How to Hold a Weapon with Both Hands in Elden Ring
Holding a weapon with both hands in Elden Ring can be a crucial tactic for dealing significant damage and protecting yourself in combat. As you navigate the Lands Between, you’ll find various weapons and armaments to aid you in your quest. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on How to Hold a Weapon with Both Hands in Elden Ring, highlighting essential techniques and tips to enhance your gameplay experience.
Contents
Preparation and Character Requirements
Before you start practicing weapon dual-wielding, make sure you meet the character requirements. Most characters have a special "Ashes of War" ability, which is crucial for equipping multiple weapons at once. Each character has their unique "Ashes of War" tree, and you’ll need to spend some runes to unlock the dual-wielding capability. Consult your character’s page in the menu to confirm your available options.
Additionally, you should upcycle your flasks and use a sturdy shield. Upgraded flasks provide better damage absorption, allowing you to focus more on attacking without worrying about frequent heal interruptions. Having a reliable shield can save you from a world of pain when taking on aggressive foes.
Holding the Weapon
Holding a weapon with both hands in Elden Ring involves adjusting your grip and movement mechanics. Here are some essential tips to help you get started:
• Stand upright: Keeping a straight back and balancing stance allows you to handle weapons with ease.
• Hold the weapon firm but not too tight: Squeeze the weapon moderately to maintain control without constricting your movements.
• Shift your hands accordingly: Position your primary hand (right hand, typically) slightly forward to absorb impact, while the secondary hand (left hand, usually) is positioned on the back or side, adjusting to maintain balance and aim.
• Dance between opponents: Timing and movement become crucial with dual-wielding. Make strategic steps, feign retreats, and dart around enemies to exploit opening gaps for strikes.
Visual Aids and Controller Inputs:
| Button Mapping | Weapon Movement | Additional Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Left Analog Stick (Left/Right) | Camera control, adjusting angles and position | Adjust view angle, monitor enemy distance and position. |
| Left Analog Stick (Forward/Back) | Charging dash or slow walk back | Utilize charging speed when initiating or retreating, maintain momentum for faster closing/ retreating speeds. |
| Right Trigger/R2 (Light Attacks) | Light attack: moderate speed and range, versatile | Focus on opponents weak points or vulnerable sections; aim for critical zones for added damage. |
| Left Trigger/L2 (Heavy Attacks) | Heavy attack: slow to faster, considerable damage and force | Prepare for combos by lining up opponents before charging with the heavy attack, targeting joints or openings for enhanced effect. |
Combos and Executions
Developing complex combo strategies takes practice. Keep an eye on:
- enemy positioning, anticipate openings and counter moves;
- dancing: move fluidly while strafing, rolling, or feinting, exploiting moments for optimal weapon exchanges;
- combo building: start simple (2-3 lights/heavies) then focus on multi-hit/mult-hit-crit hybrids as you develop your moveset;
- finishing moves: end long combo sequences with powerful final attacks to stagger enemies (Critical Strike: increased stagger probability, extended duration for enemies) and deal greater damage.
Potions, Items, and Buffs
Don’t neglect potion and item usage. Master these potion synergies and effects for optimized dual-wielding sessions:
- Fortitude Potions: Absorption Boost: temporary boosts stamina regen, enhances the absorption window for heavier impacts, making dual-wielding more effective.
- Radical Abrahm: Dual Strike, enhances heavy attack velocity while in two-handed weapon form.
- Shield Parry: Ash of War – Defiance of the Same: boosts guard against slashing and pierce damage.
Upgraded Potions and items, combined with character traits, amplify the effects you seek. Adapt your usage depending on enemy types and stages.
Fading to Zero: Effective Defensive Maneuvers
Remember the importance of defense while wielding two weapons:
• Constantly keep the enemy off balance:
- Use footwork and quick dodges (left/ right/staff dash) to distance from aggressive enemies.
- Interrupt opponent attacks through aggressive countering or environmental maneuvers.
• Parrying, Feinting, and Focusing: - Employ the trusty parry to convert defense into offense, followed by quick repositioning to counter the now open attacker.
- Set up feints (mistaking attacks or creating gaps for retreating) with left-trigger inputs.
- Targeted focusing – zero in on the right opponent limb and hit, or the enemy’s central, more critical area. (Note: This concept involves timing the strike accordingly)
• Environmental Shenanigans: Utilize: - Hops: sudden jumps backward while rolling away from, feinting, and using your primary hand, before resuming attack (this tactic buys time; reset to defend or focus another attack)
- Dash Attacks: with either the Right or Left stick ( Forward/ Back or Side); charge directly with momentum.
Facing Off Against Unique Enemy Types
In Elden Ring’s diverse foe range, keep these approaches:
- Firesage Mages: Concede the middle ground by taking damage. Instead, feint/parry spells while dashing off their line.
- Knight-Soldiers: Face their charged attacks from distance and interrupt before charging at them when flanking; this setup yields significant benefits.
- Eel-keepers: Lure them through strategic bait-and-switch by striking once before retreating.
- Cthulhu Tentacles: Dismantle while disentangling from; using left/right/staff dashes; prioritize their bodies before tending to minor limbs; then engage head-on.
- Demons:
- Utilize environmental interaction – wall-punch to banish foes, ground attacks, and dash while dealing with multi-enemies (some creatures may flail offstage, thus losing aggression)
Closing Notes and Bonus Tips
Elden Ring combat and weapon control demand situational awareness and strategic fluidity. Stay vigilant regarding potion synergies, the best combos for each fight, and adaptive positioning adjustments:
• Master Timing and Feinting.
• Maintain focus (keep those crit spots aimed for high returns).
• Optimize and Upgrade potion regimens to amplify strength in battle.
Incorporating Elden Ring’s intricate tactics and combat concepts makes exploring the Lands Between far more rewarding and challenging – test your prowess in weapon control with the knowledge here.
Confront the Unseen Challenge Ahead
Join the esteemed ranks of veteran warriors who’ve unraveled the mystery of two-handed combat. Your character stands at the threshold to wielding The Great Focused Flame – ignite that path forward and command the mastery of Eltten Ring’s epic journey.
Now go, Embark Upon The Fabled Lands: unleash the secrets of this dynamic dual-wielding saga with these fundamental tips – then proceed, unapologetically, wielding power!
