Ain’t it a real brain-teaser, picking your starting class in Elden Ring? I mean, I’ve been down the rabbit hole searching for the perfect class, but it’s tough finding one guide that’s got the whole package, from the basics to those end-game power moves. Lucky for you, I decided to roll up my sleeves and cover all the classes in that fashion. So, here’s the one-stop-shop guide to the Warrior class in Elden Ring.
The Warrior takes the backseat in terms of defense but more than makes up for it with its speed and damage potential. It has the highest DEX stat out of all the classes, accompanied by two Scimitars in each hand to perform some elegantly lethal combos. It is a melee class through and through, which demands your dodging skills to be at their best.
Is Warrior good for beginners?
Starter Equipment
| Weapons | 2x Scimitar |
| Shield | Riveted Wooden Shield |
| Armor | Blue Cloth Cowl Blue Cloth Vest Warrior Gauntlets Warrior Greaves |
Starting Stats
| Soul Level | 8 |
| Vigor | 11 |
| Mind | 12 |
| Endurance | 11 |
| Strength | 10 |
| Dexterity | 16 |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 9 |
The Warrior is a walking blender with a sword in each hand, this class is all about fast combat at the expense of limited defensive options. This class is dexterity-focused for those fast and intricate weaponry in Elden Ring. It is the perfect starting point for most DEX builds.
Right off the gate, the Warrior has two Scimitars that they can dual-wield. The L1 combos of dual swords deal a ton of damage and execute these combos with quick finesse. A single one of these curved swords is fast enough, but when paired with another it becomes a shredding machine.
The high Endurance stat makes sure you continue your shredding combos without unnecessary breaks in the middle. Moreover, the starting Mind level also facilitates the use of Ashes of Wars regularly. However, the Spinning Slash weapon skill of the Scimitars is slow so replace it with something faster.
You will have to invest some points in Vigor and Strength to withstand the punishment from enemies. If you are up for keeping things lightweight then there is no better class than this.
The shield it comes with is weak and is mainly for blocking minimal damage and/or parrying. Even the armor on this class isn’t that protective. You have to rely more on dodging skills for your defensive maneuvers rather than your gear.
This class is for people who are familiar with the combat in souls-like in general. The lack of protective gear, stats, and no ranged option makes it harder to master. Additionally, the advanced playstyle of dual-wielding isn’t beginner-friendly.
What are the best Builds for Warrior?
Here are some builds that go perfectly with the Warrior class in Elden Ring:
Best Melee Build for Warrior
Stat Sheet
| Level | 150 |
| Vigor | 52 |
| Mind | 30 |
| Endurance | 30 |
| Strength | 19 |
| Dexterity | 75 (+5 from the talisman) |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 10 |
Equipment
| Talismans | Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom Shard of Alexander Ritual Sword Talisman Millicent’s Prosthesis OR Any elemental damage-boosting talisman |
| Weapons | Keen Nagakiba +25 with Unsheath Ash of War |
| Aromatic | Bloodboil Aromatic |
| Mix of Wonderous Physick | Thorny Cracked Tear Greenburst Crystal Tear |
| Armor | Any armor set under the 70% equip load for med rolling. |
How to play with the build:
This build is all about applying a plethora of elemental status effects quickly. The various status effects exploit the weaknesses of most enemies, and the longer reach of the Nagakiba makes it much easier to apply them. Double-hand the sword to increase its effectiveness.
Make sure your Nagakiba has the Unsheath Ash of War for its incredibly fast delivery. The STR stat level is only there to equip the Nagakiba, while the high DEX stat will get the most scaling out of the Keen affinity of the weapon.
The build relies on Grease of all kinds, so you have to start farming the materials to craft them or buy them from merchants. We have listed all the Grease types in the game below. Try to have all of them on you at all times so you can apply them as and when you see fit.
What do you need for this build:
- Unsheath Ash of War: This skill allows us to output large amounts of damage in chunks instead of relying on long combos. This means we can get in some quick damage when we want, giving us plenty of time to avoid incoming attacks or even reposition.
- Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom: This talisman gives an additional 5 DEX to the build for better scaling of the weapon.
- Shard of Alexander: This talisman boosts the damage of weapon skills. Since we’ll be using the Unsheath skill constantly, this talisman will be quite potent for the build.
- Ritual Sword Talisman: This talisman raises the attack power by 10% when your HP is full. This talisman demands you to be good at avoiding damage to capitalize on its effects. Or you can use Crimson flasks to keep your HP topped up.
- Millicent’s Prosthesis: This talisman raises the attack power up to 11%. On top of that, it grants an extra 5 DEX points which will aid weapon scaling. The catch is that you have to successfully land multiple hits in quick succession to apply the effect.
- You can always swap to other elemental talismans to exploit the weakness of the enemies. For example, when facing Godfrey, you can equip the Lightning Scorpion Charm to boost lightning damage from the Lightning Grease.
- Bloodboil Aromatic: This perfume bottle’s buff is insane. It negates incoming damage, increases max stamina, and boosts all physical damage by a huge number.
- Golden Vow: This is an optional addition. This incantation boosts damage even further although you’ll need a Seal to cast it.
- As for the Mix of Wonderous Physick, you can use these tears:
- Thorny Cracked Tear: This tear functions the same as Millicent’s Prosthesis talisman.
- Greenburst Crystal Tear: This tear increases stamina recovery.
- You can always opt for elemental damage-boosting tears for specific elemental damage.
- Now the pièce de résistance, the Greases you apply to your weapon. It is best to consult the Elden Ring Wiki to know what materials you need. Also, knowing the weakness of your enemy is handy information to apply the right Grease for the job. These Greases come in different varieties:
- Holy Grease
- Fire Grease
- Rot Grease
- Dragonwound Grease
- Magic Grease
- Lightning Grease
- Soporific Grease
- Blood Grease
- Poison Grease
- Freezing Grease
The preparation ritual of the build is super simple. Just down the Bloodboil Aromatic, apply the Grease of your liking, and go to town on the enemy. The Unsheath skill is your go-to method of dealing damage. Of course, you do have to be quick on your feet to dodge attacks and keep your HP at max for those talisman effects.
You’ll be surprised by the damage you’ll end up dealing, especially if the enemy is vulnerable to certain elemental status effects.
Best Hybrid Build for Warrior
Stat Sheet
| Level | 150 |
| Vigor | 50 |
| Mind | 20 |
| Endurance | 23 |
| Strength | 12 |
| Dexterity | 60 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 15 |
| Arcane | 40 |
Equipment
| Talismans | Shard of Alexander Rotten Winged Sword Insignia Fire Scorpion Charm Lord of Blood’s Exultation |
| Weapons | Eleonora’s Poleblade +10 Any Dagger to equip Golden Vow Ash of War |
| Seal | Frenzied Flame Seal +9 or +10 |
| Incantation | Flame, Grant Me Strength |
| Mix of Wonderous Physick | Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear Thorny Cracked Tear |
| Armor | White Mask with any armor that keeps us under the 70% weight limit. |
How to play with the build:
With this build, we’ll be capitalizing on the stylish yet bloody Eleonora’s Poleblade. This has a fantastic Ash of War, Bloodblade Dance. This skill is going to hit your enemies in rapid succession causing them to be stun-locked, all the while building up blood flame and Hemorrhage on your enemy thus procing your talisman and armor.
Just four slices of this weapon will be enough to cause blood loss which takes away a large chink of enemy health. On top of that, the Bloodflame has lingering damage effects that slowly chip away at enemy health.
The mix of Bloodblade Dance skill and heavy R2 attacks are all that you need to finish the job. These attacks will turn you into a lethal gymnast, cutting away anything that dares stand in the way of your twirls.
What do you need for this build:
- Shard of Alexander: This talisman will boost the damage of Eleonora’s Poleblade skill.
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: The talisman’s attack power buff to successive hits synergizes with the twin blade weapon’s fast combos quite nicely.
- Fire Scorpion Charm: Since the weapon inflicts Bloodflame damage, this talisman will further enhance the damage output.
