builds.
• Greatshield Stability Adjustments – Greatshields were slightly nerfed to prevent overly passive playstyles.

These changes ensure that no single build remains dominant forever, encouraging players to experiment.

Conclusion: Elden Ring’s Build Variety is Unmatched

Elden Ring’s build variety is one of its greatest strengths. Whether you prefer brute strength, agile dexterity, arcane trickery, or pure sorcery, the game accommodates nearly every playstyle imaginable. While some builds are objectively stronger than others, the sheer creativity allowed by the game’s systems ensures that no two playthroughs need to feel the same.

From dominating with a colossal hammer to sneaking through dungeons as an invisible assassin, Elden Ring rewards experimentation—making it one of the most replayable RPGs ever created.