Market Research Group

Elden Ring, from the creators of Dark Souls and Bloodborne, is known for its vast, interconnected world, rich lore, and intense combat. One of the most satisfying experiences in the game is building a character that can survive the onslaught of enemies while dishing out significant damage. For players who prefer a more durable, resilient playstyle, the tank build is an optimal choice. With the right combination of Elden Ring items, you can craft a nearly indestructible character that can take hits, absorb damage, and become a true fortress on the battlefield. In this guide, we will explore how to combine the best stat-boosting items for a perfect tank build.

Understanding the Tank Build in Elden Ring

Before diving into the specifics of which items to use, it's important to understand the core characteristics of a tank build. A tank in Elden Ring focuses primarily on survivability, maximizing health, defense, and resistance, while still retaining enough strength or endurance to deal with enemies effectively. While a tank build may not dish out the most damage per second (DPS), it can endure longer battles, keep the focus on itself, and outlast adversaries.

To create a successful tank build, you'll need to focus on the following stats:

• Vigor: Increases your maximum HP, which is crucial for staying alive in lengthy engagements.

• Endurance: Enhances your stamina and equips load, which allows you to wear heavier armor without losing mobility.

• Strength or Dexterity: Depending on your weapon choice, either of these stats will allow you to wield heavy weapons and shields that can increase both offense and defense.

• Mind and Faith: If you're using buffs or defensive spells, these will boost your magic potential.

Once you've established a solid foundation, it’s time to look at how specific Elden Ring items can support and enhance these stats.

Key Stat-Boosting Items for Tank Builds

1. Radagon's Scarseal (Boosts Strength, Endurance, Vigor)

One of the most powerful items for a tank build is Radagon’s Scarseal. This talisman boosts your Strength, Endurance, and Vigor, all of which are critical for a tank. This item increases your ability to wear heavy armor, use powerful weapons, and tank a large amount of damage. The tradeoff, however, is a slight increase in damage taken, so using it requires careful management of your defensive strategy.

2. Bull-Goat Set

The Bull-Goat Set is the ultimate choice for players focused on pure tanking. This armor set offers the highest poise in the game, allowing you to resist stagger from enemy attacks. It’s perfect for those who plan to stand firm in combat, using shields or heavy weapons to take advantage of its high defense. Keep in mind, the Bull-Goat Set is very heavy, so you’ll need to focus on raising your Endurance to avoid becoming too slow.

3. Great-Jar’s Arsenal

The Great-Jar's Arsenal talisman is another essential item that increases your equip load, enabling you to wear heavier armor and weapons without sacrificing mobility. With this talisman, you can balance a tanky defensive build while maintaining enough stamina to continue attacking and blocking effectively. It's a great option for those who need a bit more freedom in their movements without compromising too much on defense.

4. Carian Filigreed Crest

If you’re incorporating some magical buffs into your tank build, the Carian Filigreed Crest is a great item for reducing the FP cost of incantations and sorceries. For those using defensive buffs or healing spells, this item ensures that you can continuously maintain your spells without running out of focus points too quickly. It’s not essential for every tank, but it’s very useful for hybrid builds that also rely on some magic for survivability.

5. Shields: The Greatshield of Glory

While many Elden Ring players focus on heavy armor, don’t forget the importance of a solid shield. The Greatshield of Glory is one of the best choices for a tank build because it offers extremely high defense and the ability to block most attacks. You’ll need a high Strength stat to wield this shield, but it’s well worth the investment when combined with other defensive gear.

6. Tears of Denial (Flask of Cerulean Tears)

Though it doesn’t directly increase your stats, the Flask of Cerulean Tears or Tears of Denial can be a lifesaver when you’re almost down to your last health bar. It restores a portion of your HP and can be a key resource for a tank who needs to outlast enemies in tough fights. Be sure to keep a supply of these for boss battles or high-damage encounters.

How to Buy Elden Ring Items

You may find some of the best stat-boosting Elden Ring items through exploration or drops, but you can also purchase specific items from NPCs throughout the game. Here’s how to buy Elden Ring items:

1. Find Merchants: As you explore the world of the Lands Between, keep an eye out for merchants who sell useful gear. Some merchants, like the Nomadic Merchant or Brother Corhyn, offer a variety of items that can enhance your tank build.

2. Use Rune Currency: Most items can be purchased with runes, the game’s primary currency. Make sure you have enough runes before heading to a merchant, as some high-end stat-boosting items can be quite expensive.

3. Explore Key Locations: Some of the best tanking gear is hidden in remote or challenging locations, requiring careful exploration and combat. If you’re searching for specific items like Radagon’s Scarseal or the Bull-Goat Set, be prepared to face tough enemies and complete challenging quests.

4. Purchase from Other Players: In Elden Ring, you can also buy or trade items with other players through online multiplayer. If you’re struggling to find a specific item, consider checking online forums, markets, or co-op sessions.

Combining Items for the Ultimate Tank Build

To get the most out of your tank build, you’ll want to combine the right Elden Ring items for synergy. Start by boosting your Vigor and Endurance with talismans like Radagon’s Scarseal and Great-Jar’s Arsenal. Follow this up with armor like the Bull-Goat Set for high poise and defense. Add a powerful shield like the Greatshield of Glory for even more protection and stability.

For added flexibility, you can incorporate buffs and healing incantations, which will complement your tank’s durability. Don't forget to stock up on healing items and resource-restoring flasks to give you the edge in protracted fights.

With the right combination of stat-boosting items, your tank build will be an indomitable force in Elden Ring, capable of standing tall against the toughest bosses and enemies the Lands Between has to offer.

Conclusion

Crafting the perfect tank build in Elden Ring requires a delicate balance of defense, offense, and survivability. By carefully choosing the right Elden Ring items to enhance your stats, you can create a character that can endure the most punishing blows while dishing out heavy damage in return. Whether you’re tanking for yourself or your co-op allies, the combination of high poise, resistance, and health will ensure you stay on your feet through even the most intense battles.

Now, as you dive into your next adventure, remember to focus on getting the best items, and don't hesitate to experiment with different combinations to fine-tune your perfect tank build.