Welcome, Tarnished! If you're aiming to carve a path through the Lands Between with a shield that offers unparalleled defense while allowing you to Elden Ring Runes deal substantial damage, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about the shield build, focusing on the versatile Carrying and Thrusting Shield, the Flame Skewer Ash of War, key talismans, and strategies to optimize your playstyle. Whether you prefer solo combat or teaming up with others, this shield build can make you an unstoppable force. Let’s dive in!

The Shield Build in Elden Ring: Overview
Shields are often associated with defensive playstyles, but in Elden Ring, the right shield can be much more than just a piece of protection. The Carrying and Thrusting Shield is a perfect example of this, combining both defensive and offensive capabilities. With the Carrying and Thrusting Shield in hand, you can not only block incoming attacks but also unleash devastating thrusting strikes that do not consume stamina. This makes it an excellent choice for players who want the best of both worlds: survivability and offense.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything from weapon choice, talismans, and stat allocation, to combat strategies that will allow you to dominate any battlefield. We’ll also discuss some key Elden Ring items that will take your shield build to the next level, available for purchase at MMOEXP for your convenience.

The Carrying and Thrusting Shield: A Versatile Weapon for Defense and Damage
The Carrying and Thrusting Shield is the star of this build, offering exceptional versatility. Unlike many traditional shields, it doesn’t just block; it also enables you to launch powerful thrusting attacks. These thrusts can be performed without consuming stamina, making them an excellent tool for both maintaining pressure on enemies and conserving resources for other actions.

Here are some key features that make the Carrying and Thrusting Shield stand out:

Thrusting Attacks: The ability to thrust while blocking allows you to engage enemies without leaving yourself open. This is especially effective against enemies who rely heavily on melee attacks, as you can deal damage while keeping your guard up.
Versatility: The shield can be used both for defense and offense, making it ideal for a balanced playstyle. You’ll be able to absorb damage from enemies while simultaneously dealing significant damage of your own.
Stamina Conservation: The thrusting attacks do not consume stamina, which is a major advantage in Elden Ring. You can continue your assault without worrying about your stamina running out, making it easier to outlast opponents in long battles.
For a well-rounded shield build, the Carrying and Thrusting Shield is your go-to piece of equipment, allowing you to control the flow of combat while being tough to crack.

Weapon Choice: Flame Skewer Ash of War
To complement the Carrying and Thrusting Shield, we recommend using the Flame Skewer Ash of War. The Flame Skewer is a fiery, high-damage ability that can be charged up to deal devastating damage. When fully charged, it can deal over 8,000 damage, making it a formidable weapon in your arsenal.

Here’s why the Flame Skewer works perfectly with the shield build:

High Damage Output: The Flame Skewer adds a fiery flair to your thrusting attacks, greatly enhancing your damage potential. Whether you're fighting a tough boss or a group of enemies, this Ash of War can be the difference-maker.
Area-of-Effect Damage: The attack covers a wide area, allowing you to hit multiple enemies at once. This is particularly useful when dealing with groups of enemies or invaders.
Synergy with the Shield: The Carrying and Thrusting Shield's unique ability to allow thrusts while blocking pairs excellently with the Flame Skewer. You can block incoming attacks and retaliate with a powerful charged thrust, all without draining your stamina.
By combining the Flame Skewer with the Carrying and Thrusting Shield, you create a balanced yet high-damage setup that can handle both tough bosses and crowds of enemies with ease.

Key Talismans to Enhance Your Shield Build
Talismans are a crucial part of Elden Ring, providing significant buffs to your character’s stats, abilities, and overall performance. For this shield build, the right talismans will elevate your survivability and damage potential, allowing you to make the most of your Carrying and Thrusting Shield and Flame Skewer Ash of War. Here are the top talismans to focus on:

1. Great-Jar's Arsenal
Effect: Great-Jar's Arsenal increases your equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor and still maintain decent mobility. This is vital for tank builds like this one, as you’ll want to wear the best armor to absorb damage without being slowed down.
Why It’s Important: The more armor you can wear without affecting your roll speed, the better. Great-Jar’s Arsenal ensures you can use heavy armor while maintaining an agile enough movement speed to dodge attacks and stay in control of your positioning.
2. Shard of Alexander
Effect: This talisman significantly amplifies the damage of your Ash of War attacks.
Why It’s Important: The Flame Skewer Ash of War benefits greatly from this boost, allowing your thrusts to deal even more damage. Pair this talisman with the Carrying and Thrusting Shield for a massive damage increase, making your thrusts not only defensive but also devastating.
3. Spear Talisman
Effect: This talisman increases the damage effectiveness of thrusting attacks.
Why It’s Important: Since thrusting is the core element of your offensive strategy, this talisman will directly improve your damage output when using the Carrying and Thrusting Shield and Flame Skewer. It works in synergy with your build, ensuring that your attacks hit even harder.
Stat Allocation for Optimal Performance
For a shield build like this, your stat allocation will revolve around boosting strength, endurance, and vigor to ensure you can deal heavy damage while staying resilient in combat. Here’s a recommended stat distribution at level 200:

Vigor: 60 — The higher your vigor, the more damage you can take before you’re knocked out. A high vigor allows you to withstand the hardest hits, essential for a tank build.
Endurance: 40 — Endurance is crucial for stamina management, especially when you need to block incoming attacks and maintain offensive pressure. A higher endurance stat will also allow you to wear heavier armor without compromising your mobility.
Strength: 80 — Strength is your primary stat for maximizing damage with the Carrying and Thrusting Shield and your other heavy weaponry. With 80 strength, you can deliver powerful thrusts and charge up attacks with ease.
Dexterity: 55 — Since thrusting attacks scale with dexterity, this stat ensures your attacks are efficient and hit hard. It’s important to balance strength with dexterity to maximize both damage and scaling.
Intelligence: 18 — Intelligence isn’t a primary focus, but having a bit of this stat will help you unlock useful utility spells or abilities that could enhance your overall survivability.
Combat Strategies: Making the Most of Your Shield Build
Now that you have your gear, talismans, and stats set up, it’s time to implement your strategy in combat. Here are some key tips for mastering your shield build:

1. Start with the Shield Raised
In most combat situations, always begin with your shield raised. Use your thrusting attacks to maintain pressure on enemies while still keeping yourself protected. You can land hits while blocking, allowing you to gradually chip away at your opponent's health without leaving yourself vulnerable.

2. Use Flame Skewer to Maximize Damage
When you have an opening, charge up the Flame Skewer Ash of War to unleash massive damage. Be sure to combine it with your thrusting strikes for extra damage potential. Keep an eye on your stamina and don’t overextend, as you’ll need enough stamina to block or dodge when necessary.

3. Take Advantage of Healing Items
Always stock up on Hefty Rock Pots and the Flask of Wondrous Physick for healing during combat. The Rock Pots can be used both to damage enemies and as a distraction, while the Flask of Wondrous Physick can restore health when you’re in a tight spot. Timing is crucial—don’t heal when enemies are in close proximity unless you’re sure they won’t interrupt.

4. Invasions and Multiplayer
In invasions, your role is to be the tank. Absorb the brunt of enemy attacks while your allies deal damage. Use your shield's defensive capabilities to parry or block incoming attacks. If the enemy overcommits, counter with a charged Flame Skewer for devastating damage. Focus on positioning and don’t be afraid to take hits for the team.

5. Handling Magic Users
When facing magic-spamming foes, maintain your distance and cheap Elden Ring Items wait for the right moment to close the gap. Block spells with your shield, and once you're in range, unleash your thrusting attacks. Be mindful of your stamina to avoid running