Elden Ring: The Dragon Halberd Build That Deserves a Comeback

Every new DLC cycle in Elden Ring brings waves of experimentation. Old weapons resurface, forgotten tools get rediscovered, and entire playstyles rise from obscurity to dominate PvP and PvE all over again. But some weapons-despite being powerful, stylish, and perfectly viable-quietly fade into the background. One of those weapons is the Dragon Halberd, a weapon that once felt nearly omnipresent but now rarely sees the light of day.

That's exactly why this build deserves attention.

Today we break down a full Dragon Halberd DLC build, complete with its strengths, more Elden Ring Items, talisman synergy, stat distribution, and why this weapon still competes with the best Strength/Quality Halberds in the game. And of course, we'll walk through the chaotic PvP invasions that put the build to the test-teleporting phantoms, warming-stone turtles, Moonveil samurai, madness pot enjoyers, and more.

If you've ever doubted the Dragon Halberd's place in the meta, buckle up. This build might just change your mind.

Why the Dragon Halberd Still Slaps

Despite its decline in popularity, the Dragon Halberd remains one of Elden Ring's most complete and dangerous tools-especially in invasions.

Here's why:

1. A Thrusting Moveset With Brutal Burst Combo Potential

The Dragon Halberd inherits the classic Halberd thrusting chain, which includes the iconic:

 Jump Heavy → Light Attack true combo

This combo hits fast, covers excellent range, and deletes health bars-especially when Frostbite is applied.

2. Spinning Slash-But Better

Unlike regular Halberds, the Dragon Halberd's Spinning Slash deals elemental frost buildup thanks to its lightning infusion and weapon-specific buff. Activating the skill buffs your AR, increases pressure, and pushes your trades well beyond what something like the Banished Knight Halberd can achieve-even if the latter uses greases.

3. Natural Frostbite Buildup

Between the weapon's unique effect and the speed of Halberd thrust chains, Frostbite procs come quickly. A well-timed combo can deal:

 Heavy chip damage

 Frostburst

 Follow-up thrust damage

…all in one explosive sequence.

4. Fantastic Chase-Down Options

Running lights, running heavies, and quick thrusts make Halberds exceptionally strong for pressure play. This weapon thrives in invasions against panicked hosts who underestimate its reach.

The Talisman Loadout

To squeeze maximum value out of the Dragon Halberd, the build runs a set of meta-relevant talismans that complement both damage output and comfort.

 Shard of Alexander

A mandatory pick for anything using an Ash of War as a damage source. Spinning Slash receives a huge boost from this talisman, turning the weapon into a blender once the buff is active.

 Two-Handed Sword Talisman

Since the build runs the Halberd two-handed most of the time, this talisman provides a significant damage boost to all heavies and charged attacks.

 Erdtree's Favor +2

It's simply too efficient to ignore.

 Bull-Goat's Talisman (or Spear Talisman)

Bull-Goat's increases poise, helping you tank through trades when setting up thrust combos.

Alternatively, the Spear Talisman amplifies counter-thrust damage, which pairs extremely well with this weapon's moveset.

Stats and Build Philosophy

At its core, this is a Strength-focused build, taking advantage of two-handed scaling while also investing in Dexterity for additional returns. The Dragon Halberd scales very well with both, meaning:

 You can run it pure Strength

 You can run it Quality

 Or you can shift scaling depending on your armor and fashion choices

Either way, the Halberd maintains excellent AR.

Real PvP Performance: Highlights From the Invasions

A build can look good on paper, but Elden Ring's PvP always tells the real story. And this build was put through absolute chaos-from laggy opponents connecting from alternate dimensions to duelists who practically bathed in warming stones.

Here are the standout moments.

The Laggy Wave of Gold Samurai

Early into testing, the build runs face-first into a Moonveil user and a Wave of Gold enjoyer. The connection? About as stable as a jellyfish riding a horse.

Yet despite the teleportation:

 Spinning Slash landed

 Frostbite procced

 And at one point, Chase even landed a clean backstab despite the lagTo the surprise of exactly no one, the Moonveil user survived through sheer anime protagonist plot armor. But their healing-spam teammate was a bigger threat-apparently running what felt like 100 FP flasks based on how many super-heals he fired off.

Sadly, he escaped before we could inspect his rune level. Suspicious… very suspicious.

The Dragon Boys, the Cannon Mage, and the Light-Rolling Acrobat

Next came a chaotic trio featuring:

 A hand-axe dualist

 A Light-Rolling dragon incantation enjoyer

 A magic cannon wielder

Despite the explosive combination of cannon fire and dragon breath, the Dragon Halberd delivered:

 Repeated frostbite procs

 Long chase-downs

 A devastating jump-heavy into thrust combo

Even the light-rolling player-who tanked a hit with his shield before dodging the second part-couldn't escape the inevitable frostburst.

A clean victory.

The Corner Campers and the Madness Pot Maniac

This fight was a test of patience. One player teleported across the screen like he was phasing between timelines, while the others relied heavily on:

 Madness pots

 Warming stones

 Narrow hallway choke points

At one point, the invaders and host played a comical tug-of-war over a corner they absolutely refused to leave.

Still, the Dragon Halberd's reach and frost buildup prevailed. Once Chase baited the aggressive Banished Knight Greatsword user away from his group, the fight quickly collapsed in his favor. The madness pot enjoyer, despite his best efforts, eventually fell.

The Ambush on Castle Ensis

A rare moment of stealth value from a Halberd build: Chase managed to sneak directly behind an unsuspecting duo and practically introduce himself with the full force of a jump attack.

Between spinning slashes, frostbite, and a well-timed tornado cast, both players fell quickly.

Finally-a peaceful invasion where the host didn't immediately fogwall.

The Bloodhound Step Ambusher and the Redmane Twins

Possibly the funniest moment of the entire invasion run: a backstab that registered as a zero-damage crit due to extreme latency.

The disappearing compass and sudden hostile aggro confirmed it.

Even with system-breaking lag, the Dragon Halberd held steady. A few thrust combos later, the host finally could not outrun the inevitable.

Why You Should Try This Build Yourself

The Dragon Halberd is one of those weapons that feels great on paper and even better in practice. It has:

 Range

 Burst damage

 Status procs

 Great Ash of War synergy

 Chase-down power

 Safe trading potential

It may not dominate the current flashy DLC meta or appear in every YouTube montage, but it absolutely should be on your radar-especially if you enjoy invasions, dueling, or hybrid Strength/Quality setups.

Even in fights where latency or group tactics could've shut the build down, the Halberd consistently landed frostbite, thrust combos, and punish opportunities.

You can cheap Elden Ring Runes, this weapon still hits like a truck.

Final Thoughts

After running through multiple invasions and testing a variety of matchups, one thing is clear:

The Dragon Halberd deserves a comeback.

With the right talismans, a Strength-leaning stat spread, and smart use of Spinning Slash, it becomes a terrifying dueling weapon and an incredibly consistent invasion tool. Whether you're hunting hosts in Crumbling Farum Azula or trying to edge out duelists in the Gravesite Plain, this Halberd offers the perfect blend of power and control.