Does two handing do more damage in Elden Ring?

Does Two Handling Do More Damage in Elden Ring?

In the world of Elden Ring, players are often left wondering which playstyle is more effective: the old-school approach of dual-wielding or the modern technique of single-handed wielding. One of the most debated questions within the community is whether two-handing your weapon increases damage output. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of damage calculation and explore the answer to this long-standing question.

What We Know So Far

Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, it’s essential to understand the basics. When you wield a weapon in Elden Ring, your Strength level plays a significant role in determining the amount of damage dealt. The more Strength points you have, the more significant the damage output. However, did you know that wielding your weapon two-handed can impact your damage calculation?

The Basic Mechanics

Here’s what we know about damage calculation:

• Main Stat: Your strength determines the base damage output, which is increased by your weapon’s physical attack value.
• 1.5x Strength Bonus: Wielding a weapon two-handed multiplies your Strength bonus by 1.5x.
• Strength Penalties: Some weapons have strength penalty, which reduces the overall damage output.

Using the above mechanics, let’s break down the scenarios:

• Two-Handed Wielding:
  • Strength bonus x 1.5: Increasing the base damage output.
  • Weapon’s physical attack value: Factored into the total damage calculation.

For example, if you’re wielding the Ruins Greatsword two-handed, with a base physical attack value of 120 and a requirement of 50 Strength points, your calculation would be:

• Base damage = Physical attack value x Strength / (100 + Strength)
• Two-handed: (120 x [Strength x 1.5] / (100 + Strength))

Meanwhile, if you were to wield this same weapon one-handed, the calculation would remain the same, minus the 1.5x Strength bonus.

Comparative Analysis

To put it into perspective, let’s consider a few sample scenarios:

As expected, two-handing the weapon increases the damage output.

When Does Two-Handing Offer More Damage?

It’s essential to acknowledge that not all weapons benefit from the two-handed approach. Lightweight weapons, like daggers, don’t require much strength, so the 1.5x Strength bonus doesn’t significantly impact their damage output. Heavy weapons, however, can greatly benefit from increased strength, making two-handed wielding a more effective strategy.

Take, for instance, the Broadsword, a straight sword that, at base, deals only 60 damage. Wielding this sword two-handed, with increased Strength points, could lead to even higher damage output:

In this case, two-handed wielding the Broadsword offers a 45.5 damage output, a significant boost compared to the one-handed approach (21.45).

Conclusion

There you have it! Two-handed wielding can indeed increase damage output for many weapons, especially those that are strength-dependent. By leveraging increased strength, you can unleash devastating combo attacks and take down your enemies with even greater ease.

While the details might seem complex, understanding damage calculation and the role of two-handing in Elden Ring can aid in crafting an effective build suited to your playstyle. Remember:

• Two-handing gives a 1.5x Strength bonus (main stat) and increases damage calculation.
• Lightweight weapons do not significantly benefit from two-handed approach.
• Heavy weapons can, however, greatly benefit from increased Strength.

Now that you’re an expert on the matter, embark on your Elden Ring journey equipped with the knowledge to wield power!