We’re diving deep into one of my favorite setups: the sword and board. With the recent buffs to medium and small shields in Elden Ring’s latest patch, this classic style has gotten some much-needed love, making it a viable and fun option for both duels and invasions.
If you’re someone who enjoys the thrill of outlasting your opponent through skillful parries, well-timed backstabs, and perfect spacing, this build might just be for you. Let’s dive into what makes this setup so effective, and how you can optimize your playstyle with it.
Patch Buffs: Why the Sword and Shield Build Shines
The latest patch introduced some significant buffs to medium and small shields, particularly in terms of damage negation and guard strength. For the uninitiated, guard strength determines how much stamina is drained when you block attacks. A higher guard strength means you can block more attacks without getting guard-broken, which is essential when you’re relying on your shield to stay in the fight.
Two shields that stand out post-patch are the Wolf Crest Shield and the Serpent Crest Shield. Both now have guard boosts comparable to some greatshields, which is particularly impressive when you consider how much lighter these medium shields are in comparison. This means you’re able to maintain excellent stamina management while still having solid defense, allowing you to be much more mobile and aggressive in your approach.
The Wolf Crest Shield now boasts a guard boost higher than the Erdtree Greatshield, making it an excellent choice for players who want to keep their equipment load low while still benefiting from great defense. And don’t forget about the ability to Elden Ring items parry Ashes of War like Carian Retaliation — this gives you the option to not only block effectively but also punish enemy magic users.
Sword and Shield Playstyle: Precision, Patience, and Pressure
The sword and shield setup in Elden Ring focuses more on precision and patience rather than raw burst damage. While other setups like colossal weapons or magic builds might rely on overwhelming power, sword and shield players excel at playing the long game. Here’s how to get the most out of this playstyle:
- Guarding and Poking: One of the strengths of medium shields is the ability to shield poke. This allows you to attack while keeping your guard up, making it a safe option for applying pressure without fully committing to an attack animation. This tactic is great for spacing and chipping away at an opponent’s health, especially in duels.
- Parrying: Parrying is a huge part of this setup. Elden Ring’s parry window is a bit different from previous FromSoftware titles, but once you master the timing, it’s an invaluable tool. The dagger talisman becomes a crucial piece of your setup here, increasing your critical hit damage. This is particularly useful when landing parries or backstabs, making up for the lower burst damage of one-handed swords.
- Backstabs: Another major advantage of the sword and shield setup is the ease with which you can land backstabs. With the right spacing and positioning, you can punish overly aggressive players by slipping behind them during their attack animations. The quick attack speed of straight swords also gives you ample opportunity to punish whiffed attacks.
- Stamina Management: Thanks to the buffed guard strength of medium shields, you’re able to absorb a good number of hits without losing too much stamina. However, it’s still important to manage your stamina carefully. Always keep an eye on your stamina bar and make sure to back off and regain it when necessary.
Weapon and Infusion Choices
For my build, I’m running a pure dexterity character, which pairs perfectly with the keen infusion. The keen infusion increases the scaling of weapons with dexterity, making one-handed straight swords an optimal choice for this build.
Here are a few of my personal favorites for this setup:
- Uchigatana (Keen Infused): The classic katana is a perfect fit for this build. Its quick attack speed, good range, and bleed buildup make it incredibly versatile. Paired with a medium shield, you can easily punish your opponent’s mistakes while maintaining a strong defense.
- Estoc (Keen Infused): For players who prefer thrusting attacks, the Estoc is a great alternative. Its long reach and thrusting nature make it excellent for spacing, allowing you to poke your opponent from a safe distance.
- Lightning Infusions: If you’re going up against heavily armored foes, consider using a lightning infusion. The added elemental damage can bypass some of the defense that heavily armored players rely on, giving you an edge in those matchups.
Talismans: Maximizing Your Build
Your talisman choices can make or break a build. Here’s the talisman setup I’m running with this sword and board build:
- Dagger Talisman: As mentioned earlier, this is a key piece of the puzzle for boosting your critical damage. If you’re landing parries and backstabs, this talisman will significantly increase your damage output in those moments.
- Shard of Alexander: If you’re leaning more into Ashes of War, consider swapping out the dagger talisman for the Shard of Alexander. This talisman boosts the damage of your weapon skills, making it a strong option if you’re frequently using powerful Ashes of War like Flaming Strike.
- Greatshield Talisman: If you want to further enhance your guard boost, the Greatshield Talisman is an excellent choice. It significantly increases your shield’s guard strength, allowing you to block even more attacks without getting guard-broken.
Invasion and Duel Tactics
While the sword and shield setup excels in duels, it can still hold its own in invasions — especially when you know how to manage multiple opponents. Here are a few tips for making the most out of this build in both scenarios:
- Fishing for Parries: In duels, try to bait out predictable attacks from your opponent. Players using large weapons are particularly susceptible to parries due to their slower attack speed. Once you land a parry, capitalize on it with a critical hit to maximize your damage.
- Spacing: The speed of straight swords makes them great for spacing. Use quick R1s to keep your opponent at bay, and look for opportunities to land a backstab when they overcommit to an attack.
- Team Fights: In invasions, you’ll often be outnumbered, so play it smart. Use your shield to block incoming projectiles or attacks while waiting for an opportunity to single out one opponent. The shield poke strategy works well in these situations, as you can chip away at their health while staying safe behind your shield.
Conclusion: The Sword and Shield Meta Is Back
The recent buffs to medium shields have made the classic sword and board setup a force to be reckoned with in Elden Ring. While it may not have the raw burst damage of other builds, its versatility, defense, and ability to capitalize on critical hits make it a strong contender for both duels and invasions. Whether you’re landing clutch parries, punishing with backstabs, or simply outlasting your opponent, this build offers a rewarding and fun playstyle.
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