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.

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

How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring

To wield weapons with both hands in Elden Ring, press and hold E on PC, Triangle on PlayStation, or Y on Xbox, then initiate an attack. The attack will originate from either your left or right hand, depending on which weapon you've selected. Remember to check your control settings if you've customized them. This method also works for weapon switching while mounted, facilitating seamless transitions between melee and ranged combat or different weapon types. However, note that weapons requiring two hands due to Strength requirements must be two-handed before mounting your steed.

Why Two-Hand Your Weapons?

Two-handing offers several compelling advantages:

• Increased Damage: Your Strength stat receives a 50% boost when two-handing, significantly amplifying the damage output of Strength-scaling weapons.
• Altered Movesets: Some weapons gain unique attack animations and potentially damage type alterations when wielded in two hands.
• Accessibility to Heavier Weapons: This allows you to utilize weapons that would otherwise be inaccessible, optimizing your build's efficiency.
• Ash of War Access: Using a shield prevents access to your right-hand weapon's Ash of War. Two-handing eliminates this limitation, granting access to powerful weapon skills.

The Downsides of Two-Handed Combat

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

• Modified Attacks: Attack patterns change, requiring adaptation and strategic adjustments based on your surroundings.
• Build Dependency: Two-handing is less effective for Dexterity or other non-Strength-focused builds. Experimentation is key to finding the optimal approach.

Best Weapons for Two-Handed Combat

Generally, large Strength-scaling weapons such as Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and Colossal Weapons are ideal for two-handing. Since the Shadow of the Erdtree update, the Two-Handed Sword Talisman provides a significant damage boost for two-handed sword users. Consider weapons like the Greatsword, Zweihander, Fire Knight's Greatsword, or the Giant-Crusher for effective two-handed combat.

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.