The arrival of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced some of the most unique weapon combinations ever seen in Elden Ring PvP, and one of the strongest setups for aggressive invasions is the combination of the Rakshasa’s Great Katana in the off hand paired with the War Hawk’s Talon in the main hand. This build is all about pressure, roll catches, hyper armor trades, and relentless aggression. The War Hawk’s Talon gives you excellent forward momentum and multi-hit potential, while the Rakshasa’s Great Katana provides hyper armor that lets you confidently trade into enemy attacks. Together, they create a deadly mix-up machine that overwhelms both solo duelists and full invasion squads. If you need to quickly level up or gear multiple characters for this build, you can buy Elden Ring Runes to save time and focus on mastering the combat. If you enjoy fast-paced Dexterity builds that reward aggression and smart timing, this setup is incredibly fun at Level 200 PvP.

Why This Build Works

The synergy between these two weapons is what makes the build special.

War Hawk’s Talon – Main Hand Pressure Tool

The War Hawk’s Talon is one of the best straight swords for aggressive PvP because of its unique heavy attack. The R2 has incredible forward momentum and naturally catches panic rolls extremely well.

Key strengths include:

· Excellent roll-catching potential

· Fast attack speed

· Strong pressure after enemy dodges

· Easy Rotten Winged Sword Insignia activation

· Great Ash of War compatibility

The heavy attack is the core of your offense. Once opponents panic roll, you can chain pressure into additional R2s, jumping attacks, or off-hand katana follow-ups.

Rakshasa’s Great Katana – Off-Hand Hyper Armor

Most off-hand setups struggle because they lack poise and trading potential. Rakshasa’s Great Katana changes that entirely.

This weapon grants hyper armor during attacks, allowing you to:

· Trade through enemy aggression

· Punish overextensions

· Continue pressure chains

· Force panic rolls

· Create terrifying mix-ups after Stormcaller or Sword Dance

The massive range difference between the straight sword and great katana also makes your offense unpredictable. Enemies never know whether the next attack is a quick poke or a hyper armor swing.

Recommended Stats (Level 200)

This build is focused entirely on Dexterity scaling while maintaining enough endurance for heavy armor and maximum poise.

Suggested Attributes

At Level 200, you can comfortably run high poise armor while still maintaining excellent stamina and equip load.

Best Armor Choice

The build showcased uses the Verdigris armor set for maximum defense and poise.

Why Verdigris Works

· Extremely high poise

· Great physical defense

· Lets you safely trade with hyper armor attacks

· Perfect for invasion scenarios

Fashion is always flexible in Elden Ring, but high poise is especially important for this setup because trading is a huge part of the playstyle.

Best Talismans

Shard of Alexander

Shard of Alexander

Boosts Ash of War damage significantly, making Sword Dance and Stormcaller much deadlier.

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

This talisman activates very quickly thanks to the War Hawk’s Talon heavy attacks and multi-hit chains. Once active, your damage ramps up rapidly during extended aggression.

Great-Jar’s Arsenal

Great-Jar's Arsenal

Helps maintain medium roll while wearing heavy armor and dual weapons.

Bull-Goat’s Talisman

Bull-Goat's Talisman

Maximizes poise and makes trading far more reliable in invasions.

Best Ashes of War

Sword Dance

Sword Dance

Sword Dance gives this build incredible forward momentum and devastating roll-catching capability.

Why it works:

· Closes distance quickly

· Punishes passive players

· Combos naturally into R2 pressure

· Difficult to predict

· Great against groups

This Ash of War becomes especially dangerous when mixed with delayed heavy attacks from the War Hawk’s Talon.

Stormcaller

Stormcaller

Stormcaller is your anti-gank answer.

When teams aggressively collapse onto you in tight spaces, Stormcaller can:

· Interrupt multiple enemies

· Build stagger pressure

· Set up roll catches

· Force panic movement

· Lead into devastating great katana follow-ups

It becomes especially lethal in caves, tunnels, and narrow hallways.

Core Combat Combos

Basic Roll Catch Loop

· War Hawk’s Talon R2

· Enemy panic rolls

· Delayed R2

· Off-hand katana punish

This loop forces opponents into defensive panic almost immediately.

Hyper Armor Trade Combo

· Enemy attacks first

· Tank hit with Rakshasa’s Great Katana

· Follow with heavy attack

· Roll catch afterward

The hyper armor lets you bully aggressive opponents.

Invasion Pressure Sequence

· Sword Dance engage

· L1 pressure

· R2 roll catch

· Stormcaller if surrounded

Against multiple players, the build thrives on chaos and momentum.

PvP Strengths

Excellent Roll Catching

Few setups roll catch as consistently as this one. The War Hawk’s Talon heavy attack has absurd forward momentum and pairs perfectly with delayed katana pressure.

Strong Against Passive Players

Casters and runners struggle heavily against this setup because Sword Dance and aggressive R2s constantly force reactions.

Fantastic Invasions

The build excels in:

· Tight corridors

· Catacombs

· Legacy dungeons

· Vertical environments

· Multi-enemy engagements

Stormcaller and hyper armor trading become devastating when enemies group too close together.

Weaknesses

No build is perfect.

Vulnerable to Parry Spam

Straight sword aggression can become predictable if opponents rely heavily on parries.

To counter this:

· Use jumping attacks

· Delay heavies

· Mix in off-hand attacks

· Use Ashes of War instead of predictable R1 chains

Requires Timing Knowledge

The build performs best when you understand:

· Roll timing

· Panic roll behavior

· Trade windows

· Hyper armor frames

Players who mash attacks without timing will struggle to maximize its potential.

Best Playstyle Tips

Abuse Movement

The strength of this build comes from movement-based aggression:

· Forward momentum attacks

· Roll catches

· Spacing pressure

· Hyper armor trades

Constantly stay in your opponent’s face.

Mix Up Attack Timing

The setup becomes terrifying when enemies stop knowing what attack is coming next.

Alternate between:

· L1 pressure

· Delayed R2s

· Jump attacks

· Sword Dance

· Katana trades

The unpredictability is what makes the build oppressive.

Use Terrain to Your Advantage

In invasions, especially:

· Funnel enemies into tunnels

· Force fights near cliffs

· Punish grouped players

· Abuse corners with Stormcaller

The build becomes dramatically stronger in cramped environments.

Final Thoughts

The Rakshasa’s Great Katana off-hand setup is one of the most creative and effective Dexterity PvP builds introduced in the DLC. The combination of hyper armor trading, roll-catching pressure, and aggressive momentum gives the build incredible versatility in both duels and invasions. The War Hawk’s Talon handles relentless pressure while the Rakshasa’s Great Katana punishes anyone attempting to fight back recklessly. Add in Sword Dance and Stormcaller, and you have a build capable of dismantling entire invasion squads with style. For players looking to gear up quickly, you can buy Elden Ring Items from MMOEXP to acquire the weapons and upgrades needed for this setup without endless farming. For players who enjoy aggressive PvP and flashy mix-ups, this setup is easily one of the most entertaining builds to use in the Shadow of the Erdtree meta.