Elden Ring DLC Pure Dexterity Critical Build Guide – Featuring the Knight’s Greatsword

Welcome Tarnished! In today’s guide, we’re diving into a slick, fast, and unexpectedly brutal build centered around critical hits and Dexterity. This setup is designed for PvP and invasions in Elden Ring’s DLC, emphasizing aggression, adaptability, and an unconventional weapon choice: the Knight’s Greatsword. While it may not be your go-to crit weapon on paper, with the right setup, it delivers clean backstabs, parries, and relentless pressure. If you find yourself struggling to level up or unlock key upgrades, consider ways to buy Elden Ring Runes to enhance your build and make the most of this incredible weapon choice. Let’s break it all down:

Build Overview: Dexterity-Crit Slayer

Core Weapon:

Knight’s Greatsword + Quickstep Ash of War

· Why it works: Despite having a standard crit modifier (100), the Knight’s Greatsword brings a powerful, fluid moveset and excellent hyper armor. The surprise element of Quickstep on a greatsword gives you unparalleled control in close quarters.

· Playstyle: Focus on baiting attacks, quickstepping behind enemies, and punishing with backstabs. The versatility lets you 2-hand the sword for aggressive pressure or pull out a shield if needed.

Recommended Stats (Level 150 Baseline):

· Vigor: 50 – Needed to survive trades and backstab attempts, especially in 2v1 or 3v1 scenarios.

· Endurance: 25 – Sustain Quicksteps and maintain pressure with heavier armor.

· Strength: 16 – Just enough to meet minimum requirements.

· Dexterity: 60 – The bread and butter of this build. Maximize your damage scaling.

· Mind/Int/Faith/Arcane: Base or whatever you started with.

Shield of Choice (Optional):

Blue-White Wooden Shield
Great fashion synergy and fits the knightly aesthetic. Use it mainly for parry attempts or if you're cornered and need to turtle momentarily.

Talismans:

1. Dagger Talisman – Boosts critical hit damage. A must-have.

2. Two-Handed Sword Talisman – Enhances two-handed weapon attacks.

3. Green Turtle Talisman or Crimson Amber Medallion – Helps with stamina regen or gives more survivability when diving in for backstabs.

4. Bull-Goat’s Talisman (Optional) – If you find yourself needing more poise when invading groups.

Ash of War: Quickstep

Quickstep is key to this build’s success. On a greatsword, it’s unexpected and lets you dance around opponents and slip behind them for crits or surprise attacks. It turns slow weapons into deceptive tools of finesse.

Tactics and Tips

Backstab Fishing:

· Quickstep behind enemies baiting an attack → Backstab.

· Ideal against players who mash R1 or spam Ashes of War.

· Backstabs are extremely consistent thanks to the wide hitbox and good tracking on the Knight’s Greatsword.

Parry Punishment:

· Bait aggression with light attacks, then parry the follow-up.

· After a successful parry, punish with a two-handed riposte for max damage.

· Great against dual-wielders and curved sword/katana spam.

Dealing with Gank Squads:

· Isolate one opponent using elevation or terrain (stairs, ledges).

· Quickstep through their attacks and punish the overextensions.

· Switch to utility weapons (like frost or non-bleed options) if needed mid-fight.

Fashion & Aesthetics

Armor is up to you, but Chase favors poise-heavy sets that don’t slow roll. The Blue-White Wooden Shield and Knight’s Greatsword combo brings a sleek knightly look, and it helps the build stand out in a world of Rivers of Blood spam.

Favorite Invasion Spots:

· Crumbling Farum Azula – Tight corners, ledges, and verticality give Quickstep the edge.

· Hidden Path to the Haligtree – Backstab bait heaven.

· Leyndell, Royal Capital – Surprisingly underrated for invasions, but great ambush opportunities.

PvP Encounters: What to Expect

· Katana Users: Hard to Quickstep, easier to parry or trade into with poise.

· Rivers of Blood Enjoyers: Bait the L2, parry, punish. Quickstep makes you very slippery.

· Gankers: Be patient, divide them up, and capitalize on overcommitments. Flying pots and gravity balls are great tools to control space and create chaos.

Flask of Wondrous Physick Suggestion:

· Greenburst Crystal Tear – Faster stamina recovery.

· Crimsonburst Crystal Tear – Gradual healing during aggressive backstab attempts.

Final Thoughts:

This build is all about deception, precision, and chaos. You’re not here to win with brute force – you’re here to style on your opponents with clean parries and surgical backstabs. The Knight’s Greatsword is a sleeper pick for this kind of playstyle, and when used right, it’s devastating. So throw on your poise gear, equip that dagger talisman, and start slicing through phantoms like a true PvP rogue knight.

If you're looking to enhance your gameplay experience or gear up quickly, consider checking out MMOEXP for cheap Elden Ring Items that can help you dominate your foes.

Chase the Bro-style Summary:

“Run in, quickstep, backstab. Parry the parrier. Style on the gankers. Use pots like a god. Never trust a wizard. Always bonk responsibly.”
Happy hunting, Tarnished.