Ultimate Great Stars Build Guide

The Great Stars is a standout Great Hammer in Elden Ring, renowned for its unique ability to restore 1% of your maximum HP with every successful hit, regardless of whether the attack is blocked or if you meet the weapon’s stat requirements. This self-sustaining feature makes it ideal for aggressive playstyles, allowing Tarnished warriors to maintain health during prolonged engagements. Combining innate blood loss buildup with heavy-hitting strikes, it excels in both PvE and PvP scenarios when paired with the right setup.

Why Choose Great Stars?

Great Stars differentiates itself from other Great Hammers through its passive healing and bleed effect, enabling sustained combat without constant reliance on flasks. Its wide-arcing heavy attacks and compatibility with various Ashes of War amplify its versatility. While its base moveset features slower swings, the healing procs on multi-hit skills like weapon arts compensate, turning it into a survivability powerhouse.

• Key Advantages: Instant HP recovery per hit, innate bleed for status pressure, dual wield potential for rapid buildup.
• Drawbacks: Moderate base damage and poise break compared to colossal weapons, hefty weight requiring high endurance.

Powerstancing two Great Stars accelerates bleed procs and status effects, making it devastating against bosses vulnerable to hemorrhage.

Acquiring Great Stars

Players can obtain two Great Stars in a single playthrough, maximizing dual-wield potential. The first is in Altus Plateau, guarded in a carriage south of the Road of Iniquity Side Path Site of Grace. Defeat nearby enemies to claim it. The second comes from invading an NPC at a red summon sign near the same region or via Varre’s questline, involving boss defeats.

Upgrade using Smithing Stones found abundantly in Larnia of the Lakes, such as those in gazebos and graveyards. Early stones are near Stormhill Shack, with higher tiers southeast in the region. Aim for +25 with Somber Smithing Stones for peak performance.

Optimal Stat Distribution

Focus on **Strength** for raw physical damage or **Arcane** for bleed scaling. Soft caps guide investment: 80 Strength maximizes swing damage, while 45-50 Arcane optimizes blood loss.

Prioritize Vigor for survivability (60+), Endurance for equip load (50+), and use Great-Jar’s Arsenal to mitigate fat-rolling. These spreads suit NG+ and DLC content like Shadow of the Erdtree.

Infusion and Ash of War Choices

Infuse Great Stars to match your build:

• Heavy Infusion: Pure Strength scaling for maximum physical output.
• Occult/Blood: Boosts Arcane and bleed buildup to 137+ at +25, proccing hemorrhage in 3-4 hits.
• Cold: Adds frostbite (10% max HP damage, 20% increased damage taken), with Cragblade or Chilling Mist Ashes for poise or tick healing.

Recommended Ashes: Endure (default) for poise during trades, Prelate’s Charge for multi-hit healing, or Barbaric Roar for buffs. Any Ash triggers healing on each hit.

Powerstancing and Shield Synergies

Dual Great Stars enable jumping R2s and charged heavies that chunk health bars and stance-break bosses rapidly. Pair with Great Shields like Fingerprint Stone Shield for 100% physical block, regenerating chip damage via strikes. Medium Shields work for mobile play.

Equip Great-Jar’s Arsenal talisman to handle the weight without heavy armor penalties, allowing medium-heavy sets like Bull-Goat for poise.

Best Armor and Talismans

Armor: Prioritize poise and defense: Veteran’s Set, Lionel’s Set, or Scaled Armor. Helmets like White Mask boost bleed damage by 10% on proc.

Talismans:

• Lord of Blood’s Exultation: +20% attack power on nearby bleed (12% PvP).
• Great-Jar’s Arsenal: +19% equip load.
• Ritual Sword Talisman: Boosts attacks at full HP, synergizing with healing.
• Dragoncrest Greatshield: Reduces physical damage taken.
• Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Successive attack damage up.

Swap for boss-specific needs, like frost talismans in cold builds.

Combat Strategies and Playstyle

Trade aggressively: Heal offsets damage, especially with shields. Jump heavies and dual-wield L1s build bleed fast while poise-breaking. Against groups, wide arcs clear mobs with multi-heal procs.

Boss Tips:

• Malenia: Bleed melts phases, healing counters Waterfowl.
• Fire Giant: Stance break for crits, regenerate during falls.
• DLC Elites: Frost + bleed hybrid overwhelms.

In PvP, Endure dodges rolls, bleed punishes turtles. Stay mid-range for charged R2s.

Advanced Variations

Frostbite Powerhouse

Cold infusion + Hoarfrost Stomp: Frost procs amplify damage, Chilling Mist heals via ticks. 80 Strength softcap.

Faith Hybrid

Moderate Faith (40) with Dragon Communion Seal for bleed incantations like Swarm of Flies. Pair with Taker’s Cameo for HP-on-kill.

Progression Roadmap

1. Early Game: Grab first Great Stars in Altus, upgrade to +9 with field stones.
2. Mid Game: Second Stars via invasion/quest, respec at Rennala for 50+ Str/Arc.
3. Late Game: +25, full talismans, test in Stormveil/Altus.
4. Endgame: Powerstance vs. Elden Beast, optimize for DLC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Great Stars healing work on bosses?

Yes, 1% HP per hit, scaling with multi-hit arts. Blocked hits still heal.

Best level for this build?

150-200 for PvP/meta, 120+ for PvE.

Can I use Great Stars without high Strength?

Healing works at base stats, but damage suffers below 60 Str.

Powerstancing alternatives?

Greatshield + one Stars for tanky play.

DLC viability?

Excellent in Shadow of the Erdtree with updated scaling.

Conclusion

The Great Stars build transforms Elden Ring’s punishing combat into a symphony of healing strikes and bleed explosions. With proper stats, infusions, and gear, it offers unmatched sustainability and burst potential. Experiment with hybrids to suit your style and conquer the Lands Between.