Mastering the art of two-handing weapons in Elden Ring can dramatically transform your combat experience, offering increased damage output and access to powerful weapon skills that remain locked when wielding weapons with one hand. This fundamental mechanic is essential for maximizing your effectiveness against the challenging bosses and enemies throughout the Lands Between.
Whether you’re wielding a massive greatsword, a devastating hammer, or any other weapon in your arsenal, understanding how to properly two-hand your equipment will unlock new combat possibilities and significantly boost your damage potential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about two-handing weapons in Elden Ring, from the basic controls to advanced strategies for different weapon types.
Basic Two-Handing Controls
Learning how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring is straightforward once you understand the control scheme. On most platforms, you’ll need to hold the Triangle button (PlayStation), Y button (Xbox), or X key (PC) while pressing the right bumper (R1/RB) or left bumper (L1/LB) to two-hand your right-hand or left-hand weapon respectively.
The process works as follows: Hold Triangle/Y/X + R1/RB to two-hand your right-hand weapon, or Triangle/Y/X + L1/LB to two-hand your left-hand weapon. You’ll see your character grip the weapon with both hands, and the weapon’s moveset will change accordingly. To return to one-handed grip, simply press the same button combination again.
It’s important to note that when you two-hand a weapon, you cannot use your shield or off-hand weapon simultaneously. This trade-off between offensive power and defensive capabilities is a crucial tactical consideration that affects your overall combat approach.
Damage Benefits and Scaling
Two-handing weapons provides a significant damage increase that scales with your character’s strength attribute. Specifically, two-handing effectively multiplies your strength stat by 1.5 for damage calculation purposes, making it an excellent option for strength-based builds or when you need extra damage output.
This strength bonus is particularly valuable when you’re slightly below a weapon’s strength requirement or when you want to maximize damage without investing heavily in strength stats. For example, if you have 20 strength, two-handing will calculate your damage as if you have 30 strength, opening up new weapon possibilities and dramatically increasing your damage potential.
The damage increase varies depending on the weapon’s scaling grade and your current stats, but most players will notice a substantial improvement in their attack power. This becomes especially important when facing tough enemies like those found when learning how to defeat challenging bosses throughout the game.
Meeting Weapon Requirements
One of the most practical applications of two-handing is meeting weapon requirements when your stats fall short. Many powerful weapons have high strength requirements that might be difficult to meet early in the game. Two-handing allows you to effectively use weapons that require up to 1.5 times your current strength stat.
For instance, if a weapon requires 24 strength and you only have 16 strength, two-handing will allow you to wield it effectively since 16 × 1.5 = 24. This mechanic enables players to use powerful weapons much earlier in their playthrough than would otherwise be possible, though you’ll still need to meet dexterity, intelligence, faith, and arcane requirements normally.
Understanding this system can help you plan your character build more efficiently. According to Elden Ring’s complex stat system, optimizing your approach to weapon requirements can significantly impact your early game progression and overall build effectiveness.
Accessing Weapon Skills
Two-handing weapons unlocks access to their unique weapon skills, which are often some of the most powerful abilities available to players. When wielding a weapon with both hands, you can use its special skill by pressing L2/LT, replacing whatever skill might be attached to your shield or off-hand weapon.
These weapon skills range from devastating area-of-effect attacks to unique combat maneuvers that can completely change how you approach different encounters. Many weapons have skills that are specifically designed to be used while two-handing, offering enhanced range, damage, or special effects that aren’t available in one-handed mode.
Some notable weapon skills become significantly more powerful when two-handing, such as the various slam attacks available on great weapons or the sweeping strikes of curved greatswords. Mastering these skills is essential for maximizing your combat effectiveness, especially when exploring challenging areas or seeking valuable items in dangerous locations.
Combat Strategies and Techniques
Effective two-handed combat requires adapting your fighting style to accommodate the loss of defensive options while maximizing the increased offensive capabilities. Since you cannot block with a shield while two-handing, positioning and timing become even more critical elements of successful combat.
Focus on mastering dodge rolls and positioning to avoid enemy attacks rather than relying on blocking. The increased damage from two-handing often means you can defeat enemies faster, reducing the overall number of attacks you need to avoid. Learn enemy attack patterns and look for opportunities to land heavy attacks during their recovery periods.
