Mastering Two-Handed Combat in Elden Ring

Mastering the art of wielding a weapon with two hands in *Elden Ring* can significantly boost your combat effectiveness. In this guide, we'll explore the mechanics of two-handing, the benefits it offers, potential drawbacks, and the best weapons to use for this technique.

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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 two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring, hold down the E key on PC, the triangle button on PlayStation, or the Y button on Xbox, then press the attack button for the weapon you wish to wield with both hands. If you've customized your control settings, ensure you're familiar with the new layout.

This technique is also applicable while riding a horse, allowing seamless weapon switching between melee and magic. Remember, if a weapon requires two hands due to Strength requirements, you must start two-handing it before mounting your horse, as the two-handed state won't activate once you're already on horseback.

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

Why You Should Two-Hand in Elden Ring

Screenshot by The Escapist. There are compelling reasons to opt for two-handing weapons in Elden Ring. Primarily, it increases your Strength by 50%, significantly enhancing damage output with Strength-scaled weapons. This boost also alters the weapon's move set, potentially changing the damage type, which can be strategically advantageous.

Moreover, two-handing allows you to wield heavier weapons that you might not be able to use effectively one-handed. It also enables more efficient use of your weapon's Ashes of War, especially if you prefer using a sword over a shield, as it ensures your weapon skill remains active instead of defaulting to the shield's skill.

The Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-Hands

Screenshot by The Escapist. While two-handing is advantageous for Strength builds, it comes with its own set of challenges. The altered move set requires adaptation, and sometimes, the situational effectiveness of an attack might outweigh the raw damage increase.

If your build focuses on Dexterity or other attributes, two-handing might not be as beneficial, necessitating experimentation to find the most suitable approach for your playstyle.

Best Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring

Screenshot by The Escapist. When considering the best weapons for two-handing in Elden Ring, focus on those that scale well with Strength. The Shadow of the Erdtree update introduced the Two-Handed Sword Talisman, which further amplifies damage when two-handing swords.

Ideal choices include Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and other Colossal Weapons. Specifically, the Greatsword, Zweihander, Fire Knight's Greatsword, and Giant-Crusher stand out as excellent options for those looking to maximize their two-handed combat potential.

And that's a comprehensive guide on how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring.

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.