Anyone who has played Dark Souls knows this feature: You can use all your weapons with both hands. In Elden Ring, this is also possible, but it works a bit differently than before. MeinMMO tells you how to do it.
Update from July 26, 2024: This article has been updated with new links and information.
Just like in Dark Souls, you can also use your weapons with both hands in Elden Ring. However, compared to previous FromSoftware games, the controls for this have changed.
Especially with large and heavy weapons or for classes without shields, it can be very important to hold your weapon in both hands.
That’s why we will show you how to do it here. Because this little trick can make your life much easier, especially against the hardest bosses.
Elden Ring: Use Weapon with Both Hands on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox
This is how you use your weapon with both hands: To equip a weapon with both hands in Elden Ring, you need to press the interaction button together with the appropriate button for the weapon in the right and left slot of your inventory.
These are the buttons you need to press:
- Xbox Controller: Y + RB for the right weapon, Y + LB for the left weapon
- PS5 Controller: Triangle + R1 for the right weapon, Triangle + L1 for the left weapon
- Mouse & Keyboard: E + Left Mouse Button for the right weapon, E + Right Mouse Button for the left weapon
If you do this correctly, your character should hold the desired weapon in both hands. This opens up many new possibilities in the complex combat system of Elden Ring.
Here’s Why It’s Worth Using Weapons with Both Hands
Why should I use weapons with both hands? When you take a weapon in both hands in Elden Ring, you take a calculated risk: you increase your damage but sacrifice defensive flexibility in return. For example, if you hold a katana in both hands, you can no longer use your shield for blocking.
It’s also important to note that in two-handed mode, you have new attacks that you can access. Your light and heavy attacks are different and have different properties depending on the weapon, such as greater range.
Furthermore, in two-handed mode, you can use the weapon styles that you have with each weapon and can also find throughout the game. You can often swing weapons that you don’t yet have enough strength attributes for with both hands.
However, if you use a shield that has a passive effect (like faster stamina regeneration), you will still receive that effect even with an offensive weapon in both hands.
For these reasons, it is worthwhile to carry your weapons with both hands. Although it may not always be the right choice, depending on your build and situation, it can make a huge difference. You should not underestimate the new attack animations either – they can be a great help.
If you want to know what other differences there are between Elden Ring and the other Soulsborne games, we recommend this article: 6 Important Things that Elden Ring Does Differently than Dark Souls and Bloodborne.
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