In the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Lands Between, where sorceries weave intricate patterns of light and faith summons divine might, there exists a simpler, more visceral truth: the overwhelming force of pure, unadulterated strength. As players traverse the shattered legacy of the Erdtree, some find their calling not in incantations or intricate spells, but in the raw, earth-shaking power behind a colossal swing. Strength builds, the embodiment of this philosophy, are not about finesse; they are about annihilation. They represent the primal urge to meet the world's horrors head-on, to shatter poise and crush resistance with weapons that are less tools of war and more cataclysmic events held in one's grasp.
While the core tenet remains delivering devastating blows, the modern Tarnished has, by 2026, mastered the art of hybridization. Pure, unyielding strength is a formidable path, but weaving threads of Faith, Intelligence, or even Dexterity into the fabric of a build can unlock realms of power previously unimaginable. The true artistry lies in the synergy between a warrior's chosen implement—be it a greathammer that crushes mountains or a greatshield that turns defense into offense—and the mystical Ashes of War that imbue them with unique, fight-altering abilities.
🗡️ The Stance-Breaking Crucible: Ordovis's Greatsword
Greatswords have long been favored by those who seek to melt the health bars of demigods and dragons alike. Among them, Ordovis's Greatsword stands as a paragon of holy devastation, perfectly marrying immense physical force with the searing power of Faith. Its innate requirement of 15 Faith is a gateway, just enough to harness the empowering flames of the Flame, Grant Me Strength incantation. The weapon's true spectacle, however, is its Ordovis's Vortex skill—a spinning, holy maelstrom that can break an enemy's stance in a single, glorious eruption.
To maximize this divine hammer, Tarnished employ a symphony of talismans:
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Godfrey Icon: Boosts the charged damage of Ordovis's Vortex.
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Shard of Alexander: Grants a flat increase to the skill's destructive potential.
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Flock's Canvas Talisman: Amplifies the potency of Flame, Grant Me Strength.
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Taker's Cameo: Provides vital health regeneration during exploration.
This build is a lesson in focused power. It justifies its modest Faith investment not only through enhanced weapon damage but by turning the wielder into a relentless stance-breaking engine. For those who wish to delve deeper into incantations, redistributing stats to access powerful holy spells can make Flock’s Canvas Talisman an even more critical component of this righteous arsenal.
🪓 The Unstoppable Juggernaut: Golem's Halberd
Some philosophies are elegantly simple: walk forward and erase whatever stands in your path. This is the creed of the Golem's Halberd build, a testament to overwhelming force. The colossal Golem's Halberd demands a towering investment in Strength, rewarding the bearer with attacks that can fell giants. The strategy is brutally effective: imbue the weapon with Ash of War: Royal Knight's Resolve, charge a heavy attack, and unleash a number so devastating it widens eyes.
Survivability is paramount for this head-on approach. This is where the legendary 
Bull-Goat Set proves its worth, granting the highest poise in the game. Clad in this mountain of armor, the Tarnished can trade blows, shrugging off interruptions to deliver their own world-ending charged attacks.
| Talisman | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|
| Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman | Drastically reduces physical damage taken. |
| Axe Talisman | Significantly boosts charged attack damage. |
| Bull-Goat's Talisman | Further increases poise, making you nearly immovable. |
| Curved Sword Talisman (Optional) | Enhances block counters for dispatching lesser foes. |
The playstyle demands a heavy allocation of healing flasks, transforming the Tarnished into a relentless, regenerating force of nature that simply outlasts and overpowers all opposition.
🐉 The Agile Destroyer: Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana
Not all strength is slow. The Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana, a prized addition from the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, redefines the Strength archetype by introducing lethal grace. This build often evolves into a Quality approach, balancing Strength and Dexterity for faster attacks and more generous dodge windows, perfect for those who find the typical colossal weapon wind-up too restrictive.
