Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Star Fist, which is basically the best weapon in Elden Ring. It’s lightweight, fast as hell, and does ridiculous amounts of damage and poise damage. The problem with it is that you can’t get it until you’re inside Leyndell, around halfway through the game, and you gotta kill like 5 major bosses to get there. The only real alternative is the Iron Ball but that requires killing your buddy the Blackguard to get. So unless you’re halfway through the game, looks like you’re boned…
BUT WHAT IF I TOLD YOU that there’s another option for a fast, high damage, poise breaking monster of a weapon? Meet: THE KATAR. It’s fast, it’s lightweight, it does a whole lot of damage and nearly as much poise dps as the Star Fist, and most important of all, you can get it 5 minutes into the game without fighting a single enemy. This guide will show you how to make the ULTIMATE early game poise breaking Katar build.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Max out your flasks early: youtu.be/lPjEojPCTng
- How to get Smithing Stone 5's:
- Use the Dectus Medallion to take the Grand Lift of Dectus (located all the way at the north end of Liurnia) up to Altus Plateau
- In Altus Plateau, explore Sealed Tunnel, Altus Tunnel, and Old Altus Tunnel
- What stats should I level up after this guide?
- GET 40 VIGOR BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. SERIOUSLY.
- You can level *DEXTERITY* if you want to maximize your Katar damage. Get the Iron Whetblade from Stormveil Castle and you will be able to give the Katar the Keen affinity, which makes it scale better with Dex. It starts off with better Dex scaling by default, so Keen will give it the best damage overall. You can't get the 1.5x Str bonus by two-handing it because it's a paired weapon (and this build specifically uses it one-handed) so you're better off going with Dex. The 20 Str we got was just for the Jellyfish Shield.
- You can get 15 or so Mind if you want to be able to use all your buffs without having to drink a blue flask, which is just convenient. This will also let you summon more expensive Spirit Ashes if you want.
- You can get 25 Faith so you have access to Blessing's Boon, Golden Vow (incantation, stronger than the ash of war), and Flame Grant Me Strength. This will also free up that talisman slot so you can put something better in it.
- What other talismans should I look for?
- Spear Talisman: Increases counterattack damage (enemies are weaker to Pierce damage while doing an attack. The Spear Talisman makes you do EVEN MORE Pierce damage to them while they are attacking). The Katar's R2's do Pierce damage so this is a solid option.
- Winged Sword Insignia (or better yet, Milicent's Prosthesis): Increases damage with consecutive hits. The Katar is fast so it procs this easily.
- Dragoncrest (Great)Shield (+1/2): Increases Physical Damage Negation.
- What other Crystal Tears should I look for?
- Opaline HARDtear (not BUBBLEtear): Dropped by the Putrid Avatar just north of Fort Faroth. Increases all damage negations by 14% for 3 minutes.
- Thorny Cracked Tear: Increases damage with consecutive hits. Pretty lategame and you will have access to the Star Fist well before you get this.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Where to find Maps in Elden Ring
01:20 - Limgrave Setup
01:34 - Flail Location
02:06 - Golden Seed
02:11 - Strength-Knot Crystal Tear, Smithing Stones, Golden Runes, Root Resin farm
03:19 - Smithing Stones, Golden Vow ash of war location
04:16 - Smithing Stones, Golden Runes
06:04 - Flask of Wondrous Physick, Sacred Tear
06:15 - Spiked Cracked Tear, Axe Talisman
07:22 - Fort Haight: Golden Seed, Bloodroses, Blood Grease Recipe, Smithing Stone
08:32 - Caelid Setup: Katar Location
10:20 - Fort Gael: Katar, Flame Grant Me Strength Location
11:02 - Cragblade Location
12:29 - How to get to Fort Faroth
13:44 - Fort Faroth: Golden Rune, Radagon's Soreseal Location
14:38 - Greyoll (sleeping dragon) Rune Farming guide
17:33 - Best Stats for Katar build
18:22 - Best Weapons and Armor for Katar Build
20:47 - Liurnia Setup
21:24 - Sacred Tear
22:04 - Two Fingers Heirloom Location
22:41 - Academy Gate Town: Golden Seed, Smithing Stones
25:27 - Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel: Smithing Stones, Smithing Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 1
28:36 - Jellyfish Shield Location
29:20 - Pop Balloons for Golden Runes
30:16 - Upgrade Katar to +9
31:42 - How to use this build correctly
33:35 - Stormveil Castle: Talisman Pouch (Margit bossfight)
35:40 - Godrick Bossfight (use runes to LEVEL VIGOR)
38:06 - Extra: Where to find Smithing Stone 4 (Gael Tunnel)
39:43 - Extra: Where to find Smithing Stone 5 (Sellia Crystal Tunnel)
40:39 - Outro
If I helped you out, consider returning the favor and leaving a like, a comment, and subscribing!
