Welcome to the ultimate guide for mastering Elden Ring's Frost Fu Monk build! The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring introduces a new weapon type: martial arts. These hand-to-hand weapons bring a fresh, dynamic approach to fighting, emphasizing close-quarters combat and powerful special moves. Imagine moving with the speed and precision of a true martial artist, unleashing rapid blows that leave enemies reeling.
The Frost Fu Monk build isn't just about power-it's about style, skill, and the thrill of close-quarters combat. Prepare to wield a build that's as cool as it is effective. From acquiring Dryleaf Arts to optimizing gear and stats, this guide is packed with tips and strategies. Are you ready to wield the power of Elden Ring Martial Arts Build and triumph over all challenges?
Here we break down the top 3 martial arts weapons and explain how to set up the most powerful hand-to-hand kong fu combat builds with each weapon.
Acquiring the Dryleaf Arts Weapon
To begin your journey with the Dryleaf Arts build in Elden Ring DLC, your first task is acquiring the elusive Dryleaf Arts weapon. Head southeast from the Site of Grace near Castle Ensis to find the Moorth Ruins, where Dryleaf Dain awaits. Before facing Dryleaf Dain, acquire a specific gesture or item from the nearby Site of Grace (May the Best Win). Engage in a challenging battle with Dryleaf Dain at the Moorth Ruins.
Victory over Dryleaf Dain rewards you with the Dryleaf Arts weapon. With Dryleaf Arts in hand, you're ready to face Elden Ring's toughest adversaries.
Read also: Individual Martial Arts Instruction
Customizing Dryleaf Arts
Mastering the Frost Fu Monk build hinges on customizing Dryleaf Arts to fit your combat approach. Dryleaf Arts initially scales with both Strength and Dexterity, offering versatility. After extensive testing, the Heavy infusion emerged as the optimal choice for maximizing raw physical damage. Alternatively, the Cold Infusion coupled with the Divine Beast Frost Stomp Ash of War presents an enticing alternative.
This combination matches Heavy in damage output while also applying Prospite buildup on enemies. Divine Beast Frost Stomp surpasses Palm Blast by offering extended reach, making it effective for controlling the battlefield in various scenarios. This weapon skill not only interrupts enemy actions but also delivers powerful blows that can turn the tide of challenging encounters.
Selecting Armor and Talismans
Selecting lightweight armor pieces such as Dane's Hat, Mesmer Soldier's chest piece, and Horned Warrior's gloves and legs is essential. These pieces offer sufficient protection while allowing maximum mobility, crucial for executing swift movements and evasive maneuvers during battles. Incorporating the Blue Dancer charm into your setup further enhances agility by reducing your equipment load. This not only boosts your overall damage potential but also enables you to maintain swift movement speed throughout engagements.
The selection of talismans significantly impacts your combat effectiveness in the Frost Fu Monk build. Whether you prioritize increasing attack power with the Bull Goat's talisman, stacking buffs with the Rotten Wing Sword insignia, or enhancing versatility with Millicent's Prothesis, each talisman offers distinct advantages.
Attribute Allocation and Great Runes
Prioritize vigor by allocating around 50 points to bolster your health pool. This ensures you can endure the toughest encounters and survive prolonged engagements against formidable foes. Allocate approximately 30 points into endurance to enhance your stamina reserves. This stat directly impacts your ability to execute successive attacks, evade incoming strikes, and perform evasive maneuvers seamlessly.
Read also: The Jade Fortress Martial Arts System
Maintain a balanced distribution of around 35 points each in strength, dexterity, and intelligence. This allocation optimizes your damage output across various combat scenarios while offering versatility in your approach. Strength enhances your physical attacks, dexterity improves weapon handling and precision, and intelligence augments your ability to utilize strategic abilities and spells.
Enhance Divine Beast Frost Stomp's magical damage potential by pairing it with Magic Shrouding Cracked Tear. Godrick Great Rune provides a balanced boost across multiple stats, making it ideal for improving your overall combat versatility and effectiveness. Radahn’s Great Rune focuses on increasing health, stamina, and FP, bolstering your durability during prolonged battles and allowing you to sustain relentless attacks without faltering. Adjust your attribute allocation to complement your chosen Great Rune.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: Incredibly FUN Martial Arts Build Guide (Dryleaf Arts)
Top 3 Hand-to-Hand Arts Weapons & Builds in Shadow of the Erdtree
In Elden Ring's DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, the most anticipated addition for many players is the new martial arts weapon class, the hand-to-hand weapons. This weapon class introduces an exciting and dynamic combat style, allowing players to engage enemies with powerful, close-quarters combat techniques. One of the notable weapons in this class is the Dryleaf Arts, which can be upgraded and imbued with elemental effects like frost to maximize damage. Players can also find and use Dane's Footwork, another hand-to-hand weapon that focuses on powerful kicks.
These weapons support a variety of builds, including those that leverage intelligence scaling for frost damage or strength for sheer physical power. The hand-to-hand weapon class in Shadow of the Erdtree offers a fresh and highly engaging combat experience for players who enjoy martial arts-inspired gameplay. Here we've sorted out the top 3 best martial arts weapons and builds for thoese who want to Monk Kong Fu kicking bosses in Elden Ring DLC!
