Elden Ring Dexterity Build

Elden Ring isn’t all about swinging giant weapons and crushing your enemies. The beauty of this game is that it gives you the freedom of almost everything. From the visual aspects of your character to his mental state, you can trim almost everything to your taste.

For this reason, you can create a build around any character stat in the game, and Dexterity is one of them. Dexterity is the counterpart of Strength in Elden Ring that combines some of the most powerful aspects. In other words, Strength allows you to crush your foes with a gigantic hammer, while Dexterity makes it somewhat cooler.

Creating a Dexterity character build in Elden Ring unlocks countless opportunities for you. Firstly, most, if not all, weapons require Dexterity and scale massively with it. Secondly, Dexterity also utilizes the powers of magic spells to aid you in battle.

In short, having a Dexterity build in Elden Ring seems like a reasonable option when you are up against magic enemies. So, what are the best Dexterity builds in Elden Ring? This article will help you from First Step till you are confident enough to face the Elden Beast.

Dexterity Build Stats Goal

Dexterity builds add a touch of fineness and grace to your every attack. Instead of crushing your enemies or killing bosses with one hit, your main focus is on swift movements, fast attacks, and status ailments. Furthermore, your attacks will always comprise of counters, dodges, and long combos. However, you must polish your character right from the start to accomplish all this coolness.

You should aim for these stats as you gradually progress through the Lands Between. The key is to calculate your Rune points and wisely invest them in various traits. At first, such stats may seem impossible, but you can easily accomplish them before you reach level 50. 

This stats goal is a complete guide in every aspect, from defense to endurance and offensive. Firstly, you may want to upgrade Dexterity as soon as possible, for it is your main build stat. Dexterity hits a hard cap at level 80, so there is no need to go beyond that. Furthermore, it is your base attack stat, so you won’t survive long without investing quickly in it. Secondly, Vigor is the most important stat in the game. It governs how much HP you have for each battle. However, if 60 seems too much, you can limit it to 50 and use the points elsewhere. 

Lastly, Strength got a few extra points than other traits as you will need it to wield most weapons. So, 18 points in Strength are more than enough to help you carry all the Katanas and bows. Similarly, Mind and Endurance got a higher place so that you have enough FP to cast Weapon Arts and enough stamina to launch your battle strategies. In short, every stat adds some value to your build, so it is important to pay attention to these stats goals.

Important Items for any Dexterity Build:

Elden Ring isn’t all about who wields the bigger sword. The beauty of this game is mainly in its complex mechanics. For instance, a powerful weapon may give you the upper hand over some enemies, but not all of them. So, you must equally rely on supporting weapons, talismans, spells, and tears to make your way through the Lands Between.

Again, there are so many options to consider, and you can only use a few of them. In any case, here are some important items that go well with almost every Dexterity build in Elden Ring. It would be best to collect most, if not all of them to enjoy your adventure without any problems:

• Claw Talisman: If you choose to face your enemy with a melee weapon, your main focus will be on jump attacks. These attacks are very fruitful as you can break your foe’s defense, lay critical strikes, and even win the battle. The Claw Talisman is a must-have for almost every melee build, as it boosts the damage output of jump attacks for all weapons. Furthermore, the Dexterity build in Elden Ring also allows you to attack more than once with a single jump. So, this Talisman alone can help you defeat any opponent. You can find the Claw Talisman on a corpse on the rooftops near the Rampart Tower Site of Grace in Stormveil Castle.

