Best Quality Build in Elden Ring
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Best Quality Build in Elden Ring
Quality Build TipsThe Quality build is Elden Ring’s definitive all-rounder — not the highest damage ceiling of any single archetype, but the most versatile and forgiving build in the game for players who value weapon variety over optimised damage output. At 40/40 Strength and Dexterity with 60 Vigor, the build handles every piece of content the game offers without feeling underpowered, and the flexibility to swap between weapon types based on the enemy encounter is a genuine strategic advantage that pure Strength or Dexterity builds lack. The Bloodhound’s Fang and Claymore cover every combat situation between them — fast single-target pressure with the Fang, wide crowd control and poise damage with the Claymore. Start as a Vagabond, pick up the Claymore immediately in Castle Morne, and upgrade it to +25 — you have a complete Quality build foundation within the first two hours of the game.FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
Best Quality Build — Full BreakdownThe best Quality build in Elden Ring runs 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity with a Quality-infused Bloodhound’s Fang or Claymore at Rune Level 125. Stats: Vigor 60 · Mind 15 · Endurance 25 · Strength 40 · Dexterity 40 · Intelligence 9 · Faith 9 · Arcane 9. Quality infusion gives both Strength and Dexterity C/C scaling — excellent weapon variety and the most flexible build in the game.
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Starting class: Vagabond or Hero — best base Str/Dex spread. The Vagabond (14 Str / 13 Dex base) and Hero (16 Str / 9 Dex base) are the most level-efficient starting classes for a Quality build. Both reach 40/40 Strength and Dexterity with the fewest wasted levels. Vagabond is the better all-rounder with more balanced starting stats and higher base Vigor. Hero is preferable if you plan to use heavier Strength-leaning weapons before committing fully to 40/40. Avoid pure caster classes — they waste too many levels in Mind and low physical stats.
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Primary weapon: Quality Bloodhound’s Fang or Quality Claymore. The Bloodhound’s Fang (obtained by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave) with Quality infusion at 40/40 reaches B/B scaling and deals excellent physical damage with built-in bleed. The Claymore (found in a chest in Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula) with Quality infusion is the most versatile greatsword in the game — wide moveset, thrust R2, and reliable damage at all build stages. Both are exceptional Quality weapons available very early. See our guide on how to get the Bloodhound’s Fang.
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Infusion: Quality — unlocked at any Site of Grace with Whetstone Knife. Apply Quality infusion to your chosen weapon using the Whetstone Knife (found in a chest in the Gatefront Ruins in Limgrave — very early in the game). Quality infusion changes weapon scaling to C/C Strength and Dexterity — both stats contribute equally to damage. At 40/40 the combined scaling output is competitive with pure Strength or Dexterity builds at their respective softcaps (55 Str or 60 Dex). The advantage is flexibility — every weapon in the game benefits from Quality infusion on a 40/40 spread.
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Final stat spread at Rune Level 125. Target these stats: Vigor 60 (fundamental — 60 Vigor gives approximately 1,900 HP, the PvP standard) · Mind 15 (enough FP for Ashes of War) · Endurance 25 (sufficient stamina for extended combos with mid-load armour) · Strength 40 (softcap) · Dexterity 40 (softcap) · Intelligence 9 / Faith 9 / Arcane 9 (all base, no investment). At this spread you have maximum physical damage output from both stats while maintaining the Vigor floor needed to survive in late-game areas and PvP.
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Best Ashes of War for Quality builds. Quality builds pair best with Physical or Standard damage Ashes of War that scale off the weapon’s base stats. Top picks: Bloodhound’s Step (fastest invincibility-frame dodge available — excellent for PvP gap closing) · Seppuku (blood loss buildup + attack buff — powerful for Bloodhound’s Fang) · Storm Stomp (AoE poise break at close range — useful for stunlocking mobs) · Carian Grandeur (charged greatsword wave — high poise damage on bosses). Equip Ashes of War via the Ash of War menu at any Site of Grace.