1. Dryleaf Arts
The Dryleaf Arts are a new martial arts weapon type introduced in the "Shadow of the Erdtree" DLC for Elden Ring. These fist weapons are acquired by defeating the NPC Dry Leaf Dane at the Mor ruins, which is accessible after using the "May the best win" emote. The Dryleaf Arts are characterized by their fast move set and the ability to inflict frostbite when infused with cold, enhancing their damage output. Despite their short range, the weapons mitigate this drawback by slightly moving the character forward during attacks, making it less noticeable when locked onto enemies.
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The Dryleaf Arts synergize well with talismans like Millicent's Prosthesis and Winged Sword Insignia, which boost attack power with successive hits. Additionally, the Ash of War "Palm Blast" allows players to deal significant damage through a powerful energy release, particularly when combined with the Shard of Alexander and Godfrey Icon for boosted Ash of War damage. This weapon excels in both PVE and PVP due to its quick, consecutive attacks and ability to break enemy stances with guard counters.
OP Dryleaf Arts Build Setup:
- Weapon: Dryleaf Arts
- Infusion: Cold (for frostbite proc)
- Armor: Dane's Hat, Messmer Soldier Armor, Horned Warrior Gauntlets, Horned Warrior Greaves
- Talismans: Bull-Goat's Talisman, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Millicent's Prosthesis, Shard of Alexander
- Physick: Thorny Cracked Tear (for consecutive hits), Stonebarb Cracked Tear (for stance breaking)
- Buffs and Spells: Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Bloodflame Blade
Stats (150 Level):
- 50 Vigor
- 29 Mind
- 30 Endurance
- 35 Strength
- 35 Dexterity
- 35 Intelligence
- 7 Faith
- 9 Arcane
Gameplay Strategy:
- Fast Combos: Utilize the quick move set of the Dryleaf Arts to land multiple hits.
- Frostbite: Inflict frostbite to increase damage dealt to enemies.
- Guard Counters: Use guard counters to break enemy stances and deal heavy damage.
- Ash of War: Utilize Ash of War abilities like Palm Blast for high damage output.
2. Poisoned Hand
The Poisoned Hand weapon is a standout in the "Shadow of the Erdtree" DLC, known for its deadly poison-stacking capabilities. This fist weapon instantly procs deadly poison on most enemies with its unique Ash of War, making it a formidable choice for damage-over-time strategies. When combined with the Exaltation of Rot talisman and the Mushroom Crown, the Poisoned Hand significantly boosts attack power while the enemy is poisoned or afflicted with rot. The weapon's heavy attacks are particularly effective, often staggering enemies and setting them up for powerful critical hits.
Additionally, the build can be enhanced with the Blade of Mercy and Dagger Talisman, further increasing the damage of critical attacks. This setup makes the Poisoned Hand not only a tool for sustained damage but also a powerhouse for burst damage through crits. The weapon is especially effective in fights against tough bosses like Radahn, where the ability to stack poison and deliver heavy hits can turn the tide of battle.
OP Poisoned Hand Build Setup:
- Weapon: Poisoned Hand (Right Hand), Dragon Communion Seal (Left Hand)
- Armor: Mushroom Crown, Rakshasa Set
- Talismans: Axe Talisman, Kindred of Rot's Exultation, Dagger Talisman, Blade of Mercy
- Wondrous Physick: Stonebarb Cracked Tear, Spiked Cracked Tear
- Buffs and Spells: Flame, Grant Me Strength, Buffs to enhance poison damage and survivability
Stats (150 Level):
- 60 Vigor
- 16 Mind
- 22 Endurance
- 8 Strength
- 12 Dexterity
- 16 Intelligence
- 25 Faith
- 70 Arcane
Gameplay Strategy:
- Proc Poison: Use the Poisoned Hand's Ash of War to instantly proc deadly poison on enemies.
- Stack Buffs: Equip talismans that boost damage when poison or rot is present.
- Heavy Hits: Utilize heavy attacks to stagger enemies and deal massive critical hits.
- Crit Attacks: Finish off staggered enemies with boosted critical attacks.
3. Dane's Blood Footwork
Dane's Blood Footwork is another martial arts weapon introduced in the "Shadow of the Erdtree" DLC, designed to maximize the potential of bleed damage. This weapon is obtained later in the DLC, and its primary strength lies in its ability to inflict bleed status quickly and efficiently. When paired with the Dryleaf Arts in the off-hand, it allows for a unique combination of hand and foot strikes, creating devastating multi-hit combos. The inherent Ash of War, Dryleaf Whirlwind, is a multi-hit aerial attack that deals significant damage and stagger, making it ideal for both crowd control and boss fights.
The build benefits greatly from talismans such as the Lord of Blood's Exaltation and the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, which boost attack power with successive hits and bleed procs. Additionally, the Shattered Stone Talisman increases the damage of kicking and stomping skills, further enhancing the weapon's effectiveness.
| Weapon | Key Features | Best Talismans |
|---|---|---|
| Dryleaf Arts | Fast attacks, frostbite infusion | Millicent's Prosthesis, Winged Sword Insignia |
| Poisoned Hand | Deadly poison stacking, critical hits | Exaltation of Rot, Dagger Talisman |
| Dane's Blood Footwork | Bleed damage, multi-hit combos | Lord of Blood's Exaltation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia |