As Elden Ring continues to evolve with new DLC content and balance changes, the meta for endgame and New Game Plus (NG+) content has shifted accordingly. In 2025, players tackling NG+7 and beyond need builds that not only hit hard but also offer strong survivability, stamina efficiency, and adaptability. This article ranks the top 10 most effective builds for Elden Ring Runes high-difficulty content, with detailed insights into their strengths, gear setups, and stat allocations.
1. Dual Hawkblade Build – Supreme Bleed Dominance
Topping the charts is the Dual Hawkblade Build, a terrifyingly effective bleed-centric setup built to slice through NG+7’s toughest bosses. This hybrid approach uses dual +25 Gargoyle’s Twinblades with Blood Affinity and Seppuku to maximize bleed buildup. Against enemies resistant to slash damage, players can swap in the Beastman’s Curved Sword, which offers superior performance against specific foes.
The build’s gear setup includes two Rakshasa armor pieces and the Gravebird's Blackquill Armor, enhancing aggression while still offering decent protection. With Lord of Blood’s Exultation, this build becomes a rapid-deletion machine, exploiting the bleed status for massive DPS. The stat distribution leans heavily into Strength (80) and Arcane (50), ensuring raw power and scaling efficiency.
Why it’s #1: Bleed is still king in Elden Ring, and this build brings it with unmatched versatility and burst damage.
2. Blood Shinobi Build – Speed and Precision with Spears
Fast, deadly, and optimized for stamina efficiency, the Blood Shinobi Build focuses on dual Cross-Naginatas with Occult Affinity. This setup allows for consistent bleed buildup while taking advantage of spear powerstance mechanics. The concise three-hit combo of spears synergizes perfectly with the Twinblade Talisman, boosting the final hit’s damage by 45%.
The build also utilizes the White Mask and Rakshasa armor for bleed synergy and high DPS. With Arcane at 90, the player achieves immense status effect scaling, while Dexterity (39) and Endurance (40) ensure agile movement and excellent stamina recovery.
Why it’s #2: This build is nearly unrivaled in its ability to maintain pressure on enemies while racking up consistent bleed procs.
3. Ancient Sailor Build – Jump Attack Juggernaut
The Ancient Sailor Build focuses purely on brute force, using Rusted Anchors or Large Clubs with Cragblade Ash of War and Heavy Affinity to maximize Strength scaling. This setup exploits many bosses’ weakness to pierce damage while capitalizing on jump attack bonuses.
Combining three pieces of Rakshasa Armor with the Gravebird’s Blackquill Armor gives a 26% bonus to jump attacks. Buffs like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength further enhance output. With Strength maxed to 99, this is the most devastating pure physical damage build in the current meta.
Why it’s #3: It’s simple, brutal, and devastatingly effective against nearly all bosses in NG+7.
4. Blasphemous Blade Build – Lifesteal and Flame Power
The Blasphemous Blade Build brings both offensive and defensive prowess through its Ash of War, which deals massive fire damage and restores HP on hit. With Faith maxed at 99, the healing and damage scaling are top-tier.
This build pairs the sword with Rakshasa armor and talismans like Shard of Alexander and Talisman of the Dread, pushing fire output to incredible levels. With Mind (30) and Endurance (40), you can spam Ashes of War frequently while staying mobile in prolonged fights.
Why it’s #4: The sustain and fire burst damage make this build ideal for long boss fights.
5. Fire Knight Build – Colossal Fire Dominance
The Fire Knight’s Greatsword, introduced in recent DLC, is a standout in 2025 due to its Godslayer-style moveset and excellent infusion flexibility. When paired with Flame Art or Sacred Affinity and Flame Spear, this weapon becomes a PvE powerhouse.
With Faith at 99, players can unleash powerful incantations and maximize fire scaling. Talismans like the Fire Scorpion Charm and Spear Talisman enhance both melee and Ash of War attacks. Supportive items like Bloodsucking Cracked Tear and Golden Vow round out the offensive package.
Why it’s #5: A top-tier fire hybrid that handles boss fights and mobs with equal effectiveness.
6. Night Witch Build – Range and Magic Hybrid
The Night Witch Build is a flexible, high-damage caster setup using dual Staff of Loss to amplify Night Comet sorceries. Paired with the Dark Moon Greatsword, this build handles both ranged and melee combat effectively.
The Spellblade set boosts Moonlight Greatsword attacks, while the Rykard armor provides a more universal damage buff. Buffs like Terra Magica and Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear make Night Comet a top-tier nuke. Despite lower survivability, proper stamina management with Pickled Turtle Neck allows for aggressive play.
Why it’s #6: Versatility and raw ranged power carry this build far in NG+.
7. Bloodhound's Fang Build – Bleed Explosion Tech
Built around the Bloodhound's Fang, this setup delivers fast attacks with built-in AOE bleed explosions when using Blood Affinity and Cragblade. Combined with Swarm of Flies and bleed-scaling buffs, it makes for a strong late-game option.
The build uses the White Mask to boost damage on bleed triggers, and high Strength (66) and Arcane (66) allow for devastating synergy. Buffs like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength push its burst potential even higher.
Why it’s #7: Bleed-heavy and mobile, but outshined by spear and twinblade bleed setups.
8. Sword of Night and Flame Build – Fire and Magic Versatility
Though slightly dated, the Sword of Night and Flame Build remains viable in NG+7 for its wide fire wave AoE and versatility. It scales well with both Faith (99) and Intelligence (24), and can clean up mobs or bosses with ease.
With Shard of Alexander, Fire Scorpion Charm, and Rakshasa Armor, you can still pump out big numbers. It’s especially useful in dungeons and mob-heavy areas, but its scaling falls off in longer boss encounters.
Why it’s #8: A reliable jack-of-all-trades build, but no longer the meta leader.
9. Great Katana Build – Blood Tax Tech
The Great Katana Build uses the Blood Tax Ash of War with Bloodflame Blade to offset motion value penalties and maintain strong bleed buildup. The Ansbach's Set gives a 15% Blood Tax damage boost, while talismans like Millicent’s Prosthesis and Rotten Winged Sword Insignia push DPS higher during sustained combos.
Despite clever mechanics, it's outclassed by more aggressive bleed options like the Dual Hawkblade or Shinobi builds, but it remains a strong pick for katana enjoyers.
Why it’s #9: Innovative but less efficient than top-tier bleed options.
10. Marais Executioner’s Sword Build – Style Over Efficiency
While visually flashy and conceptually cool, the Marais Executioner’s Sword Build suffers from too much setup and inconsistent scaling. Its Eochaid’s Dancing Blade skill can deal impressive damage, especially with buffs, but it requires tight timing and leaves you vulnerable.
With Strength (80) and Arcane (40), and using the Dancer’s set and key talismans like Godfrey Icon, this build can still carry in NG+, but is generally considered suboptimal compared to others on this list.
Why it’s 10: Fun and flashy, but outperformed by more reliable builds.
Conclusion
In 2025’s Elden Ring meta, NG+7 and beyond demands optimized gear, proper stat allocation, and synergy between weapons, talismans, and armor. Builds like the Dual Hawkblade and Elden Ring Items buy Blood Shinobi shine with raw bleed power, while others like the Ancient Sailor offer brute strength solutions. Whether you prefer fire, sorcery, or traditional melee, there's a top-tier build waiting to carry you through the Lands Between’s harshest challenges.
Choose your path wisely—and may your flasks be full.
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