In Elden Ring, power stancing—wielding two weapons of the same type to unlock unique movesets—can significantly boost your damage and stagger potential, making it a favorite mechanic for players tackling the Lands Between. With the right weapon pair, you can dominate both PvE and PvP encounters. Below, we highlight some of the most effective power stance weapons, based on recent analyses and community feedback, including options from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. These choices cater to various playstyles, from brute strength to agile dexterity builds.

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Key Points

• Power Stance Mechanics: Power stancing requires two weapons of the same class, offering unique attack patterns and a ~70% damage boost, ideal for status effects like bleed or frost.
• Top Picks: Colossal Swords (Grafted Blade Greatsword, Ruins Greatsword) and Reapers (Halo Scythe, Winged Scythe) are frequently cited as top-tier due to high damage and stagger.
• Community Favorites: Katanas, Greatswords, and Halberds are popular for their versatility and status effect potential.
• DLC Impact: The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced new weapons like Dryleaf Arts, enhancing power stance options.
• Playstyle Matters: The best pair depends on your build—strength for heavy weapons, dexterity for faster ones.

Why Power Stance?

Power stancing allows you to unleash devastating combos that can stagger enemies and apply status effects quickly. It’s particularly effective for builds focusing on bleed, frost, or holy damage, as dual-wielding doubles the status buildup rate. However, it demands higher stamina and equip load, so investing in Endurance is crucial, especially for heavier weapons like Colossal Swords.

Top Power Stance Combinations

Here are some of the best power stance weapon pairs, based on their damage output, scaling, and unique skills:

1. Colossal Swords: Grafted Blade Greatsword and Ruins Greatsword

These massive swords are a powerhouse for strength builds. The Grafted Blade Greatsword’s Oath of Vengeance skill temporarily boosts all stats, while the Ruins Greatsword’s Wave of Destruction delivers a devastating electric beam. With physical damage up to 396 and 300, respectively, and excellent stagger potential, this pair excels against tough bosses.

2. Reapers: Halo Scythe and Winged Scythe

Reapers shine for their bleed and holy damage. The Halo Scythe’s Miquella’s Ring of Light tracks enemies with holy damage, while the Winged Scythe’s Angel’s Wings offers a powerful thrust. Both inflict 55 hemorrhage, making them deadly for bleed builds, with fluid movesets for PvP and PvE.

3. Halberds: Dragon Halberd and Guardian’s Swordspear

Halberds balance range and damage, ideal for mid-range combat. The Dragon Halberd boosts damage by 10% against dragons, while the Guardian’s Swordspear offers B-tier Dexterity scaling. Their power stance attacks stagger enemies effectively, making them versatile for various encounters.

4. Curved Greatswords: Omen Cleaver and Beastman’s Cleaver

These weapons combine speed and power for strength builds. Both scale well (B-tier Strength) and deal high damage (347 and 350 physical, respectively). Their Spinning Slash skill is great for crowd control and staggering, offering a faster alternative to Colossal Swords.

5. Twinblades: Gargoyle’s Twinblade and Gargoyle’s Black Blades

Twinblades are built for rapid strikes. The Gargoyle’s Twinblade (301 physical damage) and Black Blades (237 Faith-scaled) deliver fast combos and a ranged Spinning Slash attack, perfect for keeping enemies at bay while maintaining pressure.

Tips for Power Stancing

• Build Synergy: Match your weapons to your stats—Strength for Colossal Swords, Dexterity for Katanas or Twinblades, and Faith for Reapers.
• Jump Attacks: Power stance jump attacks deal massive damage and stagger, especially with heavy weapons.
• Status Effects: Pair weapons with bleed or frost Ashes of War to maximize status buildup.
• Endurance Investment: Heavy weapons require high Endurance for stamina and equip load.

Comprehensive Guide to Power Stance Weapons in Elden Ring

In Elden Ring, the power stance mechanic, a fan-favorite from Dark Souls 2, allows players to dual-wield two weapons of the same class to unlock unique movesets and boost damage output by approximately 70% (Reddit Discussion). This mechanic is particularly effective for applying status effects like bleed, frost, or madness, as dual-wielding doubles the proc rate. With the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in June 2024, new weapons have expanded the possibilities for power stancing, making it a dynamic choice for both PvE and PvP. Below, we dive into the best power stance weapons, combining insights from expert analyses and community feedback, to help you craft a build that suits your playstyle.

Understanding Power Stance

Power stancing requires equipping two weapons of the same type (e.g., two Colossal Swords or two Katanas) in each hand. This unlocks a unique moveset accessed via the left-hand attack button (L1/LB), featuring combos that deal increased damage and often stagger enemies. However, power stancing consumes more stamina and requires a higher equip load, so investing in Endurance is essential, especially for heavier weapons like Colossal Swords or Greataxes (Windows Central). The trade-off is a visually spectacular and highly effective combat style that can turn the tide against even the toughest bosses in the Lands Between.

Top Power Stance Weapon Combinations

Based on recent analyses and player discussions, here are the top power stance weapon pairs, ranked for their damage, scaling, and utility. These include options from the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, as noted in a July 2024 ranking (TheGamer).

