This guide breaks down his full setup-from talismans and infusions to buff timing, tactics, Elden Ring Items and PvP mind games-showing how Square Off can stand toe-to-toe with any meta build in 2025.

1. Why Square Off Deserves a Second Look

Square Off is one of those Ashes of War players often ignore after the early game. It's the default stance for most straight swords, offering two moves:

 Light Attack (Quick Slash): A fast, horizontal cut ideal for close-range punishes.

 Heavy Attack (Thrust Charge): A deceptive forward thrust that covers significant distance, making it perfect for catching roll attempts or punishing whiffs.

What makes Square Off truly dangerous is how it chains fluidly from neutral and punishes aggression. You don't need to rely on gimmicks or delayed inputs-just mastery of spacing and timing. In PvP, it's particularly deadly because opponents underestimate it, not realizing how hard it can hit when fully optimized.

2. The Core Concept: Burst Through Precision

This build revolves around precision counterattacks and stance synergy. It's not about spamming Ashes-it's about baiting, punishing, and delivering critical bursts of damage when your opponent overextends.

Setup amplifies Square Off's damage through careful talisman stacking, buff timing, and infusion choice. When all conditions align, a single Square Off thrust can one-shot lightly armored opponents-even in high-level duels.

3. The Build Setup

Weapon Choice

 Broadsword (Heavy Infusion)-Offers excellent raw damage and benefits strongly from Strength scaling.

 Noble's Slender Sword (Keen Infusion)-A Dexterity alternative with longer reach and faster recovery.

Both work perfectly with Square Off, but your infusion determines playstyle:

 Heavy (Strength Build): Best for two-handing, massive counter bursts, and poise trading.

 Keen (Dex Build): Focused on spacing, agility, and precision duels.

4. Talisman Synergy: The Damage Core

To maximize Square Off's potential, three talismans are key:

 Shard of Alexander: Increases Ash of War damage by 15%. An essential staple for any skill-based build.

 Rellana's Cameo: Buffs Ash of War damage if you hold the stance for at least one second before attacking. This adds up to a surprising burst bonus-and visually signals your opponent with that faint stance glow.

 Spear Talisman: Boosts counterattack damage by 15%, perfect for trading into enemies' swings or punishing mistimed rolls.

When combined, these talismans create a multiplicative effect that turns each Square Off strike into a mini-nuke. The Cameo's delayed activation encourages mind games-feinting the stance, holding it briefly, and striking just as the opponent commits.

5. Buffs and Consumables

Chase's buff setup ensures every Square Off lands with devastating efficiency:

 Exalted Flesh: Increases physical attack power.

 Uplifting Aromatic: Adds damage mitigation and attack power for a few hits.

With both active, a fully charged Square Off counter hit can outright delete most invaders-especially if they swing first. It's the kind of one-shot combo that feels satisfying because it's earned through setup and patience.

6. The Strength Build Advantage

Why Strength over Dexterity for this version?

Two reasons:

1.Damage Per Swing: Heavy infusion scales extremely well with two-handing, giving you incredible base damage before buffs.

2.Poise Trading: Strength builds can tank a hit and still finish their Square Off animation, letting you win trades rather than dodge out of them.

In PvE and PvP alike, this translates to consistent kills and survivability-the perfect mix for an invader or duelist.

7. PvP Gameplay and Invader Highlights

The build shines in every encounter type:

 1v1 Duels: Square Off punishes panic rolls and shield turtling.

 2v2 or 3v1 Invasions: The forward thrust's reach lets you punish backline casters or punish hosts hiding behind phantoms.

 Wizard Fights: The Ash's low startup time lets you dodge projectiles and close gaps safely.8. PvE and Boss Use

While most of the footage focuses on invasions, this build absolutely holds up in PvE and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

The fast startup and long reach of Square Off make it an excellent punish tool for aggressive bosses like Messmer the Impaler or Metyr, Mother of Fingers.

The heavy thrust's precision pierces through openings in enemy combos, while the light slash quickly interrupts smaller mobs. If you buff properly and use stance timing, Square Off becomes one of the most consistent Ashes for breaking posture and dealing huge critical damage follow-ups.

9. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a powerful build like this can fall flat if used incorrectly.

Avoid these pitfalls:

 Overusing the Ash: Don't spam it. Opponents will learn to dodge the thrust if you telegraph it too often.

 Ignoring Buff Timing: Rellana's Cameo only activates if you hold the stance for a moment-use that second strategically.

 Running Light Armor: You need some poise to trade effectively. Go for balanced armor that looks stylish but keeps you durable.

 Fighting Without FP Regen: Square Off consumes FP quickly in duels. Consider a Flask of Cerulean Tears or FP charms if you're invading multiple times.

10. Style and Fashion Souls Factor

In Elden Ring, where fashion is endgame, this build strikes that perfect balance between intimidating and elegant.

Walking into battle with Square Off drawn and glowing feels cinematic-a callback to classic FromSoftware duels where patience and precision mattered more than gimmicks.

11. The Final Verdict: Simple, Deadly, and Underrated

When you strip away flashy weapon arts and complex spell combos, Elden Ring combat boils down to one truth: timing beats everything. Square Off embodies that philosophy-a clean, skill-based Ash that rewards composure and mastery.

Strength-based Square Off build proves that even after years of patches, there's still room for classic straight sword dueling in the modern DLC meta. Between its deceptive range, counter bonuses, and lethal damage potential, this setup is perfect for anyone who wants:

 A versatile melee build that thrives in both PvE and PvP

 High burst potential without relying on status effects

 A playstyle that rewards spacing, timing, and confidence

This Ash of War is "definitely underrated-very strong when used with the right talismans and buffs." Whether you're invading, dueling, make Elden Ring Runes or exploring Shadow of the Erdtree, few setups blend elegance and lethality quite like Square Off.