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Star Fist, which is basically the best weapon in Elden Ring. It’s lightweight, fast as hell, and does ridiculous amounts of damage and poise damage. The problem with it is that you can’t get it until you’re inside Leyndell, around halfway through the game, and you gotta kill like 5 major bosses to get there. The only real alternative is the Iron Ball but that requires killing your buddy the Blackguard to get. So unless you’re halfway through the game, looks like you’re boned…
BUT WHAT IF I TOLD YOU that there’s another option for a fast, high damage, poise breaking monster of a weapon? Meet: THE KATAR. It’s fast, it’s lightweight, it does a whole lot of damage and nearly as much poise dps as the Star Fist, and most important of all, you can get it 5 minutes into the game without fighting a single enemy. This guide will show you how to make the ULTIMATE early game poise breaking Katar build.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Max out your flasks early: youtu.be/lPjEojPCTng
- How to get Smithing Stone 5's:
- Use the Dectus Medallion to take the Grand Lift of Dectus (located all the way at the north end of Liurnia) up to Altus Plateau
- In Altus Plateau, explore Sealed Tunnel, Altus Tunnel, and Old Altus Tunnel
- What stats should I level up after this guide?
- GET 40 VIGOR BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. SERIOUSLY.
- You can level *DEXTERITY* if you want to maximize your Katar damage. Get the Iron Whetblade from Stormveil Castle and you will be able to give the Katar the Keen affinity, which makes it scale better with Dex. It starts off with better Dex scaling by default, so Keen will give it the best damage overall. You can't get the 1.5x Str bonus by two-handing it because it's a paired weapon (and this build specifically uses it one-handed) so you're better off going with Dex. The 20 Str we got was just for the Jellyfish Shield.
- You can get 15 or so Mind if you want to be able to use all your buffs without having to drink a blue flask, which is just convenient. This will also let you summon more expensive Spirit Ashes if you want.
- You can get 25 Faith so you have access to Blessing's Boon, Golden Vow (incantation, stronger than the ash of war), and Flame Grant Me Strength. This will also free up that talisman slot so you can put something better in it.
- What other talismans should I look for?
- Spear Talisman: Increases counterattack damage (enemies are weaker to Pierce damage while doing an attack. The Spear Talisman makes you do EVEN MORE Pierce damage to them while they are attacking). The Katar's R2's do Pierce damage so this is a solid option.
- Winged Sword Insignia (or better yet, Milicent's Prosthesis): Increases damage with consecutive hits. The Katar is fast so it procs this easily.
- Dragoncrest (Great)Shield (+1/2): Increases Physical Damage Negation.
- What other Crystal Tears should I look for?
- Opaline HARDtear (not BUBBLEtear): Dropped by the Putrid Avatar just north of Fort Faroth. Increases all damage negations by 14% for 3 minutes.
- Thorny Cracked Tear: Increases damage with consecutive hits. Pretty lategame and you will have access to the Star Fist well before you get this.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Where to find Maps in Elden Ring
01:20 - Limgrave Setup
01:34 - Flail Location
02:06 - Golden Seed
02:11 - Strength-Knot Crystal Tear, Smithing Stones, Golden Runes, Root Resin farm
03:19 - Smithing Stones, Golden Vow ash of war location
04:16 - Smithing Stones, Golden Runes
06:04 - Flask of Wondrous Physick, Sacred Tear
06:15 - Spiked Cracked Tear, Axe Talisman
07:22 - Fort Haight: Golden Seed, Bloodroses, Blood Grease Recipe, Smithing Stone
08:32 - Caelid Setup: Katar Location
10:20 - Fort Gael: Katar, Flame Grant Me Strength Location
11:02 - Cragblade Location
12:29 - How to get to Fort Faroth
13:44 - Fort Faroth: Golden Rune, Radagon's Soreseal Location
14:38 - Greyoll (sleeping dragon) Rune Farming guide
17:33 - Best Stats for Katar build
18:22 - Best Weapons and Armor for Katar Build
20:47 - Liurnia Setup
21:24 - Sacred Tear
22:04 - Two Fingers Heirloom Location
22:41 - Academy Gate Town: Golden Seed, Smithing Stones
25:27 - Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel: Smithing Stones, Smithing Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 1
28:36 - Jellyfish Shield Location
29:20 - Pop Balloons for Golden Runes
30:16 - Upgrade Katar to +9
31:42 - How to use this build correctly
33:35 - Stormveil Castle: Talisman Pouch (Margit bossfight)
35:40 - Godrick Bossfight (use runes to LEVEL VIGOR)
38:06 - Extra: Where to find Smithing Stone 4 (Gael Tunnel)
39:43 - Extra: Where to find Smithing Stone 5 (Sellia Crystal Tunnel)
40:39 - Outro
If I helped you out, consider returning the favor and leaving a like, a comment, and subscribing!
