Mastering Two-Handed Weapons in Elden Ring

Mastering the art of two-handing weapons in *Elden Ring* can significantly enhance your combat prowess, giving you a powerful edge against formidable foes. In this guide, we'll delve into the mechanics of two-handing, the advantages it offers, potential drawbacks, and the best weapons to wield with both hands.

JUMP TO:

How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden RingWhy You Should Two-Hand in Elden RingThe Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-HandsBest Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring

To initiate two-handing a weapon in Elden Ring, you'll need to hold the E key on PC, the triangle button on PlayStation, or the Y button on Xbox. Once you've held down the appropriate button, press the attack button corresponding to either your left or right-hand weapon to switch to two-handed mode. If you've customized your control settings, ensure you haven't altered these defaults.

This technique is versatile, allowing you to switch weapons even while mounted. If you're using a weapon that requires two-handing due to Strength requirements, remember to switch to two-handed mode before mounting your horse. Once mounted, you won't be able to initiate two-handing unless it was already activated beforehand.

Related: How to Get Out of Roundtable Hold in Elden Ring

Why You Should Two-Hand in Elden Ring

Two-handing weapons in Elden Ring offers several compelling benefits. Primarily, it increases your Strength by 50%, which significantly boosts damage output, especially with weapons that scale well with Strength. This can turn your strikes into devastating blows.

Additionally, two-handing often alters the weapon's move set, potentially changing the damage type and enhancing combat versatility. It also allows you to use weapons that would otherwise be too heavy, enabling you to manage your Strength stat more efficiently while still wielding powerful weapons like greatswords.

Moreover, two-handing your weapon grants you better access to your Ashes of War. If you're using a sword and shield setup, two-handing your sword allows you to utilize its Ash of War directly, bypassing the shield's default skill.

The Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-Hands

While two-handing can be a game-changer for Strength builds in Elden Ring, it's not without its drawbacks. The altered move set requires some adjustment, as the new attack patterns might not be as effective in every scenario. It's crucial to adapt your strategy to the environment and enemy types, sometimes favoring a different approach over raw damage.

Two-handing is most beneficial for Strength-based builds, so if you're focusing on Dexterity or other stats, you may find it less advantageous. It's important to experiment and find what works best for your playstyle.

Best Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring

For those looking to maximize the benefits of two-handing in Elden Ring, large weapons that scale well with Strength are your top choices. With the introduction of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, consider equipping the Two-Handed Sword Talisman to further enhance your damage output when wielding swords with both hands.

Recommended weapons for two-handing include Greatswords like the Greatsword, Zweihander, and Fire Knight's Greatsword, as well as Colossal Swords. Great Hammers and other Colossal Weapons are also excellent choices for Strength scaling. If you're looking for a non-sword option, the Giant-Crusher is a formidable weapon to consider.

By mastering the technique of two-handing, you can elevate your gameplay in Elden Ring, making your battles more effective and thrilling.

Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Update: This article was updated on 1/27/25 by Liam Nolan to provide more insight into how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring.