What's wrong with Greatshield + spear build?

[Balong]

Howdy,
As someone who like a defensive gameplay and playing massive characters, I'm enjoying the greatshield + spear tank build.

But it seems it's not very appreciated by the community. So the question is why?

[zero]

what? its highly recommended for several bosses in the dlc, how is it not appreciated?

[echo_ML]

If you're playing PvE, nobody cares. Play however you want, but some losers might scorn you for it because it's a particularly strong build.

In PvP, it used to be an extremely strong and annoying setup to fight against. Not nearly as bad now but still kinda annoying.

[Munch!]

cus is strong

[CrescentMouse]

It's both the strongest, and weakest build and if you beat the game with it you didn't actually beat the game and also beat the game with a terrible build. Don't ask the community about what's good or bad

[Wolfe]

There's nothing wrong with it, I've been playing a lot of those similar shield and poke builds all through Dark Souls 1-3 as well.

Also have a heavy shield and poke weapons strength build in Elden Ring that took me all through full game and DLC NG+ without having to respec once.

It's high suitability, so easier in some places than a lot of builds, but low DPS in others, and you have to be up close to bosses. The blocked retaliation hard hit is also good on a lot of mobs and a few bosses too.

So it's considered easier, but for some bosses the DPS is too low and makes it harder than other builds.

It's also arguably the very best build for final DLC boss, definitely a lot easier than many builds for that particular boss, especially phase 2. I easily beat him solo with that build after whipped with any kind of summon.

Loads of good Str and dex poke weapons available that let you poke and shield at the same time, you can have some powerful builds using that strategy.

[~X_Lost Sxul_831_X~]

Originally posted by CrescentMouse:

It's both the strongest, and weakest build and if you beat the game with it you didn't actually beat the game and also beat the game with a terrible build. Don't ask the community about what's good or bad

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and only trust actual good players with actual skill in PvE or PvP not the random who said claymore is op cause he can't handle facing a GS and i promise it's about 10% of the people cause most of them are not going on here to help people, Asking in a discord for souls games is def the way to go about advice on builds tbh.

[Morton Koopa Jr.]

I've always wanted to do this build since ds1 and just never did. Lol always seemed hard to do. But I guess it's ez mode

[Nihrahk]

People just don't like shield poking in pvp and I don't blame them. It's very annoying to deal with and very strong too. You can get past them of course, but as I said, it's very annoying. Nobody likes fighting that.

Early in the game's release it was even completely busted since you would lose like no stamina if I remember correctly. It's just something that have always been infamous through every soulslike that FS have made.

[cernodan]

Imagine giving a ♥♥♥♥ what the "community" thinks.
Imagine not doing what you want in your mostly single player game because some random r*dditor might frown upon your choices.
Might as well wear a bell around your neck and start grazing.

[~X_Lost Sxul_831_X~]

There is nothing wrong with any build in the game man use whatever tf you want, who gives a ♥♥♥♥ if people say "you didn't beat the game unless you used this" they are prob the people who only use the guts sword and never any other weapon and barley experinced the game in all the ways you can play cause they care about impressing people and bragging for a ego boost more then actually having fun with the game lol. it's funny but sad tbh.

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by X_Lost Sxul_999_X:

There is nothing wrong with any build in the game man use whatever tf you want, who gives a ♥♥♥♥ if people say "you didn't beat the game unless you used this" they are prob the people who only use the guts sword and never any other weapon and barley experinced the game in all the ways you can play cause they care about impressing people and bragging for a ego boost more then actually having fun with the game lol. it's funny but sad tbh.

Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Originally posted by Balong:

it seems it's not very appreciated by the community. So the question is why?

It has low style points.

You know like in Devil May Cry you can finish fight with D rating
but you'll want those S, double or triple S stylish ratings.

Don't worry about what others think about PvE playstyle.
If it works for you and YOU appreciate it that is only important thing.

[~X_Lost Sxul_831_X~]

Originally posted by Fairy f:

Originally posted by X_Lost Sxul_999_X:

There is nothing wrong with any build in the game man use whatever tf you want, who gives a ♥♥♥♥ if people say "you didn't beat the game unless you used this" they are prob the people who only use the guts sword and never any other weapon and barley experinced the game in all the ways you can play cause they care about impressing people and bragging for a ego boost more then actually having fun with the game lol. it's funny but sad tbh.

Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!
:er_heart:

[~X_Lost Sxul_831_X~]

Originally posted by Fairy f:

Originally posted by X_Lost Sxul_999_X:

There is nothing wrong with any build in the game man use whatever tf you want, who gives a ♥♥♥♥ if people say "you didn't beat the game unless you used this" they are prob the people who only use the guts sword and never any other weapon and barley experinced the game in all the ways you can play cause they care about impressing people and bragging for a ego boost more then actually having fun with the game lol. it's funny but sad tbh.

Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!
Hell f*cking yeah!
:er_heart:

MIND YOU guts gs/STR playthrough is EASY AF so that is the most funny part about that brag tbh. str rocks ♥♥♥♥, esp base game that ♥♥♥♥ makes it a joke dude....i had a harder time on my dex/mage/fth/arc then i did my str build lol. jump/jump/stagger/crit repeat was it fun? yes it was felt solid af and consistent but i still find dex/casters more fun movesets and i'll take that and not care abt some reddit nerd not thinking my playthrough wasn't "legit"

[Nihrahk]

Originally posted by Sc0rpiTr0n:

Originally posted by Balong:

it seems it's not very appreciated by the community. So the question is why?

It has low style points.

You know like in Devil May Cry you can finish fight with D rating
but you'll want those S, double or triple S stylish ratings.

Don't worry about what others think about PvE playstyle.
If it works for you and YOU appreciate it that is only important thing.

Yep. For pve, it doesn't matter what the opinions of the community is. If OP is having fun poking things to death, then that's all that matters. Who are they to judge? I mean, it's a perfectly legit playstyle and it's as old as time. Most find such a playstyle boring perhaps, but it's his decision how he plays his game and nobody else.

They can criticize, whine and complain about it all they want, but their opinions are irrelevant.