Elden Ring is back in the spotlight because of the release of its DLC, The Shadow of the Erdtree. The new content has been highlighted as particularly difficult even for this notoriously tough game series, with a number of fans finding themselves struggling after previously assuming they'd solved the game.
The difficulty is half the fun of games like Elden Ring, but if you're finding it a little tougher than you'd like, there are ways of easing that burden. One of them is to "netdeck" an overpowered build. Like any game, there are some skills, spells, and equipment which are stronger than others, and when combined together, they can obliterate enemies you had been previously struggling with.
Here are five of the most overpowered (and fun) Elden Ring builds to try out.
Bleed Samurai
Who doesn't love the idea of being a samurai? Elden Ring's Samurai class is a favorite for many, and this build makes use of the bleed mechanic to create a class that can output enormous amounts of damage very quickly.
Starting out as the Samurai is, unsurprisingly, recommended for this build, and you'll need 55 Dexterity and 40 Strength to hit the requirements for the build. You'll also need to do some collecting and gathering, but once you've gotten it, the sky is very much the limit. Check out RageGamingVideos guide for the complete tutorial on getting started.
Pros:
- Makes use of strong bleed mechanic
- Being a samurai is cool as hell
- Easy to start if a Samurai class
Cons:
- Limited durability
Glass Cannon Sorcerer
Sometimes you just have to blow stuff up to get the result you want, and this build centers around the idea that hitting stuff with big spells is a very effective way to play through the game.
Comet Azur is a big part of this build, and when used alongside magicks like Terra Magica to boost your damage and items like the Cerulean hidden tear to eliminate your FP use and allow you to lay down a barrage of spells without any resource use. Boost yourself still further with Lusat’s Glintstone Staff from Sellia, Town of Sorcery, and you've got a build that's capable of some of the most damage around.
Keep in mind that you're going to be very, very vulnerable to damage though, as the investment of 80 Intelligence means there's not much left over for pumping into HP and defences. So while you can take out almost anything at range, even standard mobs are very dangerous when they come in close.
Pros:
- More damage output than any other build in the game
- Can finish fights in seconds
- Hit bosses with COMETS
Cons:
- Extremely fragile
Colossal Knight
The opposite side of the coin to the Glass Cannon Sorcerer is the Colossal Knight. Exactly what you think it will be, this build concentrates on hitting huge amounts of damage from up close with great big bits of metal. Like the Glass Cannon, you won't be able to take huge amounts of punishment in return, though you will be better protected than that build.
Fextralife is the source for this particular build, and you can find his full guide in his video. In short, you'll be wanting to start as a Barbarian, with some fairly misrange stats. The key item is the Warcry Ashes of War, and this can be paired with pretty much any large weapon like a greatsword. There are some other items which can help this build to function, including the Axe Talisman and Roar Medallion.
Keep in mind that big bits of metal, while great to swing for massive damage, are slow, so there's a risk involved in getting into the right place at the right time. Once you've managed that though, this is a very fun build.
Pros:
- Huge amounts of damage
- Solid build for Barbarians
- Hitting things with big bits of metal is very therapeutic
Cons:
- Very slow swings
Blasphemous Blade
This build clearly has the best name, as who doesn't want to scream "BEHOLD THE BLASPHEMOUS BLADE" while playing Elden Ring? But there's more to this build than just the cool name, as it offers good mobility as well as a weapon that rewards you for staying in combat.
The Blasphemous Blade is, unsurprisingly, a keystone of this build. This greatsword heals you for 4% of your maximum health and 40HP whenever you kill an enemy, meaning it's a solid choice for keeping healthy in the field and conserving Flasks for boss fights. It's also a good choice for PvP as well, thanks to the high amount of mobility this build offers to players.
Keep in mind you will need to complete a questline to get here, but once that's done you have access to a very fun and rewarding build with a lot to offer. Check out Jezza97's video on the build to find out all the details.
Pros:
- Excellent durability thanks to life-stealing
- Great for PvP
- The best name for proclaiming yourself
Cons:
- Requires completion of a specific questline
Lightning Perfume Bottle Prophet
This build is probably one of the most broken in the game at the moment, and you'll likely need to move fast to try this out, as it's probably going to get hit with a nerf at some point in the near future. But while it lasts, it's a lot of fun and well worth experimenting with.
The core item, the Lightning Perfume Bottle, is found in the DLC, near the Cerulean Coast Site of Grace. Once you've gotten it, pair it with the Ash of War: Rolling Sparks to add lightning explosions to every attack — and you're probably starting to see how this build works. It's not unknown to kill multiple enemies with throws of this weapon, giving you a serious advantage in the Lands Between.
Pros:
- Probably the most broken build in the post-DLC game
- Strong area of effect attacks
- Easy to find the core item
Cons:
- Likely to be nerfed soon
