Faith is a stat that can be dipped in, dabbled with, dedicated to, and slotted. As a stat, it opens up so many avenues for power that no other stat in Elden Ring can compare. With incantations that can deal damage, buff your stats, and heal, even a few points can make or break a build.

If you want to survive in Elden Ring, a Faith/Dex build comes in clutch for a variety of situations. Combining some of the strongest weapons in the game with some of the best buffs does tend to have positive results. After all, a Dex/Faith build lets you become lightning incarnate with a strong melee weapon to boot.

Updated March 16, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: The Faith/Dex build in Elden Ring represents one of the most versatile build options available. Whether you've explored Dex builds before, or this is your first hybrid build in Elden Ring, a Dex/Faith build will offer surprising versatility and power.

As the Shadow of the Erdtree descends, now is the time to master your Dex/Faith build in Elden Ring.

What Is A Faith/Dexterity Build?

Elden Ring's Dex/Faith build combines the utility of Faith with the overwhelming damage you'd get from a Dexterity build.

You can cast, buff, debuff, heal and even harness the limitless power of dragons if you want to go all out. You have access to every combat style, and all it takes is a bit of preparation to pop off.

Faith/Dex Build – Stats To Aim For

For stats, you want to reach a mostly even split between Dexterity, Faith, and Vigor.

This build has pushed them all to 55, which is only five points off the soft cap, and with Talismans, it will hit that cap with most of those stats.

This Dex/Faith build maximizes damage output at long range and in close combat, while also keeping your HP as high as possible.

This build has to sacrifice Mind to function, but there is enough FP in the tank to cast all your buffs and spells without constantly chugging your flask.

This will also be fixed, somewhat, with Talismans.

Endurance is as high as you can push it based on starting class.

Anywhere between 20 and 25 is good, as this will let you wear heavier armor, and increase your Stamina gauge.

Faith/Dex Build – Lightning Reaper

Weapon

• Scythe

This Dex/Faith build focuses on the Scythe as the main weapon for these key reasons:

1. The Scythe as a weapon has great reach.
2. Your Scythe inflicts bleed and even boasts a fantastic moveset that can deal with single targets and hordes.
3. Furthermore, when infused to be a Keen Scythe, it even has A-Scaling in Dexterity, which is ideal.
   • You don’t want to make this a Sacred Scythe
     • This will decrease its overall damage due to the inferior split scaling, and because it will also split the damage profile.

   • It will also prevent you from buffing it as much, which is antithetical to this build’s identity.

Plenty of other weapons can be used instead of the Scythe, but the Scythe's moveset is uniquely useful.

The Uchigatana and Nagakiba are excellent alternatives to your Scythe, as is the Cross-Naginata.

Use what you feel most comfortable with, but remember to infuse them into Keen variants to help improve their Dexterity scaling.

Main Incantations

• Golden Vow
• Electrify Armament
• Flame, Grant Me Strength
• Lightning Spear

Golden Vow is an excellent spell that buffs your attack and defense, making you much more effective in combat.

Golden Vow is one of the best buffs in Elden Ring and even comes with a handy AOE to buff your allies when needed.

Electrify Armament is your most important incantation, as, without this, most of your other buffs will not function.

This will increase your damage while also enveloping your weapon in Lightning. This Lightning damage can then be buffed with Tears and Talismans, making you even more powerful.

Flame, Grant Me Strength is the last buff you will need.

Of all the powerful incantations you can choose in Elden Ring, this one is the least impactful due to the build's lack of Fire damage.

Thankfully, this buff also increases Physical damage, which is very useful.

Finally, Lightning Spear is your go-to ranged spell as it deals great damage, can be charged, and casts quickly.

Because it deals Lightning damage, it can also be buffed, similar to your weapon, with various Talismans and Tears.

Talismans

There are only two must-have Talismans:

1. Radagon’s Soreseal
2. Lightning Scorpion Charm.

Radagon’s Soreseal will increase your Vigor and Dexterity to 60, which is the soft cap.

You could consider the Two Finger’s Heirloom if you wanted to push your Faith to 60, but this isn’t necessarily required for the build to work.

Erdtree’s Favor will increase your HP, FP, Stamina, and Equip Load, allowing you to take more damage, use more stamina, cast more spells, and wear heavier armor.

The final Talisman to consider would be the Dragoncrest Greatshield, which increases your Physical damage resistance.

Radagon’s Soreseal and Lightning Scorpion Charm make you more susceptible to damage, so the Dragoncrest Greatshield can help offset that.

Armor

Due to your Endurance (and Erdtree’s Favor), you should be able to wear some of the heavier armor in the game.

Aim to maximize your Damage Reduction and Poise while maintaining a Medium Roll.

A medium Roll is key to giving your Faith/Dex build the mobility needed to avoid attacks after unleashing your own combos or incantations.

Flask Of Wondrous Physick

• Lightning-Shrouding
• Dexterity-Knot

You want to use the Lightning-Shrouding Tear and Dexterity-Knot to maximize your damage output.

These will increase your damage output significantly for three minutes, and they stack with all of your other buffs from Incantations and Talismans.