STR Builds

[C Lee]

So I play on PS4 version with a PS5 because I'm a FPS nut (usually play on computer with DS3) and I'm not so much trying to complain as I'm just curious what others think about STR builds in general?

I LOVED rolling around with giant hammers / giant shields in previous DS games while getting just enough endurance to put some decent armor on then pumping the rest into vitality for health but.. I am not finding the same enjoyment for a pure STR build 50 hours in.. all the weapons I'm finding seem to need a decent amount of DEX or INT(?) as well as a good amount of strength.

The only pure STR weapon I've leveled so far is the piercing anchor with B scaling in STR which is the highest scaling I've found. However after being invaded by or partnering with Dex or Magic users, I find myself barely doing any dmg with 50 STR relative to how much dmg they can do.

Curious as to others opinions on pure STR. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong ? Still figuring out some of the mechanics for weapon enhancement and don't want to waste my resources :(

[lucky_one 🍀]

There are strenght weapons, and they are good. Very good.

I have seen people one shotting with only the weapon art of the Greatsword. Is amusing.

[Maun Rah]

dont forget with the ashe of war system you can put heavy affinity on weapons so str scaling improves. For the last boss i upgraded a curved sword an djust put heavy on it., It ended up having A Str scaling on +20. So just look for a"basic" weapon and put heavy on it.

[Jacks]

Best way to do strength build is jump attack with dual colossal weapons. Your playstyle should not be hack and slash anymore due to your very low swing speed.

It's all about using determination or royal knight resolve, then getting the next jump hit in.

Due to your already super high damage, you should be focusing on vigor and endurance, and maybe a little bit of mind once your str reached 40. Once you are at comfortable resource softcap, you can bump your str up to 80 for that extra omph.

[Maun Rah]

Originally posted by Jacks:

Best way to do strength build is jump attack with dual colossal weapons. Your playstyle should not be hack and slash anymore due to your very low swing speed.

It's all about using determination or royal knight resolve, then getting the next jump hit in.

Due to your already super high damage, you should be focusing on vigor and endurance, and maybe a little bit of mind once your str reached 40. Once you are at comfortable resource softcap, you can bump your str up to 80 for that extra omph.

I can add to this something. IF you intend to 2hand one weapon than 66 STR is enough. 2handing with str weapons makes 66 into a 99 which is the max you could do.

[An Irate Walrus]

I finished my first run on PS5 (PS5 version; hoping for an FPS patch soon) with an STR build this morning (finishing level 148, 55 STR, 52 END, 52 VIT, wearing heavy armor and wielding Cold Greatsword +25).

The build is extremely viable, because stagger is a thing. You'll find a lot of bosses are faster than you, limiting your opportunities to punish, but if you lean in to jump attacks, charged R2, and guard counters, you should be able to stagger pretty much everything apart from the final boss--which, given its makeup (no spoilers), I don't think *can* be staggered.

I found that the key to my success was to know the exact reach and timing of my attacks, and then to be hugely aggressive, whether with individual enemies or small packs (sweeping four or five enemies with a single greatsword blow will never not feel awesome).

The Grafted Greatsword might also do you some good, once it's leveled up.

You're unlikely to ever put out the raw, single-shot damage of spellcasters, but don't forget to uses ashes of war on your weapon (so long as it's not a special; they can't be altered) for added effects. That'll provide a boost.

As an example, the Cold Greatsword is just a Greatsword with a frost ash added to it; reduces STR scaling by one rank, but once frost builds up (2-3 hits even on most bosses), the additional damage is *sick*.

[Nyxtus]

STR is ♥♥♥♥ compared to other playstyles. Wait for modders to fix it, as per usual.

[lucky_one 🍀]

Originally posted by Nyxtus:

STR is ♥♥♥♥ compared to other playstyles. Wait for modders to fix it, as per usual.

What are u talking about lmao

[C Lee]

Thanks for all the feedback all, I will definite be giving some of these things a try.

