Elden Ring offers players a huge variety of playstyles, and while there’s a lot of freedom in how you can approach combat, the Quality build stands out for its versatility and balance. The goal of a Quality build is to maximize damage potential while keeping your character flexible, allowing you to deal with almost any situation that comes your way. In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials of creating a Quality build in Elden Ring, focusing on balanced damage output without sacrificing too much on survivability.
A Quality build focuses on two primary stats: Strength and Dexterity. The idea is to use weapons that scale well with both stats, offering you the flexibility to wield a broad range of equipment. Unlike builds that specialize in just Strength or Dexterity, a Quality build allows you to balance your damage output between the two, making it great for players who prefer a mix of strong and fast attacks.
The sweet spot for a Quality build is typically around 40 in both Strength and Dexterity, but depending on your playstyle, you may choose to prioritize one stat over the other. This gives you access to a huge pool of weapons like the Claymore, Longsword, and Uchigatana, each offering a different attack speed and moveset, which can make combat feel varied and engaging.
Vigor: Survival is key in Elden Ring, and Vigor helps you stay alive longer. Aiming for at least 40 Vigor will give you a decent health pool, especially in tougher boss fights and PVP encounters.
Endurance: This stat helps you manage stamina and equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor without being slowed down. You’ll want Endurance around 20–30 to ensure you can wield your weapon of choice without being overburdened.
Strength & Dexterity: These are your core stats, and they should be balanced. Aim for 40 in both to maximize your damage potential with Quality-scaling weapons.
Mind and Intelligence: Not important for a Quality build unless you plan on adding a bit of magic into your gameplay.
When selecting a weapon for a Quality build, you want to focus on those that scale well with both Strength and Dexterity. Here are a few great choices:
Claymore: A solid choice for players who enjoy a mix of sweeping and thrusting attacks. It’s a great balance between speed and damage and can be infused with various Ashes of War to suit different playstyles.
Longsword: If you prefer a fast, reliable weapon with a good moveset, the Longsword is a great pick. It’s quick, versatile, and can deal solid damage with both light and heavy attacks.
Uchigatana: For those who enjoy the classic katana style, the Uchigatana is fantastic for fast strikes, bleeding buildup, and flexibility. Its scaling is great for a Quality build, and the weapon art is perfect for fast counters.
Greatsword: If you want to add a little more power to your swings while still maintaining flexibility, the Greatsword offers that perfect balance. It’s slower than the Longsword but hits like a truck.
When it comes to armor, a Quality build tends to lean toward medium to heavy armor since you’ll need to stay mobile while taking advantage of the extra defense. You want enough protection but don’t want to be too slow to roll. A good starting point for armor would be the Bull-Goat Set for maximum poise or the Radahn Set for a nice mix of mobility and defense.
For your shield, if you prefer one, a Greatshield can help you absorb damage during tougher fights. However, if you want to maximize your offensive playstyle, you might want to consider a medium shield or go shieldless and rely on dodging.
For a Quality build, you’ll likely want to focus on Ashes of War that enhance your weapon’s damage or add a little extra utility. Flame of the Redmanes is a fantastic option for scaling your damage while adding a bit of firepower. Additionally, Lion’s Claw can be great for big bosses or PVP to catch opponents off guard with a strong, wide-reaching attack.
When playing, you’ll want to mix heavy attacks and light attacks for maximum efficiency. The heavy attacks can stagger enemies, while the light attacks allow for quick, precise damage. Timing and positioning are key in Elden Ring, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different combos to find what works best for you.
In the early stages, you can focus on leveling up your primary stats (Strength, Dexterity, and Vigor), but as you progress, don't neglect your Endurance. If you’re looking for a way to speed up your progression, you can always buy Elden Ring runes to help you level up faster. If you’re on Xbox, there are also options to buy Elden Ring runes Xbox cheap, which is a more affordable way to boost your build without grinding endlessly.
As you level up your character, focus on balancing the growth of your primary stats and make sure to spend some time farming for those much-needed upgrade materials for your weapons.
With a Quality build, you won't rely heavily on magic, but it's still worth considering having some utility spells. Flame, Grant Me Strength can give you an additional boost to your attacks, while Golden Vow is always a great option to increase both your and your allies’ damage.
In terms of healing, make sure you have Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears to upgrade your flask for more heals. You don’t want to run out of healing mid-battle, especially in high-stakes situations.
Building a successful Quality build in Elden Ring gives you the perfect balance of speed, power, and flexibility. You’ll be able to take on a variety of enemies, whether you're exploring the world or facing off against the toughest bosses. With the right weapons, stats, and gear, your Quality build will excel in both PvE and PvP, giving you the freedom to experiment and find your ideal playstyle.
If you're looking for a way to speed up your progress or power up your character faster, you might consider checking out places like U4GM where you can find reliable options to buy Elden Ring runes. These services can help you get past the grind and focus on the fun aspects of the game.
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