In the ever-expanding world of Elden Ring, strength builds have always carried a certain raw, primal appeal. There's something inherently satisfying about swinging an enormous weapon that can flatten enemies and stun bosses alike. And with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC pushing the limits of both build creativity and combat strategy, players are once again experimenting with every mechanic the game has to offer Elden Ring Items.

This deceptively simple attack, when optimized, becomes one of the fastest and deadliest tools in a duelist's arsenal.

Let's break down what makes this setup so devastating, how to build it effectively, and how it performs in real combat.

Why the Greatsword?

The Greatsword has been a fan favorite since Elden Ring's launch, not only for its iconic design (inspired by Guts' Dragon Slayer) but also for its surprisingly balanced move set. As one of the pure Colossal Swords, it's slower than a regular greatsword but hits exponentially harder.

Despite its size, the crouch poke of the Greatsword has near-instant startup frames, allowing skilled players to punish panic rolls, interrupt attacks, or roll-catch opponents mid-dodge.

The Core Concept-Maximize Crouch Poke Damage

At the heart of this build is one simple goal: make the crouch poke as lethal as possible.

Talisman Setup

1.Spear Talisman-Boosts counterattack damage from thrusting attacks, perfect for the Greatsword's crouch poke which counts as a pierce-type move.

2.Two-Handed Sword Talisman-Increases overall damage by 10% when you two-hand your weapon.

3.Rellana's Retaliatory Crest (Retaliatory Cross Tree)-Further enhances crouch attacks, making each poke hit even harder.

4.Bull-Goat's Talisman (Optional)-Provides poise stability if you prefer to trade hits rather than dodge.

Armor Choices

Each piece grants a +2% increase in damage, which might not sound like much individually but stacks significantly across four armor pieces.

Combined with his other buffs, this leads to an enormous power spike.

He also incorporates Rellana's armor piece for an additional crouch attack buff, creating an almost unfair synergy.

Buffs and Consumables

To push things even further, Chase layers Exalted Flesh and Uplifting Aromatic, both of which amplify physical attack power. With both buffs active, his attack rating climbs to 1,197 before even applying weapon grease. Once he adds a coating, such as Flame Grease or Magic Grease, his Greatsword hits a staggering 1,340 total damage output-and that's before factoring in counter hits or talisman bonuses.

The build uses a Heavy Infusion to capitalize on pure Strength scaling, ensuring every swing benefits fully from the player's stats.

Ash of War-Quickstep or Royal Knight's Resolve

While many strength builds rely on tanking and trading, this one thrives on agility and unpredictability.This mind game adds a psychological layer to the build that keeps PvP opponents guessing.

Alternatively, for players who prioritize burst over deception, Royal Knight's Resolve can replace Quickstep. When timed correctly, this skill doubles your next attack's power-meaning a fully buffed crouch poke can one-shot glass cannon builds or chunk tankier opponents for massive damage.Stat Allocation

This is a pure Strength build, focusing entirely on maximizing the weapon's raw damage.The rest of his stats follow a traditional melee layout:

 Vigor: Around 55–60 for survivability.

 Endurance: Enough to wear heavy armor and roll effectively.

 Strength: 80 (or as high as possible with the Heavy infusion).

 Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane: Kept minimal unless required for weapon or buff usage.

This stat spread prioritizes raw power and poise over spell versatility or hybridization.

PvP Invasions and Gameplay Highlights

The crouch poke shines in narrow corridors, where enemies have limited dodge space and are forced into trading situations.

The environment works perfectly for his setup:

tight hallways, aggressive invaders, and a host relying on panic rolls. One delayed crouch poke catches two phantoms simultaneously, nearly deleting both with a single attack.

Later, in Crumbling Farum Azula, Chase faces opponents wielding katanas and spell weapons. Quickstep becomes his best friend here, letting him sidestep Flame Strike animations and punish instantly with delayed pokes. Even high-agility light rollers can't fully escape the delayed crouch timing, resulting in consistent roll catches and massive counter damage.

He also demonstrates the build's PvE potential by testing it against Freya, one of the DLC's new bosses. Despite Freya's relentless aggression, the Greatsword's crouch poke allows Chase to maintain poise and land safe, high-damage trades. With counter-hit bonuses active, the Greatsword shreds through boss health in a fraction of the usual time.

Tactical Depth-More Than Just Power

What makes this build truly special isn't just its absurd damage-it's the psychological warfare it brings to PvP. Many players see a colossal sword and expect slow, predictable swings. The crouch poke flips that expectation entirely.

By chaining Quickstep, crouch attacks, and delayed timings, you constantly manipulate your opponent's dodge rhythm. If they expect a fast poke, delay it. If they hesitate, quickstep in and strike instantly. This alternating rhythm forces panic rolls, and as Chase demonstrates, that's where the Greatsword becomes lethal.

It's also surprisingly stamina-efficient. Compared to jumping attacks or fully charged heavies, crouch pokes cost less stamina and recover faster, allowing for longer engagements without being punished for exhaustion.

Strength Build vs. Hybrid Alternatives Elden Ring Runes buy

By focusing entirely on physical scaling, the build achieves a consistency that hybrids can't match. No reliance on buffs that can be dispelled, no split damage penalties-just pure, unrelenting force.

Players who prefer a slightly more defensive approach can swap Quickstep for Lion's Claw or Flaming Strike, adding poise-breaking potential or elemental versatility. However, for PvP duels and invasions, Quickstep remains the superior choice for its deceptive mobility.

Final Thoughts-The King of Colossals

He's tested similar builds using the Zweihander, but while the Zweihander offers unique heavy attack potential, it lacks the raw efficiency and speed of the Greatsword's crouch poke. In the hands of an experienced player, this move becomes a win condition on its own-capable of overwhelming even experienced duelists.

Whether you're tackling DLC bosses or diving into PvP invasions, this build embodies everything that makes Elden Ring's combat great: risk, reward, precision, and raw spectacle. It's a love letter to strength builds everywhere-a reminder that sometimes, all you need is one perfectly timed poke to win the fight.