• Dexterity Knot Crystal Tear: The Dexterity Knot Crystal Tear works in the same way as the Strength-Knot Tear. In other words, this Crystal Tear increases your Dexterity by up to 10 points. Say your current Dexterity is 30; the Crystal Tear will increase it to 40 instantly. This Tear is very practical, especially for the first few hours when you don’t have the stats to carry even the basic Dex weapons. Moreover, your weapons will also scale as if you upgraded the stat (Bloodhound weapons). You can acquire the Dexterity Knot Crystal Tear from the small field northwest of the Scenic Isle Site of Grace in Liurnia of the Lakes.
• Lord of Blood’s Exultation: Dexterity builds are all about inflicting your enemies with a bleeding effect. Almost every weapon for your build causes hemorrhage on your enemies. So, what if you could use it to further aid your efforts? The Lord of Blood’s Exultation Talisman boosts your damage output when your opponent is bleeding. This Talisman alone can be more than enough to defeat some of the toughest bosses in Elden Ring. You can get the Lord of Blood’s Exultation by defeating Esgar, Priest of Blood, in Leyndell Catacombs. However, you must first explore the area around the Subterranean Shunning Grounds to reach this boss.
• Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Talismans are meant to increase your efficiency in everything. Some grant you extra health, some heal you, while others make your attacks more efficient. In this regard, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia increases the damage output of your combos. Usually, you will unleash strike after strike when playing with a Dexterity build. So, this Talisman multiplies the damage output after each consecutive attack. To get the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, you must complete Millicent’s questline and choose to help her against the invaders.
• Thorny Cracked Tear: Imagine if you get stronger with every attack, nothing will stand a chance against you. Well, your dreams can come true with this Crystal Tear. The Thorny Tear functions in the same way as the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia Talisman. In other words, it increases the damage output of your consecutive strikes. But there’s more; you can combine the two items to get even higher damage boosts in your combo attacks. You can acquire the Thorny Cracker Tear by killing the Putrid Avatar boss in the Consecrated Snowfield Minor Erdtree.

Top 5 Dexterity Builds in Elden Ring

Most weapons and armaments in Elden Ring have Dexterity in the minimum requirements. So, starting with a Dexterity build opens up the whole weapon arsenal for you. However, you can’t acquire and carry all of them in one playthrough.

Therefore, here are the top 5 Dexterity builds that include everything from weapons to skills and items. Moreover, you can also customize the minor items from each build to create a unique build. In any case, you will still need to choose one base build to focus on during your playthrough. 

1. Bloodhound Knight:

• Weapons: Bloodhound’s Fang and Bloodhound’s Claws
• Armor: Bloodhound Knight Armor set
• Stats: Dexterity, Arcane, Endurance, Mind
• Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Carian Filigreed Crest, Shard of Alexander, Godfrey Icon

Most players choose a Dexterity build because of the Bloodhound Knight. This build includes some of the best weapons and items that can take you all the way to the Elden Beast. Furthermore, the Bloodhound Fang is undoubtedly one of the best starting weapons that cause massive bleeding buildup. All other items in this build revolve around increasing the bleeding boosts.

For instance, you can combine the Bloodhound Fang with the Lord of Blood Talisman to increase your damage output. Similarly, Godfrey’s Icon and the Shard of Alexander will reduce the FP cost for both your Bloodhound weapons. Lastly, the Bloodhound Knight armor set is reliable and aesthetically beautiful. So, if you want to experience the true power of Dexterity, you should start with the Bloodhound build.

2. Flowing Swordsman:

• Weapons: Flowing Curved Sword (with Ash of War: Sword Dance) and Scavenger’s Curved Sword
• Armor: Blue Cloth and Warrior set
• Stat: Dexterity, Endurance, Mind
• Talismans: Shard of Alexander, Godfrey Icon, Carian Filigreed Crest, Winged Sword Insignia

Malenia is undoubtedly the most badass and toughest boss in Elden Ring. Most of the time, players avoid facing her because she seems impossible to defeat. But what if you could live like the blue-clad warrior who taught her everything? The Flowing Swordsman build revolves around this part of the game lore. This build came into being when someone discovered the Flowing curved sword in the game.

This sword features a special charged attack which is pretty similar to the Sword Dance Ash of War. Moreover, the outcome is even better if you combine the two attacks. Secondly, you will need a secondary weapon, i.e., the Scavenger’s Curved Sword, to increase the bleeding damage.

The Talismans in this build focus on boosting your damage and reducing the FP costs. In short, if you are a die-hard fan of Malenia and the game lore, you should try replicating the Flowing Swordsman build.

3. Ravenmount Assassin:

• Weapons: Raptor Talons or Hookclaws (in the early game)
• Armor: Raptor’s Black Feathers, Skeletal Mask
• Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Winged Sword Insignia, Claw Talisman
• Stat: Dexterity, Arcane, Endurance, Mind

The Ravenmount Assassin build mainly focuses on maximum attack damage. You should only consider this build if you are comfortable with attacking endlessly. The beauty of this build is that it replicates Eileen from Bloodborne to some extent. So, you will feel like at home if you are a Soulsborne veteran. The Raptor Talons of the Ravenmount Assassins scale primarily with Dexterity.