The weapon's skill allows for deadly, sweeping attacks from a safer distance, enabling players to slice through enemies while minimizing retaliation. To turn this katana into a blur of annihilation, a focused set of gear is essential:
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Rakshasa Set: For aggressive, damage-boosting aesthetics.
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Shard of Alexander: Maximizes weapon skill damage.
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Two-Handed Sword Talisman: Enhances attacks when the weapon is wielded with both hands.
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Godfrey Icon: Empowers charged skills.
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Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: The essential buffer for the occasional hit that gets through.
This build offers a compelling alternative for players seeking the raw power of Strength without sacrificing mobility or the need for complex pre-fight buffing rituals. It feels like continuous growth, effortlessly pushing past soft caps.
🌋 The Scorching Earth: Magma Blade
For those who wish to bathe the Lands Between in fire, the Magma Blade offers a uniquely destructive playstyle. While it scales with Strength, Faith, and Dexterity, its heart burns brightest when fueled by pure Strength. The build revolves around its default skill, Magma Shower, which scatters searing pools of lava across the ground, dealing continuous, compounding damage to any foe foolish enough to tread near.
The battlefield becomes an oven, and you are the master of the flame.
Despite their fiery names, the Fire Knight armor pieces are chosen not for offense, but for bolstering maximum health—a necessity when fighting in the close-quarters inferno you create. The true damage amplification comes from a specialized talisman suite:
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Talisman of Dread: Directly increases magma damage.
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Fire Scorpion Charm: Boosts all fire attack damage.
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Shard of Alexander: Enhances the Magma Shower skill itself.
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Two-Headed Turtle Talisman: Critical for rapid stamina recovery, allowing relentless aggression and skill spamming.
This build is about area denial and relentless pressure, turning the arena into a hazardous zone where enemies slowly burn while you press the attack.
🔨 The Iconic Titan: Giant-Crusher
No discussion of Strength is complete without the iconic Giant-Crusher. This is the weapon that defines the stat—obscenely heavy, ludicrously powerful, and one of the few to achieve the coveted S scaling in Strength. Its default skill, Endure, is often swapped for the earth-shattering Ash of War: Troll’s Roar. Wielding a Highland Axe in the offhand further amplifies this roar's devastation.
This is the ultimate "stand your ground" build. Dodging is secondary to becoming an immovable object. The 
Bull-Goat Set and Bull-Goat Talisman are non-negotiable, stacking poise to astronomical levels. The strategy is straightforward: roar to stagger, then crush with a critical hit. For sustained exploration, the dual Assassin's Dagger talismans provide consistent HP and FP regeneration from critical strikes, making the Tarnished a self-sustaining force of demolition.
🛡️ The Immovable Fortress: Carian Thrusting Shield
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion revolutionized defensive play with the Carian Thrusting Shield. This ingenious gear piece blurs the line between protection and aggression. When fortified to its Heavy affinity, it achieves an impressive A scaling in Strength, transforming from a simple barrier into a potent spear. The key is its ability to perform guard counters and stagger enemies with jump attacks, all while blocking incoming assaults with minimal damage.
Such an active defense burns stamina rapidly, making the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman indispensable. Applying the Cragblade Ash of War further enhances stance damage, solidifying its role as a versatile duelist's tool. Armor choice is flexible, prioritizing medium rolls, though the Raptor's Black Feathers chest piece synergizes beautifully with the build's jump-attack focus.
In the year 2026, the path of Strength in Elden Ring is more diverse and potent than ever. It is no longer a monolithic choice of the heaviest weapon, but a spectrum of devastation. From the holy vortices of Ordovis's Greatsword to the molten landscapes of the Magma Blade, and from the unstoppable charge of the Giant-Crusher to the innovative defense of the Carian Thrusting Shield, Strength builds offer a profound, tactile satisfaction. They are a declaration written in the language of shattered armor, broken stances, and foes reduced to memories under the weight of an indomitable will. For the Tarnished who answers the call of pure power, the Lands Between is not a world to be cleverly navigated, but an anvil upon which their legend is forcibly hammered into existence.