Elden Ring is a game with seemingly limitless potential, and while combining magical abilities with swift sword slashes is usually unviable in most RPGs, it absolutely works here in Elden Ring. The key to unlocking this build’s potential lies in the Moonveil, a katana that scales incredibly well with DEX as well as INT. By emphasizing your INT stat, you can also put a staff in your off-hand and wield powerful magical spells.
PVP foes that are worth their salt are already devising ways to counter this build, but it remains incredibly powerful and can absolutely carry you through a majority of the game, especially if you have the Mimic Tear Ashes summon at your side. Just read below for one of the most powerful builds in the game.
Magic Swordsman build requirements - Elden Ring
These are the core components you need for the end-game-ready Magic Swordsman build we’ve devised in Elden Ring.
- Right hand: Moonveil.
- Left hand: Carian Regal Scepter, Silver Mirrorshield.
- Head: Imp Head (Cat)/Twinsage Glintstone Crown.
- Body: –
- Hands: –
- Feet: –
- Talismans: Cerulean Amber Medallion, Arsenal Charm, Stargazer Heirloom, Carian Filigreed Crest.
- Flask of Wondrous Physick: Intelligence-knot Crystal Tear.
The only true essential piece to this build is the Moonveil katana. Other pieces can be swapped out if you don’t meet all of the necessary stat requirements. For example, the Carian Regal Scepter can be exchanged for the Meteorite Staff, and the Silver Mirrorshield has several decent replacements, such as the Carian Knight’s Shield.
But not meeting the 60 INT required of the Carian Regal Scepter – and the 70 INT required for spells like Rennala’s Full Moon – can be overcome with some gear. The Stargazer Heirloom effectively offers 5 extra INT for free, and it can stack with talismans such as Marika’s Soreseal. The Imp Head (Cat) also gives an extra 2 INT, though the Twinsage Glintstone Crown offers 6 extra INT, making it much more worthwhile.
Once you’ve hit around 70 INT, you can focus on leveling your DEX, which will make your sword attacks even more powerful than they already are. The other armor in this build doesn’t matter much, but you should give yourself as much defense and resistance as possible so you can survive those tough fights. The Arsenal Charm‘s equipment load buff will help you retain a medium roll even with weighty armor and magical attacks.
Finally, the Intelligence-knot Crystal Tear in the Flask of Wondrous Physick gives you a +10 to your INT, making it great for a big magic power buff in tough fights.
Below are the base stats require for this equipment.
- STR: 12.
- DEX: 18.
- INT: 60.
- FAI: 0.
- ARC: 0
We’ve already outlined how you can overcome the high INT requirement for this build. STR really doesn’t impact your power here much at all. DEX is very valuable for your Moonveil though and should be given priority once you hit around 70 INT. Other points should be spent in Vigor, Mind, and Endurance. You should have enough HP to survive heavy hits, more FP than can be refilled with a single Cerulean Flask, and enough stamina to give you a bit more leeway with the armor you choose.
Magic Swordsman playstyle - Elden Ring
The core of this build centers around the Moonveil, and the Transient Moonlight weapon skill. This weapon skill acts as the Sheathe skill with the Uchigatana, but once drawn it will emit a blade of moonlight that travels a long distance with the heavy version. You can use this to keep at a distance and still do damage to opponents. Because the weapon skill is so essential to this build, you should keep either your staff or a shield with no skill in your off-hand.
Just because that blade is long-range doesn’t mean you should only use it at range, though. If you’re close enough to hit the opponent with the main blade, you’ll do extra damage and way more stagger damage, giving you an opportunity for a critical strike. Though, just using downed bosses as fodder for your strong hits, instead of a critical strike, is a good idea, since your weapon skill does so much more damage than your blade without the magic buff.
Of course you also have the option of using magic. Rock Sling is a solid move to use, while flashy attacks like Rennala’s Full Moon and Comet Azur are great if you have the necessary time to wind them up – something to distract bosses would help, like a Mimic Tear, perhaps.
This build is incredibly powerful in Elden Ring. When paired with a Mimic Tear boasting the same skillset and weapons, you can overwhelm even the most powerful bosses in the game. Just use your weapon skill often and make sure to top your FP up in the heat of battle. If you need to stay at range for whatever reason, switch to your spells.
Written by Dave Aubrey on behalf of GLHF.
