Elden Ring Best Builds After Patch 1.13
PvE & PvP Meta Builds — Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Included — Updated June 2026
Overview
Patch 1.13 for Elden Ring brought significant balance changes to both the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. FromSoftware adjusted poise damage on several weapon classes, rebalanced Ashes of War, and fine-tuned PvP scaling. This guide covers the strongest builds for both PvE and PvP in the current meta, with detailed stat allocations, weapon choices, talisman setups, and playstyle recommendations.
Whether you're tackling the DLC's final boss, invading in Limgrave, or dueling at the Academy Gate, the builds below represent the most optimized setups tested by the community after the 1.13 patch. All builds assume Rune Level 150 (the community standard for PvP and endgame PvE) unless otherwise noted.
Top 5 Meta Builds at a Glance
| Build Name | Primary Stats | Weapon(s) | Best Mode | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed | STR 54 / ARC 45 | Bloodfiend's Arm | PvE Bossing | S |
| Dual Nagakiba Dex/Arc | DEX 48 / ARC 45 | Nagakiba x2 (Blood) | PvP / PvE | S |
| Blasphemous Blade Faith | STR 22 / FAI 60 | Blasphemous Blade | PvE General | A+ |
| Moonveil Int/Dex | DEX 40 / INT 50 | Moonveil + Staff of Loss | PvP Duels | A |
| Greatsword of Damnation | STR 50 / FAI 35 | Sword of Damnation | PvP Invasions | A |
1. Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed Build (S-Tier PvE)
Why It's Meta
Patch 1.13 did not touch the Bloodfiend's Arm despite community expectations. This colossal weapon inflicts ridiculous bleed buildup per hit — roughly 180-200 bleed buildup per charged heavy attack when infused with Blood affinity and buffed with Seppuku Ash of War. Against DLC bosses like Promised Consort Radahn and Bayle the Dread, it triggers hemorrhage every 2-3 hits, dealing percentage-based damage that scales into NG+7.
Stat Distribution (RL150 Vagabond Start)
| Vigor | 60 |
| Mind | 15 |
| Endurance | 30 |
| Strength | 54 |
| Dexterity | 14 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 15 |
| Arcane | 45 |
Equipment
- Main Hand: Bloodfiend's Arm +25 (Blood Affinity, Ash: Cragblade)
- Seal: Dragon Communion Seal (for buffs)
- Talismans: Lord of Blood's Exultation, Axe Talisman, Two-Handed Sword Talisman, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
- Flask: Thorny Cracked Tear + Bloodsucking Cracked Tear
- Armor: White Mask (10% AR boost on bleed), Bull-Goat Set for poise
2. Dual Nagakiba Dex/Arc (S-Tier PvP)
Why It's Meta
The Nagakiba's exceptional range — the longest katana in the game — combined with dual-wield L1 speed and blood infusion makes this the most oppressive PvP setup post-1.13. FromSoftware slightly nerfed Rivers of Blood in 1.13, but left nagakibas untouched, cementing them as the #1 PvP katana option. The running L1 catches rolls, and the crouch-poke R1 interrupts most weapon arts.
Stat Distribution (RL150)
| Vigor | 60 |
| Endurance | 28 |
| Dexterity | 48 |
| Arcane | 45 |
| Strength | 18 |
Talismans
Millicent's Prosthesis + Rotten Winged Sword Insignia + Lord of Blood's Exultation + Bull-Goat's Talisman. This combination gives you successive attack boosts and bleed proc damage bonus while maintaining 101+ poise.
3. Blasphemous Blade Faith Build (A+ Tier All-Rounder)
The Blasphemous Blade remains the king of PvE sustain. Taker's Flames heals you for 10% of max HP plus 150 flat HP per enemy hit. In group fights or against large bosses like the Fire Giant, a single weapon art can restore your entire health bar. Patch 1.13 buffed Fire damage slightly in PvE, making this build even more potent.
| Vigor | 50 |
| Mind | 25 |
| Endurance | 25 |
| Strength | 22 |
| Faith | 60 |
Key Talisman: Shard of Alexander, Fire Scorpion Charm, Godfrey Icon, Ritual Sword Talisman
4. Moonveil Int/Dex (A Tier — Best for Duels)
Moonveil's Transient Moonlight weapon art received a mild speed buff in 1.13, making the R2 variant (horizontal slash) harder to reaction-dodge. Paired with Night Comet from the Staff of Loss (which enemies cannot input-read), this build dominates at mid-range. For PvP, the R1 vertical projectile roll-catches anyone panic-rolling backwards.
