Players are often overwhelmed by the huge potential of customization in Elden Ring. FromSoftware.inc ensures complete freedom of choice to all its players. Once you choose a class, it is up to you what kind of build you want to develop, which weapons you want to use, and which enemies you want to face. Moreover, you can also customize the class section according to your requirements. In short, there are a million ways to kill in Elden Ring, and you are in charge of them all.
In this regard, Deaths Poker build in Elden Ring has gained tremendous popularity in the online community. It is a balanced build that utilizes the force of physical damage and the powers of magical destruction at the same time.
Therefore, most players consider it as the God mode of Elden Ring. So, what exactly does it take to create the ultimate Deaths Poker build in Elden Ring? This article provides a comprehensive guide on this topic and much more.
Table of Contents
Deaths Poker Explained
Elden Ring brings numerous weapons to the table, all perfectly crafted to kill. Similarly, you can kill your opponent in multiple ways, including physical damage, magical damage, and even buff buildups. The Deaths Poker is a special Greatsword in the game that combines all three forms of damage in one attack. It is said that the sword was crafted to slay both the living and the dead.
The sword is wielded by the Deathbirds. They are the birds of the graveyards that rake out the ashen remains of the dead from their kilns. Some even consider it as a sign of invincibility if in the right hands.
Stats
First things first, you must meet the minimum requirements to wield the Deaths Poker Greatsword. It is a magic-oriented weapon, so naturally, you must focus on Intelligence and Dexterity. However, the physical damage is also a factor in this equation, so keep an eye on it as well.
Initially, you must possess at least 15 Strength, 17 Dexterity, and 11 Intelligence to equip the sword in one hand. Moreover, if you aren’t prepared for it yet, you can always hold the sword two-handedly to enjoy it till you are worthy of it.
Scaling
Similarly, the Greatsword scales primarily with Intelligence having E class. Other secondary attributes are Strength and Dexterity, which belong to the D classes. So, once you get the sword, you must put your focus on Intelligence to enjoy its full benefits. The huge scaling factor ensures that you feel functional changes after every upgrade till Intelligence level 50.
Weapon Art
Being a Legendary Greatsword, the Deaths Poker comes with its unique Ashes of War, i.e., The Ghostflame Ignition. You can only apply the skill on this particular weapon and no others. When you activate the skill, the Tarnished Thrusts out the barbed rod lighting its tip with white fire. He then charges at the flame with a normal attack to set the ground on fire. Every enemy standing on the blazed ground gets physical damage, plus +100 magic damage and frostbite buildup buff.
Moreover, you can also charge the attack with R2 to initiate a massive explosion instead of the fire. All enemies within the radius of the explosion get the same amount of damage as standing on the fire for up to 3 seconds. However, the animation of the attack is a bit long, and your enemies might attack you if they are close enough. So, creating distance from your foes would be best before initiating the Ghostflame Ignition.
Deaths Poker Build Guide
The Deaths Poker build is perhaps the most feared one in both PvP and PvE situations. So, naturally, it is among the favorite builds in the Elden Ring Online community. It takes a while to get used to the long animations, but it can truly make you invincible if you master the skills. So, suppose you have the time to invest in creating the ultimate Elden Ring build that can last beyond the Elden Beast. In that case, I suggest that you carefully follow all instructions.
Character Stats
Firstly, you must fulfill the minimum stats requirements to wield this sword. Once you have the skills, you must continue on the path to gather additional character points. Next, it’s up to you to prioritize the investments depending on your playing style. One thing’s clear, you must greatly focus on upgrading the Intelligence stat beyond the first soft cap, i.e., level 50.
Although the weapon doesn’t use FP to craft magical damage. You will still need the Intelligence scaling to upgrade the star of the show, the Ghostflame Ignition. Similarly, you must also put a few points in Intelligence and Dexterity to improve your supporting gear’s damage and wielding abilities.
Lastly, you must prioritize the Mind, Vigor, and Endurance stats as your secondary goals. You will need the Mind to resist mental spells, Vigor to increase your damage resistance and HP bar, and Endurance to increase your resistance against damage and stamina. In short, all these attributes are exclusively crucial to create the perfect Deaths Poker build. So, take your time, complete all quests in hand, gather character points, and use them wisely according to the situation.
