Elden Ring’s combat system offers incredible flexibility, and one of the most satisfying ways to play is with heavy weapons. These weapons pack a serious punch, often staggering foes and dealing massive damage, but they come with trade-offs like slower swings and higher stamina consumption. For players who enjoy a tanky, high-impact approach, building around heavy weapons can be extremely rewarding.

After experimenting with various setups, I’ve put together a list of 20 effective builds that emphasize heavy weapons, from colossal greatswords to massive greathammers. These builds focus on maximizing damage output, survivability, and managing stamina to keep the offensive pressure on your enemies.

Why Choose Heavy Weapons?

Heavy weapons excel at breaking enemy poise and dealing substantial damage with fewer hits. Their slow but powerful strikes allow you to control the pace of battle, punish mistakes, and dominate in both PvE and PvP. However, they usually require investment in strength and stamina stats, as well as careful management of equip load and positioning.

1. Colossal Greatsword Strength Build

Max out strength to wield colossal greatswords like the Greatsword or the Dragon Slayer. Pair with heavy armor to absorb hits and stagger enemies.

2. Greathammer Powerhouse

Focus on greathammers such as the Great Club or the Dragon Slayer’s Great Hammer. This build thrives on staggering foes and controlling space.

3. Quality Build with Heavy Weapons

Balance strength and dexterity to use heavy weapons that scale well with both stats, like the Claymore or the Black Knight Greatsword.

4. Strength and Faith Heavy Hybrid

Combine heavy weapons with buffs from faith miracles. Spells like Blessing of the Erdtree complement this build for survivability and damage.

5. Heavy Axe Berserker

Use powerful axes like the Dragon Slayer Axe or the Great Axe, combined with stamina regeneration enhancements to maintain offensive pressure.

6. Poise Tank Build

Invest heavily in vigor and endurance to equip the heaviest armor and weapons, turning your character into a nearly unstoppable force.

7. Colossal Weapon Tank with Bloodhound’s Step

Use the Bloodhound’s Step skill to dodge quickly despite heavy equipment, giving this build an edge in mobility.

8. Heavy Weapon Duelist

A more aggressive build with focus on stamina management to unleash combos with heavy swords in PvP.

9. Greatsword and Shield Hybrid

Combine heavy greatswords with a sturdy shield, allowing you to block and counterattack efficiently.

10. Strength and Intelligence Spellblade

Use heavy weapons alongside sorceries, blending raw physical power with magical versatility.

11. Colossal Weapon Sorcerer

Cast heavy spells while using colossal weapons for heavy hitting close-range combat.

12. Greatsword Tank with Flask Optimization

Maximize healing and stamina recovery to support prolonged fights using heavy weapons.

13. Dragon Slayer Heavy Build

Center your build around the Dragon Slayer weapons, focusing on strength and endurance for maximum impact.

14. Greathammer and Bleed Build

Apply bleed effects while wielding heavy weapons for sustained damage over time.

15. Heavy Weapon Dual-Wielding

Experiment with wielding two heavy weapons simultaneously for brutal offense at the cost of stamina.

16. Colossal Weapon and Beast Blood Pellet Build

Use Beast Blood Pellets to boost attack power temporarily, pairing well with heavy weapon strikes.

17. Strength and Dexterity Hybrid Tank

Distribute stats to maximize versatility with a variety of heavy weapons.

18. Faith Buffed Greathammer Build

Combine heavy weapons with faith buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength to amplify damage.

19. Poise-Heavy Ultra Greatsword Build

Focus on poise to endure hits while dishing out massive damage with ultra greatswords.

20. Heavy Weapon PvP Bruiser

Optimize for PvP with a focus on heavy weapons, stamina management, and poise to dominate duels.

Acquiring Gear and Resources

Finding the right gear to complement these builds can sometimes be a grind. If you’re looking for the best place to buy Elden Ring runes to level up faster or want to acquire rare heavy weapons and materials, knowing where to look is essential. Similarly, the best site to buy Elden Ring items can be a valuable resource for players who want to skip some of the farming or are searching for specific pieces to complete their builds.

Heavy weapon builds in Elden Ring offer a unique and powerful way to experience the game. Whether you prefer slow, crushing blows or a balance of strength and speed, these 20 builds cover a broad range of playstyles. Experiment, adapt, and find the combination that suits your approach to tackling the game’s toughest challenges.