Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Quality Build Guide

This guide focuses on the key aspects of a Quality Build for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: explaining weapons, armor, stats, and how to play.

This build guide has been updated for Elden Ring Patch 1.13.2

Best Quality Build Guide – Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Quality builds in Elden Ring are arguably the most overpowered due to the sheer amount of damage they can handle every attack. With the right set of Incantations, weapons, and Talismans, you can deal enough damage to bosses to nearly one-shot them. However, the only downside that most players might face while investing in a Quality build is the amount of time it takes to get it working. Unlike Bleed or Dexterity builds, Quality builds require a lot of work to get started and only become viable for use against bosses near the end-game sections of Elden Ring.

However, suppose you’re already at Level 180 or above and are looking for a build to breeze through the end-game regions of the base game, i.e., Miquella’s Haligtree, Mountaintop of the Giants, and Crumbling Farum Azula. In that case, the Quality builds are the best choice. Here’s a look at one of the most powerful Quality builds that you can create in Elden Ring, which can be used for the base game as well as Shadow of the Erdtree, to help you against the majority of the content the expansion has to offer.

Like every other build in Elden Ring, the Quality builds also have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages that need to be weighed upon. Here’s a list of all the pros and cons of the best Quality build in Elden Ring that you need to be mindful of before you reallocate your stat points:

Elden Ring Quality Build Pros	Elden Ring Quality Build Cons
Great Damage	Heavy on Stamina
Weapon Flexibility	Passive Dependent
High Poise	Boss Complexity

Best Quality Build Guide Features – Elden Ring

The following list presents all the essentials for the best Quality build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree:

• Class: Confessor (preferred), Vagabond or Samurai
• Main Weapon: Blasphemous Blade +10
• Off-Hand Weapon: Erdtree Seal +10 (or Dryleaf Seal +25)
• Shield: None
• Armor: Rakshasa set
• Talismans: Erdtree’s Favor, Ritual Sword Talisman, Shard of Alexander, and Two-Headed Turtle Talisman
• Primary Stats: Strength, Faith, and Endurance
• Secondary Stats: Vigor, Mind, and Dexterity
• Incantations: Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Black Flame’s Protection, and Beastial Vitality (optional)
• Crystal Tear: Greenburst Crystal Tear, and Opaline Hardtear
• Alternate Crystal Tear: Opaline Bubbletear
• Great Runes: Radahn’s Great Rune

Best Incantations

Golden Vow, Flame, and Grant Me Strength are the best Incantations for the Quality build in Elden Ring because of their passive damage buff. This build also uses Black Flame’s Protection simply to ensure survivability. Although Quality builds are not glass cannons, the base defense here isn’t all that impressive, especially in Shadow of the Erdtree. As such, having some defensive buffs is incredibly useful here since this build is primarily meant to be used for the end-game and the DLC. Here’s a more detailed look at all the Incantations for the Quality build in Elden Ring:

• Golden Vow: Golden Vow gives you a flat 15% damage increase, as well as 10% damage reduction. Additionally, its passive effect stacks with Flame, Grant Me Strength.
• Flame, Grant Me Strength: Flame, Grant Me Strength increases damage dealt by 20%, which stacked with Golden Vow gives you a massive attack power buff.
• Black Flame’s Protection: Black Flame’s Protection is primarily for passive defense, increasing damage negation by 35%, but reducing all healing (Flasks and Incantations) by 20%.
• Beastial Vitality: Beastial Vitality gives you passive healing for a limited amount of time, which can come really handy during boss fights. Beastial Vitality is optional, and can be swapped with Howl of Shabiri, to further increase the damage dealt.

Talismans

Erdtree’s Favor +2 and Two-Headed Turtle Talisman are the best Talismans for the Quality build in Elden Ring because of the passive defense and Stamina-regen, respectively. Additionally, you would also want to use Shard of Alexander for increased damage output via the Blasphemous Blade’s Taker’s Flame Ash of War, as well as Ritual Sword Talisman for the bonus attack power buff.

Armor

The Rakshasa’s armor set is the best choice for this build because of the bonus damage multiplier it comes with. And if you’re worried about the damage negation penalty it comes with, don’t be. Since we’re relying on Black Flame’s Protection, Opaline Hardtear, and Erdtree’s Favor +2 to strengthen the build’s defense, the damage negation de-buff with the Rakshasa’s set will not be of any consequence. Alternatively, you can use a Boiled Crab before heading into a boss fight to further boost your defenses.

Weapons

The Blasphemous Blade is the best weapon choice for the Quality build because of how much damage it can deal with its Ash of War – Taker’s Flame. Other alternatives exist, such as the Black Steel Greathammer or the Godslayer’s Greatsword. However, Blasphemous Balde was the most effective among the bunch, primarily due to its Ash of War. Additionally, it also deals Flame damage with its regular attacks, which come incredibly handy against certain end-game bosses.

You will also need a Seal to cast the Incantations, and for that, I highly recommend the Erdtree Seal, since it scales incredibly well with Faith. Alternative options for teh Seal would be Dryleaf Seal or the Fire Knight’s Seal.

Stats & Attributes Distribution

Here are the stat allocations for Level 170 with the Best Elden Ring Quality Build:

• Vigor: 50
• Mind: 21
• Endurance: 40 
• Strength: 45
• Dexterity: 30
• Intelligence: 9
• Faith: 55
• Arcane: 9

You can also work this build into a Level 150 character; however, it’s best to go with Level 170 or more, just so you can have enough room to not compromise your core attributes, i.e., Vigor and Endurance. Additionally, while Mind isn’t necessary, especially if you carry at least 4 Flasks of Cerulaena Tears, investing at a handful of points into the stat does allow you to use the Blasphemous Blade’s Ash of War a few more times before requiring a MP recharge.

How to Play Quality Build

The best way to play this build is to rely mainly on the Blasphemous Blade’s Ash of War. Additionally, you would want to have at least one Spirit Summon on hand to give you enough breathing room to re-apply your Incantation buffs mid-battle. If you’re on New Game+, you can also use two Blasphemous Blades instead of one; however, if you do so, make sure you slot in the Claw Talisman and use jumping attacks instead of regular R1/RB attacks. You won’t have to worry much about survivability if you don’t head into a battle without preparation.

Before you head inside a boss arena, use these buffs in the same order – Golden Vow > Black Flame’s Protection > Beastial Vitality > Flame, Grant Me Strength. Furthermore, use a Boiled Crab or Boiled Prawn, followed by the Flask of Wondrous Physick, and you’re ready for the boss fight.

Lastly, for the Physick, go with Opaline Hardtear and Greenburst Crystal Tear, to give you passive defense boss and Stamina-regen. You can also use Opaline Bubbletear if you want immunity against those tricky-to-dodge “one-shot” combos. As for the Greatrune, Radhan’s Greatrune is a great option due to the boss it gives to your Stamina, Vigor, and Mind. Alternatively, you can use Godricks Greatrune, which increases the efficiency of all your core stats.

Build Summary – Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Quality build guide

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