Mastering the Great Sword of Solitude: A Guard Counter Build Guide in Elden Ring

Welcome back, Tarnished! Today, we’re diving into a powerful build focused on the Great Sword of Solitude, emphasizing the art of guard counters. With exceptional defensive capabilities and devastating counterattack potential, this build will elevate your gameplay. If you're looking to maximize your effectiveness and level up your character quickly, you might also consider ways to buy Elden Ring Runes, as they can significantly enhance your experience and help you acquire better gear and upgrades. Let’s break down the essential components for optimizing your experience with the Great Sword of Solitude.

Key Features of the Great Sword of Solitude

The Great Sword of Solitude is a formidable weapon that not only excels in delivering damage but also offers significant defensive benefits. Its attributes include:

· Physical Defense: 89 when guarding

· Guard Boost: 58

These statistics make the sword an excellent choice for players who enjoy a more defensive playstyle while punishing their opponents with powerful counterattacks.

Loadout Essentials

Weapons and Ash of War

· Great Sword of Solitude: Your primary weapon for this build.

· Ash of War: Equip a suitable Ash of War that synergizes with the Great Sword for optimal damage output. A recommended choice could be Lion's Claw or something that fits your playstyle.

Talismans

1. Shard of Alexander: Boosts the damage of your Ash of War, creating a nasty combo with subsequent light attacks.

2. Warrior Jar Shard: Increases your guard counters' damage, making your defensive play much more punishing.

3. Curved Sword Talisman: This will enhance your guard counter damage, allowing for powerful follow-ups.

4. Favorite Plus Two: This talisman grants you additional stamina and health, ensuring sustainability in longer fights.

Physick Setup

· Opaline Hard Tier: This tier will provide a significant boost to damage negation, letting you absorb hits while preparing for your counter.

· Deflecting Hard Tier: This provides even more damage negation and is perfect for building up your guard counters effectively.

Stats Distribution

This build emphasizes strength primarily, as the Great Sword of Solitude scales exceptionally well with it. Additionally, invest in Endurance for stamina management, and health for survival during intense encounters. A basic suggested stat allocation could look like this:

· Strength: Minimum 60

· Endurance: 30+

· Vigor: 40+

Armor Choices

While armor is subjective based on your aesthetic preferences, the Solitude Set is highly recommended for its excellent poise and defense attributes. With the entire set equipped, you can reach 96 poise, allowing you to tank hits without staggering.

Buffs and Consumables

To truly maximize your potential with the Great Sword of Solitude, consider the following consumables:

1. Exalted Flesh: Boosts your attack power, particularly effective before crucial engagements.

2. Uplifting Aromatic: Grants you an overall increase to your attack rating, creating even bigger damage spikes.

Gameplay Strategy: The Guard Counter

The essence of this build lies in utilizing guard counters effectively. Here’s a step-by-step strategy:

1. Defensive Stance: Utilize the weapon’s high guard damage to absorb incoming attacks. Focus on timing and positioning to catch your opponent off guard.

2. Lure Your Opponent: Wait for your opponent to strike. Your high physical defense means you can endure their attacks and create openings.

3. Guard Counter Execution: Execute your guard counter when the enemy strikes. The delay can catch your opponent off guard, leading into your counterattack.

4. Follow-up Attacks: After landing a successful guard counter, follow up with your Ash of War and subsequent light attack combos. The damage output can be substantial.

5. Mix Up Your Attacks: Remember, not every block needs to end in a guard counter. Occasionally mixing in a regular attack can create confusion and pressure on your opponent.

Conclusion

With this build centered around the Great Sword of Solitude, you’ll find a fantastic balance between offense and defense. Mastery of guard counters can lead to incredible damage outputs while maintaining a solid defensive front. If you want to further enhance your gameplay and acquire powerful equipment, you might consider ways to buy Elden Ring Items from reputable sources like MMOEXP, which can help you accelerate your progression. Keep practicing your timing, and you’ll become a force to be reckoned with in the world of Elden Ring. Until next time, keep honing your skills and enjoy your journey in the Lands Between!