Two-handing puts both hands on one weapon for more damage and different attack patterns

To two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring on PC, hold the E key (or your remapped interact button) and press the right arrow key on your keyboard. Your character will move both hands to grip the weapon. The animation takes about half a second. You'll see your left hand move from your shield or second weapon onto the handle or pommel of the weapon you're holding in your right hand.

Two-handing increases your damage output because the game applies your two-handed strength stat to the weapon's scaling. It also changes your moveset—your light and heavy attacks will perform different combos than they do one-handed. You lose the ability to block with a shield while two-handing, so you're trading defense for offense.

To return to one-handed grip, press E and the right arrow key again. Your left hand will return to whatever was equipped there before (usually a shield or second weapon). If your left hand slot is empty, your character will hold the weapon in one hand with their other arm at their side.

Key Takeaways

  • Press E and right arrow simultaneously on PC to two-hand; press the same combination again to switch back to one-handed.
  • Two-handing increases damage scaling but removes your shield's block, so you must rely on dodging or parrying instead.
  • Your attack combos change when two-handing—test them in combat to learn the new patterns for your weapon type.
  • You can two-hand any weapon that fits in your right hand slot, including greatswords, spears, axes, and even daggers.
  • Two-handing works the same way whether you're using a controller or keyboard, as long as you have the interact button mapped correctly.

Why two-handing matters for different weapon types

Greatswords and colossal weapons benefit most from two-handing because their damage scales heavily with strength. A greatsword two-handed will deal roughly 50% more damage than the same weapon held one-handed with a shield. The trade-off is worth it if you're fighting enemies you can dodge around rather than tank hits from.

Spears and halberds change their moveset significantly when two-handed. One-handed, they're fast pokes. Two-handed, they gain sweeping overhead attacks and thrust combos that cover more distance. This makes them useful for crowd control against multiple enemies.

Lighter weapons like curved swords and katanas gain less raw damage from two-handing but still get moveset changes. Their two-handed attacks often include spinning slashes or jumping combos that can catch enemies off guard. Test both grips to see which playstyle fits your build.

Common mistakes when switching between one and two hands

The most frequent error is pressing E without the directional input. If you only press E, you'll interact with the environment instead of toggling your grip. You must press E and the right arrow key at the same time. If you're near a Site of Grace or NPC, the game may prioritize the interaction over the grip change—move away from interactive objects before attempting to two-hand.

Another mistake is forgetting you've two-handed and expecting your shield to block. Two-handing removes your shield entirely from the equation. If you're taking damage you thought you'd block, check your grip. You can toggle back to one-handed when ready, but the split-second delay can cost you health in tight fights.

Some players also two-hand without realizing their weapon requires a specific stat threshold. If your strength or dexterity is too low, two-handing won't increase your damage—it may even decrease it if the weapon scales poorly with your stats. Check your character sheet to see which stat your weapon scales with before committing to two-handed combat.

How two-handing affects your build and stat requirements

Two-handing applies a hidden 1.5x multiplier to your strength stat for damage calculation purposes. This means a character with 30 strength gets the benefit of 45 strength when two-handing a strength-scaling weapon. You don't need to actually invest 45 points—the game does the math for you. This is why many strength builds two-hand: they can use heavy weapons with fewer stat points invested.

Dexterity weapons don't receive the same multiplier boost. Katanas, curved swords, and other dex weapons gain damage from two-handing, but the increase is smaller. If you're running a dexterity build, two-handing is still worth trying for the moveset changes, but don't expect the same damage jump as a strength weapon would give.

Intelligence and faith scaling weapons (like sorcery staffs and incantation seals) cannot be two-handed in the traditional sense. These items have their own mechanics. Staffs and seals are held in one or both hands depending on what spells you're casting, but toggling grip with E and arrow keys won't change their function.

Switching grips during combat

You can toggle between one-handed and two-handed at any point during a fight, even while your character is in the middle of an attack animation. The grip change will queue up and happen as soon as the current action finishes. This means you can two-hand for a heavy attack, then switch back to one-handed with shield for defense, all within a few seconds.

Advanced players use this to their advantage: two-hand for a charged heavy attack to break an enemy's poise, then when ready switch back to shield to block the counterattack. The timing takes practice, but it's a core technique for melee combat in Elden Ring.

Be aware that switching grips during a dodge roll or backstep will interrupt the animation slightly. It's safer to toggle your grip when you're standing still or between enemy attacks. If you're in a rhythm of dodging, wait for a clear moment before changing your grip.

Remapping your controls if E and arrow keys feel awkward

If you're using a controller on PC, the grip toggle is already mapped to a single button (usually Y on Xbox layout or Triangle on PlayStation layout). Keyboard players sometimes find E plus arrow key uncomfortable, especially in fast-paced fights. You can remap these controls in the settings menu.

Open the game, go to Settings > Controls > Keyboard, and look for the option labeled Two-Hand Right (or similar—the exact name varies by patch). You can reassign this to any key you prefer: some players use Q, others use a side mouse button. Pick something you can reach without moving your fingers off movement keys (WASD).

Test your new mapping in a safe area like the starting region before heading into a boss fight. Muscle memory takes a few minutes to build, and you don't want to fumble the grip toggle during a critical moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I two-hand a shield?

No. Shields are only held in your left hand and cannot be two-handed. If you want to use a shield, you must hold a weapon in your right hand and the shield in your left. Two-handing is only for weapons in your right hand slot.

Does two-handing work with dual-wielding?

No. If you have two weapons equipped (one in each hand), you cannot two-hand either of them. Two-handing requires a free left hand. You must unequip your left-hand weapon first, then toggle the grip on your right-hand weapon.

What happens to my left-hand weapon when I two-hand?

It stays equipped but becomes inactive. When you switch back to one-handed, your left-hand weapon returns to use when ready. You don't lose it or need to re-equip it.

Do all weapons deal more damage when two-handed?

Most do, but the increase varies. Strength-scaling weapons gain the most (roughly 50% more damage). Dexterity weapons gain less. Some unique weapons have special two-handed movesets that are stronger in specific situations rather than overall damage. Test your weapon to see if two-handing fits your playstyle.

Can I two-hand while riding Torrent?

No. You cannot change your grip while mounted on your horse. You must dismount, toggle your grip, then remount if needed. Most mounted combat uses one-handed weapons anyway because you need one hand free to control Torrent.