Elden Ring's DLC continues to offer players new opportunities to experiment with builds, weapons, and combat strategies, and one weapon that has recently caught my attention is the Warped Axe. Focused around a pure strength build, this weapon is extremely versatile when paired with status effects, particularly frostbite, and a well-timed combo of one-handed heavy attacks into light attacks. After extensive testing, I've found this setup to be surprisingly effective for both PvP invasions and general PvE encounters, and in this guide, I'll break down the stats, tactics, and strategies behind it.

Why the Warped Axe Elden Ring Items?

The Warped Axe stands out in Elden Ring for a few key reasons. Its one-handed move set is fast and punishing, allowing players to follow a heavy attack with a light attack quickly, catching opponents off guard. Many players expect to tank the first heavy hit and retaliate, but the speed of the light attack follow-up often punishes this approach. In other words, the axe rewards precise timing and aggressiveness.

Additionally, the weapon's innate frostbite buildup pairs exceptionally well with Chilling Mist, a sorcery that amplifies frostbite accumulation. Frostbite is a devastating status effect that not only deals burst damage but also reduces the target's damage absorption, making subsequent hits even deadlier. The combination of a two-hit combo on the axe and Chilling Mist often procs frostbite in a single combo, depending on the opponent's frostbite resistance.

Build Overview

The stats for this build are relatively straightforward:

 Primary Focus: Strength

 Secondary Considerations: Health and endurance for tankiness and stamina management

 Weapon Choice: Warped Axe (main) with minor weapon variety via backup decks

 Armor: High poise and defense for close-range engagements

 Talismans: Designed to boost health, stamina, equip load, poise, and frostbite damage

The build is optimized for a one-handed combo style, meaning we don't rely on a two-handed sword talisman. Instead, we focus on maximizing the axe's damage potential and survivability.

Talismans include:

 Shard of Alexander: Amplifies the damage of Chilling Mist, enhancing frostbite buildup

 Crimson Armor +3 Urger's Favorite +2: Increases health and adds bonus equip load

 Bulgo Talisman: Improves poise for trading and combo continuity

 Optional Buffs: Uplifting Aromatic and Exalted Flesh can further increase damage output

With this setup, the Warped Axe excels in quick, high-damage exchanges, particularly against unsuspecting or overly aggressive opponents.

Combat Strategy: Heavy to Light Attack Combo

The core strategy revolves around the one-handed heavy attack followed by a light attack. Many opponents attempt to tank the first hit, believing the follow-up will be delayed-but it comes out so quickly that they often take the full brunt of both attacks.

The sequence is also effective when combined with a running light attack into a light attack, which catches enemies who try to maintain distance or counterattack. Timing is everything: the first hit draws defensive trades, while the follow-up light attack often lands before the opponent can react.

In practice, this combo is extremely versatile:

 PvP Invasions: Catching multiple opponents off guard during high-intensity battles

 Wizard Opponents: Following up a Chilling Mist or R2 combo can completely shut down spellcasters

 Open-World PvE: Efficient against groups of enemies, especially when frostbite is applied

Real-World PvP Applications

During invasions, the Warped Axe with Chilling Mist truly shines. Against squishy targets or magic users, the combination of frostbite and a rapid two-hit combo allows for burst damage trades that are difficult to counter. Wizards, in particular, are vulnerable: a carefully placed Chilling Mist followed by the heavy-light combo can prevent them from casting, forcing mistakes.

One memorable encounter involved a wizard who tried to kite and use teleportation, only to be repeatedly punished by well-timed heavy-light attacks and frostbite procs. Even high-latency matches don't hinder the effectiveness of this combo, as the follow-up light attack lands quickly enough to counter slow reactions or delayed inputs.

Against melee-focused opponents, such as those wielding thrusting swords or dual-wield setups, the key is spacing and patience. The first heavy hit draws their trade attempt, while the light attack and running attacks punish over-committed aggression. The combination of poise, health, and endurance allows for confident trades even against aggressive foes.

