Elden Ring: Mastering Dual-Weapon Combat

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

This guide delves into the art of two-handing weapons in Elden Ring, explaining the mechanics, benefits, drawbacks, and optimal weapon choices.

How to Two-Hand Weapons

To wield a weapon with two hands in Elden Ring, simply press and hold E on PC, Triangle on PlayStation, or Y on Xbox, then initiate an attack. This applies to both your left and right-hand weapons. Note that if a weapon requires a specific Strength stat to wield effectively, you must two-hand it before mounting your steed. Two-handing while mounted is not possible unless initiated beforehand. This functionality also extends to switching weapons while horseback.

Why Two-Hand?

The advantages of two-handing are significant:

• Increased Damage: Your Strength stat receives a 50% boost, significantly amplifying damage output, particularly with Strength-scaling weapons.
• Altered Movesets: Two-handing can modify attack animations and even damage types for some weapons.
• Accessibility to Heavier Weapons: It allows the use of weapons that would otherwise be inaccessible due to Strength requirements, maintaining a manageable Strength stat while still wielding powerful weapons.
• Ash of War Optimization: Using a shield disables the weapon skill on your main hand. Two-handing eliminates this limitation, providing access to your weapon's Ash of War.

Drawbacks of Two-Handed Combat

While advantageous for Strength builds, two-handing has drawbacks:

• Modified Attack Patterns: Attack animations change, requiring adjustment and strategic adaptation to the environment. Sometimes, sacrificing damage for more situationally effective attacks is beneficial.
• Build Dependency: This technique is less suitable for builds prioritizing Dexterity or other stats. Experimentation is crucial to determine the optimal approach.

Best Weapons for Two-Handing

Generally, large Strength-scaling weapons are ideal for two-handing. Since the Shadow of the Erdtree update, the Two-Handed Sword Talisman provides a damage boost when wielding swords with two hands. Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and Colossal Weapons are all excellent choices. Specific recommendations include the Greatsword, Zweihander, Fire Knight's Greatsword, and the Giant-Crusher (for non-sword users).

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 how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring.