Shadow of the Erdtree is Elden Ring’s massive DLC expansion, and it demands well-optimized builds. The DLC introduced new weapons, Ashes of War, and the Scadutree Blessing system that scales your damage and defense within the Land of Shadow. Even with Scadutree upgrades, DLC bosses are significantly tougher than the base game — a well-built character makes the difference between a 3-attempt boss and a 30-attempt wall.
This guide covers 6 top builds for Shadow of the Erdtree, all designed for level 150 (the recommended DLC entry level). Each build lists weapons, stats, talismans, armor recommendations, and playstyle tips. For general DLC preparation and tips, check our Shadow of the Erdtree beginner guide.
Important Notes Before You Build
- Scadutree Blessings are essential. Collect Scadutree Fragments throughout the Land of Shadow and upgrade at any Site of Grace. These provide up to +20 levels of damage and defense scaling within the DLC. Do not skip these — DLC bosses are balanced around you having them.
- Respec is cheap. Larval Tears allow infinite respecs at Rennala. If your current build is not working, respec rather than suffering through. The base game has 18 Larval Tears, and the DLC adds more.
- Weapon upgrades matter more than level. A +25 regular weapon or +10 somber weapon at level 130 will outperform a +15 weapon at level 170. Prioritize upgrading your primary weapon to maximum before entering the DLC.
- All builds below assume level 150 with base class starting stats. Adjust if you are higher or lower level.
1. Colossal Strength Build (Stagger Everything)
The quintessential power fantasy. Massive weapons, massive damage, massive poise. DLC bosses have large health pools that reward high per-hit damage over fast chip damage.
Stats (Level 150, Hero Start)
- Vigor: 55
- Mind: 20
- Endurance: 35
- Strength: 66
- Dexterity: 16 (minimum for weapon requirements)
- Intelligence / Faith / Arcane: Base
Weapons
- Primary: Giant-Crusher (Colossal Weapon, S Strength scaling at +25 with Heavy infusion) or the DLC’s Devonia’s Hammer which deals additional holy damage on charged R2s.
- Backup: Greatsword (the ultra greatsword from Caelid) for a slightly faster colossal option with excellent sweep attacks for groups.
- Ash of War: Lion’s Claw (massive hyper-armor slam) or the DLC’s Savage Lion’s Claw which has a wider AOE and faster recovery.
Talismans
- Shard of Alexander (boosts Ash of War damage by 15%)
- Claw Talisman (boosts jump attack damage by 15%)
- Bull-Goat’s Talisman (increases poise)
- Erdtree’s Favor +2 (HP, stamina, equip load boost)
Armor
Wear the heaviest armor your endurance allows while staying at Medium Roll. Bull-Goat’s Set is ideal. With 35 Endurance and Erdtree’s Favor +2, you can wear most heavy sets.
Playstyle
Jump attacks are your bread and butter. Jump + R2 with a colossal weapon deals massive poise damage and staggers most DLC bosses in 3-4 hits. During stagger windows, use your Ash of War for burst damage. Do not get greedy with combos — one or two hits, then dodge.
2. Dexterity / Bleed Build (Fast and Deadly)
Bleed remains one of the strongest damage mechanics in Elden Ring despite multiple nerfs. DLC bosses that are weak to bleed melt in seconds; those that resist it still take strong physical damage from a well-built Dex setup.
Stats (Level 150, Samurai Start)
- Vigor: 50
- Mind: 15
- Endurance: 25
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 55
- Arcane: 35 (boosts bleed buildup)
Weapons
- Primary: Rivers of Blood (Katana, innate bleed, incredible Ash of War) or the DLC’s Falx (curved sword with innate bleed and a unique heavy attack chain).
- Dual wield option: Two Scavenger’s Curved Swords with Occult infusion for maximum bleed buildup in power stance.
- Ash of War: Corpse Piler (Rivers of Blood’s unique skill) or Seppuku (adds bleed to any weapon, stacks with innate bleed).
