If you’re looking for how to two hand in Elden Ring PC, you’ve come to the right place. Two-handing a weapon in Elden Ring on PC changes your combat stance and attack power significantly. This simple action can be the key to overcoming tough bosses and heavily armored foes, but the control isn’t always immediately obvious to new players.
This guide will walk you through the exact button press, explain why you’d want to do it, and cover advanced tactics to make you a more effective Tarnished. Mastering this technique is a fundamental step in mastering the game’s combat.
How To Two Hand In Elden Ring Pc
The core control for two-handing on PC is straightforward once you know it. It involves a specific key combination rather than a single button.
To two-hand the weapon in your right hand, you must hold the E key and then press the left mouse button. To two-hand the weapon in your left hand, hold the E key and then press the right mouse button.
Remember, it’s a hold-then-press action. You must hold ‘E’ first, then click the corresponding mouse button. Letting go of ‘E’ will keep you in the two-handed stance until you perform the action again to switch back.
Step By Step Instructions For Two Handing
Here is a clear, numbered breakdown of the process:
- Ensure your character has a weapon equipped in either hand.
- Press and hold down the E key on your keyboard.
- While continuing to hold ‘E’, click the left mouse button to two-hand your right-hand weapon.
- Your character will shift their stance, gripping the weapon with both hands.
- To revert to one-handing, simply repeat the action: hold ‘E’ and click the same mouse button again.
A common mistake is trying to press the keys simultaneously. The hold-then-press order is crucial for the game to register the command correctly. If it’s not working, double-check your timing.
Why Two Hand Your Weapon
Two-handing is not just for looks; it provides concrete mechanical advantages that can turn the tide of battle.
- Increased Damage: You gain a 1.5x multiplier to your Strength attribute for weapon scaling. This means if a weapon requires 30 Strength, two-handing it gives you an effective 45 Strength, often leading to much higher attack power.
- Better Stance Damage: Your attacks deal more poise damage, making it easier to break an enemy’s stance and open them up for a critical hit.
- Access to New Movesets: Many weapons have a completely different set of light and heavy attacks when wielded with two hands, offering new combat options.
- Meeting Stat Requirements: It allows you to use weapons that have a Strength requirement slightly higher than your current stat. If a weapon needs 40 Strength and you have 27, two-handing gives you an effective 40.5, letting you use it.
The trade-off is that you lose the ability to use a shield or a weapon in your off-hand, which affects your defensive options. You also cannot perform parries unless your two-handed weapon has that skill.
Visual And Audio Cues For Success
When you successfully two-hand a weapon, your character will visibly adjust their grip. You will see them place their second hand on the weapon’s hilt. The weapon icon in the bottom-left HUD will also change, showing a single larger icon instead of two separate ones for each hand.
Listen for a distinct sound effect—a sort of metallic *shink* or firm grip sound—that confirms the action. If you miss the visual cue, the audio is a reliable backup indicator.
Two Handing With Keyboard And Mouse Vs Controller
While this guide focuses on PC, it’s useful to know the difference. On a standard Xbox controller, the input is Hold Y, then press RB or LB. The principle is identical: a modifier button plus an attack button.
Some PC players find the keyboard and mouse combo slightly less intuitive than the controller layout for this specific action. However, with a little practice, it becomes second nature. You can always remap the ‘E’ key to something more comfortable in the game’s settings if you prefer.
Advanced Two Handing Techniques And Strategies
Once you’ve mastered the basic input, you can start incorporating two-handing into sophisticated combat strategies.
Weapon Class Considerations
Not all weapons benefit equally from two-handing. The bonus is most pronounced on weapons that scale well with Strength.
- Colossal Swords/Hammers: These are prime candidates. Two-handing maximizes their already high damage and poise break potential.
- Greatswords & Axes: See a substantial damage increase and often gain more useful, sweeping attacks for crowd control.
- Dexterity Weapons (Katanas, Spears): The benefit is smaller, as the Strength multiplier matters less. However, the changed moveset can still be valuable.
