In this Shadow of the Erdtree guide, we’ll discuss the best damage type for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. If you’re aiming to create a build that maximizes damage, which damage type should you focus on? I’ll review all eight damage types: Standard, Slash, Strike, Pierce, Magic, Fire, Lightning, and Holy. I’ll rank these damage types, explain their positions on the list, and discuss why you might want to focus on a build that utilizes one of these specific types.

The Best Damage Type for Shadow of the Erdtree

The general premise of this guide involves examining the physical and elemental resistances of bosses in the DLC area to determine the effectiveness of each damage type against them. I didn’t delve into general or elite enemies, as their weaknesses and resistances might not be fully documented on the wiki at this time. Generally, these enemies aren’t the most challenging parts of the game. Players tend to get stuck in boss fights, especially specific tough ones, so I focused more on the resistance relevant to harder boss fights.

For example, if you’re fighting Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze, who can be defeated in three hits with some builds, the specific damage type isn’t crucial. However, against Promised Consort Radahn, knowing his weaknesses can be extremely beneficial. Radahn is arguably one of the toughest bosses in Elden Ring and FromSoftware history, so understanding his resistance can significantly aid in that challenging fight.

5. Magic Damage

At number five on my list is Magic Damage. This might seem misleading because, when examining the DLC bosses, only the Fallingstar Beast has Magic as one of the best damage types, and it’s tied with three others. This means Magic isn’t significantly better than other damage types for that boss. Most bosses in the DLC have higher resistances to Magic, making it one of the weaker damage types overall.

However, this can be misleading due to the variety of magic-damaging spells available. Magic has more spell options than any other damage type in the game. You can also infuse weapons with Magic damage through Cold Infusions and Magic Infusions. There are numerous ways to enhance Magic damage, such as using the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear, the Magic Scorpion Charm, and Terra Magica.

Even though Magic may fall behind when considering boss resistances, it offers flexibility in spellcasting and buffing methods. It requires more management, as using Terra Magica isn’t practical in many fights, which might cause Magic to be outpaced by other damage types in the DLC. This is why I’ve ranked it lower. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t play a Magic build effectively in the DLC.

For the harder bosses, particularly Messmer and Radahn, Magic is a decent damage type. These are two of the tougher boss fights in the game, and Magic performs well against them. That said, other damage types can achieve similar effects, preventing Magic from ranking higher on the list.

4. Fire and Lightning

At number four on my list are Fire and Lightning damage. These two are nearly indistinguishable in terms of effectiveness, often performing similarly in many boss fights. The choice between them usually depends on the specific boss you’re facing. For example, Fire damage is particularly effective against Divine Beast Dancing Lion, Golden Hippo, Scadutree Avatar, Commander Gaius, Promised Consort Radahn (in the second phase), and Putrescent Knight.

There are numerous ways to enhance Flame damage, such as using the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear, the Fire Scorpion Charm, and Flame, Grant Me Strength.

---

On the other hand, Lightning damage excels against Rellana Twin Moon Knight, Messmer and Base Serpent Messmer, Putrescent Knight, and Commander Gaius. Both damage types are interchangeable in many tough fights, with minor differences in performance depending on the encounter. For instance, bosses like Golden Hippo, Putrescent Knight, and Commander Gaius are equally vulnerable to both Fire and Lightning. Overall, if you’re considering a fourth-best damage type, either Fire or Lightning would be a solid choice due to their comparable performance across many challenging encounters.

There are numerous ways to enhance Lightning damage, such as using the Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear, and the Lightning Scorpion Charm.

3. Slash and Strike

At number three on my list are Slash and Strike damage, tied due to their similar effectiveness across various boss fights. These damage types often fall into the second-best category for many bosses because their resistances are frequently similar. Starting with Slash, it is the second-best damage type against Divine Beast and Dancing Lion, behind Fire and Pierce. It is also the second-best against Golden Hippo and the best against Mesmer in both phases, as well as Metyr, Mother of Fingers, making it very useful for these tough fights. Additionally, Slash is tied for second against Ancient Dragon Senessax and Bayle of the Dread. Slash damage is typically dealt by Claws, Curved Greatswords, Curved Swords, Daggers, Katanas, and Reapers weapons.

