Polearms in Elden Ring occupy a unique niche. With their excellent reach, versatile movesets, and compatibility with a variety of Ashes of War, they’re a powerful option for players who like to keep enemies at a calculated distance. From halberds and spears to glaives and scythes, polearms can be adapted to many playstyles, from bruiser tanks to agile hybrids. If you’re looking to make the most of this weapon category, here are 13 builds that highlight their strengths.

1. Strength-Faith Paladin (Golden Halberd)

Using the Golden Halberd, this build combines brute strength with defensive buffs. Its inherent Holy damage and high poise make it excellent for both PvE tanking and PvP trades.

2. Dexterity Spearman (Cross-Naginata)

A staple for dexterity builds, the Cross-Naginata has incredible thrusting speed and pairs well with Bleed infusions. With Seppuku and high Dexterity, it shreds both bosses and players.

3. Frostbite Knight (Lucerne + Cold Infusion)

A Cold-infused Lucerne can quickly build up Frostbite, reducing enemy defenses while doing decent stagger damage. Ideal for players who enjoy pressure without relying on bleed.

4. Lightning Lancer (Bolt of Gransax)

Bolt of Gransax offers a unique heavy thrust attack with innate Lightning damage. Scales well with Dexterity and Faith, and suits players who like both ranged and melee options.

5. Heavy Halberd Bruiser

With a heavy-infused Halberd, this Strength-focused build staggers enemies and bosses with powerful charged attacks. Use Lion’s Claw Ash of War for high-damage rolling slams.

6. Blood Glaive Duelist

Equipping the Bloody Helice or Blood Nagakiba with Seppuku creates a fast-paced bleed monster. Dual-wielding two polearms makes this even deadlier in invasions.

7. PvP Zoner (Guardian's Swordspear)

Combining reach with fast poke animations, this weapon works well with a pure Dexterity build. Infuse it with Keen and use Quickstep for evasive pressure in duels.

8. Poison Warden (Venomous Fang + Spiked Spear)

Though unconventional, this build stacks poison with rapid strikes. Ideal for attrition tactics and crowd control, especially when combined with poison-enhancing gear.

9. Quality Gladiator (Treespear)

This build leverages both Strength and Dexterity for high versatility. The Treespear adds Holy damage and can be buffed with Faith incantations for hybrid scaling.

10. Arcane Hybrid (Serpent-Hunter with Dragon Communion)

Using the Serpent-Hunter, which doesn’t scale with stats but has immense base damage, allows room to invest in Arcane for Dragon spells. This build is especially useful against large enemies.

11. Faith Sentinel (Loretta’s War Sickle)

A mix of polearm and magic, Loretta’s War Sickle scales with Intelligence and Faith. It’s great for players who like flashy combos and ranged pokes with spell support.

12. Knight of Rot (Cleanrot Spear + Rotten Breath)

The Cleanrot Spear drops from the Cleanrot Knights and fits perfectly into a build that focuses on Rot buildup. Combine it with Rot incantations for full thematic and mechanical synergy.

13. Mounted Dragoon (Lance + Jump Attack Focus)

This build takes advantage of horseback combat. Use a Lance or Pike for massive reach and pair it with jump attack talismans. Great for open-world exploration and mounted boss fights.

Polearm builds allow for tactical spacing, strong poise damage, and flexible status infusions. Whether you're favoring raw damage, elemental effects, or status buildup like Bleed or Frostbite, these weapons reward smart play and positioning.

For players looking to experiment with multiple polearms or test out different builds quickly, having access to cheap elden ring runes can help you level and respec without endless farming. Likewise, browsing Elden Ring Items for sale can save time when hunting for specific upgrade materials or hard-to-find gear.

No matter your preferred playstyle, polearms in Elden Ring offer a deeply satisfying blend of precision, power, and versatility. With the right build, they can dominate in every corner of the Lands Between.