Elden Ring Dual-Wielding Mastery

Mastering two-handed weapon combat in Elden Ring delivers devastating results against foes. This guide explains the mechanics of two-handing weapons and explores its tactical advantages.

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How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring
Benefits of Two-Handing Weapons
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
Top Weapons for Two-Handed Combat

Two-Handing Controls Explained

To two-hand weapons in Elden Ring, hold E (PC), triangle (PlayStation), or Y (Xbox) while pressing the attack button for your desired weapon slot. Using customized controls? Verify these inputs remain unchanged.

These controls also work mounted, perfect for weapon-switching builds. Remember: Weapons requiring two-handing due to Strength limitations must be activated before mounting. Torrent's controls override standard two-handing mechanics.

Recommended Reading: Exiting Roundtable Hold in Elden Ring

Combat Advantages of Two-Handing

Two-handing weapons offers significant benefits in Elden Ring. The 50% Strength boost enhances scaling weapon damage dramatically. This temporary stat increase also unlocks weapon requirements, letting players wield heavier arms without full stat investment.

Many weapons gain altered movesets when two-handed, including damage type variations. This flexibility creates additional combat options mid-fight. The Strength bonus particularly benefits Greatsword users, reducing their stat burden.

Two-handing prioritizes your weapon's Ash of War over your shield skill. This ensures consistent access to powerful weapon arts without requiring "No Skill" on shields - crucial for builds relying on offensive abilities.

Potential Combat Limitations

While excellent for Strength builds, two-handing presents considerations. The altered attack patterns require adaptation - sometimes sacrificing raw damage for situational effectiveness matters more. Evaluate each encounter carefully.

Dexterity-focused builds may find two-handing less beneficial. Experimentation determines whether the technique suits your build's playstyle and stat distribution.

Optimal Weapons for Two-Handed Play

Strength-scaling heavy weapons excel when two-handed. The Two-Handed Sword Talisman (Shadow of the Erdtree DLC) further amplifies this playstyle for blades.

Top recommendations include:
- Greatswords: Standard Greatsword, Zweihander
- Colossal Weapons: Giant-Crusher (non-blade option)
- Strength-based Great Hammers
Select based on your mobility preferences and combat rhythm.

Master these techniques to dominate the Lands Between.

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.