Elden Ring Weapons Guide: Greatsword, Katana & Poise Mastery

Understanding Elden Ring's Combat Foundations

At the heart of Elden Ring's challenging gameplay lies a sophisticated combat system built on interconnected mechanics.

Core Defensive Mechanics

The poise system functions as an invisible gauge that determines if you'll be staggered by enemy hits, filling up as you take damage. Players can bolster their poise through heavier armor and specific talismans, creating different defensive playstyles.

This system directly influences the effectiveness of hyper armor mechanics, which provide temporary poise boosts during attack animations. These boosts are crucial for landing slower, heavier weapon strikes without interruption.

Offensive Counters and Stances

Defensive options evolve into offensive opportunities through techniques like the guard counter system. Precise timing after blocking allows for powerful counterattacks.

For those seeking high-risk, high-reward plays, parrying mechanics cancel certain enemy attacks when timed correctly. This opens enemies to devastating critical hits.

The returning power stance system enables dual wielding of compatible weapons. It grants unique move sets for increased combat flexibility—though community discussions show ongoing confusion about specific weapon pairings.

These foundational mechanics, with their nuanced interactions and recent community analysis of poise breakpoints and timing windows, create the deep, strategic combat that defines the Elden Ring experience.

Greatsword Combat Mastery

Mastering greatsword combat in Elden Ring requires understanding key mechanics that make these colossal weapons so devastating.

Dominant Weapons and PvP Builds

Colossal swords like the Ruins Greatsword remain dominant in 2025. They offer fantastic scaling and wide attack arcs perfect for cleaving multiple foes.

For PvP builds, players typically aim for around 88 poise. This is achieved using talisman combinations like the Great Jar Arsenal and Bull Goat talismans to withstand enemy attacks.

Guard Counter Strategies

Guard counter strategies are essential for greatsword mastery. Greatshields work ideally as they bounce attacks more reliably, creating safer counter windows.

The Curved Sword Talisman significantly boosts guard counter damage. DLC players can utilize the Deflecting Hardtear for weapon-focused builds without sacrificing guard counter effectiveness.

A top 2025 build combines Strength and Faith using the Anvil Hammer and Brass Shield for crushing guard counter attacks.

Poise and Stance-Breaking Fundamentals

Understanding poise breakpoints is crucial for stance-breaking combat. Recent spreadsheets detail poise damage values for various weapon types, helping players optimize their approach.

To maximize effectiveness:

• Prioritize Colossal "Weight" Weapons for maximum poise damage
• Use Strike "Attack Type" Weapons against heavily armored enemies
• Focus on Charge Attacks for optimal stance-breaking potential

These fundamentals will elevate your greatsword combat to new heights.

Katana Combat Excellence

Mastering katana combat in Elden Ring requires a deep understanding of build optimization and technique.

Stat Allocation and Scaling

The most effective approach begins with proper stat allocation. Early game builds should prioritize dexterity scaling with keen affinity rather than bleed affinity. The latter reduces raw damage without sufficient arcane investment.

As you progress, the black whetblade enables a crucial mid-game transition. It allows for a shift to full arcane builds for maximum bleed effectiveness.

Premier Hybrid Builds

For players seeking versatility, the Moonveil Shinobi build stands out as a premier intelligence/dexterity hybrid. This setup leverages Moonveil's B scaling in both stats.

It combines Transient Moonlight projectiles with status effects like Hemorrhage and Frostbite. Essential talismans like the Carian Filigree Crest and Magic Scorpion Charm enhance its magical prowess.

Meanwhile, the Sanguine Samurai build maximizes bleed potential. It uses aggressive Corpse Piler spam, with talismans such as Lord of Blood's Exultation providing significant attack boosts after blood loss triggers.

The Evolving Meta

Recent updates have further refined katana combat. The September 2024 DLC patch enhanced talisman synergies that make previously overlooked items essential for specific builds.

The 2025 meta clearly favors hybrid scaling and status effect stacking for peak performance.

Advanced Weapon Strategies

The Giant Crusher Power Stance

The Giant Crusher stands as Elden Ring's premier choice for devastating poise-breaking builds. It is particularly effective when power stanced in a dual configuration.

This colossal hammer delivers exceptional stance damage thanks to its classification as a bludgeon weapon. It has the highest base poise damage among all weapon types.

When power stanced, these hammers become an unstoppable force. Community reports confirm approximately a 70% damage boost that turns enemies into ragdolls.

Build Optimization and Gameplay Loop

Recent post-1.04 patch improvements have reduced colossal weapon swing speeds and recovery times. This makes the Giant Crusher more viable than ever.

For optimal performance, players should:

• Prioritize Strength scaling with Heavy affinity, pushing beyond 60 Strength
• Maintain high Vigor and Endurance
• Use the Bull-Goat armor set for essential poise for uninterrupted attack sequences
• Equip talismans like Roar Medallion and Shard of Alexander to enhance Ashes of War such as Troll's Roar and Giant Hunt

The core gameplay loop revolves around aggressive positioning and jump attack spam. This leverages the weapon's natural poise-breaking capabilities.

While the 2025 meta continues to evolve, the Giant Crusher power stance build remains a top-tier choice for players seeking to dominate through sheer stagger potential.

Real-World Combat Application

While Elden Ring's combat mechanics are deeply rooted in fantasy gameplay, many of its martial arts weapons draw direct inspiration from real-world historical fighting styles.

Historical Weapon Inspirations

The game's claw-type weapons, for example, reference the Japanese tekagi-shuko claws. These were traditionally used by ninja for climbing and combat.

Similarly, certain designs incorporate elements from Hindi martial arts weapons like the bagh nakh. This is a fearsome claw-like weapon from India's warrior traditions.

Unarmed Combat in Game

The hand-to-hand combat systems in Elden Ring also incorporate various unarmed combat techniques. These are found in actual martial arts disciplines.

However, it's important to note that while these virtual representations share visual and conceptual similarities with real-world fighting arts, no available sources specifically address how these in-game techniques translate to practical real-world martial arts application. The game's combat system remains primarily designed for engaging gameplay rather than accurate martial arts simulation, blending historical inspiration with fantastical elements to create its unique combat identity.

Mastering Elden Ring's Weapon Combat System

Elden Ring's combat depth continues evolving with the 2025 meta, where weapon mastery determines survival in both PvE and PvP.

The 2025 Meta Landscape

The current landscape is dominated by specialized builds, each demanding unique weapon handling skills. The Dual Hawkblade Build stands as the premier choice. It offers devastating damage output crucial for New Game+7 and endgame bosses.

For PvP enthusiasts, three distinct archetypes define high-level play:

• The nimble Dexterity Build – Quick Striker
• The relentless Poise Tank – Heavyweight Brawler
• Versatile Hybrid Faith-Strength configurations

DLC Impact and New Playstyles

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has revolutionized weapon viability. It particularly introduced martial arts weapons that players describe as "absolutely goated."

These hand-to-hand combat styles thrive with light equip load builds. They maximize mobility for aggressive playstyles.

However, countering meta builds remains challenging. Many veterans report getting overwhelmed even in 3v1 scenarios, underscoring the importance of strategic adaptation.

Blending History and Innovation

Weapon selection now blends historical inspiration with gameplay innovation. Claw-type weapons reference Japanese tekagi-shuko and designs draw from Hindi bagh nakh.

Mastering Elden Ring's combat requires understanding these evolving dynamics while adapting to both established and emerging meta threats.