Black Steel Greathammer Build Guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring, the Black Steel Greathammer emerges as a powerful weapon suited for Faith and Strength (STR/FAI) builds. This guide will cover everything you need to know about optimizing a Black Steel Greathammer build, including its pros and cons, the best stat distribution, talismans, Ashes of War, infusions, shields, incantations, and Crystal Tears.
Pros and Cons of Black Steel Greathammer

Pros:

Fast Moveset: Despite being a greathammer, it boasts a surprisingly quick moveset, allowing for more versatile combat.
Buffable and Infusable: The weapon can be infused with various elements and buffed to enhance its effectiveness.
Excellent Stance Damage: The Black Steel Greathammer has strong stance damage, especially when used with the right infusions.
Unique Guard Counter: It features a unique guard counter that creates a circle of holy light on the ground, which explodes after a delay to deal holy damage, scaling exclusively with Faith.

Cons:

Low Range: The weapon has limited reach, which can be a disadvantage against enemies that can stay at a distance.
Late Game Acquisition: It is only obtainable in the late stages of the DLC, specifically from the Black Knight in the Church of Consolation in the southeastern Gravesite Plains.

Best Stat Distribution for Black Steel Greathammer Build (Level 150)

For an optimal Black Steel Greathammer build, the following stat distribution is recommended:

Vigor: 50
Mind: 20
Endurance: 43
Strength: 25
Dexterity: 11
Intelligence: 10
Faith: 60
Arcane: 10

Explanation:

Faith Focus: Prioritize Faith over Strength to maximize both the direct damage scaling and the guard counter holy damage. With 60 Faith, you benefit from the highest scaling for both regular attacks and the holy damage from the guard counter.
Strength Contribution: While Strength also contributes to the weapon's damage, it does not affect the guard counter’s holy damage. Therefore, a balanced approach with higher Faith will yield better overall performance.

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