Master Elden Ring's Dual Wielding

Mastering Two-Handed Weaponry in Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide delves into the mechanics and strategic advantages of two-handing weapons in Elden Ring, helping you maximize damage and overcome challenges.

JUMP TO:

How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring | Why Two-Hand in Elden Ring | Drawbacks of Two-Handing | Best Weapons for Two-Handing

How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring

To wield weapons with two hands in Elden Ring, press and hold E (PC), Triangle (PlayStation), or Y (Xbox), then initiate an attack. This applies to both your left and right-hand weapons. Note that customized control schemes may alter these default commands. This method also works while mounted, but remember that weapons requiring two-handing due to Strength requirements must be wielded in two hands before mounting your steed.

Related: Navigating the Roundtable Hold in Elden Ring

Why Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring?

Two-handing offers significant combat advantages. Primarily, it boosts your Strength by 50%, significantly amplifying damage output, especially with Strength-scaling weapons. Furthermore, the attack animations often change, potentially altering damage type. This Strength boost also allows access to weapons otherwise un wieldy, optimizing your build efficiency.

Efficient Ash of War Utilization: Using a sword and shield restricts your weapon skill to the shield. Two-handing your main weapon unlocks its Ash of War, providing greater tactical flexibility.

Drawbacks of Two-Handed Weaponry

While beneficial for Strength builds, two-handing has limitations. Attack patterns shift, requiring adjustment and strategic planning. The damage increase might not always outweigh the loss of a shield's defensive capabilities. Experimentation is key to determine if it suits your chosen build (Dexterity, etc.).

Best Weapons for Two-Handed Combat

Large, Strength-scaling weapons are ideal for two-handing. Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and Colossal Weapons are excellent choices. Consider the Two-Handed Sword Talisman (Shadow of the Erdtree expansion) for enhanced damage with swords. Examples of strong choices include the Greatsword, Zweihander, Fire Knight's Greatsword, and the Giant-Crusher.

This guide concludes your introduction to two-handed combat in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Update: This article was updated on 1/27/25 by Liam Nolan to provide more insight into two-handed weapon combat in Elden Ring.