Elden Ring DLC: Forge the power to unleash the hand of madness

Welcome back, Tarnished! Today, we’re diving into a powerful Madness build centered around one of the newest weapons introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC—the Madding Hand. This fist weapon boasts natural Madness buildup, but its true strength lies in its Ash of War, which guarantees a fully charged heavy attack into a follow-up heavy attack after proccing Madness. With the right setup, this build can one-shot players in PvP and decimate enemies in PvE. To enhance your experience and maximize your potential, you might want to buy Elden Ring Runes to bolster your build and acquire essential upgrades.

Build Overview

This build focuses on two primary aspects: the Madding Hand’s Ash of War and Madness incantations. We’ll cover the best Talismans, incantations, stat distribution, and armor choices to maximize your damage output.

Weapons & Ash of War

Primary Weapon: Madding Hand

· Type: Fist Weapon

· Scaling: Strength, Dexterity, and Faith

· Special Effect: Natural Madness buildup

· Ash of War Effect: On hit, inflicts Madness and guarantees a fully charged heavy attack follow-up

Secondary Weapons (Optional)

· Offhand Seal: Erdtree Seal or Dragon Communion Seal (for casting Madness incantations)

· Backup Weapon: Frenzied Flame Seal (if focusing on Frenzied Flame incantations)

Talismans for Maximum Damage

Depending on whether you’re focusing on the Ash of War combo or Madness spells, here are two different Talisman setups:

Ash of War Damage Setup

1. Shard of Alexander – Boosts Ash of War damage

2. Millicent’s Prosthesis – Enhances attack power with consecutive strikes

3. Radagon Scarseal/Scarseal of Marika – Boosts Strength or Faith, respectively

4. Aged One’s Exultation – Increases damage when Madness is inflicted nearby

Madness Spellcasting Setup

1. Flock’s Canvas Talisman – Boosts incantation power

2. Faithful’s Canvas Talisman – Further increases incantation potency

3. Radagon Icon – Boosts casting speed

4. Aged One’s Exultation – Synergizes with Madness procs from spells

Incantations for Madness Buildup

Madness incantations are an integral part of this build, providing ranged pressure and extra Madness procs.

Top Madness Incantations:

· Unendurable Frenzy – Massive AOE Frenzied Flame attack, great for catching multiple enemies

· Frenzied Burst – Long-range Madness beam, high damage output

· Howl of Shabriri – Inflicts self-Madness while buffing damage

· Flame of Frenzy – Rapid-fire Madness flames, useful for PvE swarms

Stat Distribution

This build follows a quality-based stat spread while investing in Faith to maximize incantation damage.

· Vigor: 40+ (Essential for survivability in PvP and PvE)

· Mind: 25+ (Higher FP pool for consistent spellcasting)

· Endurance: 20 (Enough to equip heavier armor if needed)

· Strength: 30+ (Boosts Madding Hand's melee damage)

· Dexterity: 30+ (Increases weapon scaling)

· Faith: 40+ (Necessary for Madness incantations)

· Arcane: Base (Not required for this build)

Armor Choices

Armor selection is flexible, but the Black Dumpling Helm is highly recommended.

Best Armor for this Build:

· Black Dumpling Helm – Increases attack power when inflicted with Madness (synergizes with Howl of Shabriri)

· Lionel’s Set – High poise for tanking attacks

· Bull-Goat Set – Maximum poise for PvP engagements

· Maliketh’s Set – Balanced resistances and mobility

Consumables for Extra Madness Buildup

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced new Frenzied Flame Pots, perfect for additional Madness procs.

· Hefty Frenzied Flame Pot – Stronger Madness buildup

· Standard Frenzied Flame Pot – Quick throwable Madness effect

· Crimsonwhorl Bubbletear – Converts damage taken into HP, useful for sustained combat

PvP Strategy: Madness in Action

In PvP, this build excels at burst damage and zoning. Here’s how to engage effectively:

1. Start with a ranged Madness incantation – Use Frenzied Burst or Flame of Frenzy to apply pressure.

2. Land the Madding Hand’s Ash of War – If it connects, follow up with a fully charged heavy attack.

3. Use Madness-inflicting consumables – Throw a Frenzied Flame Pot to catch evasive enemies.

4. Apply Howl of Shabriri – Inflict Madness on yourself to trigger the Black Dumpling Helm buff.

5. Finish with Unendurable Frenzy – A devastating area attack to clean up weakened enemies.

PvE Strategy: Melting Enemies with Madness

In PvE, Madness is less effective against bosses immune to it, but this build still packs a punch.

· Against mobs: Spam Flame of Frenzy for rapid Madness buildup.

· Against bosses: Focus on heavy attacks and Frenzied Burst for raw damage.

· Against groups: Unendurable Frenzy can clear clustered enemies quickly.

Final Thoughts

The Madding Hand Madness build is an exhilarating mix of high-risk, high-reward melee combat and powerful incantations. Whether you’re invading players or taking on PvE challenges, this setup provides an explosive and chaotic playstyle that fully embraces the Frenzied Flame’s insanity. To further enhance your gameplay, consider acquiring some cheap Elden Ring Items from MMOEXP, allowing you to focus on maximizing your build without breaking the bank. Happy hunting, Tarnished!