Using shields will make you a NOOB.

[NOOBSURVIVES YT]

I have played for 400 hours only using shields and Strength weapons. When not using shield i would use a Great hammer type weapon and play extremely aggressive to destroy every boss in game.
But now that i am playing without shield i am struggling to kill even simple knights.
it's ridiculous how bad my game play is without shields.
Also dex builds suck.

[Fahrenheit]

It's a playstyle so don't worry too much. It really does make you play more passive though.

[Seijana]

Play as a vigour nine caster with no shield. You won't be a noob, just a gibbering wreck like me.

[OgichiGame]

I played this game using this playstyle
Then when I switched to a completely different playstyle I wasn't familiar with; I wasn't doing as well.
I'm not sure what you were expecting tbh.

[Lynfinity]

Originally posted by NOOBSURVIVES YT:

dex builds suck.

Originally posted by NOOBSURVIVES YT:

it's ridiculous how bad my game play is without shields.

I'm glad you're aware of where the root of the problem is.

[Angel]

why the random dex build hate at the end lol, suddenly changing to a playstyle you're not used to makes you not perform as well? who would have thought

[NOOBSURVIVES YT]

Originally posted by Mr. Rogers:

I played this game using this playstyle
Then when I switched to a completely different playstyle I wasn't familiar with; I wasn't doing as well.
I'm not sure what you were expecting tbh.

I definitely didn't expect to suffer against black knights.

[NOOBSURVIVES YT]

Originally posted by Angel:

why the random dex build hate at the end lol, suddenly changing to a playstyle you're not used to makes you not perform as well? who would have thought

Because i can't figure out which weapon to use and they do not stagger enemies even though i have dumped 60 points in it.

[0wnz0r]

usin a shield didnt make u a noob. u were always a noob. i use a shield n am not a noob.

plz understand.

[Clockwork]

Well, knights are shield wielders too. Fight fire with fire and all that

[McMarc]

It doesnt MAKE you a noob, it just prevents you from becomming a better player since you bascially never have to learn how to dodge attacks.

[Faust Wither]

I don't agree, I'm not a shield build btw, but i know someone that get used by something will be good at it, they probably become a master at using shield and know which attack they can block and which one should be avoided, and they will learn how to perfect block using deflecting hardtear.

[Angel]

Originally posted by NOOBSURVIVES YT:

Originally posted by Angel:

why the random dex build hate at the end lol, suddenly changing to a playstyle you're not used to makes you not perform as well? who would have thought

Because i can't figure out which weapon to use and they do not stagger enemies even though i have dumped 60 points in it.

the amount of points you put into levels will never change how much stagger weapons do

[Ant Ra]

That's nonsense, again.
My very first Elden Ring character was an Astrologer and I got through relatively well without shields, even though it was still in release, so all mobs and bosses were unnerfed. Nice, pleasant gameplay that was really fun.

Then straight away a vagabond that I only played with one-handed weapons and shields, medium shield and tower shield, nothing else came into question. A knight is a knight, period. And that was also very nice gameplay and a lot of fun.

Then came various characters, but never a stupid club/block/house wall bonker with a bang and a boom, look at me i'm coming out of the cave and gid gud. One of my favorite characters was and is my bandit, who slithers through the game with a buckler and light one-handed weapons. Buckler, also a shield, is delicious.

And I notice that the anti-shield people are almost always the cavemen with tree trunks and friends bonkers. And pvp players who always know best how others should play so that they can always win with their pvp crap and not be distracted by counter play. Soooo... nope..

[Silyon]

Originally posted by NOOBSURVIVES YT:

Originally posted by Angel:

why the random dex build hate at the end lol, suddenly changing to a playstyle you're not used to makes you not perform as well? who would have thought

Because i can't figure out which weapon to use and they do not stagger enemies even though i have dumped 60 points in it.

The amount of poise damage (ie, the amount of stagger) a weapon does is tied to the weapon type, not your stats. A dagger will never stagger, a great hammer will almost always stagger. Your stats with the weapon affect nothing but the damage being done. Ashes of war can muddle the issue, but that's the Ash's damage, not the weapon's itself.

Dex weapons tend to have higher attack speeds but lower poise damage than Str weapons. This reflects a more mobile playstyle, where you're darting in for a handful of hits before backing off to evade, block, or parry the counterattack. This is totally different from the unga-style play you describe in your first post, so of course you suck at it for now. Practice makes perfect.