Elden Ring Builds: 18 That Use No Ranged Attacks at All
In Elden Ring, players are often tempted to rely on ranged attacks, whether through powerful sorceries, incantations, or bows. However, there's something uniquely satisfying about close-quarters combat. If you're the type of player who wants to avoid ranged strategies entirely, there are plenty of builds to explore that focus solely on raw melee power or magic that demands up-close engagement.
Here are 18 Elden Ring builds that completely avoid ranged attacks, focusing on brutal, direct combat. These builds are great for those who want to dive deep into the challenge of face-to-face battle in the Lands Between.
1. Strength Berserker
This build is all about raw power. Max out your Strength stat and wield some of the heaviest weapons in the game, like the Great Club or Dragon Slayer Greatsword. The goal is to overwhelm enemies with sheer brute force, with no need for ranged attacks.
2. Dexterity Duelist
If you enjoy speed and precision, the Dexterity Duelist build focuses on fast weaponry like katanas and curved swords. Use weapons like the Uchigatana or Falchion for quick strikes, and rely on agility rather than distance.
3. Quality Knight
By focusing on both Strength and Dexterity, the Quality Knight build is versatile. Use a mix of weapons, like Greatswords or Longswords, while ignoring ranged spells or arrows. The balanced approach allows for both offensive and defensive play styles.
4. Intense Faith Paladin
For those who want to combine melee combat with strong defensive buffs, the Intense Faith Paladin focuses purely on faith-based incantations that support healing or buffs in close-range combat. Weapons like Great Hammers are perfect for this build.
5. Tanky Colossus
With a focus on survivability, the Tanky Colossus uses heavy armor and shields combined with powerful strength weapons, such as the Giant-Crusher. This build maximizes poise and stamina to shrug off damage and deal devastating blows in return.
6. Righteous Avenger
Focusing solely on faith and close combat, this build uses powerful Incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength while wielding a heavy weapon like the Ruins Greatsword. It’s great for players who want to deal high damage with both divine power and melee strikes.
7. Frenzied Barbarian
This build focuses on dual-wielding two great weapons, like the Twinblade or Colossal Sword. The Frenzied Barbarian thrives in chaotic, close-quarters combat with no reliance on ranged attacks, instead focusing on relentless melee pressure.
8. Curved Sword Assassin
Using two Curved Swords, this build is perfect for those who prefer agile, quick slashes over heavy strikes. The goal is to hit fast and often, with light armor to stay mobile and avoid the need for ranged weapons entirely.
9. Tank Mage (Melee Variant)
Though typically associated with spellcasters, this build uses Sacred Seals for healing or buffs, while wielding a Heavy Greatsword. It focuses on defense and melee, combining slow-moving but high-impact attacks with support from incantations.
10. Barbaric Great Axe
Focusing on pure strength, this build uses a Great Axe for devastating single-target damage. It’s perfect for those who want to crush their enemies up close and personal, leaving no room for ranged combat.
11. Unyielding Gladiator
The Unyielding Gladiator build centers on aggressive swordplay with a large Curved Greatsword or Colossal Sword, perfect for players who want to stay close to the action while avoiding ranged combat and spellcasting altogether.
12. Great Hammer Tank
If you love the slow but heavy-hitting weapons, a Great Hammer build will allow you to stagger and stun enemies with powerful, close-range attacks. This build prioritizes high endurance and the ability to withstand incoming damage while dealing massive blows in return.
13. Magic-Infused Warrior
While this build uses some basic magic (like Flame, Grant Me Strength or Golden Vow), it is still very much a melee-focused character. You’ll use the power of incantations for buffs and offensive support, but the primary weapon remains a Greatsword or Colossal Weapon for up-close combat.
14. Twinblade Master
Twinblades are perfect for players who want fast, aggressive combat. This build uses the Twinblade or Reduvia as the primary weapon, specializing in rapid attacks and combos. Though it doesn't rely on ranged combat, it has strong mobility and attack variety.
15. Greatsword Berserker
A build focusing on the massive Greatsword, the Greatsword Berserker is all about powerful slashes and devastating combos. The slow wind-up of the attacks makes it ideal for those who want to smash through enemies, focusing entirely on raw strength.
16. Pure Strength Juggernaut
As the name suggests, this build focuses entirely on Strength with massive weapons such as the Dragon Slayer or Great Hammer. It’s slow but strong, perfect for those who prefer power over speed and want no ranged attacks in their arsenal.
17. Sword & Shield Sentinel
Combining a solid Shield with a Straight Sword or Longsword, this build emphasizes a defensive approach, using shields for both protection and offensive power. It avoids any ranged weaponry and instead uses defensive tactics to control the flow of battle.
18. Faith Knight
This build combines Faith with a large weapon like the Exiled Greatsword, focusing on up-close combat while using incantations like Golden Vow to buff the player. It prioritizes close combat with no ranged weapons at all.
These 18 builds emphasize melee combat, magic buffs, and close-range fighting, leaving no room for ranged attacks. Whether you’re looking for pure damage, defense, or a combination of both, there’s a build here to suit your playstyle.
For those looking to make the most of their equipment, you may want to invest some Elden Ring Runes into upgrades. If you’re looking to speed up the process or acquire certain items, you can always buy Elden Ring Items from trusted vendors. These builds rely on mastering the art of up-close combat and will leave you feeling like a true warrior of the Lands Between.