Elden Ring has consistently pushed the boundaries of what an action RPG can be, and its recent DLC content is no exception. In this article, we're diving into one of the most powerful and underrated builds featured in the game's latest expansion: the Life Steel Fist Ash of War combined with the Pota weapon. This setup, while not immediately obvious to all players, packs a punch and can absolutely turn the tide of battle when used correctly.

 

Introduction to the Life Steel Fist Ash of War

 

When it comes to the world of Elden Ring, the Ashes of War system is a crucial part of combat, allowing players to customize their weapons and Elden Ring Items to fit their desired playstyle. Among the plethora of Ashes of War available, one of the most underrated but incredibly effective options is the Life Steel Fist.

 

At first glance, the Life Steel Fist might not seem like the go-to option for high damage output. It's a bit slow, and landing it requires precise timing, but when used correctly, it can be a game-changer. This Ash of War is particularly deadly when it lands its grab animation, allowing you to one-shot opponents. Whether you're facing a boss or another player in PvP, this attack can decimate enemies with full health.

 

The key to maximizing the Life Steel Fist's potential lies in the Pota weapon, a fighting tool that boasts impressive range, excellent speed, and fast animations. With its ability to roll catch, initiate quick combos, and hit hard with running heavies, the Pota is a great weapon to complement the Life Steel Fist Ash of War.

 

The Build: Strength Meets Intelligence

 

This build is primarily focused on Strength and Intelligence, which provides the player with a high damage output while ensuring that the Life Steel Fist Ash of War hits harder than ever before. Here's a breakdown of the stats and equipment used:

 

 Primary Stat: Strength (54 Strength): The Strength stat provides the physical damage needed for the Pota's attacks. It also helps increase the damage of your running heavy combo and other melee skills.

 

 Secondary Stat: Intelligence (80 Intelligence): This builds the potency of your Scholar's Armament buff, which enhances the damage output of the Pota when combined with the Life Steel Fist Ash of War.

 

This combination of Strength and Intelligence allows you to infuse the Pota with magic buffs from Scholar's Armament, which is key to maximizing the build's damage. Scholar's Armament scales with Intelligence, so you'll be dealing much more damage with the Pota's attacks and the Life Steel Fist Ash of War, which can be boosted even further with various talismans.

 

Talisman Setup: Maximizing Critical Damage

 

To truly unlock the potential of this build, you need the right talismans to buff your critical damage and increase the effectiveness of your Ash of War. Here are the essential talismans for this build:

 

1.Shard of Alexander: This talisman boosts the damage of Ashes of War, making it an absolute must-have for this build. It increases the potency of the Life Steel Fist, which means you're landing even higher damage and more devastating one-shots.

 

2.Dagger Talisman: Since the Life Steel Fist is a critical hit-based attack, the Dagger Talisman is perfect for this build. It increases the critical hit damage, which works wonders for the Life Steel Fist when it lands its grab.

 

3.Urchin's Favor: This talisman provides an extra layer of defense and stamina. It's perfect for increasing your tankiness and ensuring that you can survive longer engagements, especially during invasions when you're constantly under attack.

 

4.Bulgol's Talisman: For an added boost to damage, the Bulgol's Talisman increases physical attack power. This helps you ensure that every attack counts, especially when you're trying to land that critical hit.

 

These talismans provide excellent synergy and ensure that your Life Steel Fist hits harder and with greater consistency, making your critical strikes more rewarding.

 

Combat Strategy: Baiting and One-Shotting

 

The main challenge with the Life Steel Fist Ash of War is landing the attack, as it's a bit on the slow side and leaves you vulnerable. However, once you learn to bait enemies into a trade, the results can be devastating. Here's how you can use the Life Steel Fist to its full potential:

 

1.Baiting Your Opponents: The key to using the Life Steel Fist effectively is to bait your opponent into attacking first. This can be done by positioning yourself so that your opponent feels safe to make the first move. Once they attack, you can trade with them and land the grab animation of the Life Steel Fist, instantly wiping them out. 2.Combo Setup with the Pota: The Pota has excellent combo potential with the Life Steel Fist. A strong running heavy to heavy true combo can be followed up with the Life Steel Fist for devastating damage. The fast animations and good range of the Pota ensure that you can keep your opponent on the defensive, leading them into the trap of getting caught by your grab.

 

3.Exploiting Weaknesses: With a strong talisman setup, buffs from Scholar's Armament, and careful positioning, you can easily trade blows with high-risk enemies and use your critical damage to finish them off with a powerful one-shot.

 

4.Rolling and Guarding: When playing against other invaders or enemies in PvP, rolling and guarding can be useful to avoid incoming attacks. Roll catching can also set up an opportunity for you to land your Ash of War and take advantage of your opponent's lack of mobility.

 

PvP Invasions: Dominating the Arena

 

Using this build in invasions is where it truly shines. Whether you're invading in Dragon Barrow, Lindel Royal Capital, or Crumbling Farum Azula, the Life Steel Fist build allows you to take on multiple enemies at once, with enough mobility to dodge and punish opponents effectively.

 

In PvP, you'll often find yourself against hosts who are well-coordinated with their phantoms. These encounters can be tricky, but the Life Steel Fist setup allows you to capitalize on mistakes and misplays. The ability to one-shot even the toughest enemies makes this build incredibly potent.

 

Notable Moments from the Invasion Videos:

 

1.Dragon Barrow: In one instance, the Life Steel Fist hit with the perfect timing, taking out a phantom in one shot. The trick to this was baiting them into a trade, where the grab animation of the Life Steel Fist could land without interference. This is where the Pota's speed and range truly come into play-keeping your opponent on the defensive until you can land the kill.

 

2.Lindel Royal Capital: Another battle saw the build use the Life Steel Fist to take out a phantom while they were trying to heal. The timing of the grab animation is crucial, and this particular battle highlighted just how strong the Life Steel Fist can be when used strategically, especially with the shard of Alexander buff.

 

3.Crumbling Farum Azula: During a tense encounter with multiple enemies, the Life Steel Fist allowed for swift eliminations, with the grab animation making quick work of those who weren't quick enough to dodge it. The agility and range of the Pota made it easy to position yourself for the perfect attack.

 

Final Thoughts: Is This Build Worth It?

 

In short: yes. The Life Steel Fist combined with the Pota weapon and a well-tuned talisman setup creates one of the most powerful and rewarding builds in Elden Ring. It's capable of one-shotting opponents with its critical hits and grab animation, and the combination of Strength and Intelligence provides incredible versatility.

 

While the build may take some practice to master-especially when it comes to landing the Life Steel Fist-the rewards are well worth the effort. If you enjoy a playstyle that focuses on baiting enemies into mistakes, rolling catching, make Elden Ring Runes and high-risk high-reward trades, this build is definitely for you.

 

Whether you're facing a tough boss or battling other players in PvP invasions, the Life Steel Fist Pota build is sure to leave a lasting impression. The damage is unreal, the gameplay is dynamic, and the satisfaction of landing that one-shot is unmatched.