Frostbite Synergy

Chilling Mist is a cornerstone of this build because it amplifies frostbite buildup from the Warped Axe. This synergy allows nearly every combo to threaten a frostbite proc, which:1.Reduces the target's physical damage absorption

2.Deals a significant burst of damage upon activation

3.Forces defensive reactions, creating openings for follow-up attacks

Against multiple enemies, frostbite can soften them up quickly, making them much easier to handle in crowded invasion scenarios. It's particularly effective in combo with R2 attacks and running light attacks, as the combined effect often applies frostbite in as little as two or three hits.

Talismans and Buffs for Maximum Effect

To fully optimize this strength build, I rely on a talisman loadout that balances tankiness, poise, and damage output:

 Shard of Alexander: Enhances Chilling Mist damage, crucial for frostbite-focused combos

 Crimson Armor +3: Increases survivability in close-range trades

 Urger's Favorite +2: Adds extra health, stamina, and equip load for sustained engagements

 Bulgo Talisman: Provides additional poise to maintain combo continuity

Additionally, temporary buffs like Uplifting Aromatic and Exalted Flesh can drastically improve the damage of the heavy-light combo, making it devastating against both PvP opponents and challenging PvE mobs.

Encounter Highlights

In practice, this build shines in a variety of scenarios:

 Multi-Enemy Engagements: Running light attacks into heavy attacks or follow-ups creates chaos among grouped enemies. Frostbite procs add burst damage and reduce their defenses.

 Wizard Fights: Spellcasters are particularly vulnerable due to their slower defensive options. Combining Chilling Mist with the Warped Axe combo punishes their missteps.

 Boss Fights and Mini-Bosses: High poise and quick follow-up attacks allow for controlled trading and punishing openings.

For instance, during a recent Scorpion River Catacombs encounter, the combination of frostbite, running light attacks, and well-timed heavy attacks allowed me to handle both paladins and spellcasters efficiently. Even complex multi-enemy scenarios could be managed with careful spacing and frostbite application.

Tips for Maximizing the Build

1.Prioritize Positioning: Proper spacing ensures your heavy-light combos hit cleanly and prevent counterattacks.

2.Watch Enemy Patterns: Opponents who rely on trading hits or dodging often underestimate the light attack follow-up.

3.Leverage Status Effects: Frostbite is the primary tool for this build, but other status effects like bleed or poison can also be effective if you experiment with different weapons.

4.Balance Armor and Talismans: Choose armor that complements poise and defense, while talismans enhance your combo potential and tankiness.

5.Adapt to Opponent Behavior: High latency or teleporting enemies require careful timing, but the Warped Axe's speed compensates for most reactions.

Why This Build Works

The strength of this build lies in the combination of raw power, status effects, and speed. The one-handed Warped Axe provides:

 Rapid follow-up attacks that punish defensive trading

 High frostbite damage, especially when combined with Chilling Mist

 Versatility in PvP, capable of handling wizards, dual-wielders, and aggressive melee opponents

 Effective control in PvE encounters, particularly in dungeons or invasion-heavy areas

The addition of health, poise, and stamina ensures you can maintain aggressive play without being overly punished, while talismans and buffs amplify your damage potential.

Final Thoughts Elden Ring Runes buy

If you're looking for a fun, high-impact strength build in Elden Ring DLC PvP, the Warped Axe paired with Chilling Mist and a heavy-to-light combo is a formidable choice. Its combination of speed, status effects, and raw damage makes it effective in nearly every scenario, from invasions to dungeon runs.

The one-handed moveset is surprisingly powerful and flexible, allowing for quick follow-ups that often catch opponents off guard. Frostbite synergy with Chilling Mist amplifies the axe's effectiveness, providing not only damage but also defensive debuffs that make trading hits favorable.

Armor and talisman choices allow you to tailor the build to your playstyle, prioritizing survivability, poise, or damage as needed. Running attacks and careful spacing maximize the Warped Axe's utility, making it a weapon that rewards skillful timing and strategic planning.

Whether you're facing wizard spam, dual-wielding enemies, or large groups of NPCs, this build provides the tools to dominate while maintaining flexibility and control.

In short, the Warped Axe and frostbite combo is a strength build worth mastering. Its unique heavy-to-light follow-up mechanic, paired with status effects and a careful talisman setup, creates a highly rewarding and dynamic playstyle for both PvP and PvE content. If you enjoy experimenting with status effects, combos, and pure strength builds, this setup is one of the most satisfying ways to engage with Elden Ring's DLC content.