As a hardened souls veteran who has surmounted every challenge FromSoft has conjured, I thought I was prepared for anything Elden Ring could throw at me. How wrong I was. I soon met my match against Margit while attempting to solo the Fell Omen with my sword and board playstyle I‘d leaned on for countless bosses across the series. Each agonizing defeat felt like another dagger slowly twisting deeper into my pride until I neared hollowing.
In a moment of desperation, I shifted my grip on my Broadsword with both hands and focused every ounce of strength into one final devastating swing…and finally smashed through Margit‘s defenses to seize victory by the narrowest margins. As his dissipating specks of golden dust heralded my triumph, I sank to my knees in exhaustion but truly realized the sheer exhilaration and power offered through properly-mastered two-handing of weapons in Elden Ring.
This guide will walk you through not only how to trigger that incredible damage-boosting two-handed stance, but share expert tips honed across hundreds more hours perfecting colossal weapons to help you unlock your inner strength. Glory – and a markedly easier journey through the Lands Between – awaits any Tarnished bold enough to abandon their shield and embrace slaying foes in a single mighty blow instead of cowering behind steel. So sally forth, my friend!
How to Physically Transition Into a Two-Handed Weapon Stance
While intuitively simple in concept, actually adjusting your grip mid-fight or proper controller hold for two-handing proves deceptively tricky at first. Let‘s break the process down step-by-step:
On PlayStation:
- Ensure left hand grips underside of controller to allow thumb access to d-pad
- Use right thumb to press Triangle to initiate stance shift
- Roll right index finger to hit R1 simultaneously
Watch your character plant their leading foot while lifting weapon higher across their body as visual confirmation of successfully triggering stance
On Xbox:
- Angle left thumb to hover over d-pad
- Tap Y button with right thumb
- Quickly click in RB trigger with right index finger
Subtle flourish animation plays out in perfect sync across both arms/hands
On PC with Mouse & Keyboard
- Position left fingers over WASD keys for movement
- Hold E key with left pinky
- Swiftly right click mouse
Note the widening foot stance and broader hefting of weapon
I still vividly remember the pulled shoulder muscle from attempting to hastily two-hand during an intense Night‘s Cavalry battle. My advice? Choose your moment wisely and avoid panicked inputs!
Now let‘s examine why embracing this aggressive playstyle can greatly enhance your journey…
Why Two-Handing Weapons Transforms Combat
While inherently high risk, stripping away your shield in exchange for sheer, unrestrained offensive power yields monumental rewards:
Massively Amplified Damage
| Weapon | 1H R1 | 2H R1 | % Damage Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lordsworn‘s Sword | 148 | 223 | 51% |
| Grafted Blade GS | 576 | 864 | 50% |
| Giant Crusher | 649 | 974 | 50% |
Counter Damage Upside
Trading blows leads to longer fights and more damage taken. BUT properly-timed charged 2H heavy attacks provide massive counter damage after dodging or using weapon skills like Lion‘s Claw to resist being staggered.
Vigor Investment Efficiency
| Vigor | HP (1) | Effective HP (1H) | HP (2H) | Effective HP (2H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1415 | 2123 | 1415 | 2830 |
| 50 | 1730 | 2595 | 1730 | 3460 |
| 60 | 2045 | 3068 | 2045 | 4090 |
You gain MUCH higher mileage from Vigor boosts while two-handing since incoming damage is reduced via killing enemies faster.
Encourages Build Diversity
Sword & board heavily incentivizes shield poking with thrusting weapons. But two-handing supports far more varied and niche weapons to create uniquely customized characters. Live your giant hammer wielding barbarian fantasy!
While the enhanced damage potential cannot be understated, adjusting to the lack of defense poses early difficulties for many Tarnished…
Overcoming the Steep Learning Curve of Discarding Your Shield
Having trained for countless hours with my greatshields, suddenly losing that layer of protection felt jarringly uncomfortable. I struggled mightily in the transition until implementing the following countermeasures:
Flawless Dodging
Memorize dangerous perilous attack telegraphs and dodge into horizontal sweeps by properly leveraging i-frames. Light load below 25% boosts invincibility window duration to 42 frames!
| Roll Type | # of I-Frames |
|---|---|
| Light | 42 |
| Medium | 32 |
| Heavy | 22 |
Summon Spirits to Draw Aggression
While typically viewed as "easy mode", ash summons prove extremely useful for two-handers to create distractions. I utilized shield soldiers to occupy foes as I charged devastation-dealing jump attacks.
Capitalize on Weapon Skill Hyperarmor
Skills like Lion‘s Claw grant extensive poise during activation animations. Learn to tactically tank through weak attacks using hyperarmor to unleash your ultimate abilities.
Their sheer intimidation factor also can‘t be understated…
Inspiring Fear Itself with Colossal Weapons
Few sensations encapsulate the pure adrenaline when an invading player stops dead in their tracks at the sight of my oversized hammer held threateningly aloft. I relish each panicked dodge roll attempted in vain once my Giants Hunt slams down to obliterate 60% of their health outright.
My eight consecutive wins in duels while utilizing my beloved Giant-Crusher has even drawn accusations of illegal hacking! While some may view such immense weapons as brutish or barbaric…I simply chuckle knowing they‘ve yet to discover the satisfaction of felling gods and demons alike under a single, earth-shattering blow.
For any Tarnished struggling on the verge of losing hope, fear not – salvation lies in embracing raw, unrestrained aggression. Cast aside mental shackles limiting yourself to "proper" weapons and cowering behind shields! Live your dream fantasy of serving as an instrument of physical annihilation. Glory awaits!
Now, let‘s continue honing your skills by analyzing ideal stat benchmarks and advanced tactics…
Min/Maxing Your Build for Exponential Returns
While colossal weapons innately deal massive damage, properly allocated attributes take two-handed potential to even greater heights:
Vigor – Survive otherwise fatal traded hits. 60+ by end game.
Mind – 15 Mind minimum to repeatedly use weapon skills.
Endurance – 60+ lets you wear extremely heavy armor and weapons.
Strength – Level until damage gains diminish around 80 STR.
Dexterity – Base requirements of chosen weapons.
I also highly recommend the Claw and Raptor Talismans to boost jumping heavy attacks along with the Bull-Goat Talisman to maximize poise.
Some of my favorite overlooked hybrid builds include Death Knight (cold infusions), Bonedaddy (Skeleton ashes), and of course…Giant Dad (LEGEND). Discover your own twist tailored to your preference using the optimized framework above!
In Conclusion
While initially daunting, committing to mastering two-handing delivers a vastly expanded arsenal of options to customize your playstyle combined with the viscerally satisfying heft of colossal weapons smashing foes. After 800+ hours and Journey 2 completed with my Giant Crusher in NG+, I‘m still uncovering new tactics and niche builds. Most importantly, I‘ve never had more fun in over a decade playing these games. That sheer joy of discovery lies at the core of what continues attracting millions to Lordran, Drangleic, Lothric, and now the Lands Between. We all struggle at first. We all suffer loss. But persevering through adversity forges legends who will be remembered by the grace of the Erdtree.
Now enough talk! Let‘s raise some hell.