Originally posted by An Irate Walrus:

I finished my first run on PS5 (PS5 version; hoping for an FPS patch soon) with an STR build this morning (finishing level 148, 55 STR, 52 END, 52 VIT, wearing heavy armor and wielding Cold Greatsword +25).

Have you tried any other weapon type hammers? I love hammers! which armor / shield were you using and did you morph it in any way? Also which weapon art did you attach to your greatsword?

[Vermilion Knight]

Originally posted by C Lee:

So I play on PS4 version with a PS5 because I'm a FPS nut (usually play on computer with DS3) and I'm not so much trying to complain as I'm just curious what others think about STR builds in general?

I LOVED rolling around with giant hammers / giant shields in previous DS games while getting just enough endurance to put some decent armor on then pumping the rest into vitality for health but.. I am not finding the same enjoyment for a pure STR build 50 hours in.. all the weapons I'm finding seem to need a decent amount of DEX or INT(?) as well as a good amount of strength.

The only pure STR weapon I've leveled so far is the piercing anchor with B scaling in STR which is the highest scaling I've found. However after being invaded by or partnering with Dex or Magic users, I find myself barely doing any dmg with 50 STR relative to how much dmg they can do.

Curious as to others opinions on pure STR. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong ? Still figuring out some of the mechanics for weapon enhancement and don't want to waste my resources :(

I think compared to everything else, STR builds are kinda weak. But really fun. I wish the damage output they had scaled a little better that's all.

[Maun Rah]

Originally posted by Vermilion Knight:

Originally posted by C Lee:

So I play on PS4 version with a PS5 because I'm a FPS nut (usually play on computer with DS3) and I'm not so much trying to complain as I'm just curious what others think about STR builds in general?

I LOVED rolling around with giant hammers / giant shields in previous DS games while getting just enough endurance to put some decent armor on then pumping the rest into vitality for health but.. I am not finding the same enjoyment for a pure STR build 50 hours in.. all the weapons I'm finding seem to need a decent amount of DEX or INT(?) as well as a good amount of strength.

The only pure STR weapon I've leveled so far is the piercing anchor with B scaling in STR which is the highest scaling I've found. However after being invaded by or partnering with Dex or Magic users, I find myself barely doing any dmg with 50 STR relative to how much dmg they can do.

Curious as to others opinions on pure STR. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong ? Still figuring out some of the mechanics for weapon enhancement and don't want to waste my resources :(

I think compared to everything else, STR builds are kinda weak. But really fun. I wish the damage output they had scaled a little better that's all.

you really underestimate: guard counters, stancebreaking potential with heavy and jumping attacks and poise damage in general. that is where the strength weapons shine, especially in pve.

[Vermilion Knight]

Originally posted by Maun Rah:

Originally posted by Vermilion Knight:

I think compared to everything else, STR builds are kinda weak. But really fun. I wish the damage output they had scaled a little better that's all.

you really underestimate: guard counters, stancebreaking potential with heavy and jumping attacks and poise damage in general. that is where the strength weapons shine, especially in pve.

It's good for PvE but I use Dual Greatswords so guarding goes out the window lol.
Bosses are pretty hard to do. You're normally too slow to avoid some attacks and I wish you just did more damage. I do about 1600 damage a hit but that's still way too low. compared to most builds.

[cAipi_rInHa]

i think by upgrading weapons and by using certain ashes of war options you can increase the scaling for different types of stats.

[Maun Rah]

Originally posted by Vermilion Knight:

Originally posted by Maun Rah:

you really underestimate: guard counters, stancebreaking potential with heavy and jumping attacks and poise damage in general. that is where the strength weapons shine, especially in pve.

It's good for PvE but I use Dual Greatswords so guarding goes out the window lol.
Bosses are pretty hard to do. You're normally too slow to avoid some attacks and I wish you just did more damage. I do about 1600 damage a hit but that's still way too low. compared to most builds.

1600 is pretty good considering you do this every attack window you get wtf. I used a curved greatsword quite some time and spammed the jumping attack in battles with~800 damage per hit and that felt good since it was always a good chunk of health.