Although classes in Elden Ring don't really matter as much as in other games. As no item is locked to any particular class. And you can level any statistic up at any point. We still came up with great suggestions for weapon swaps and upgrades that feel like natural upgrades of Prisoner's starting gear. So if you like half magic half dueling types of builds and would like some great distance offensive options from the get-go. Then this Elden Ring “Best Prisoner Build” is definitely for you.
The Prisoner is not an ideal class for beginners to the Elden Ring and newcomers to all the Soulsborne games. As his uneven stat distribution often forces you to use everything you have in your arsenal. Something that might get very confusing to new players who aren't used to the brutal combat of Soulslike games. On the flip side, he does start out with two very nice pieces of equipment. Those being the Estoc, and the glintstone staff. So you have access to a spellcasting tool early, which is quite valuable in Elden Ring. And Estoc is a nice enough weapon that you could easily finish the entire game with it. Then there is the obvious benefit of being a spell caster while also spec'ing into Dex. Which is versatility. You can engage enemies at range and then switch to your close-quarters setup to finish them off. Furthermore, this allows you to experiment with weapons and spells more than during the “usual” playthrough of Elden Ring. It should be noted that this class is a poor choice if you want to use incantations in the game. You can build towards it for sure. But if you want a full-blown incantation character, then start with a class that already can cast them from the beginning of the game like the Confessor or Prophet. Let's now look at the Elden Ring's best Prisoner builds.
Best Prisoner Build in Elden Ring
- Weapons
- Rogier's Rapier – An amazing thursting sword that can be picked up in Roundtable Hold after defeating Godrick. So relatively early into the game. Requires 17 Dex and 8 Str. And scales great with both of those stats. Starts out with the amazing “Glintblade Phalanx” Ash of War. It can be swapped out for anything you like, but I recommend keeping that one.
- Frozen Needle – Is another great thrusting sword option. Found in the middle of the second major area of the game. 18 Dex and 11 Str required. It is very unique and cool. For one, it causes frost buildup on each hit. Which is relatively rare for a weapon to do in Elden Ring. Even better, this weapon's heavy attack shoots out a frozen projectile! For completly free too, unlike all offensive magics.
- Antspur Rapier – Another deadly thursting sword. Obtainable a little bit later into the game. This weapon causes scarlet rot buildup. Which is super cool in my book. Because I love poisoning bosses and watching their HP tick away. The scarlet red blade of this… well, blade, looks amazing. All for the low, low price of 20 Dex and 10 Str.
- Estoc – Ah, the OG. The vanilla flavour of thrusting swords! There is nothing wrong with Estoc. And when you build a lot of Dex, it is easily viable in the late game of Elden Ring. It also scales a little bit with the Str stat. Nothing fancy but it gets the job done.
- Sorceries
- Comet Azur – Probably the most broken spell in the entire game right now. Requires tremendous 60 Int to use. It “fires a tremendous comet within a starry torrent”. Or in layman's terms, a laser beam. You can then hold the casting button to continiously fire until you FP is empty. Combine this with a Wonderous Flask effect which makes your FP not go down for a few seconds. And you can burst half the HP bar of a boss fast.
- Rock Sling – Is another great option. It offers faster casting time and lower FP costs than Comet Azur. But naturally lower damage. It is still great. Especially for normal enemy groups.
- Shields
- Beast Crest Heater Shield – The one thing you should swap out as early as possible. The shield that Samurai starts out with is doodoo. And the Beast Crest shield is indeed a Beast! Blocking 100% physical damage at 3.5 weight. It is incredible. One of the best medium shields in the game. And you can pick it up easily in Limgrave, the starting location.
- Armor Sets
- There are number of sets in Elden Ring which increase your intelligence while decreasing some other statistic. I would advise you to acquire one of such sets and then mix in some heavier armor for increased protection.
- Queen of the Full Moon Set – One of the few sets that increases your intelligence while not dimishing any other statistic. Can be bought after the second “major” boss is slain.
To get the most out of playing as the Prisoner. It is advised to build an Int/Dex hybrid. And then slot in ashes of war at your discretion, targeting either one of these statistics. The choice of weapon type is up to you. Thrusting swords are really easy to play with, and that is what I recommend for your Prisoner build. But you can always equip any other weapon type you find more preferable! You will also have PLENTY of weapons to try out and experiment with if you go Dex/Int.
- Most Important Atributes To Level Up
- Vigor
- Dexterity
- Intelligence
The many sorceries available to you as soon as you pick them up are a great asset of any Prisoner build. Bundled with the extremely fast thrusting sword for close-quarters combat. Turns you into a warrior ready for any combat situation. And you should never underestimate just how much versatility that offers!
This guide covers the best Prisoner builds in Elden Ring. If you ever get lost and stray off the path, you can always come back to us. We have excellent guides for Elden Ring, many informative posts about requirements and tips. And build for classes such as the Samurai, Wretch, or the Confessor. Do not be afraid to seek some help! The game is seriously tough.