So, you will increase your efficiency while working on your character stats. Similarly, you can either choose to maximize your bleeding output with Godfrey’s Icon and Shard of Alexander or increase your combo damage with the Winged Sword Insignia. Lastly, the Claw Talisman goes well with every strategy for your jump attacks.

4. Samurai Build:

• Weapons: Cross Naginata
• Armor: Land of Reeds Helmet, Kaiden Armor set
• Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Carian Filigreed Crest, Shard of Alexander, Godfrey Icon
• Stat: Dexterity, Arcane, Endurance, Mind

Starting with the Samurai class means that you want to focus on Dexterity. The Katanas are the most powerful weapons in Elden Ring, but they aren’t always the right choice for a Samurai. In my opinion, the Cross Naginata from the Gaol Tunnel dungeon is a far better option. It offers the damage output and the range of a Katana but with better bonuses.

Similarly, the Polearm Ash of War makes it worth your effort. The move sets of the Cross Naginata allow you to move seamlessly and kill your enemies in style. It is an open-end build, and you can choose your Talismans according to your taste. Lastly, the custom armor set not only looks cool but also grants you an extra boost against all enemies. In short, if you are looking for the best early-game build, I suggest that you try this one out.

5. Standard Dual Katana Build:

• Weapon: Uchigatana (Dual-Wield)
• Armor: Bloodhound Knight Armor set
• Talisman: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Blue Dancer’s Charm, Winged Sword Insignia
• Stats: Vigor, Endurance, Dexterity, Arcane

Uchigatana is one of the best and most powerful starting weapons in the game. This build requires that you wield two of them. Now you have several options when it comes to Katanas. However, you must get two of them to make this build work. For most Katanas, you must replicate the Remembrance or play as NG+1 to get two of them. As this build is all about one playthrough, so I suggest that you go with the easiest option.

You can get the first Uchigatana when you start as a Samurai. For the second Uchigatana, you must travel to the Deathtouched Catacombs. Secondly, you must focus on increasing your bleeding damage; that’s what Katanas are all about. The Talismans in this build focus on using the bleeding effect to your benefit. In short, if you are a big fan of Samurais, you should definitely start with this build.

Some Tips for Your Dexterity Build

Dexterity builds include weapons, armors, Crystal Tears, and talismans to aid you in battle. However, you can’t fully rely on these items without focusing on your skills. Moreover, you will also need a fighting strategy to overcome your enemies. In short, you should follow these tips and tricks to make better use of your gear. 

• Parry your way out: Parrying is a big part of any melee combat. However, with no shields to protect you, a secondary sword is your only option. Parrying allows you to block off enemy attacks, disturb their posture, and open new windows to attack. You can easily turn the tide of any battle by combining parrying with your fast sword combos. All you need to do is to block the attack at the last moment and let the swords do the talking.
• Don’t neglect any stat: Stats are the major game winners in Elden Ring. Most players think that Dexterity alone would be sufficient. However, you must focus on all other stats to increase your HP, FP, Stamina, Resistance, and skills. In short, you should invest the extra Rune points in secondary character stats to better benefit from your build.
• Flails are useful: Physical damage isn’t always the right answer in the game. Sometimes you must use a blunt weapon to defeat your enemy. However, Flails are the only weapons that scale primarily with Dexterity. So, you should carry at least one such weapon in your inventory to face the worse. For instance, the Crystalian’s boss is immune to every other damage. So, the only way to defeat them is to use a Flail Blunt weapon.
• Bows are useful: Most Dexterity players only focus on melee weapons. However, there are times when the enemy is far away, or your strategy demands a ranged attack. In that case, you should always carry a bow or any appropriate ranged weapon in your arsenal. Trust me, you will need it at some point during your adventure.

Conclusion

Most of the weapons in Elden Ring require Dexterity as the main stat. So, starting with a Dexterity build opens countless opportunities for all playstyles. The problem is so many choices often confuse the players. Therefore, this guide provides all the best Dexterity builds in Elden Ring to help you survive in the Lands Between.