Hello everyone! Today we're diving into our guide for the Elden Ring DLC, focusing on one of the most underrated yet powerful tools in the game: the shield. Yes, you heard me right! We're going to explore how to dominate the world of Invasion with just your shield. If you're looking to enhance your gameplay and equip yourself more effectively, you might want to consider strategies that involve investing in your character’s abilities, which can sometimes lead to the decision to buy Elden Ring Runes for a quicker boost.

Why Shields?

Shields in Elden Ring provide a fantastic variety of actions and strategies for both offense and defense. They can surprise your opponents and create an engaging gameplay experience. Let’s break down our build and the different shields we'll be using to ensure you're equipped for any situation during invasions.

The Shields of Choice

1. Smithing Script Shield:

· Use Case: Best for long-range combatants like wizards.

· Ash of War: Discus Hurl – A great projectile to disrupt spellcasters while stunning those with low poise.

· Strategy: Initiate with the discus hurl to provoke aggression, setting opponents on the defensive.

2. Blood Fingerprint Stone Shield:

· Use Case: Best for terms of offense coupled with bleed buildup.

· Ash of War: Shield Crash – Can lead to one-shot kills when timed with attacks.

· Strategy: Get up close and personal. If your opponent trades into your shield, you're set for a big burst of damage.

3. One-Eyed Shield:

· Use Case: Excellent for punishing aggressive opponents.

· Ash of War: Flame Spin – Set traps and punish those who attempt to roll into you.

· Strategy: Use flame spin either at your feet to catch rolling opponents or at range for more tactical engagements.

4. Viz Shield:

· Use Case: Perfect in confined spaces where you can capitalize on its flamethrower-like effect.

· Ash of War: Tongues of Fire – Can stun enemies in tight areas.

· Strategy: Corner opponents and unleash the flamethrower for crowd control.

Buffing Your Shields

To augment your shields' performance, consider using Shield Grease to boost guard capabilities, reducing stamina damage on trades—critical when your primary defense is shield-based.

Build Stats

For this build, we’ll be focusing on a Strength/Arcane hybrid to maximize your damage potential, especially on the Blood Fingerprint Stone Shield. Here’s a rough outline of the stats to aim for:

· Strength: 54 (to maximize damage across most shields)

· Arcane: Sufficient levels to build up bleed and madness damage

· Armor: Choose aesthetics you like while considering poise for trades.

Talisman Setup

Your talisman selection should adapt based on the shield in use:

· Smithing Stone Talisman: Boosts the ash of war damage for your Smithing Script Shield.

· Shard of Alexander: Universal damage boost for any Ash of War.

· Consecutive Attack Talismans: Integrate these when utilizing the Blood Fingerprint Stone Shield for enhanced damage on shield crashes.

Invading with Your Shield Build

When you enter the realm for invasions, prepare yourself to flex your shield skills! Initiate combat by gauging your opponents. Use the discus hurl to disrupt spells and gauge their response. Alternate between shields based on your opponents’ strategies.

Tips for Success:

· Be Aggressive but Cautious: Engage first to assert dominance, but don’t overextend.

· Learn Your Opponents: Understand when to switch shields based on the enemy’s weapons and strategies.

· Use Terrain: Leverage the environment. Thin spaces are advantageous for using certain shields.

Final Thoughts

This all-shield build offers a unique and engaging way to invade, pushing your opponents out of their comfort zone and into yours. The versatility of shields allows you to develop powerful strategies and outmaneuver your opponents. If you're looking to enhance your builds further, consider obtaining cheap Elden Ring Items from reliable sources like MMOEXP to give you that extra edge. Feel free to customize and adapt the build to your playstyle and enjoy your invasions, keeping the spirit of shields alive!