Top 20 Elden Ring Builds That Don’t Use Shields

In a world as dangerous and unpredictable as the Lands Between, most players instinctively reach for a trusty shield. But for those seeking a more aggressive, agile, or stylistic approach, playing without a shield opens up new ways to experience Elden Ring’s combat. From glass-cannon mages to relentless melee brawlers, these 20 builds embrace the no-shield lifestyle while still delivering serious power.

1. Dual Katanas (Dex/Bleed Focus)
Combining weapons like Rivers of Blood and Nagakiba, this build relies on fast slashes and bleed procs. Ideal for those who want to stay mobile and punish enemies with quick combos.

2. Strength Colossal Weapon Build
Wielding a Great Club or Ruins Greatsword two-handed allows for hyperarmor trades and massive poise damage. This build shrugs off attacks while dishing out devastating hits.

3. Madness Prophet (Faith/Mind Build)
Using incantations like Frenzied Burst and Unendurable Frenzy, this ranged caster build stuns and burns enemies from afar. No shield needed when your foes can’t reach you.

4. Dexterity Spear Build
Lightweight and perfect for hit-and-run tactics, spears allow constant pressure while keeping distance. Pair with Bloodhound Step for evasive play.

5. Int-Sorc Glass Cannon
With high intelligence and minimal health, this pure mage melts bosses using Comet Azur and Stars of Ruin. Dodge over block, and strike from safety.

6. Dual Curve Swords (Arcane/Frost/Bleed)
This fast, status-heavy build excels at chunking through health bars. Combining bleed and frost buildup results in devastating stagger combos.

7. Unarmed Monk (Fist Weapons)
Claws, Caestus, or Star Fist allow fast-paced melee engagements. Great for players who love a high-risk, high-reward fighting style.

8. Moonveil Intelligence Build
Scaling with intelligence, Moonveil’s weapon art offers ranged burst damage. This build thrives on quick reflexes and positioning.

9. Pyromancer Build (Faith/Int Split)
Focus on fire-based sorceries and incantations for mid-to-close range damage. Use Flame, Fall Upon Them for aggressive zoning.

10. Poison Dagger Assassin
Light armor and fast daggers coated in poison make this stealthy build deadly. Keep moving and avoid direct confrontations.

11. Twinblade Chaos Build
Chaos infusion deals high elemental damage based on enemy weaknesses. Twinblades provide rapid hits for status and stagger.

12. Gravity Mage (Intellect Focused)
Using spells like Rock Sling and Collapsing Stars, this build manipulates the battlefield with crowd control and AoE effects.

13. Powerstanced Greathammers
Using two colossal weapons at once maximizes stagger potential. Land a hit and the fight is practically over.

14. Red Lightning Apostle
Focus on dragon cult incantations like Lansseax’s Glaive. This aggressive caster build uses short cast times and big AoE bursts.

15. Bleed Arcane Reaper
Using scavenged scythes and arcane-scaling bleed, this build excels in PVP and fast boss melts. Minimal defense, maximum damage.

16. Faith/Black Flame Build
Black Flame rituals do percentage-based health damage, allowing efficient boss takedowns. You’ll trade blocking for pure offensive output.

17. Int/Cold Weapon Hybrid
Infuse weapons with frost and combine with cold sorceries like Adula’s Moonblade for dual-threat damage.

18. Beast Claw Incantation Build
Scaling off strength and faith, Beast incantations offer raw physical spells and close-range impact without sacrificing agility.

19. Flame of the Redmanes Ash Build
This Ash of War causes massive poise damage. Use it on a fast weapon and spam through enemy defenses.

20. Dex/Claw Assassin with Buffs
Pair Claw weapons with Bloodflame or Electrify Armament to tear through enemies quickly. Focus on flanking and punishing slow reactions.

When using builds like these, many players find it useful to buy Elden Ring runes to speed up progression, especially when trying out new stat-heavy combinations. These builds also benefit from a wide selection of Elden Ring Items to enhance buffs, increase status build-up, or boost spellcasting power.

Ditching the shield forces you to engage with the game more actively—rolling, reading animations, and striking with intent. Whether you’re clearing dungeons or facing off in PvP, these 20 no-shield builds prove that offense can absolutely be the best defense in Elden Ring.