Inspired by Chase the Bro's "crit-fishing" playstyle.

Build Concept

Become a master of precision combat by focusing on critical attacks (backstabs and parries). This high-skill, high-reward build emphasizes reading opponents, perfect timing, and using Ash of War skills to create openings for massive critical damage. It’s a versatile Dexterity build that works in both PvE and PvP, especially effective against popular shield-based metas. To fully optimize your gear and save time farming, some players choose to buy Elden Ring Runes.

Core Stats

· Primary: Dexterity (as high as possible – soft cap at 80)

· Secondary: Strength (enough to meet weapon requirements, ~19-20)

· Vigor: 40-60 (for survivability)

· Endurance: 25-40 (for stamina management and equip load)

· Mind: 15-20 (optional, for Ash of War usage)

· Why Dexterity? Lightning infusion scales with Dex, and most enemies have naturally low Lightning defense, making it ideal for maximizing critical hit damage.

Weapon Selection & Setup

Essential Off-Hand: A Dagger

· Purpose: Your critical attack tool. Always keep a Misericorde (highest crit multiplier) or any keen/lightning-infused dagger in your off-hand.

· Playstyle: Stun or guard-break opponents with your main weapon, then quickly switch to the dagger for the critical finisher.

Main Weapon Options (Choose your style):

The build is flexible. Your main weapon's job is to create crit opportunities.

1. Sword & Board: A straight sword or thrusting sword with a parry Ash of War (Carrian Retaliation, Golden Parry). Use the shield to set up parries.

2. Curved Sword or Katana: Fast movesets to apply pressure and punish whiffs (e.g., Scavenger's Curved Sword, Uchigatana).

3. Colossal Sword (Zhander/Greatsword): Use with Quickstep or Bloodhound's Step Ash of War. Its hyper-armor attacks can poise-break enemies, leading to easy critical setups.

4. Halberd or Spear: Excellent for "shield poke" counter-play with long reach.

Key Ash of War: Kick

· Location: Found in Limgrave, near the Gatefront Ruins.

· Purpose: The ultimate shield-breaker. Against turtles (greatshield users), a successful kick instantly guard-breaks them, leaving them wide open for a critical attack.

Armor & Fashion

· Optimal: Choose for Poise (to hit hyper-armor thresholds, e.g., 51+ or 101+) and defense. Bull-Goat set pieces are great for poise.

· Fashion Souls: As demonstrated, aesthetics are valid! The Ronin's set or Vagabond Knight set mixed with lighter pieces can achieve a great look while maintaining decent stats.

· Tip: Use the Bull-Goat's Talisman to significantly boost your poise without heavy armor.

Talisman Loadout

Your talismans will swap depending on your main weapon.

1. Mandatory: Dagger Talisman – Dramatically increases critical hit damage.

2. For Two-Handing: Axe Talisman – Increases charge attack damage, helping with poise breaks.

3. For Sword & Board (One-Handing): Replace Axe Talisman with Crimson Amber Medallion +2 for extra health or Green Turtle Talisman for stamina regen.

4. Staples (Highly Recommended):

· Bull-Goat's Talisman: Reaches crucial poise breakpoints.

· Erdtree's Favor +2: All-around boost to HP, Stamina, and Equip Load.

Gameplay Strategy & Tips 

Creating Critical Opportunities:

1. Parry Fishing: Against predictable, linear attacks (thrusts, jumping attacks), master the parry timings. Bait out attacks by staying in range.

2. Backstab Tech:

· Crouch & Strafe: Crouch near an enemy to reduce lock-on range, strafe to their back during their attack recovery.

· Roll Backstab: Predict an enemy's roll direction after they attack and sprint to intercept their roll end for a backstab.

· Storm Stomp Setup: Use the Storm Stomp Ash of War to stun groups or individuals, then circle for a backstab.

3. Guard Breaks: Use Kick against blockers. Use jumping heavy attacks or charged R2s on greatshields to break stances.

Advanced PvP Tactics:

· Weapon Swap Crits: Land a poise-breaking attack (like a charged R2 from a colossal weapon), then quickly swap to your dagger for the critical. This deals more damage than the main weapon's crit.

· Pressure & Punishment: Use fast weapons to pressure passive players. Whiff-punish their attacks by dodging and immediately responding with a running R1 or quick Ash of War.

· Mind Games: Bait parries by repeatedly using the same safe attack, then mix in a jump attack or guard break when they try to parry.

Matchup Notes:

· Vs. Shield Poke: Kick is your best friend. Space them and punish their poke recovery.

· Vs. Mages: Use cover, close distance aggressively. The Storm Stomp can trade through some spell casts.

· Vs. Dual Wield/Bleed: Play carefully, focus on parrying the slower, telegraphed attacks (like the running L1 of dual katanas). Maintain high poise to not get staggered by rapid hits.

Final Thoughts

This build is about skill expression. It may have a steep learning curve, as parry and backstab timings vary against different weapons and connections, but the payoff is immensely satisfying. It teaches you enemy move-sets, encourages aggressive yet smart play, and delivers some of the most thrilling moments in Elden Ring. To streamline your journey and focus entirely on honing this technique, many players choose to buy Elden Ring Items for sale from trusted sources like MMOEXP, which offers a secure and efficient way to gear up. Now go out there, hunter, and land those punishing crits.