1. Colossal Swords: Grafted Blade Greatsword and Ruins Greatsword

• Weapon Class: Colossal Swords
• Max Physical Damage: 396 (Grafted Blade), ~300 (Ruins Greatsword)
• Scaling: Strength B/S
• Key Skills: Oath of Vengeance (Grafted Blade, +5 to all stats for 30 seconds), Wave of Destruction (Ruins Greatsword, electric beam)
• Why It’s Great: This pair is a top choice for strength builds due to its massive damage and stagger potential. The Grafted Blade Greatsword requires 50 Strength, making it a late-game option, but its stat boost complements the Ruins Greatsword’s ranged electric attack. Their power stance jump attacks can deal thousands of damage, ideal for breaking boss poise (TheGamer).
• Best For: Players with high Strength (50+) who want to dominate with slow, heavy hits.

2. Reapers: Halo Scythe and Winged Scythe

• Weapon Class: Reapers
• Max Physical Damage: 289 (Halo Scythe)
• Additional Damage: 55 Hemorrhage, Holy
• Scaling: Dexterity C, Faith C/D
• Key Skills: Miquella’s Ring of Light (Halo Scythe, tracking holy damage), Angel’s Wings (Winged Scythe, thrust/lunge)
• Why It’s Great: Reapers are a favorite for bleed and Faith builds, with both weapons inflicting 55 hemorrhage and holy damage. Their fluid moveset excels in PvP, and the tracking holy attack from the Halo Scythe adds versatility. Community feedback highlights their stagger potential and effectiveness against bleed-vulnerable enemies (Reddit Discussion; DualShockers).
• Best For: Dexterity/Faith builds focusing on bleed and holy damage.

3. Halberds: Dragon Halberd and Guardian’s Swordspear

• Weapon Class: Halberds
• Max Physical Damage: Higher than Golden Halberd (328)
• Scaling: Strength B, Dexterity B
• Key Skills: Various Ashes of War, +10% damage vs. dragons (Dragon Halberd)
• Why It’s Great: Halberds offer range and versatility, with the Dragon Halberd’s dragon-slaying bonus and the Guardian’s Swordspear’s unique moveset. Their power stance attacks are fast and stagger enemies effectively, making them ideal for mid-range combat. Players praise their fluid combos and jump attack damage (Reddit Discussion).
• Best For: Balanced Strength/Dexterity builds seeking range and stagger.

4. Curved Greatswords: Omen Cleaver and Beastman’s Cleaver

• Weapon Class: Curved Greatswords
• Max Physical Damage: 347 (Omen Cleaver), 350 (Beastman’s Cleaver)
• Scaling: Strength B
• Key Skills: Spinning Slash (both, AoE damage)
• Why It’s Great: These weapons offer a faster alternative to Colossal Swords while maintaining high damage. Their Spinning Slash skill is excellent for crowd control, and their power stance combos build stagger quickly. Community discussions note their effectiveness with bleed or frost infusions (Reddit Discussion).
• Best For: Strength builds wanting speed and power.

5. Twinblades: Gargoyle’s Twinblade and Gargoyle’s Black Blades

• Weapon Class: Twinblades
• Max Physical Damage: 301 (Gargoyle’s Twinblade), 237 Faith (Black Blades)
• Scaling: Strength B
• Key Skills: Spinning Slash (ranged AoE)
• Why It’s Great: Twinblades are built for rapid, successive strikes, making them perfect for power stance. This pair’s high physical and Faith-scaled damage, combined with a ranged attack option, makes them versatile for crowd control and boss fights (TheGamer).
• Best For: Strength/Faith builds prioritizing speed and combos.

Community Favorites

The Elden Ring community on platforms like Reddit has shared additional power stance combinations that shine in specific scenarios (Reddit Discussion):

Strategic Tips for Power Stancing

• Optimize Your Build: Match weapons to your primary stats—Strength for Colossal Swords, Dexterity for Katanas, or Faith for Reapers. Check scaling (e.g., B-tier Strength for Omen Cleaver) to maximize damage.
• Leverage Jump Attacks: Power stance jump attacks are highly effective for staggering and dealing burst damage, especially with heavy weapons (TheGamer).
• Enhance with Ashes of War: Infuse weapons with bleed, frost, or other status effects to double proc rates, as noted by players (Reddit Discussion).
• Manage Stamina: Power stance attacks are stamina-intensive, so invest in Endurance to sustain combos and carry heavy weapons (Rock Paper Shotgun).
• Experiment with DLC Weapons: The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced weapons like Dryleaf Arts and Dane’s Footwork, which offer unique hand-to-hand power stance movesets for agile builds.

Considerations and Variations

While Colossal Swords and Reapers are often cited as top-tier, some sources, like a 2022 ranking, prioritize Reapers (Halo Scythe, Winged Scythe) for their bleed potential (DualShockers). Community opinions vary, with some players favoring Katanas for speed and PvP dominance, while others prefer Colossal Weapons for raw power. The best choice depends on your playstyle—strength builds lean toward heavy weapons, while dexterity or hybrid builds benefit from faster options like Twinblades or Katanas.

Power stancing in Elden Ring offers a thrilling way to enhance your combat experience, with weapon pairs like the Grafted Blade Greatsword and Ruins Greatsword leading the pack for their sheer power. Whether you’re slicing through enemies with Reapers, controlling the battlefield with Halberds, or experimenting with community favorites like Katanas, the right combination can elevate your gameplay. As you explore the Lands Between, try different pairs to find what feels best for your Tarnished warrior.