Mastering Two-Handed Combat in Elden Ring

Mastering the art of wielding a weapon in two hands can significantly enhance your combat prowess in *Elden Ring*, offering a strategic advantage over your foes. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the mechanics of two-handing weapons, delve into the benefits and drawbacks, and recommend the best weapons to maximize this technique's effectiveness.

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How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden RingWhy You Should Two-Hand in Elden RingThe Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-HandsBest Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring

To engage in two-handed combat in Elden Ring, you'll need to press and hold E on PC, triangle on PlayStation, or Y on Xbox, followed by the attack button for the desired weapon. It's crucial to verify your control settings if you've customized them, ensuring they align with these defaults.

This technique also extends to changing weapons while mounted, a vital skill for players who frequently switch between melee and magic. Remember, for weapons requiring two hands due to high Strength demands, you must initiate two-handing before mounting your steed. Once mounted, you won't automatically revert to two-handing unless previously set.

Related: How to Get Out of Roundtable Hold in Elden Ring

Why You Should Two-Hand in Elden Ring

Opting to wield your weapon with both hands in Elden Ring offers several advantages. Notably, two-handing increases your Strength by 50%, amplifying the damage output of Strength-scaling weapons. This boost not only enhances your attack power but also alters your weapon's move set, potentially changing the damage type for strategic versatility.

Moreover, two-handing allows you to wield heavier weapons that might otherwise be inaccessible, maintaining a balanced Strength stat while still harnessing the power of greatswords. It also optimizes the use of Ashes of War, ensuring that your weapon's unique skills are readily accessible, rather than defaulting to shield-based abilities.

The Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-Hands

While two-handing is advantageous for Strength builds in Elden Ring, it's not without its drawbacks. The altered attack patterns require adaptation, and in certain scenarios, sacrificing some damage for a more situationally effective attack might be necessary.

This technique is less suited for Dexterity or other non-Strength builds, necessitating experimentation to find the optimal approach for your playstyle.

Best Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring

For those looking to leverage two-handing in Elden Ring, large Strength-scaling weapons are your go-to choice. With the introduction of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, consider equipping the Two-Handed Sword Talisman to further boost your damage when wielding swords in this manner.

Among the top recommendations are Greatswords and Colossal Swords, as well as Great Hammers and other Colossal Weapons. Standout options include the Greatsword, Zweihander, and Fire Knight's Greatsword, with the Giant-Crusher being an excellent non-sword alternative.

And that's a comprehensive guide on how to effectively two-hand weapons 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 how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring.