Elden Ring DLC Build Guide: Dominating with the Claymore
Why the Claymore?
The Claymore has always been one of the most versatile weapons in Elden Ring, offering a great balance between reach, damage, and attack speed. With the recent patch, the speed of the heavy attack has been increased by two frames, which might not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference in trading blows and roll-catching your opponents. The faster heavy attack allows for better follow-up attacks and improves your mix-ups, keeping your enemies guessing.
Build Overview
This build is all about maximizing trades and roll-catching, capitalizing on the Claymore’s strengths. The key is to focus on strength scaling and enhance your trades through a carefully selected set of talismans and ashes of war.
Stats and Infusion
· Strength Build: This build is heavily reliant on strength, so prioritize it. With the Heavy Infusion on the Claymore, you get the most out of its damage potential when two-handing, especially in trades where pure physical damage dominates.
· Other Stats: Ensure you have enough endurance to handle your heavy gear and stamina for extended combat. Vigor is essential for survivability, especially during tough invasions or boss fights.
Talisman Setup
1. Spear Talisman: This talisman enhances your counter-attacks, which is perfect for a weapon like the Claymore that excels at trading. Every time you land a successful hit while your opponent is attacking, your damage will be amplified.
2. Two-Handed Sword Talisman: Since the Claymore is primarily used in a two-handed style for this build, this talisman is a must. It improves your hyper armor, allowing you to tank through hits and come out on top in trades.
Ash of War Choices
1. Piercing Fang: This Ash of War is phenomenal for aggressive players. After using the light attack to catch your opponent off guard, Piercing Fang gives you the range and speed to hit a follow-up roll catch. Its range also makes it excellent for closing gaps on enemies that like to run away or hide behind shields.
2. Storm Stomp: If you’re looking for AoE control, Storm Stomp is perfect. It stuns multiple enemies in an area, giving you a free heavy attack follow-up. This works great in invasions where you're often outnumbered, providing an additional layer of crowd control to your Claymore’s mix-ups.
Combat Strategy
The key to mastering the Claymore is learning how to trade effectively and outplay your opponents using roll catches and attack mix-ups.
Roll-Catching Mastery
The speed boost to the heavy attack makes it much easier to roll-catch enemies off most attacks. Use the light attack to bait a roll, and follow up with a heavy for a guaranteed hit. The heavy attack’s speed is close enough to the light that it throws off opponents' timing, making it hard for them to predict which attack will come next.
Trading Power
With the increased heavy attack speed, the Claymore is a beast when it comes to trading hits. Thanks to your hyper armor, you can absorb an enemy’s attack while dishing out massive physical damage in return. The heavy infusion on the Claymore ensures you’re dealing pure physical damage, making trades more favorable.
Using Piercing Fang for Mix-ups
· One of the best things about Piercing Fang is its ability to follow up on missed attacks. Once your opponent thinks they’re out of range, Piercing Fang closes the gap, giving you a surprise advantage. This is particularly effective against shield users, as the Ash of War pierces through their defenses.
Storm Stomp’s Utility
· Storm Stomp is your go-to AoE tool, especially in chaotic PvP situations like invasions. Not only does it stagger multiple enemies, but it also grants you a window for a free heavy attack. Combining this with the increased speed of your heavy attack makes Storm Stomp even deadlier.
Invading with the Claymore
This build shines in invasions, where crowd control and trading become even more crucial. The Claymore’s reach, combined with the power of the Piercing Fang and Storm Stomp mix-ups, makes it perfect for handling multiple opponents.
Gameplay Tips
· Bait and Switch: Use the environment to your advantage. In tight spaces or near cliffs, you can use your weapon's range to knock opponents off or corner them. The Claymore’s moveset excels in tight corridors.
· Trade Smart: Don't be afraid to go for trades, especially with hyper armor from the two-handed stance. You can tank through an enemy's attack and follow up with your own, which will deal more damage due to the heavy infusion and spear talisman.
· Finish with Style: Piercing Fang is your ultimate finisher. Once your opponent is low on health and begins to panic, use Piercing Fang to close the gap and deliver the final blow.
Conclusion
The Claymore remains one of the most reliable and versatile weapons in Elden Ring, especially with the recent patch increasing the speed of its heavy attacks. Whether you’re trading hits, rolling catches, or mixing up your attacks with Ashes of War, this weapon has you covered. Combine it with the right amulets and a solid power build, and you’ll dominate PvE and PvP with ease. Finally, MMOexp is the perfect solution for Elden Ring players seeking a fast and affordable way to get ahead in the game. With a wide range of cheap Elden Ring Items available, you can equip your character with powerful weapons, armor, and other essential gear without spending countless hours farming. MMOexp offers a secure platform with instant delivery, ensuring you can quickly enhance your build and tackle the toughest challenges in the Lands Between. If you’re looking for a reliable source to get cheap Elden Ring items and elevate your gameplay, MMOexp has you covered! Stay tuned for more build guides and Elden Ring content. Happy hunting!