With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC dropping a wave of new builds, balance changes, and PvP chaos across the Lands Between, many players are coming back to Elden Ring looking for something fresh, stylish Elden Ring Items, and devastatingly satisfying. And if you're someone who enjoys high-risk, high-reward gameplay-landing parries, snatching backstabs, and erasing entire health bars in one cinematic critical hit-this dexterity-based crit build might be exactly what you've been looking for.

It's not the easiest build to use, especially during invasions where chaos is constant and you're often fighting outnumbered. But when everything comes together-when your parry connects, when your quick step wraps you behind an enemy, when your lightning-infused dagger digs in-it delivers some of the most satisfying PvP moments Elden Ring has to offer.

This is the complete breakdown of the build, how it works, and why it's incredibly fun to invade with in the Elden Ring DLC.

The Philosophy: Crits, Punishes, and "Fishing" for Mistakes

This build isn't about trading blows or spamming weapon arts. It's about reading opponents, baiting aggression, and punishing mistakes with a single lethal strike.

The two pathways to securing critical hits-parries and backstabs-are the bread and butter of the build. Almost every weapon choice, armor choice, talisman selection, and stat decision is made with one goal: make your crits hit like lightning.

And speaking of lightning…

Why Lightning Infusion Is the Secret Sauce

You may notice that lightning weapons aren't just thematic for this build-they're optimal.

Compared to other damage types, lightning has the lowest average defensive resistance across most players. That means:

 Lightning crits hit harder.

 Lightning daggers and rapiers can one-shot more reliably.

 Lightning plays perfectly with a dexterity stat investment.

Since you're not relying on weapon arts, you're free to keep Quickstep active at all times, allowing you to dance behind enemies, wrap around swings, and position yourself for an instant backstab.

Weapon Choices: Daggers, Rapiers, and the Art of Critical Modifiers

Critical builds live and die by their weapon selection. Some weapons simply have better crit modifiers than others.

Best-in-Slot Weapons

 Daggers

Extremely high critical modifiers, fast, and ideal for backstabs.

 Rapiers

High crit, great reach, excellent finesse for punishing recovery frames.

While daggers tend to deliver the highest burst damage, rapiers allow you to safely poke or intercept hyper-aggressive players before committing to a punish.

Both work beautifully with this build, especially with lightning infusion.

Quickstep + Shield: The Two-Loadout Playstyle

Because different opponents present different opportunities, this setup uses a dual-approach system:

1. Quickstep Mode (Default)

 You keep Quickstep on your main weapon.

 You pair it with a shield that has no Ash of War, allowing Quickstep to stay active.

This setup is ideal for:

 Aggressive enemies

 Backstab attempts

 Positioning advantages

 Escaping 2v1 or 3v1 pressure

2. Parry Mode (Situational)

 Swap to a small shield with a parry Ash of War.

This is best against:

 Spammy players

 Predictable jump attacks

 Heavy weapon users

 Dual-wielders with obvious attack strings

The ability to freely switch between these modes mid-invasion lets you adapt to almost any team composition.

The Golden Knight Aesthetic: Armor and Poise

Since lightning is the build's core element, the fashion choice is fittingly golden.

Recommended Armor

 Tree Sentinel Set

 Malenia's Helm

This setup not only looks incredible but also provides:

 Solid physical defense

 Excellent poise

 A cohesive color palette that matches your lightning-infused weapons

The poise is especially useful because you'll often be running into attacks when going for backstabs.

Talismans: Locking In the Crit Damage

While talisman choice can be flexible depending on comfort, a few stand above the rest.

Must-Have

 Dagger Talisman

Boosts critical hit damage significantly.

Highly Recommended

 Crimson Amber Medallion +3 (More HP for invasions)

 Radagon's Scarseal / Radagon's Soreseal (Optional for dex scaling)

 Tree's Favor (HP, stamina, and equip load are all useful)

 Two-Headed Turtle Talisman (If stamina becomes an issue)

If you prefer a more aggressive playstyle, you can also consider talismans that boost stamina regen or weapon AR.

Stats: Pure Dexterity to Maximize Damage

This build keeps things beautifully simple:

 Max out Dexterity

 Level Vigor, Endurance, and Mind as needed to support your playstyle

 Keep Strength and Faith low

 No need for Int or Arc unless you're experimentingDex directly strengthens your lightning weapon scaling, allowing your crits to vaporize opponents.

Invasion Gameplay: Highlights, Tactics, and Madness

Using this build in invasions is chaotic, hilarious, and tense. Because so much of the gameplay revolves around predicting enemy behavior, no two fights feel the same.

Backstab Priorities

Some enemies are best dealt with via backstab:

 Greatsword users

 Heavy-attack spammers

 Players locked into long animations (casting, charging, jumping)

Parry Priorities

Other enemies practically beg to be parried:

 Curved greatsword users

 Colossal weapon jump spammers

 Straight sword R1 mashers

 Reduvia or powerstanced dagger users

Environmental Awareness

The build excels in open spaces but becomes challenging in:

 Corridors

 Narrow tunnels

 Cramped dungeons

These areas limit your ability to circle for backstabs and make Quickstep harder to use effectively.

Still, some of the most entertaining moments come from overcoming these cramped encounters-especially when enemies accidentally blow themselves up, fall off cliffs, or chain into your parries.

Notable Encounter Moments

Some standout scenarios the build thrives in:

 Wizard squads spamming sorceries

Quickstep makes weaving through spells easier than expected, letting you close distance for a sudden critical punish.

 Bleed players

Backstabs often kill them outright before bleed buildup matters.

 Moonveil users

Telegraphed attacks = free parries.

 Stance builds charging strong attacks

The long wind-up gives you all day to parry and erase them.

 Teamfights near cliffs

Nothing beats watching an invader or phantom roll themselves off a ledge trying to avoid a backstab.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Build

Strengths

 Incredibly high one-shot potential

 Great mobility thanks to Quickstep

 Multiple playstyle modes (parry vs. backstab)

 Stylish, flashy, satisfying gameplay

 Excellent against careless or aggressive teams

Weaknesses

 Requires good timing and game knowledge

 Struggles in tight corridors

 Dependent on reading opponents correctly

 Lower sustained DPS compared to meta weapons

 Vulnerable when stamina is depleted

Final Thoughts: The Joy of Critical-Based Dex PvP

This build is not just strong-it's fun. It challenges you to think, react, and position yourself with precision. Every successful backstab or parry feels earned. Every quick kill feels rewarding. And despite the risks, this playstyle shines as one of the most satisfying builds in Elden Ring PvP.

If you enjoy prediction-based combat and high-mobility play, you will absolutely love this setup. For invaders who crave flashy finishers, stylish kills, and chaotic engagements, the dexterity crit-fishing build remains a top-tier choice in the DLC elden ring items buy.

Whether you're looking to remix your PvP experience or simply want to delete opponents with the cleanest backstabs imaginable, this build has everything you need.