Consider using jumping attacks more frequently when two-handing, as many weapons gain additional reach and damage when attacking from above. The combination of two-handed damage bonuses and jumping attack multipliers can result in devastating damage numbers that can quickly turn the tide of difficult battles.
Stamina management becomes crucial when two-handing heavier weapons, as their attacks typically consume more stamina per swing. Plan your attack sequences carefully and always maintain enough stamina for emergency dodges. According to gaming strategy experts, proper resource management is key to success in challenging action RPGs.
Best Weapon Types for Two-Handing
Certain weapon categories benefit more from two-handing than others, making them ideal choices for players who prefer this combat style. Greatswords, ultra greatswords, great hammers, and greataxes are designed with two-handed combat in mind and offer the most significant improvements when wielded with both hands.
Colossal weapons, in particular, become much more viable when two-handed, as their massive damage potential is balanced by slower attack speeds and higher stamina consumption. These weapons often have strength requirements that make two-handing necessary for most character builds, especially in the early to mid-game.
Curved greatswords offer an excellent balance of speed and power when two-handed, providing sweeping attacks that can hit multiple enemies while maintaining reasonable attack speed. Spears and halberds also benefit significantly from two-handing, as they gain access to unique movesets and increased reach that makes them excellent for maintaining distance while dealing substantial damage.
Even smaller weapons like straight swords and curved swords can benefit from two-handing in specific situations, particularly when you need access to their weapon skills or want to maximize damage output for critical moments in combat.
Advanced Tips and Considerations
Advanced players can employ several techniques to maximize the effectiveness of two-handed combat. Power stancing, which involves wielding two weapons of the same type in each hand, offers a different approach that combines some benefits of two-handing with dual-weapon movesets.
Consider switching between one-handed and two-handed grips during combat to adapt to different situations. Against multiple enemies, you might prefer the defensive capabilities of a shield, while boss encounters might benefit from the increased damage of two-handing. Practice these transitions until they become second nature.
Buff timing becomes more important when two-handing, as you cannot quickly apply weapon buffs or use consumables while engaged in combat. Plan your buff applications carefully and consider using longer-duration enchantments or consumables that provide sustained benefits.
Understanding the unique properties of different weapon classes when two-handed can help you choose the right tool for each encounter. Just as players must learn specific mechanics in other games like character optimization, mastering weapon mechanics in Elden Ring requires dedicated practice and understanding.
The principles of skill mastery apply equally to gaming mechanics, emphasizing the importance of consistent practice and gradual progression in difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you two-hand weapons in Elden Ring?
To two-hand weapons in Elden Ring, hold Triangle (PS), Y (Xbox), or X (PC) while pressing R1/RB for right-hand weapons or L1/LB for left-hand weapons. This will switch your character to gripping the weapon with both hands, providing increased damage and access to weapon skills.
Does two-handing increase damage in Elden Ring?
Yes, two-handing weapons increases damage by effectively multiplying your strength stat by 1.5 for damage calculations. This provides a significant boost to attack power, especially for strength-scaling weapons, and can help you meet weapon requirements you might not otherwise satisfy.
Can you use shields while two-handing weapons?
No, you cannot use shields or off-hand weapons while two-handing. The trade-off is that you lose defensive blocking capabilities in exchange for increased damage output and access to unique weapon skills. You must switch back to one-handed grip to use your shield again.
What weapons benefit most from two-handing?
Heavy weapons like greatswords, ultra greatswords, great hammers, greataxes, and colossal weapons benefit most from two-handing. These weapons often have high strength requirements and gain significant damage increases when wielded with both hands. Their weapon skills are also typically designed for two-handed use.
Does two-handing affect weapon skills?
Yes, two-handing allows you to use the weapon’s unique skill instead of your shield or off-hand weapon skill. Many weapons have powerful skills that can only be accessed while two-handing, making this an essential technique for maximizing your combat options and damage potential.
Can you switch between one-handed and two-handed during combat?
Yes, you can freely switch between one-handed and two-handed grips during combat by using the same button combination. This flexibility allows you to adapt your fighting style to different situations, switching to defensive play with a shield or offensive play with two-handed weapons as needed.
Does two-handing work for all weapon types?
Most weapon types can be two-handed, including straight swords, curved swords, spears, halberds, and all heavy weapons. However, some specific weapons like shields, catalysts, and certain unique items may not support two-handing. The benefits vary depending on the weapon type and its scaling properties.