Talismans
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation (20% damage boost when bleed procs nearby)
- Shard of Alexander (Ash of War damage boost)
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (successive hit damage boost — perfect for fast weapons)
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (physical damage negation for survivability)
Playstyle
Dual-wield L1 combos build bleed stacks rapidly. Most enemies proc bleed in 3-5 hits with this setup. Against bleed-resistant bosses, switch to a single weapon with Keen infusion (pure Dex scaling, no bleed) for consistent physical damage. Be aggressive but respect DLC boss one-shot attacks — your lower Vigor means mistakes hurt more.
3. Intelligence Sorcery Build (Ranged Devastation)
Sorcery dominates from a distance, and the DLC added several new spells that make this build even more versatile. The trade-off is fragility up close — know your spacing.
Stats (Level 150, Astrologer Start)
- Vigor: 45
- Mind: 35
- Endurance: 15
- Strength: Base
- Dexterity: 16 (casting speed soft cap)
- Intelligence: 70
Weapons and Catalysts
- Staff: Lusat’s Glintstone Staff (highest sorcery scaling, uses more FP per cast) or Carian Regal Scepter (strong scaling, more FP-efficient).
- Melee backup: Moonveil (INT-scaling katana with a devastating Ash of War) or the DLC’s Carian Sorcery Sword for a pure INT melee option.
Key Spells
- Comet Azur — The laser beam. Combined with the Cerulean Hidden Tear (zero FP cost for 10 seconds), this melts bosses during openings.
- Stars of Ruin — Tracking projectiles that are nearly impossible to dodge. Excellent for aggressive bosses.
- Rock Sling — Gravity sorcery that deals physical damage and staggers. Your answer to magic-resistant enemies.
- DLC spell – Miriam’s Vanishing — A teleport spell that repositions you while leaving a damaging decoy. Outstanding for creating safe distance.
Talismans
- Graven-Mass Talisman (raises potency of sorceries by 8%)
- Magic Scorpion Charm (12% magic damage boost, 10% physical damage taken increase)
- Radagon Icon (shortens spell casting time)
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (offsets Magic Scorpion Charm’s defense penalty)
Playstyle
Maintain distance. Open with Comet Azur during safe windows (boss recovering from an attack), then use Stars of Ruin for tracking damage while dodging. When FP runs low, switch to Moonveil for melee-range burst with Transient Moonlight. Always carry Cerulean Flasks heavily weighted (10 blue, 4 red is common for sorcery builds).
4. Faith / Incantation Build (Holy Fire)
Faith builds offer the most versatility in Elden Ring — heals, buffs, offensive lightning, fire, and holy damage. The DLC added powerful new incantations that make pure Faith stronger than ever.
Stats (Level 150, Prophet Start)
- Vigor: 50
- Mind: 30
- Endurance: 20
- Strength: 20
- Dexterity: 16
- Faith: 60
Weapons and Seals
- Seal: Erdtree Seal (best overall Faith scaling at high levels) or Godslayer’s Seal (boosts Godslayer incantations specifically).
- Melee: Blasphemous Blade (heals on kill, excellent Ash of War) or the DLC’s Sword of Light which scales purely with Faith and deals holy damage.
- Alternative melee: Coded Sword (pure holy damage, unblockable weapon skill).
Key Incantations
- Lightning Spear / Ancient Dragon’s Lightning Strike — Your ranged damage options. Lightning Spear is fast and cheap; Ancient Dragon’s is devastating but slow.
- Black Flame — Deals percentage-based damage over time that is effective against bosses with large health pools. The DLC versions of Black Flame are stronger.
- Golden Vow — 15% damage boost and 10% defense boost for 80 seconds. Cast this before every boss fight.
- Erdtree Heal — Full party heal for co-op or self-heal in a pinch.
- DLC spell – Messmer’s Flame — A powerful fire incantation that creates a pillar of flame with lingering damage. Excellent for area denial.
Talismans
- Flock’s Canvas Talisman (raises potency of incantations by 8%)
- Fire Scorpion Charm (12% fire damage boost) or Sacred Scorpion Charm (holy damage)
- Shard of Alexander (Ash of War / weapon skill damage)
- Erdtree’s Favor +2 (HP, stamina, equip load)
Playstyle
Buff with Golden Vow before engagements. Use Lightning Spear at range and Blasphemous Blade’s Taker’s Flames at mid-range for massive area damage. The heal-on-kill from Blasphemous Blade gives incredible sustain during exploration. Switch to Black Flame for high-HP bosses where percentage damage shines.