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation: Whenever you proc bleed, which is like all the time with Eleonora’s Poleblade, you will receive a damage buff.
- White Mask: This headgear has the same effect as Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman, giving you a further damage boost with each Bleed proc.
- Golden Vow Ash of War: This skill will grant an additional damage boost with some damage negation. Apply it to any weapon you like.
- Flame, Grant Me Strength: This invitation will increase physical damage output along with improving fire damage as well. Any Seal would work for the casting however we chose the Frenzied Flame Seal for its zero weight.
- As for the Mix of Wonderous Physick, you should use these tears:
- Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear: This gives a temporary boost to fire damage. Paired with the Bloodflame on your weapon and the result is literally firey.
- Thorny Cracked Tear: It has the same effect as the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia talisman.
Other than the Flame, Grant Me Strength incantation, Golden Vow Ash of War, and the Wonderous Physick, there isn’t any elaborate preparation required for this build. Just apply the buffs and start spamming the Bloodblade Dance. Let the Blodflame and Bleed do its work.
Most enemies will be locked in place while you are spinning about, and all the buffs will work together to incrementally boost your damage. Bosses and enemies will be mesmerized by your moves and won’t even realize their health has evaporated away.
Does your class actually matter in Elden Ring?
Picking your starting class is a big deal early on in the game. Each class brings its own strengths, weaknesses, and tricks up its sleeve. Some are tailor-made for certain roles, like the Warrior, who’s a dual-wielding whiz.
But don’t sweat it too much as you get deeper into the game. When you level up, you’ve got the freedom to put your points wherever you like. Starting with a class that matches your style gives you a good foundation, but it won’t box you in for the long haul.
Take, for example, if you’re all about casting spells, then the Warrior might not be your top pick. On the contrary, with little investment in Intelligence, you easily construct a dual-wielding magic-casting powerhouse out of the Warrior.
Can you change your class in Elden Ring?
Unfortunately, once you kick off your journey, you’re kind of locked into your starting class. However, there’s a ray of hope. Once you’ve taken down Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon, in Elden Ring, you’ll unlock a respec feature.
There’s a little catch, though. The respec only gives you back the points you personally allocated, not the ones that came bundled with your class choice. So, your class’s default stats won’t budge, even after a respec.
If you’re itching for a whole new class adventure, you have to go all-in with a fresh new game. No shortcuts, not even in New Game+.
Warrior Tips and Tricks
Some tips you can employ when starting off with this class:
- The L1 combos of dual Scimitars not only deal massive damage but are great for applying status effects (Poison, Bleed, Cold, etc.) at a faster rate. This means you should pack some Grease to make the most out of this class.
- I cannot stress the effectiveness of the jumping L1 attack enough. The dual-scimitar jumping L1 comes out fast, closes the distance, and swings around the weapon multiple times. You can take away a huge chunk of enemy health by surprising them with this attack especially if they are unaware.
- An effective way to fight is to utilize hit and run strategy with the jump attacks. You can easily jump-attack an enemy move away and then look for another opening to repeat the process.
- Invest in Vigor ASAP. The starting levels are quite low.
- Replace the Scimitar’s Spinning Slash weapon skill with something. This skill is needlessly slow so having some faster skill will complement the class’s playstyle.
- Better to let go of the shield and practice the dual-wielding playstyle. The class is designed for this purpose.
- The high DEX stats do allow you to equip a bow. Grab any bow you can find at the start to circumvent the absence of a ranged option. It will come in handy when you want to lure enemies from larger groups.
- Practice dodging! It is a must that you learn enemy patterns to dodge effectively since you don’t have any other means of protecting yourself.
- Better to allot most of your flasks to HP. Only carry one or two FP flasks for Ashes of War.
- Replace the starting armor set when you get the chance. Equip one that has better defensive stats all the while staying under the medium weight limit.
The Warrior can be deemed as a deadly dancer in Elden Ring. With a sword in both hands and a flowy combat style, you will not only dish out hefty damage but also look good while doing it. You will have to up your dodging game to compensate for the lack of defense, though.