Stats: VIG 55 / MND 20 / END 20 / STR 12 / DEX 40 / INT 50
Talismans: Magic Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Radagon Icon, Erdtree's Favor +2
5. Greatsword of Damnation — Invasion Build (A Tier)
The Sword of Damnation (from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC) has become the premier invasion weapon. Its unique skill, Golden Cruelty, grabs opponents from surprising range and impales them for ~1400 damage at 50 STR / 35 FAI. The grab cannot be parried and has hyper armor during the lunge, making it a guaranteed trade-win against lighter weapons.
Stats: VIG 60 / END 35 / STR 50 / FAI 35
Invasion Tip: Host trick-mirror + Concealing Veil talisman. Sneak near a group of PvE enemies, then use Golden Cruelty to isolate and one-shot the host's phantom before the host can react.
Best Weapons After Patch 1.13
| Weapon | Type | Best Affinity | Patch 1.13 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodfiend's Arm | Colossal | Blood | Unchanged — still S-tier |
| Nagakiba | Katana | Blood / Keen | Unchanged — top PvP pick |
| Blasphemous Blade | Greatsword | Unique | Fire damage buffed |
| Sword of Damnation | Greatsword | Unique | Grab range increased |
| Moonveil | Katana | Unique | R2 speed buffed |
| Backhand Blade | Beast Claw | Quality | New DLC weapon — strong |
| Ancient Meteoric Ore GS | Colossal | Unique | Poise damage unchanged |
Best Talisman Combinations
| Playstyle | Talisman 1 | Talisman 2 | Talisman 3 | Talisman 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleed Build | Lord of Blood's Exultation | Rotten Winged Sword Insignia | Millicent's Prosthesis | Erdtree's Favor +2 |
| Faith Caster | Flock's Canvas | Godfrey Icon | Radagon Icon | Dragoncrest Greatshield |
| Strength Unga | Axe Talisman | Two-Handed Sword | Bull-Goat's | Great-Jar's Arsenal |
| Sorcery | Magic Scorpion | Graven-Mass | Radagon Icon | Godfrey Icon |
Build Showcase Gallery
Bloodfiend's Arm charged R2 — massive bleed and stagger potential against DLC bosses.
Source: In-game screenshot / FromSoftware promotional materials
Dual-wield Nagakiba setup — the premier PvP build post-1.13 with unmatched range and speed.
Source: In-game screenshot / FromSoftware promotional materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best build for Shadow of the Erdtree bosses?
The Bloodfiend's Arm bleed build is the undisputed king for DLC bosses. Many DLC bosses have massive HP pools but are vulnerable to hemorrhage. Combined with Cragblade for stance-breaking, you'll stagger and bleed them in rapid succession.
Q: What changed in Patch 1.13 for PvP?
Rivers of Blood received a slight damage nerf (~5%), powerstanced straight sword L1 chain was slowed by 2 frames, and Moonveil's Transient Moonlight R2 is now slightly faster. Dragon Communion incantations had their hyper armor reduced, making faith/arcane hybrid casters more punishable.
Q: What's a good beginner build for Elden Ring in 2026?
The Blasphemous Blade Faith build is the most forgiving for newcomers. It provides massive self-healing, excellent fire damage, and requires relatively low stat investment to get started. Rush to Volcano Manor to get the weapon, then pump Faith.
Q: Is Arcane still worth investing in after 1.13?
Absolutely. While Dragon Communion spells had their poise reduced, Arcane scaling on blood-infused weapons remains untouched. A 45 Arcane investment on a Blood Nagakiba adds roughly 80 bleed buildup per hit — that's the difference between proccing hemorrhage in 2 hits versus 4.
Summary
Elden Ring's Patch 1.13 meta is dominated by bleed builds in both PvE and PvP, with the Bloodfiend's Arm and Dual Nagakibas leading the pack. Faith-based builds with Blasphemous Blade remain the safest choice for PvE progression, while the Sword of Damnation has carved out a niche as the top invasion weapon. The key stat breakpoints for RL150 are 60 Vigor (mandatory), 45-50 in your primary damage stat, and enough Endurance for 101+ poise in PvP. Build around these fundamentals and adapt your talismans to your playstyle — the Lands Between (and the Realm of Shadow) are yours to dominate.