5. Quality Build (Versatile All-Rounder)
Quality builds invest equally in Strength and Dexterity, allowing you to use virtually any weapon in the game effectively. This is the best build for players who like to experiment with different weapons throughout the DLC.
Stats (Level 150, Vagabond Start)
- Vigor: 50
- Mind: 15
- Endurance: 30
- Strength: 40
- Dexterity: 40
- Intelligence / Faith / Arcane: Base
Weapons
- Primary: Any weapon with Quality infusion. Top picks include Claymore (greatsword, excellent moveset), Guardian’s Swordspear (halberd, fast and long reach), and the DLC’s Milady (light greatsword with one of the best movesets in the DLC).
- The key advantage: You can swap to virtually any weapon you find in the DLC and use it effectively. Find a cool new weapon? Infuse it with Quality and it works.
- Ash of War: Player’s choice. Flame of the Redmanes (fast cast, high stagger), Square Off (on straight swords), or any DLC Ash of War you discover.
Talismans
- Shard of Alexander (Ash of War damage)
- Erdtree’s Favor +2 (HP, stamina, equip load)
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (physical defense)
- Green Turtle Talisman (stamina recovery) or Claw Talisman (jump attack damage)
Playstyle
Pure melee combat. No spells, no gimmicks — just solid fundamentals. Learn boss attack patterns, punish openings with combos, and use your Ash of War during recovery windows. The Quality build rewards players who enjoy mastering Elden Ring’s combat mechanics directly. High Endurance means you can swing more, dodge more, and wear heavier armor than specialized builds.
6. Arcane / Status Build (Bleed + Rot + Poison)
The Arcane build specializes in status effects. High Arcane boosts bleed, poison, rot, and madness buildup on weapons with innate status effects. This build excels against enemies with large health pools where percentage-based bleed and lingering DoT effects outscale raw damage.
Stats (Level 150, Bandit Start)
- Vigor: 50
- Mind: 20
- Endurance: 25
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 20
- Arcane: 60
Weapons
- Primary: Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear (Arcane scaling, innate bleed, devastating Ash of War that hits multiple times) or dual Occult-infused Scavenger’s Curved Swords for raw bleed buildup.
- Backup: Occult-infused Antspur Rapier (innate Scarlet Rot + Bleed with Occult infusion). Add Poison affinity via Ash of War for triple status application.
- Dragon Communion Seal: For Arcane-scaling incantations like Swarm of Flies (ranged bleed buildup) and Dragon Breath spells.
Talismans
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation (damage boost on bleed proc)
- Kindred of Rot’s Exultation (damage boost on poison/rot proc)
- Shard of Alexander (Ash of War damage)
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (successive hit damage boost)
Playstyle
Stack status effects aggressively. Power-stance L1 combos build bleed in 3-4 hits. Use Swarm of Flies at range to build bleed on enemies you cannot safely approach. Against status-immune bosses (some DLC bosses resist all status effects), Occult-infused weapons still deal strong physical damage thanks to Arcane scaling. This build is weakest against immune bosses but the strongest in the game against everything else.
Which Build Should You Choose?
- First-time DLC player: Quality Build or Faith Build (most versatile, good survivability).
- Want maximum damage: Dex/Bleed or Arcane/Status (melts non-immune bosses).
- Prefer ranged combat: Intelligence Sorcery (safest positioning, highest burst damage).
- Want to feel unstoppable: Colossal Strength (stagger-locking bosses never gets old).
For performance settings to keep Elden Ring running smoothly during the DLC’s demanding boss fights, see our best Elden Ring settings for RTX 3060 at 60 FPS.
More Elden Ring guides:
- Shadow of the Erdtree Beginner Guide
- Best Elden Ring PC Settings (RTX 3060, 60 FPS)
- How to Reduce Input Lag in PC Gaming
