Today, we're diving into three of the most fascinating and underrated builds recently showcased by the community: the Frigid Executioner, the Dragon Acolyte, and the Beastial Assassin. Each of these builds redefines what it means to play Elden Ring-combining bold mechanics, make more Elden Ring Items, creative equipment choices, and that perfect mix of risk and reward that makes the game's combat so endlessly replayable.

 

The Frigid Executioner-"You Become the Boomerang"

 

The Frigid Executioner is all about embracing the chaos of combat with the Mutressence Cleaver, a weapon that many dismissed because it doesn't behave like its boss version-no boomerang throws here. But as the creator cheekily puts it, "You become the boomerang." And honestly? That's even better.

 

This build revolves around the Cleaver's weapon art, which launches you into the air for a devastating overhead attack.

 

From there, players can either extend the combo with repeated spins or finish with a powerful heavy strike. Each follow-up costs a tiny amount of FP (just 7 per swing) and stamina, making it possible to chain attacks far longer than most weapons allow. The mastery lies in knowing when to stop-ending a combo too late leaves you vulnerable, while cutting it short can cost you a chance to land a stance break or riposte.

 

Because of its relentless aggression, this setup pairs beautifully with Malenia's Great Rune, which restores health on successive hits. The combination of high poise, constant motion, and lifesteal through aggression means you can go toe-to-toe with bosses without fear. You're not dodging-you're bulldozing through attacks, recovering HP faster than enemies can take it away.

 

For defense, the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman provides a solid backbone, while the Shard of Alexander and multi-hit talismans like the Winged Sword Insignia stack multiplicative bonuses to turn each combo into a fiery blur of damage. Add the Opaline Hardtear and Thorny Cracked Tear to your Flask of Wondrous Physick, and you've got a perfect blend of survivability and sustained power.

 

The true charm of the Frigid Executioner lies in how cinematic it feels. Every leap and spin dodges attacks by inches-sometimes soaring over projectiles, sometimes ducking beneath greatsword swings-thanks to Elden Ring's razor-sharp hitboxes. It's fast, brutal, and shockingly elegant, turning boss fights into choreographed duels of timing and precision.

 

The Dragon Acolyte-Reviving the Grafted Dragon

 

Next up is one of Elden Ring's least-used and most misunderstood weapons: the Grafted Dragon. At first glance, it seems like a gimmick-a fist weapon that can't be paired, can't be two-handed, and has a laughably weak flamethrower-style weapon art. But with some creativity and a faith-based build, the Dragon Acolyte transforms this neglected weapon into something genuinely fun-and surprisingly powerful.

 

The trick is understanding how its weapon art actually works. The fire breath looks weak, but the initial explosion deals significant fire damage-a strange yet intentional design quirk that still functions the same way four years after release. With high Faith investment, that explosion can hit like a truck.

 

Pairing it with the Erdtree Seal allows for top-tier Faith scaling and access to essential buffs like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength, both of which amplify the Grafted Dragon's raw power. Because its weapon art deals pure fire damage, these buffs multiply its output even further, and increasing Faith makes its split damage lean more toward fire-giving you consistent, scaling growth as you level.

 

For talismans, the Shard of Alexander is a must to enhance weapon art potency, while the Fire Scorpion Charm adds another layer of fire damage at the cost of some physical resistance (a trade most players will happily take). Rounding things out are Rotten Winged Sword Insignia for consecutive attack buffs and Blade of Mercy for improving post-crit combat flow.Aesthetically, the Dragon Acolyte build goes all-in on its fiery theme with a striking fashion setup-Depraved Perfumer Robe (Altered), Aristocrat Headband, and Warrior Greaves-balancing elegance and brutality. The result is a pyromaniacal brawler that looks as fierce as it plays.

 

It's not the most optimal setup in the game, but that's the point-it's about rediscovering fun in weapons most of us ignored after one use. With smart Faith scaling and proper buffs, the Grafted Dragon becomes a flaming fist of destruction that makes boss fights feel like gladiatorial duels.

 

The Beastial Assassin-Strength Meets Faith

 

The third build, the Beastial Assassin, completely flips the traditional assassin archetype on its head. Instead of a nimble rogue in light armor, this is a hulking faith-based monster-more Letho from The Witcher 2 than the typical backstabber. Originally intended to use the Cinquedea dagger and Clawmark Seal, the concept ran into serious roadblocks. The dagger lacks critical multipliers, can't be infused, and offers poor scaling. The seal, meanwhile, splits scaling between Strength and Faith but doesn't excel in either.

 

For a long time, this combo seemed dead on arrival-until the creator had a breakthrough. The solution? Ditch both and reforge the build around the Erdsteel Dagger, infused with Holy damage, and paired with the Erdtree Seal. Suddenly, everything clicks.

 

This dagger's faster moveset and superior scaling allow the build to synergize perfectly with Faith-based buffs and incantations. With high poise (51, to be exact) and access to fast multi-hit chains, it becomes a powerhouse for stacking consecutive attack buffs. Even better, those rapid hits fuel Malenia's Great Rune, keeping you topped off during prolonged engagements.

 

The weapon art of choice, Sacred Order, adds another 10% to all damage-affecting both melee and incantations. That's a full-scope boost that the old dagger never provided. Spells like Golden Vow and Black Flame Protection enhance both offense and defense, while Blessing of the Erdtree gives steady regeneration throughout fights.

 

For offensive incantations, the toolkit is deceptively deep:

 

 Bestial Sling for quick, ranged pressure

 

 Stone of Gurranq for single-target power

 

 Beast Claw for AoE sweeping attacks

 

Each spell complements the dagger's melee rhythm, ensuring no downtime in combat-you're always attacking, always pressuring, always in control.

 

Talisman setup is flexible but deadly. Dragoncrest Greatshield provides durability, while Twinblade and Rotten Winged Sword Insignias maximize multi-hit damage potential. Players can opt for Godfrey Icon or Dagger Talisman depending on whether they prefer stronger incantations or devastating critical hits.

 

For fashion? A brutal mix of Zamor Armor, Scaled Gauntlets, and Zamor Mask, striking a perfect balance between assassin sleekness and brute force.

 

This build embodies the best of both worlds-an assassin who doesn't hide in the shadows but dominates the battlefield, chaining holy-infused strikes with monstrous poise and divine aggression.

 

Final Thoughts-Creativity Keeps the Flame Alive

 

Each of these setups-the frostbitten might of the Frigid Executioner, the flaming faith of the Dragon Acolyte, and the divine brutality of the Beastial Assassin-proves that Elden Ring still has room for discovery, even years after launch.

 

It's easy to fall into the trap of only running meta weapons, Elden Ring Runes or min-maxed setups, but the real beauty of Elden Ring lies in experimentation. Sometimes the best builds are the ones that shouldn't work-until they do. They remind us that FromSoftware's world isn't just about stats and numbers; it's about creativity, style, and the thrill of mastering something unconventional.