- Special Weapons: Always test unique weapons like boss remembrances items. Their two-handed movesets can be exceptional.
Experiment with different weapon types to see how their moves and damage change. You might find a new favorite way to use an old weapon.
Combination With Jump Attacks And Skills
Two-handing synergizes powerfully with other mechanics. The increased poise damage stacks with the innate high poise damage of jump attacks. A two-handed jump attack is one of the fastest ways to stance-break a large enemy.
Furthermore, your Weapon Skill (or Ash of War) will also be used two-handed. This can affect its damage, speed, or even its properties. For example, the “Lion’s Claw” Ash of War becomes even more devastating when used with a two-handed Strength weapon.
Switching Stances Mid Fight
A true master doesn’t stay in one stance. The ability to fluidly switch between one-handing and two-handing during combat is a high-level skill.
You might start a fight with a shield for safety, then two-hand your weapon for a burst of damage when you see an opening. Against fast enemies, you might two-hand for a poise-breaking jump attack, then quickly switch back to a shield for the follow-up defense. Practice the key press until you can do it without thinking, creating a dynamic and adaptable fighting style.
Managing Equipment Load
Two-handing does not change your equipment load. However, by removing your off-hand shield or weapon, you effectively have less weight equipped, which could push you into a lighter roll tier if you were borderline. This is a minor but occasionally relevant tactical point when min-maxing your character’s agility.
Troubleshooting Common Two Handing Problems
If you’re having trouble, here are solutions to frequent issues PC players face.
Input Not Registering
If holding ‘E’ and clicking the mouse isn’t working, check these points:
- Key Remapping: Go to Settings > Key Bindings and check what “Hold to change weapon stance” is set to. You or the game may have changed it from the default ‘E’.
- Mouse Button Issues: Ensure your mouse buttons are functioning correctly outside the game. Try binding the action to different keys temporarily as a test.
- Weapon Type: Some weapons, like catalysts (for sorceries) or sacred seals (for incantations), cannot be two-handed in the traditional sense. They must be used in one hand.
Accidentally Two Handing Your Left Hand Weapon
This happens when you hold ‘E’ and press the right mouse button instead of the left. It’s an easy mistake. Just repeat the action (hold E + right click) to switch back, then use hold E + left click to two-hand your intended right-hand weapon. Pay close attention to which hand’s weapon you want to empower.
Cannot Parry Or Use Shield
This is not a bug; it’s by design. When two-handing, your left hand is on your weapon. You cannot parry unless your two-handed weapon’s skill is a parry. You also cannot block with a shield unless you switch back to one-handing. Plan your stance around the enemy you’re facing—do you need damage or defense more?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do You Two Hand A Weapon In Elden Ring On PC?
Hold the ‘E’ key, then while holding it, press the left mouse button to two-hand your right weapon. For your left weapon, hold ‘E’ and press the right mouse button.
What Is The Key To Two Hand In Elden Ring PC?
The primary key is ‘E’ as the modifier. You must hold ‘E’ first, then press an attack button (left or right mouse) to trigger the stance change.
Why Would I Two Hand My Weapon In Elden Ring?
You two hand to get more attack power from Strength scaling, deal more poise damage to break enemy stances, and access different attack movesets. It’s essential for Strength-based builds.
Can You Two Hand Any Weapon In Elden Ring?
Most melee weapons can be two-handed. However, catalysts (glintstone staffs) and sacred seals generally cannot. They are designed for spellcasting in one hand.
Does Two Handing Increase Dexterity Scaling?
No, two-handing only provides a 50% bonus to your effective Strength stat for meeting requirements and damage scaling. It does not increase Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, or Arcane scaling.
Mastering how to two-hand on PC is a simple skill with deep implications for your gameplay. It opens up new builds, makes challenging enemies more manageable, and adds a layer of depth to combat. The key is to practice the input until it’s muscle memory, then experiment with different weapons to feel the power difference for yourself. Incorporate stance-swapping into your tactics, and you’ll find yourself conquering foes that once seemed impossible.