In a lot of ways, it would be accurate to say that Elden Ring is the culmination, and the combination, of every FromSoftware RPG released to date. It brings back mechanics and features like the Posture system inspired by Sekiro, and the Stonesword Key which is essentially a Pharrous Lockstone from Dark Souls 2.
That's not the only thing that Elden Ring borrows from Dark Souls 2, though. Power Stancing is a feature that lets players equip two weapons of the same type to access a unique moveset. In Elden Ring, Power Stancing is a sure way to maximize your damage at the cost of major Stamina usage. It works pretty similarly to how it did in Dark Souls 2, but updated to suit Elden Ring's unique combat system.
A Basic Overview Of Power Stancing
Power Stancing is a feature that gives every different weapon type a new moveset oriented around dual-wielding. Though Dark Souls 3 technically had dual-wielded weapons, they were equipped as a single item. Power Stancing lets players use any two weapons of the same type in either hand, opening up a world of options for powerful dual-wielding builds.
For example, a One-Handed Sword can only be Power Stanced with another One-Handed Sword, and an Axe can only be Power Stanced with another Axe. One other thing to note is that attacking while Power Stanced requires a LOT of stamina, especially Heavy Attacks – be sure to spec heavily into Endurance to both increase your Equip Load (to wield two weapons) and increase your overall Stamina.
How To Power Stance Weapons In Elden Ring
To Power Stance in Elden Ring, players need only have two weapons of the same type equipped – and that's really about it. A variety of basic weapons can be purchased from merchants throughout the Lands Between. Of course, weapons found out in the world work just as well, but it's a reliable way to match an off-hand weapon to your primary one.
Once they are both equipped, you don't have to do anything else. Pressing the right shoulder and trigger (or R1 and R2) will perform Light and Heavy attacks, while pressing the left shoulder and trigger (or L1 and L2) let players defend themselves, though not as well as with a shield.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.