On the other hand, Strike is the first-place damage type for only a few bosses, the most notable being Death Rite Bird. However, it frequently appears in second place. Strike is the second-best damage type against Ghostflame Dragon, an annoying boss with high health and resistance to many damage types. It is also tied for second against Rellana Twin Moon Knight, Messmer the Impaler, Base Serpent Messmer, and Metyr, Mother of Fingers. Furthermore, Strike is tied for second against Putrescent Knight (along with Fire and Lightning), Ancient Dragon Senessax, Bayle of the Dread, and Scadutree Avatar.

While Strike may not be as effective in certain difficult boss fights, it is consistently solid across various encounters. In contrast, Slash can either excel or perform poorly, depending on the boss. Strike tends to be more consistent, often falling on the upper side of the middle in terms of effectiveness. Balancing their strengths and weaknesses, it was challenging to separate the two, leading to their shared spot at number three. For Strike damage, you’ll use blunt weapons like Hammers, Great Hammers, Colossal Weapons, and even Shields.

Slash and Strike Damage both belong under the Physical Damage category. There are numerous ways to enhance Physical damage, such as using Flame, Grant Me Strength, Barbaric Roar, Strength-Knot Crystal Tear, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

2. Standard and Holy

At number two on my list are Standard and Holy Damage, tied due to their effectiveness across various boss fights. Standard damage rarely tops the list for the best damage type against bosses, but it frequently comes in second or tied for second in many encounters, making it consistently effective. It appears more often than either Slash or Strike, which is why it ranks higher.

Holy damage, on the other hand, is similar to Slash in that it can be either highly effective or less useful, depending on the boss. For instance, Holy damage is the number one weakness of Ghostflame Dragons, making it the best damage type against them. It is also the top damage type against Death Knights, Putrescent Knights, Death Rite Birds, and in the second phase of the Messmer boss fight. Additionally, Commander Gaius is weakest to Holy damage, as is the first phase of Promised Consort Radahn. However, Holy Damage can also rank at the bottom against other bosses, making it highly variable.

There are numerous ways to enhance Holy damage, such as using Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear, the Sacred Scorpion Charm, and Erdtree Seal.

In comparison, Standard damage is more consistent. It is tied for second against bosses like Rellana Twin Moon Knight, Messmer and Base Serpent Messmer, Metyr, Mother of Fingers, Death Rite Bird, Ancient Dragon Senessax, Bayle of the Dread, Midra, and Scadutree Avatar. This all-around effectiveness makes Standard damage a reliable choice for many boss fights without significant struggles.

Standard Belongs to the Physical Damage category. For Standard damage, Axes, Greataxes, Straight Swords, Greatswords, Halberds, and Twinblades are the primary weapons.

1. Pierce

If you haven’t figured it out by now, the number one damage type in Shadow of the Erd Tree is Pierce damage. The primary reason for this is that it excels against many of the most challenging bosses in the game and frequently ranks as the second-best or ties for second-best in many tough encounters.

For instance, Divine Beast Dancing Lion‘s number one damage type is Pierce, tied with Fire, making it highly effective against this challenging boss. Pierce is also tied with Lightning as the best damage type for the Rellana Twin Moon Knight boss fight. It’s the top damage type against Ancient Dragon Senessax and Bayle of the Dread, two particularly tough boss fights.

Moreover, it’s the best damage type for the second phase of the Radahn boss fight and the second best for the first phase. Pierce is also the second-best damage type for Death Knights, tied with Fire, and is effective in the second phase of Messmer the Impaler. Additionally, it ties for second against Metyr, Mother of Fingers, and Jori Elder Inquisitor.

Overall, Pierce damage just edges out Standard and Holy as the best damage type in the DLC. While these three damage types are somewhat interchangeable depending on the boss fight, Pierce stands out slightly more.

There are numerous ways to enhance Physical damage, such as using Flame, Grant Me Strength, Barbaric Roar, Strength-Knot Crystal Tear, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

Before wrapping up, it’s worth mentioning the weapons that deal these damage types. For Pierce damage, you’ll primarily use Bows, Thrusting Swords, Heavy Thrusting Swords, Spears, Great Spears, or any weapon with a poking attack. The other four damage types—Magic, Lightning, Fire, and Holy—are more self-explanatory, as you know which spells and weapons deal those.

As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check the Elden Ring Map.