In Elden Ring, while flashy weapons and powerful spells like the Sacred Relic Sword or Comet Azur might steal the spotlight, classic builds like the Sword and Shield remain tried-and-true strategies for surviving the harsh world of the Lands Between. A Sword and Shield build provides a balanced approach between offense and defense, allowing players to handle most encounters, including those in the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

This guide will break down the best classes, weapons, shields, armor, and Talismans for creating an effective Sword and Shield build.

Best Starter Class & Stats for Sword & Shield Build

Best Classes: The Vagabond and Bandit are optimal starting classes for a Sword and Shield build. The Vagabond begins with the Heater Shield, which offers 100% physical damage negation. The Bandit class comes with the Buckler, an excellent parry shield with a higher parry frame, perfect for countering enemy attacks.

Key Stats to Prioritize:

Vigor: Focus on increasing your health pool to survive tough encounters.

Strength/Dexterity: Choose based on the sword you're using. Strength scales better for heavier weapons, while Dexterity works for faster, lighter swords.

Endurance: Boost this stat for stamina and equip load, especially if you plan to carry heavy armor and a large shield.

Faith: Optional but helpful for using Incantations like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength for added buffs.

After reaching the minimum weapon and shield requirements, aim to get Strength or Dexterity to 80, depending on your sword, while continuing to raise Vigor for survivability.

Best Shields for Sword & Shield Build

Shields in Elden Ring come in three sizes (small, medium, and large), each with specific advantages. Choose your shield based on your playstyle, whether you focus on parrying, guard counters, or damage negation.

Buckler: A great small shield with the Buckler Parry skill, offering increased parry frames. Found early on, the Buckler is ideal for players who want to master parrying.

Brass Shield: The best medium shield for a Sword and Shield build, boasting the highest Guard Boost and 100% physical damage negation. It's highly effective for blocking most attacks in the game.

Fingerprint Stone Shield: The heaviest shield in the game, this large shield offers exceptional defense, negating almost all incoming damage. Perfect for those who prefer a tanky build with the ability to block almost anything.

Greatshield Talisman: If you're opting for larger shields, this Talisman will further reduce stamina consumption when blocking heavy attacks.

Best Swords for Sword & Shield Build

When it comes to swords, Elden Ring offers a variety of choices that work with this build, ranging from thrusting to greatswords. Choose a weapon based on your preferred combat style.

Miséricorde: Ideal for a parry-crit build, this dagger boasts the highest critical damage in the game. It can be infused with Ashes of War, making it a versatile pick.

Lordsworn's Greatsword: A straightforward greatsword with a 110 critical damage bonus, this is a solid pick early in the game.

Zweihander: If you prefer colossal swords, the Zweihander is a great option for guard counters and staggering enemies.

Claymore/Flamberge: Reliable greatswords that balance power and speed. These are excellent for both regular and charged attacks, paired with powerful Ashes of War like Lion's Claw.

For a guard-counter playstyle, focus on swords that can deal heavy stance-breaking damage.

Best Armor for Sword & Shield Build

When selecting armor for a Sword and Shield build, it's important to focus on poise and protection. High poise allows you to tank through weaker hits and maintain aggression.

Godrick Knight Set: One of the earliest armor sets you can obtain, offering 51 poise. This set is great for a balanced build and can be farmed from Godrick Knights in Limgrave.

Beast Champion Set: This heavy armor set offers 72 poise, making it one of the tankiest options. You can obtain it early by defeating Knight Bernahl.

Rakshasa Set (Shadow of the Erdtree DLC): A powerful DLC armor set that increases your outgoing damage at the cost of higher incoming damage. Best suited for confident players who can effectively block or dodge attacks.

Ensure your poise remains above 51 to maintain a good balance between mobility and tankiness.

Best Talismans for Sword & Shield Build

Talismans are crucial in Elden Ring and can significantly boost your Sword and Shield build's performance. Here are some recommended Talismans:

Curved Sword Talisman: Increases guard counter damage by 20%. This is essential if you plan to focus on using guard counters as your primary attack method.

Dagger Talisman: Boosts critical damage, making it perfect for parry-crit builds. Works best with weapons like the Miséricorde.

Shard of Alexander: For players using offensive Ashes of War, this Talisman increases their damage output.

Great-Jar's Arsenal: This Talisman raises your equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor and wield large shields like the Fingerprint Stone Shield without sacrificing mobility.

Additional Tips

Buffing Incantations: If you've invested in Faith, use Incantations like Golden Vow for a general damage and defense buff, and Flame, Grant Me Strength for a significant boost to physical damage.

Stance-Breaking: Use a combination of shield blocking and heavy sword attacks to break enemy stances, leading to critical hits.

As you further explore Elden Ring items and runes will continue to shape your experience. Don't hesitate to keep exploring new areas and tweaking your gear to optimize your build.