Elden Ring DLC: The Black Steel Greathammer Faith Build Guide

In the ever-expanding world of Elden Ring, build diversity is one of the game's greatest strengths. With the DLC pushing players to experiment with new combinations, hybrid builds that blend Strength scaling with Faith buffs have become especially powerful. Among these, one standout weapon has emerged as a perfect fit for buff-heavy playstyles: the Black Steel Greathammer.

 

This build showcases how devastating a well-optimized Strength/Faith hybrid can be when paired with the right weapon, Ashes of War, and incantation buffs like Order's Blade. The result is a setup capable of delivering massive damage, make Elden Ring Items, roll-catch pressure, and overwhelming burst potential in both PvE and PvP.

 

Why the Black Steel Greathammer Is So Strong

 

At first glance, the Black Steel Greathammer might not seem like anything extraordinary. However, its true power lies in its unique scaling synergy and adaptability.

 

When infused with a Heavy affinity, the weapon gains exceptional Strength scaling, making it ideal for a Strength-focused two-handed setup. But what really sets it apart is that it retains Faith scaling, meaning your investment into Faith isn't wasted-it actively enhances your damage output through holy scaling.

 

This creates a rare synergy:

 

 Strength boosts raw physical damage

 Faith enhances holy damage through buffs

 Both stats contribute to overall AR (Attack Rating)

 

Even when compared to colossal weapons, the greathammer only sacrifices a small amount of raw AR-roughly around 65 points-while maintaining a faster, more versatile moveset.

 

The Power of Order's Blade Buff

 

One of the key components of this build is the use of Order's Blade, an incantation that applies holy damage to your weapon.

When combined with the Black Steel Greathammer:

 

 Your base AR increases significantly

 Holy damage scales with Faith investment

 Overall DPS skyrockets

 

For example, a base AR around 874 can jump dramatically when buffed, reaching levels that rival or even surpass heavier weapons under similar conditions.

 

This is what makes the build so dangerous-the weapon already hits hard, and the buff amplifies that damage even further.

 

Multi-Hit Ashes of War: The Real Game-Changer

 

One of the most important advantages of this weapon is its compatibility with multi-hit Ashes of War, especially:

 

 Stormcaller / Stormblade-style skills (Storm Stomp variants)

 Any Ash of War that delivers multiple rapid strikes

 

These abilities are critical because they:

 

 Trigger multiple damage instances in a short time

 Apply pressure in PvP

 Synergize with multi-hit talismans

 

For example, using a multi-hit Ash of War followed by a heavy attack creates a deadly roll-catch setup that punishes opponents who try to escape.

 

This is where the Black Steel Greathammer outshines many colossal weapons-it retains a great hammer moveset with combo potential, rather than relying on slow, single-hit attacks.

 

Stat Distribution: The Core Setup

 

The stat allocation for this build is straightforward but highly efficient:

 

 Strength: 54

Maximizes two-handed damage scaling

 

 Faith: 80

Maximizes incantation scaling and buff potency

 

 Vigor: ~60

Ensures survivability in high-level PvP and DLC content

 

 Endurance: Remainder

Supports armor load and stamina management

 

This stat spread ensures:

 

 High damage output

 Strong survivability

 Enough stamina for aggressive play

 

The key here is balance-this is not a glass cannon build, but rather a high-damage bruiser.

 

Armor Choices and Utility

 

Armor selection in this build is flexible, but one notable piece stands out:

 

The Circuit of Light helm.

 

This helm is particularly useful because:

 

 It provides bonuses to Faith

 It offers Arcane scaling benefits

 It meets intelligence requirements for certain incantations

 

Beyond that, players can mix and match armor pieces based on:

 

 Poise requirements

 Fashion preferences

 Weight management

 

A typical setup includes heavier armor pieces like Beast Champion gear for survivability, combined with lighter or utility-focused pieces to maintain mobility.

 

Talisman Setup for Maximum Damage

 

Talismans play a crucial role in pushing this build to its limit. The most effective combination includes:

 

 Shard of Alexander

Boosts Ashes of War damage significantly

 

 Two-Handed Sword Talisman

Provides a flat 10% damage increase when two-handing

 

 Erdtree's Favor +2

Boosts HP, stamina, and equip load

 

 Poison-related talisman (optional)

Adds utility or synergistic effects depending on build variation

 

If focusing heavily on multi-hit damage, swapping in the:

 

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is highly recommended. This talisman increases attack power with successive hits, making it perfect for Stormcaller-style combos.Gameplay Strategy: How to Dominate

 

1. Open with Buffs

 

Before engaging, always:

 

 Cast Order's Blade

 Apply any additional buffs or consumables

 Activate your flask (Physick)

 

Buff stacking is what turns this weapon into a one-shot machine.

 

2. Pressure with Multi-Hit Ashes of War

 

Use your Ash of War to:

 

 Force panic rolls

 Apply pressure

 Trigger talisman buffs

 

Follow up with a heavy attack to capitalize on roll catches.

 

3. Control the Midrange

 

Unlike slow colossal weapons, the greathammer allows for:

 

 Faster follow-ups

 More flexible positioning

 Better reaction timing

 

This makes it especially effective in invasions and PvP scenarios.

 

4. Exploit Roll Catches

 

The build excels at punishing panic rolls:

 

 Stormcaller hits multiple times

 Heavy attacks finish the combo

 Opponents often cannot escape the pressure

 

This is where the build truly shines-forcing mistakes and punishing them heavily.

 

PvP Performance: Invasions and Chaos

 

In PvP, this build is especially deadly. The gameplay style revolves around:

 

 Aggressive invasions

 Ambush tactics

 High burst damage

 

Whether fighting in tight corridors like underground areas or open spaces like Limgrave, the build adapts well.

 

Key highlights include:

 

 One-shot potential with buff stacking

 High damage even through defenses

 Strong performance against groups

 

Even against coordinated teams, the combination of AoE damage and burst potential makes this weapon extremely dangerous.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

 

Strengths:

 

 Extremely high damage output

 Excellent synergy between Strength and Faith

 Multi-hit Ashes of War enable strong combos

 Great for both PvE and PvP

 Flexible build path

 

Weaknesses:

 

 Requires setup time for buffs

 Vulnerable during casting

 Can struggle against highly mobile opponents if mistimed

 Requires precise execution for optimal results

 

Final Thoughts

 

The Black Steel Greathammer Faith build in Elden Ring represents one of the most powerful hybrid setups available in the game. By combining:

 

 Heavy Strength scaling

 High Faith investment

 Buff stacking through incantations

 Multi-hit Ashes of War

 

you create a weapon that can dominate both PvE encounters and PvP invasions.

 

What makes this build truly special is its versatility. Unlike many builds that rely on a single gimmick, this one offers:

 

 Consistent damage

 Flexible playstyle

 More Elden Ring Runes

 High burst potential

 

If you enjoy aggressive gameplay, big damage numbers, and the satisfaction of landing devastating roll catches, this build is absolutely worth trying.

 

In a game where adaptability is key, the Black Steel Greathammer proves that sometimes the best offense is a perfectly timed, heavily buffed, multi-hit swing.