Few builds in Elden Ring feel as complete, adaptable, and downright fun as a well-crafted Strength-Faith build, especially in the DLC invasion meta.
This isn't a one-weapon gimmick build. It's a flexible toolkit designed to handle every situation: runners, light rollers, spell spammers, shield turtles, and gank squads. With access to powerful strength weapons Elden Ring Items, faith-scaling options, defensive and offensive incantations, and some of the strongest Ashes of War in the game, this build remains one of the most reliable invasion setups available.
Why Strength-Faith Excels in DLC Invasions
The biggest strength of this build is versatility. Strength-Faith allows you to pivot between multiple weapons and playstyles mid-invasion without respecs or awkward compromises.
You get:
Massive physical damage from strength scaling
Access to powerful faith-based buffs and healing
Excellent crowd control tools
Strong answers to latency and evasive playstyles
Weapons that shine in tight spaces and vertical terrain
In invasions, adaptability matters more than raw DPS. This build doesn't just win fights-it survives them.
Core Weapons and Why They Work
Greatsword of Damnation
One of the standout weapons in this setup is the Greatsword of Damnation, which shares the classic Claymore moveset-already one of the best in Elden Ring. What elevates it is its Ash of War, Golden Crux.
Golden Crux functions as a grab-style critical attack, capable of pulling enemies directly out of roll animations. Depending on connection quality, it can even counter players who appear to "teleport" due to latency. Against evasive opponents or unstable connections, this Ash of War is brutally effective.
It's especially strong in:
Gank scenarios
High-latency invasions
Tight corridors and rooftops
Death Knight Twin Axes
For chase-down situations, few weapons compare to the Death Knight Twin Axes. Their Ash of War covers an absurd amount of ground, making it perfect for punishing light rollers and players who try to disengage and reset.
If someone runs, this weapon ensures they don't get far.
America's Hammer
Sometimes, you just want chaos-and America's Hammer delivers. With a massive AoE that launches enemies into the air, it excels in cramped areas like bridges, rooftops, and narrow pathways.
It's not just effective-it's hilarious. Few things feel better than pancaking multiple players at once.
Devonia's Hammer
After buffs to colossal weapon charge speed, Devonia's Hammer has become significantly more dangerous. Its Ash of War is phenomenal at pushing teams off you, especially when outnumbered.
With Shard of Alexander and Godfrey Icon equipped, the charged Ash of War hits like a truck. Thanks to the massive poise during the charge, players who try to punish you often end up eating devastating damage instead.
Incantations: Defense, Sustain, and Control
One of the biggest advantages of Strength-Faith builds is access to incantations. Instead of investing heavily into Faith, this build smartly uses the Two-Finger Heirloom to meet requirements when needed.
This allows access to:
Defense-boosting incantations
Health regeneration
Situational utility spells
The result is a build that can sustain itself through extended invasions, especially in vertical or maze-like areas where fights drag on.
Stats Breakdown (RL 139)
This build is designed to sit at Rune Level 139, allowing invasions down to 125 and up into the 150 range.
Key stat choices:
Strength: 54 - Optimal for strength scaling when two-handing
Faith: 20 - Meets requirements for weapons and key incantations
Remaining stats distributed into Vigor, Endurance, and Mind as needed
The philosophy is simple: maximize weapon damage without bloating Faith investment.
Armor and Talismans
Armor choice is largely aesthetic, but many Strength-Faith weapons lean toward gold and orange tones, making gold-themed armor sets a natural fit.
Talisman Setup
The talisman loadout is mostly standard, with one flexible slot depending on weapon choice:
Shard of Alexander - Essential for Ash of War damage
Godfrey Icon - Boosts charged skills
Poise / survivability talismans as needed
A rotating slot for situational optimization
This setup ensures your Ashes of War hit as hard as possible while keeping you alive in outnumbered fights.Invasion Highlights: Chaos, Comedy, and Carnage
Across multiple locations-Crumbling Farum Azula, the Haligtree, Mount Gelmir, and more-the build consistently demonstrates why it shines.
Golden Crux repeatedly pulls players out of rolls, punishing panic dodges. America's Hammer sends multiple enemies flying off ledges. Devonia's Hammer forces entire teams to disengage. The Death Knight Twin Axes shut down runners entirely.
Environmental kills become frequent, especially on:
Invisible bridges
Rooftops
Narrow ledges
Elevation-heavy zones
Even high-latency opponents and spell spammers struggle to escape once caught.
Handling Ganks and High Latency
One of the build's most underrated strengths is how well it handles bad connections. Grab-style Ashes of War, wide AoEs, and hyper armor reduce reliance on precise spacing.
If someone is teleporting, rolling endlessly, or abusing latency:
Golden Crux often still connects
Wide swings and AoEs punish positioning mistakes
Incantations provide sustain while you wait for openings
Few builds feel this forgiving under poor conditions.
Final Thoughts: Why Strength-Faith Remains a Favorite
This Strength-Faith build is a perfect example of Elden Ring at its best: flexible, creative, and endlessly entertaining. You're not locked into a single weapon or playstyle-you adapt on the fly, choosing the right tool for each fight.
It offers:
Incredible weapon variety
Strong answers to every invasion scenario
Excellent synergy between damage, defense, and sustain
High fun factor without feeling cheesy best place to buy elden ring items
Whether you're pulling players out of rolls, launching ganks into the air, or surviving impossible odds, this build delivers.
For invasion-focused players who value adaptability and expression over pure meta abuse, Strength-Faith remains one of the most satisfying setups in the game.
As always, if you're experimenting with builds or looking for inspiration, this one is absolutely worth trying.
