Mastering Two-Handed Combat in Elden Ring

Mastering the art of wielding weapons with two hands in *Elden Ring* can significantly enhance your combat prowess, making it easier to decimate your foes. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the mechanics of two-handing weapons, the strategic advantages it offers, its potential drawbacks, and the best weapons to utilize this technique with.

JUMP TO:

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 effectively two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring, you'll need to press and hold the E key on PC, the triangle button on PlayStation, or the Y button on Xbox, and then press the attack button corresponding to either your left or right-hand weapon, depending on which one you wish to wield with two hands. If you've customized your control settings, ensure that these haven't been altered from the default configuration.

This control scheme also applies when you're on horseback, enabling seamless weapon switching between melee and magic. It's crucial to note, however, that if your weapon demands two-handing due to Strength requirements, you must initiate this before mounting your horse. While mounted, you won't be considered two-handing 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

Screenshot by The Escapist. The benefits of two-handing weapons in Elden Ring are numerous. Primarily, it increases your Strength by 50%, which is particularly advantageous when using Strength-scaling weapons, as it amplifies your damage output significantly.

Moreover, two-handing often alters the weapon's move set, potentially changing the damage type, thus offering more versatility in combat. This Strength boost also allows you to wield heavier weapons that you might not otherwise be able to manage, making it easier to maintain a balanced Strength stat while still handling formidable weapons like greatswords.

Additionally, two-handing enhances your ability to use Ashes of War more effectively. When you're using a sword and shield, the weapon skill defaults to the shield, which can be limiting if you have skills like parry equipped. By two-handing your right-hand weapon, you gain direct access to its Ash of War, thereby increasing your tactical options in battle.

The Downsides of Using a Weapon in Two-Hands

Screenshot by The Escapist. While two-handing is generally beneficial for Strength builds in Elden Ring, there are some considerations to keep in mind. The change in attack patterns can affect your combat strategy, requiring you to adapt to new move sets and plan according to your surroundings. Sometimes, sacrificing a bit of damage for a more situationally effective attack can be worthwhile.

Furthermore, two-handing is more suited to Strength builds, which may not align with Dexterity or other build types. It's essential to experiment and determine what works best for your specific playstyle.

Best Weapons to Two-Hand in Elden Ring

Screenshot by The Escapist. For optimal two-handing in Elden Ring, focus on large weapons that scale with Strength. With the introduction of Shadow of the Erdtree, consider equipping the Two-Handed Sword Talisman to boost your damage when wielding a sword with two hands.

Among the best weapons for two-handing are Greatswords and Colossal Swords, as well as Great Hammers and other Colossal Weapons—all of which benefit from high Strength scaling. Recommended choices include the Greatsword, Zweihander, and Fire Knight's Greatsword. For those not focused on swords, the Giant-Crusher is an excellent alternative.

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.