Master Two-Handing Weapons in Elden Ring: A Guide

Mastering the art of wielding a weapon with both hands can significantly boost your performance in *Elden Ring*, turning you into a formidable force against your adversaries. In this guide, we’ll explore the mechanics of two-handing weapons, the advantages it offers, potential drawbacks, and recommend 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 weapons in Elden Ring, you need to press and hold E on PC, triangle on PlayStation, or Y on Xbox, followed by the attack button for your chosen hand. This action allows you to switch to a two-handed grip. If you've customized your controls, ensure you haven't altered these default settings.

This method also enables weapon switching while on horseback, a handy feature for players juggling multiple weapons or blending melee with magic. Remember, if a weapon requires two hands due to Strength stats, you must start two-handing before mounting your horse. While riding, you won't truly two-hand unless you've set it up beforehand.

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

Why You Should Two-Hand in Elden Ring

There are compelling reasons to opt for two-handing your weapon in Elden Ring. Primarily, it boosts your Strength by 50%, enhancing damage output, especially with Strength-scaled weapons. This increase can be crucial in combat, allowing you to hit harder with each swing.

Additionally, two-handing often modifies your weapon's move set, potentially altering damage types and giving you access to different combat strategies. This Strength boost also enables you to wield heavier weapons, making it easier to manage your stats while still using powerful arms like greatswords.

Moreover, two-handing your primary weapon ensures you can use its Ashes of War more effectively. When using a sword and shield, the weapon skill defaults to the shield, which can limit your tactical options. By two-handing, you unlock the full potential of your weapon’s Ash of War, adding versatility to your combat approach.

The Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-Hands

While two-handing is advantageous for Strength-focused builds in Elden Ring, it comes with its challenges. The change in attack mechanics requires adaptation, as your combat style may shift significantly. It's crucial to practice and understand these changes to use them effectively in various scenarios.

For players not focusing on Strength, such as those with Dexterity builds, two-handing might not be as beneficial. Experimentation is key to determining if this technique aligns with your playstyle and build.

Best Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring

When considering the best weapons for two-handing, focus on those that scale well with Strength. Large weapons like Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, and other Colossal Weapons are ideal candidates. The Shadow of the Erdtree update introduced the Two-Handed Sword Talisman, which further enhances damage when two-handing swords.

Recommended weapons include the Greatsword, Zweihander, and Fire Knight’s Greatsword, with the Giant-Crusher being an excellent non-sword option. Choose weapons that suit your playstyle and capitalize on the benefits of two-handing.

And that’s 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.