Weapons
The physical damage of the Deaths Poker Greatsword is comparable to any other contestant from the family. However, its magical damage and frost buildup are what set it apart from others. So, you must focus on collecting the necessary armaments as you progress along the story.
For this build guide, I suggest that you use the Carian Regal Scepter in your left hand and the Deaths Poker Greatsword in your Right hand. Moreover, you can also consider replacing the Carian Regal Scepter with either the Sword of Milos or Death Ritual Spear if you prefer a strength-oriented character. These weapons will also prepare you for melee attacks in close-range combat.
As you will be dual wielding the weapons, so acquiring shields is out of the question. Still, I suggest that you collect a few Legendary shields to keep in your inventory. Sometimes, you must defend against ranged enemies, and dodging just quite doesn’t work.
So, you must bring out your shield to reduce the distance from your foes and wield the gear when you are close enough. Furthermore, the only way to upgrade the Deaths Poker Greatsword is by using Somber Smithing Stones. So, keep an eye on the merchants and loot all possible locations to further polish this amazing sword.
Spells
You must keep one thing in mind all magical and consumable boosts are unusable on the Deaths Poker. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make use of the powerful destruction spells to increase your damage output. The sword deals magic damage and causes frost buildup. So, your obvious option is to master the spells that further deal the same damage. For instance, you must master the Adula’s Moonblade, Glinstone Iceberg, Greatblade Phalanx, Loretta’s Greatbow, and Zamor Ice Storm spells. Furthermore, you must also learn when to use which spell for maximum impact.
Gear
The gear section includes armors and talismans that you need to complete your build. Apparently, you won’t be using a shield, so your only protection is your dodges and armor sets. In this regard, you must use the Snow Witch Hat that grants you resistance against physical and magical damages and boosts your vitality. So, it seems like an obvious choice to protect what you can’t hide, i.e., your head.
As for the rest of the armor set, you can use the Snow Witch armor set for a distinct appearance or any other sturdy armor that allows medium rolls from time to time. Still, if you are to face the Elden Beast, I suggest that you wear Blaidd’s armor set for that particular battle. Apart from that, any light to medium armor set will suffice for the build.
Secondly, you will also need several talismans to complete your Death Poker Greatsword build. According to various sources and personal experience, you will need Carian Filigree Crest, Godfrey Icon, Magic Scorpion Charm, and Shard of Alexander talismans at any cost. All these items are crucial for the build. So, you must ensure not to miss out on any of them for maximum effect. Still, feel free to experiment with other options that you consider worthy of your build.
FAQs
What is the best Greatsword for Intelligence build?
In my opinion, the Deaths Poker is the only Greatsword that scales primarily with Intelligence. So, if you plan to conquer the Lands Between with a Prophet or any other class, I suggest that you get this sword ASAP. Moreover, the sword’s Weapon Art upgrades with Intelligence. So, you can easily maximize its impact by upgrading the Intelligence to level 50.
Which build should I use for PvP and PvE in Elden Ring?
There are numerous builds to choose from in Elden Ring. There are no right and wrong builds, and it all depends on your expectations and playing style. For instance, the Deaths Poker build will be your best choice if you prefer a build that deals massive magical damage and causes frost buildup on your enemies. Similarly, you can also consider other builds like the Dark Moon build if you are more of a brute force player.
Which stats should I focus on for a Deaths Poker build?
Firstly, you must have at least 15 Strength, 17 Dexterity, and 11 Intelligence to equip the sword in one hand. Once you get the sword, you must focus on upgrading stats like Mind, Intelligence, Vigor, Endurance, and Dexterity. In my opinion, you must have the following stats to complete your Deaths Poker build:
- Arcane: 14
- Dexterity: 20
- Endurance: 27
- Faith: 11
- Intelligence: 70
- Mind: 32
- Strength: 15
- Vigor: 40
Conclusion
Deaths Poker is the sword of the Deathbirds, the gatekeepers of the flames in graveyards. These mystical creatures rake out the ashen remains of the dead from their kilns. Apparently, this Greatsword can make you invincible in both PvP and PvE situations in Elden Ring.
However, you must first collect the necessary gear and possess the important attributes to master the art of fighting. This article provides a detailed guide about the Deaths Poker Build in Elden Ring and how you can tame the sword for maximum damage.
