How to make the Rakshasa build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is filled to the brim with new weapon options for you to try out in either your existing build or an entirely new one made from scratch. One such is the Rakshasa's Great Katana, which may not look all that special at first glance, especially against the likes of Dragon Hunter's Great Katana, but is actually really powerful.

The Rakshasa's Great Katana alongside the whole Rakshasa armor set is a deadly combo, simply due to the amount of damage it can cause. This is due to the armor set as well as the Great Katana's passive perk, which increases the wielder's base attack power significantly, albeit with a minor drawback.

However, making the Rakshasa armor set and the Great Katana into a viable weapon is much easier said than done. You not only need to make sure that your build is balanced towards the weapon, but also ensure core defensive attributes. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to make the Rakshasa build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.

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Breakdown of the Rakshasa build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

The Rakshasa build is primarily centered around the Great Katana. However, if you want, you can repurpose the same build for a Bleed-focused playstyle, albeit with some minor adjustments. The primary components here are the Rakshasa's Great Katana, some attack power and defense buffing Incantations, the Dragon Communion Seal, and the Rakshasa's armor set.

The Rakshasa build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

As for the stats, your primary focus needs to be Dexterity and Arcane (for the Dragon Communion Seal). Additionally, you will also need to put in some points into Faith to be able to use some of the basic Incantations.

As for Incantations themselves, we're going with Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Black Flame's Protection, and Beastial Vitality. Also, since you're investing in Arcane anyway, you can slot in a couple of Dragon Communion Incantations. As for Talismans, we're focusing primarily on damage mitigation, and also passive attack power buff.

That being said, here's a breakdown of the Rakshasa build in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree:

Weapon(s):

• Rakshasa's Great Katana +10
• Dragon Communion Seal +10

Talismans:

• Erdtree's Favor +2
• Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
• Two-Handed Sword Talisman
• Milicent's Prosthesis

Incantations:

• Golden Vow
• Flame, Grant Me Strength
• Black Flame's Protection
• Beastial Vitality

Here's the stat distribution for the Rakshasa build:

• Vigor: 60
• Mind: 30
• Endurance: 50
• Strength: 50
• Dexterity: 40
• Intelligence: 9
• Faith: 30
• Arcane: 60

Do note that I created this build on a New Game+2 character, but you can comfortably make it as long as you're at Level 180 or above. This is so that you'll have enough stat points to invest into Dexterity, Faith, and Arcane, while also making sure your core stats are not compromised.

Milicent's Prosthesis is an integral part of the Rakshasa build in Elden Ring (Image via FromSoftware)

Additionally, if you're not willing to stick with the Rakshasa arsenal for the entire playthrough, you can repurpose this into a Bleed build. All you need are weapons that you can use to work for a dedicated Bleed build and you won't even need to respec to get it working. You can refer to our Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Bleed build guide for more information.