The Vagabond class is one of the stronger starting options for new players in Elden Ring, but it also happens to be the best option for a tank build because of its higher stats. The Vagabond class is also perfect for any veteran Souls players who have no plan to use any spells throughout their playthrough.

To create the best Vagabond build in Elden Ring, players must not only utilize heavy weapons alongside protective, bulky shields but must also organize their stats and gain boosts to allow their character to handle these effectively and to the best of their ability. Primarily designed around Strength, all weapons, gear, Talismans, and skills must scale perfectly with this stat.

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The Best Stats For A Vagabond Build

Prioritize Strength & Vigor

A character with two swords standing on an open field in Elden Ring.

Those who choose a Vagabond build in Elden Ring will start the game with Vigor, Strength, and Dexterity stats than most other classes, but at the cost of lower Faith, Intelligence, and Arcane stats. Much like the best Hero build in Elden Ring, Vagabond builds primarily focus on increasing Strength, Vigor, and Endurance stats.

Attribute

Level

Vigor

60

Mind

15

Endurance

29

Strength

60

Dexterity

40

Intelligence

9

Faith

9

Arcane

7

Dexterity definitely shouldn’t be forgotten about entirely, but the Vagabond class doesn’t rely upon it as heavily as some of the other classes do. Strength is definitely the most important stat to increase for a Vagabond build in Elden Ring. However, the better shields have higher strength stats as their main prerequisite for using them.

Best Weapons For A Vagabond Build

Primary Weapon: Greatsword

Vagabond build in Elden Ring.

One of the other excellent features of Elden Ring’s Vagabond class is that it gives players the freedom to choose their weapons and shields more so than other classes. Many Greatswords and Colossal weapons require a large amount of strength, which the Vagabond is perfectly set up for, with some of the Colossal weapons in Elden Ring requiring players to reach 30+ in their strength stat alone.

For specific choices that synergize well with a Vagabond Build, one of the best options for heavy-based damage is the

Grafted Blade Greatsword

, which can hit enemies extremely hard, perfect for a tanky player.

Alternatively, Glaives such as the Heavy Nightrider Glaive excel, with an S scaling in Strength. Its long reach can keep enemies far away, allowing you to deal slightly longer-ranged damage in a melee-style build. The Warhawk’s Talon’s unique heavy attack boasts a rapid double-swipe that hits even harder than standard straight swords.

Secondary Weapon: Greatshield

A shield is essential to any Vagabond build in Elden Ring; fortunately, there is an abundance of them in the game. Vagabonds start at Level 9 with a Heater Shield, which has a 100% physical damage reduction. While this is a great defensive weapon, players will eventually want to swap this out for a Greatshield.

When opting for a Greatshield in Elden Ring, it’s best to go for any special effects shield, such as the

Eclipse Crest Greatshield

, which boosts Immunity, Robustness, and Focus. This would help players resist most damage-inducing status conditions, which is particularly useful in boss fights.

Another useful option is the Great Turtle Shell, which regenerates Stamina while equipped. This includes if it is on your back while two-handing a weapon. As the Vagabond is a heavy build, Stamina often reduces very quickly, therefore it is important to use gear in Elden Ring that can circumvent this issue.

Best Armor For A Vagabond Build

Vagabond Knight Armor

Knight Armor stats in Elden Ring.

Additionally, as the best Warrior builds in Elden Ring, players will want to search for the highest damage-resistant armor overall. Some classes have a few playstyle options, so the Vagabond build in Elden Ring promotes the singular tanky playstyle in exchange for a greater weapon, shield, and armor variety.

Prioritize armor that can offer high enough poise to prevent being staggered by enemies. One of the best picks for this is the

Knight Armor

, which has high poise and will result in players being within Medium Load range, an integral part of the build. You can also use Talismans to help with this, which will be discussed further.

Tarnished wielding the Blasphemous Blade and Starscourge Greatsword in Elden Ring.

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Best Talismans For A Vagabond Build

Enhance Equip Load & Damage Negation

Dragoncrest Shield Talisman stats in Elden Ring.

Talismans in Elden Ring are easily one of the more straightforward components of Vagabond builds in Elden Ring. Players should mainly seek to increase their Stamina, Equip Load, and Damage Negation, especially if going for a heavy, tank-based player:

Talisman

Effect

Location

Erdtree’s Favor +2

Players acquire this Talsman fairly late-game in Elden Ring. The +2 variant raises the maximum of the following stats: 4% HP, 10% Stamina, and 10% Equip Load.

Found within a large courtyard in Lyndell, Ashen Capital, on top of a branch jutting out of the ground.

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

This Talisman provides an enormous Physical Damage reduction of 20%, improving how well players take hits. As this is acquired late-game, players can opt for the standard Dragoncrest Shield Talisman until they can acquire this more powerful version.

Found inside a chest in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, guarded by several Pests.

Ritual Sword Talisman

This is the only damage-boosting Talisman players will use for the Vagabond build, raising your Attack power by 10%. This only comes into effect when your HP is at maximum.

Found inside a chest after defeating the Demi-Human Queen Ilika boss in Lux Ruins.

Great-Jar’s Arsenal

The Great-Jar’s Arsenal is extremely important for Vagabonds, as it vastly boosts your Equip Load by 19%. This is useful when outfitted with heavy armor or weapons and shields.

Rewarded to players by the Great-Jar for defeating the NPC duelists in Dragonbarrrow (northern Caelid).

Best Ashes Of War for A Vagabond Build

Heavy Affinity; Scales With Strength

The Vagabond class allows players to show off their variety of weapon skills. Those who prefer to utilize higher defense can stick to Endure and Barricade Shield, while more offensive Vagabonds willing to take hits can make the most out of War Cry, Wild Strikes, and Cragblade.

YouTuber Garden of Eyes demonstrates all Ashes of War in Elden Ring, conveniently providing time stamps so players can skip to each of the options provided in the table below:

Ash of War

Affinity

Effect

Location

Endure

Heavy

‘Assume an anchored stance to brace for incoming attacks, briefly boosting poise. Damage taken while using this skill is reduced.’ (45%)

  • Sold by Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack for 600 Runes.
  • Purchased from Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold after giving them Bernahl’s Bell Bearing in Elden Ring.

War Cry

Heavy

‘Give a war cry to rally the spirit and increase attack power. While active, strong attacks change to charging attacks.’

  • Sold by Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack for 600 Runes.
  • Purchased from Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold after giving them Bernahl’s Bell Bearing.

Barricade Shield

Standard

‘Focus your energy into the shield, temporarily hardening it to deflect greater blows.’

Dropped by Night’s Cavalry at Weeping Peninsula.

Wild Strikes

Heavy

‘Swing armament with wild abandon. Hold to continue swinging. Can be followed up with a normal or strong attack.’

Dropped from a Teardrop Scarab located along the path between the ‘Stormhill Shack’ Site of Grace and the ‘Castleward Tunnel’ Site of Grace.

Cragblade

image large Cragblade

Heavy

‘Bury the armament in the ground, pulling rocks from the earth to reinforce it. Increases attack power and makes it easier to break enemy stance.’

On a Scarab near the sword monument, west of Impassable Greatbridge site in Caelid.

Source: Garden of Eyes/YouTube



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