Your Guide To Two Handing In Elden Ring: Boost Your Attack!

Lesly Cole 01 Aug 2025

Stepping into the vast, often quite dangerous, Lands Between in Elden Ring can feel like a big challenge, can't it? Every Tarnished needs every advantage they can get to survive the many threats waiting around each corner. One really powerful combat trick that many players overlook, or perhaps just don't fully grasp, is the simple yet incredibly effective act of two-handing your weapon. This isn't just a minor tweak; it’s a game-changing move that can totally shift how you approach tough enemies and mighty bosses, honestly.

Knowing how to two hand in Elden Ring means you're ready to really ramp up your damage output and break through enemy defenses. It's a fundamental skill, something you pick up early, but its true depth and impact grow with you as you explore the world. So, if you've been struggling to make a dent in those heavily armored foes or just want to feel more powerful with your chosen weapon, paying attention to this simple mechanic is, like, pretty important.

This guide will show you exactly how to hold your weapon with both hands, what good things come from doing so, and when it's smart to use this combat technique. We'll also cover some common questions, so you can really get the most out of your adventures in the Lands Between, you know, as of June 10, 2024. Let's make sure you're hitting as hard as you possibly can!

Understanding the Concept of Two
What is Two-Handing in Elden Ring?
- How to Two-Hand Your Weapon
- The Benefits of Two-Handing
When to Use Two-Handing
- Specific Weapon Types That Benefit
- Strength Scaling and Damage Boosts
Two-Handing vs. Dual-Wielding (or Power Stance)
Common Mistakes and Tips
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Wrapping Things Up

Understanding the Concept of Two

Before we get into the specifics of Elden Ring's combat, it's kind of interesting to think about the number two itself, isn't it? In a way, two-handing a weapon brings up this idea of "two" in a really practical sense. Two, as a number, is the natural number right after one and just before three. It's the smallest and the only even prime number, which is pretty unique. This number, two, forms the basis of a duality, so it has this special meaning in many contexts, you see.

Think about it: two is the framework of the binary system used in computers, a very simple system where natural numbers can be written. The meaning of two is simply being one more than one in number. When you two-hand your weapon, you're essentially adding "one more" hand to its grip, which changes how it behaves. It’s about having something numbered two, or having two units – your two hands on one weapon. This shift, from one hand to two, creates a new kind of framework for your combat, almost like a binary choice between two distinct ways of fighting. It's a whole number that's greater than one, but less than three, and that extra 'one' hand makes all the difference, you know?

What is Two-Handing in Elden Ring?

Two-handing in Elden Ring means exactly what it sounds like: holding your main weapon with both of your character's hands. When you do this, your off-hand shield or secondary weapon is put away, giving you full control over your primary damage dealer. This simple action changes how your character attacks, how much damage they deal, and even how quickly they can break an enemy's poise, which is really important for setting up critical hits. It's a core mechanic that can truly improve your performance, honestly.

It's not just for big, heavy weapons either. Even smaller swords or axes can get a benefit from being two-handed, though the gains are often more noticeable on larger armaments. The game, in a way, encourages this duality of combat: either you commit fully to a single weapon's offense, or you balance it with a shield or a second weapon. Choosing to use both hands is a powerful commitment to offense, and it's a decision that can pay off big time in many situations, so it's a good thing to remember.

How to Two-Hand Your Weapon

The method for two-handing your weapon is actually quite straightforward, but it varies a little depending on whether you're playing on a console or a PC. Learning this button combination is one of the first steps to really getting a handle on Elden Ring's combat system. It's something you'll probably do quite often once you see the advantages, you know.

On PlayStation (PS4/PS5):

Hold down the Triangle (△) button.
While holding Triangle, press either R1 (for your right-hand weapon) or L1 (for your left-hand weapon).
To switch back, just repeat the same combination.

On Xbox (Xbox One/Series X|S):

Hold down the Y button.
While holding Y, press either RB (for your right-hand weapon) or LB (for your left-hand weapon).
To switch back, repeat the same combination.

On PC (Keyboard & Mouse):

Hold down the 'E' key.
While holding 'E', click the Left Mouse Button (for your right-hand weapon) or the Right Mouse Button (for your left-hand weapon).
To switch back, repeat the same combination.

It's a very quick action, so you can easily switch between one-handing and two-handing in the middle of a fight, which is incredibly useful for adapting to different situations. Practice it a few times in a safe area, like the starting tutorial cave, to get the feel for it. You'll be doing it without thinking in no time, honestly.

The Benefits of Two-Handing

So, why bother two-handing your weapon? There are several really good reasons that make this a crucial tactic for many builds, particularly those focused on physical damage. Understanding these benefits helps you decide when to make the switch, which is, like, a big part of getting better at the game.

1. Strength Stat Boost

When you two-hand a weapon, your character gets a hidden 1.5x multiplier to their Strength stat for that weapon's damage scaling. This is a huge deal! For example, if you have 40 Strength, the game treats it as if you have 60 Strength for the purpose of calculating your two-handed weapon's damage. This means you hit much harder, especially if your weapon scales well with Strength. It also lets you meet the Strength requirements for heavier weapons earlier than you normally could, which is a pretty neat trick, you know.

2. Increased Poise Damage

Two-handing a weapon significantly increases the amount of poise damage you deal to enemies. Poise is essentially an enemy's invisible "stagger bar." When you deal enough poise damage, the enemy gets stunned, leaving them open for a critical hit (a "reposte" or "ground stab"). This is incredibly important for fighting tough enemies and bosses, as it creates openings you might not get otherwise. Being able to break an enemy's posture more easily means you can control the flow of a fight much better, which is a big advantage, really.

3. Modified Weapon Arts (Skills)

Some weapon arts, or skills, behave differently when you're two-handing a weapon compared to one-handing it. For instance, if you have a shield equipped, using a weapon art might instead trigger the "No Skill" shield ability, or a specific shield skill. Two-handing ensures that you always use your weapon's unique skill, which can be vital for certain strategies or builds. This gives you full access to your weapon's full toolkit, so it's a good thing to remember.

4. Better Guard Counters

While you can't block with a shield while two-handing, your guard counters (attacking immediately after blocking an enemy's hit) become more powerful. If you have a weapon that can block, like a greatsword, and you two-hand it, your guard counters will deal more damage and more poise damage. This can be a really effective way to trade hits with certain enemies and quickly open them up for a critical attack, you know.

When to Use Two-Handing

Knowing the benefits is one thing, but knowing *when* to apply them is another. Two-handing isn't always the best choice, but there are many situations where it shines. It's about making smart choices in combat, which, like, takes some practice, really.

You'll want to consider two-handing primarily when you need to maximize your damage output or break an enemy's stance. This is especially true against enemies with high health pools or strong defenses. Bosses, powerful elite enemies, and even some regular foes that are giving you trouble are prime candidates for a two-handed assault. If you find yourself hitting a wall, literally, with an enemy's armor, switching to two hands might just be the solution, you know.

Specific Weapon Types That Benefit

While any weapon can be two-handed, some types get much more out of it than others. Generally, the heavier the weapon, the more significant the impact of two-handing. This is because larger weapons often have higher Strength scaling and naturally deal more poise damage. So, for example, a greatsword will see a much bigger boost than a dagger, which is kind of obvious, but still worth noting.

Greatswords: These are excellent candidates. They hit hard, and with the Strength bonus, they become even more devastating. Their poise damage also increases, making them fantastic for staggering enemies.
Colossal Weapons: Think gigantic axes, hammers, and swords. These weapons are almost designed to be two-handed. The Strength multiplier makes them incredibly potent, and their already high poise damage becomes truly exceptional, allowing you to frequently stagger even the largest foes.
Great Axes and Great Hammers: Similar to colossal weapons, these benefit immensely from the increased Strength scaling and poise damage. They often have powerful weapon arts that are best utilized when two-handed.
Halberds and Spears: While not as heavy as colossal weapons, many halberds and spears have good Strength scaling and can benefit from the extra damage and poise. They also offer good reach, which is a nice bonus when committing to two hands.

Basically, if your weapon feels a bit slow or clunky when one-handed, or if you're struggling to make an impact, try two-handing it. You might be surprised by the difference, honestly.

Strength Scaling and Damage Boosts

Let's talk a little more about that Strength stat boost, because it's a very big deal for damage. The 1.5x multiplier means that if your weapon has 'A' or 'S' scaling in Strength, you're going to see a truly significant increase in your attack rating. This makes two-handing a core part of any Strength-focused build. For instance, if you have 30 Strength, the game treats it as 45 Strength. If you have 40 Strength, it becomes 60. And if you have 66 Strength, it effectively becomes 99, which is the soft cap for damage scaling, meaning you get maximum returns without needing to invest any more points into Strength beyond 66. This is a very efficient way to get more damage, you know.

This also means that if you're just below the Strength requirement for a particular weapon, two-handing it can allow you to wield it effectively. For example, if a weapon needs 30 Strength, but you only have 20, you can two-hand it (20 * 1.5 = 30) and use it without penalty. This is a great way to try out powerful weapons earlier in the game, or to save a few stat points for Vigor or Endurance. It's a bit like having a secret shortcut to power, honestly.

Two-Handing vs. Dual-Wielding (or Power Stance)

Elden Ring offers another way to use two weapons: dual-wielding, often called "power stance" by players familiar with previous FromSoftware games. This involves equipping two weapons of the same class (e.g., two straight swords, two greatswords), which unlocks a unique attack animation when you press the left-hand attack button. So, which is better, two-handing a single weapon or dual-wielding two? The answer is, like, it depends, really.

Two-handing a single weapon:

**Pros:** Higher individual hit damage due to Strength bonus, increased poise damage, access to weapon art, retains ability to block (if weapon allows). Generally more stamina efficient per hit.
**Cons:** Slower attack speed compared to dual-wielding, less overall damage per second (DPS) if you can land all dual-wielding hits, no shield.

Dual-wielding (Power Stance):

**Pros:** Significantly higher damage per second (DPS) if both weapons hit, very fast burst damage, can apply status effects (like bleed or frostbite) much quicker.
**Cons:** Requires investing in two weapons (upgrading them, meeting stat requirements for both), consumes more stamina per attack, no access to weapon arts (unless you unequip one weapon), no shield.

Basically, two-handing is often better for single, powerful hits, breaking enemy poise, and for Strength builds that want to maximize damage from one big weapon. Dual-wielding is fantastic for quickly melting health bars, especially with status effects, and is often preferred by Dexterity or Arcane builds. It's kind of a choice between precision and raw, sustained output, you know?

There are situations where you might even switch between them. You could start a fight dual-wielding to apply status effects quickly, then switch to two-handing your main weapon to break poise for a critical hit. The flexibility is really what makes Elden Ring's combat so engaging, honestly. Learn more about weapon types on our site, and link to this page combat mechanics.

Common Mistakes and Tips

Even with a simple mechanic like two-handing, there are a few common pitfalls players sometimes fall into. Avoiding these can help you get the most out of your combat experience, which is, like, pretty important for survival.

Mistakes to Avoid:

Forgetting to Two-Hand: It sounds obvious, but in the heat of battle, it's easy to forget to switch to two hands, especially if you usually rely on a shield. Make it a habit for specific encounters.
Ignoring Poise Damage: Some players focus only on the raw damage numbers. Remember that the increased poise damage from two-handing is just as valuable, if not more so, for creating openings.
Always Two-Handing: It's not always the best option. If you need a shield for blocking or parrying, or if you're using a specific weapon art that works better one-handed, stick to that. Don't force it, you know.
Not Upgrading Your Weapon: Two-handing boosts your Strength, but it won't make a weak, un-upgraded weapon suddenly powerful. Always keep your main weapon upgraded to get the most out of the two-handing bonus.

Helpful Tips:

Practice Switching: Get comfortable quickly switching between one-hand and two-hand. This allows you to adapt on the fly, perhaps two-handing for an attack, then quickly bringing out your shield for defense.
Experiment with Weapon Arts: Some weapon arts become much more effective or have different properties when two-handed. Try them out in a safe zone to see what they do.
Consider Your Build: If you're building a character around Strength, two-handing will be a core part of your strategy. Plan your stats accordingly, perhaps stopping Strength at 66 to get the effective 99 when two-handing.
Use It for Exploration: Even against weaker enemies, two-handing can help you clear areas faster and save stamina by dispatching foes in fewer hits. It's a pretty efficient way to move through areas, honestly.

Mastering this simple technique can really make a big difference in how you experience Elden Ring's combat. It's one of those subtle things that, once you understand it, just clicks and improves your game a lot, so it's worth the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Players often have a few common questions about two-handing. Here are some answers to clear things up, you know.

Does two-handing a weapon increase its damage in Elden Ring?

Yes, absolutely! When you two-hand a weapon, your character gets a hidden 1.5x multiplier to their Strength stat for that weapon's damage scaling. This means if your weapon scales with Strength, you'll see a noticeable increase in your attack rating, making you hit much harder. It's a very straightforward way to boost your damage, honestly.

What does two-handing do to your stats in Elden Ring?

Two-handing primarily affects your Strength stat. The game treats your Strength as if it were 1.5 times higher for the purpose of calculating your two-handed weapon's damage. For example, if you have 40 Strength, the game calculates damage as if you had 60 Strength. This also allows you to meet the Strength requirements for heavier weapons with fewer actual points invested, which is pretty neat.

Is two-handing better than dual-wielding in Elden Ring?

Neither is definitively "better"; they serve different purposes. Two-handing a single weapon excels at increasing individual hit damage, boosting poise damage to stagger enemies, and ensuring access to your weapon's unique skill. Dual-wielding, on the other hand, typically offers higher damage per second (DPS) and faster application of status effects, but it consumes more stamina and doesn't allow for a shield. Your choice depends on your build, the enemy, and your play style, so it's a bit of a personal preference, really.

Wrapping Things Up

So, there you have it! Two-handing your weapon in Elden Ring is a very simple action with some quite profound effects on your combat effectiveness. It's a core mechanic that can truly elevate your game, whether you're a seasoned Tarnished or just beginning your journey in the Lands Between. By understanding the Strength bonus, the increased poise damage, and when to use this technique, you're giving yourself a significant edge against the many challenges that await you, which is, like, super helpful.

Remember, the game is all about adapting and using every tool at your disposal. Two-handing is one of the most powerful and accessible tools you have. Experiment with different weapons, practice the button presses, and observe how your attacks change. You might just find that this simple switch turns a difficult fight into a manageable one, honestly. Keep exploring, keep fighting, and may your journey be filled with glorious victories. For more detailed insights into Elden Ring's mechanics, consider checking out resources like the Elden Ring Fextralife Wiki, which has tons of information.

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