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Talismans: Erdtree’s Favor +2 + Rotten Winged Sword Insignia + Bull-Goat’s Talisman + Shard of Alexander. The optimal Quality talisman setup: Erdtree’s Favor +2 (boosts HP, FP, and Stamina simultaneously — general use) · Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (increases attack with successive hits — synergises perfectly with fast Quality weapons) · Bull-Goat’s Talisman (increases poise — prevents staggering during combo strings) · Shard of Alexander (boosts Ash of War damage by 15% — amplifies your chosen Ash of War significantly). Swap Bull-Goat’s for Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman in PvP for damage absorption.
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Quality is the most weapon-flexible build in the game: because Quality infusion gives equal Strength and Dexterity scaling, a 40/40 build can effectively use almost every weapon in Elden Ring — straight swords, greatswords, curved swords, halberds, spears, and colossal weapons. You never feel locked into one weapon category. This makes Quality the best build for players who enjoy experimenting with different weapons throughout a playthrough rather than committing to a single archetype.
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40/40 Str/Dex is slightly lower damage than 80 Str or 80 Dex at the same Rune Level: a pure Strength build at 80 Str or pure Dex build at 80 Dex deals more damage than a Quality build at 40/40 with the same level investment. Quality trades peak damage for flexibility. At Rune Level 125 the difference is approximately 5–10% lower AR — noticeable in theory but rarely felt in actual play where Vigor investment and mechanical skill matter more than marginal AR differences.
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Two-handing adds 50% effective Strength — use it constantly: two-handing your weapon (hold Y/Triangle then press the weapon hand button) multiplies your effective Strength by 1.5. At 40 Strength, two-handing gives 60 effective Strength — meeting the two-hand requirement of all but the heaviest weapons. Two-hand your primary weapon in all PvE situations where you do not need a shield — the damage increase is significant and the posture damage increase helps stagger bosses faster.
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The Claymore is the definitive beginner Quality weapon: available in Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula within the first hour of the game, the Claymore with Quality infusion remains competitive all the way through the final bosses. Its wide horizontal R1, thrusting R2, and excellent range make it one of the most practical weapons in the game. If you are new to Elden Ring, pick up the Claymore on Day 1, apply Quality infusion, and it will carry you through the entire playthrough without replacement.
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Respec at Rennala if you started with wrong stats: if you built differently during your playthrough and want to convert to Quality at 40/40, use a Larval Tear at Rennala to respec your stats. Larval Tears are found throughout the Lands Between — the most accessible ones are in Nokron, Eternal City after defeating Radahn. A single respec gives you a fully functional 40/40 Quality build immediately without replaying the early game.
What is a Quality build in Elden Ring?
A Quality build invests equally in Strength and Dexterity — typically 40 in each — to maximise weapons using Quality infusion, which scales with both stats simultaneously. Quality builds are the most weapon-flexible in the game since nearly every weapon benefits from balanced Str/Dex investment. The standard Quality build runs 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity at Rune Level 125 with 60 Vigor.
What are the best weapons for a Quality build in Elden Ring?
The best Quality weapons are the Bloodhound’s Fang (Quality infusion, built-in bleed, aggressive moveset), the Claymore (Quality infusion, versatile greatsword available very early), and the Grafted Blade Greatsword (Quality colossal sword, high poise damage). The Claymore is the best beginner Quality weapon — found in Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula in the first hour of the game.
Is Quality build good in Elden Ring?
Yes — the Quality build is excellent in Elden Ring, particularly for beginners and players who enjoy weapon variety. It is slightly lower damage than pure Strength or Dexterity builds at the same level (approximately 5–10% less AR) but compensates with the ability to effectively use almost any weapon in the game without respeccing. At 40/40 with 60 Vigor it handles all PvE content comfortably and is competitive in PvP.
What infusion should a Quality build use in Elden Ring?
Quality infusion — applied at any Site of Grace using the Whetstone Knife (found in Gatefront Ruins in Limgrave). Quality infusion gives C/C Strength and Dexterity scaling, with both stats contributing equally to damage. At 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity the combined scaling output is competitive with single-stat builds. Unlock Quality infusion early and apply it to your primary weapon as soon as possible.