Elden Ring: 17 Builds That Use Only Looted Items

[QuirkyTiger]

One of the most exciting aspects of Elden Ring is the freedom it gives players to experiment with builds. While many opt for min-maxing or rely on farming to collect their ideal gear, there's a unique thrill in creating a build entirely from items you find naturally in the world — no shops, no crafting, no trading. Just you, the Lands Between, and whatever loot you can get your hands on.

Below are 17 fun, viable, and often surprisingly powerful builds that only use looted items. Whether you're starting a fresh challenge run or just want to explore new ways to enjoy the game, these builds are all about making the most of what the game gives you — and nothing more.
1. The Knight of Limgrave

Start as Vagabond and use the Lordsworn’s Greatsword, found in early chests. Pair it with the Brass Shield, dropped by soldiers. With decent armor drops and solid scaling, this build feels traditional yet earned.
2. The Rotten Duelist

Head into Caelid early and loot the Rotten Battle Hammer from Rotten Duelists. With a strength-focused setup and the poison effect stacking, you’ll bring down even the toughest bosses in due time.
3. Raya Lucaria Battlemage

Use the Lusat’s Glintstone Staff and spells looted from towers and corpses in Liurnia. You’ll rely on intelligence and FP flasks, but with smart dodging, no shop spells are needed.
4. The Carian Knight

Loot the Carian Knight Set and Carian Knight’s Sword, then invest in both strength and intelligence. A hybrid battle mage who never visits a single vendor.
5. Flame Monk Ascetic

Head to the Mountaintops and loot Flame Monk weapons and armor. Use the naturally acquired Flame, Cleanse Me and other incantations found in the world.
6. Beast Claw Zealot

Loot Beast Claw Incantation from Gurranq and focus entirely on Faith and Strength. Pick up looted talismans like Radagon's Scarseal to boost power.
7. Serpentbone Assassin

Infiltrate Volcano Manor and claim the Serpentbone Blade. The poison buildup is excellent for hit-and-run tactics, and the stealth aesthetic makes this build immersive.
8. Marais Executioner

After defeating Elemer of the Briar, take his Marais Executioner’s Sword. With charged attacks and strength/dex scaling, it becomes a looted-only powerhouse.
9. Magma Warrior

Loot the Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword and adopt a fire-themed playstyle. Fireproof armor and lava-heavy AoEs make this a thematic and deadly approach.
10. Black Knife Infiltrator

Use the Black Knife and Black Knife Armor, all acquired through exploration. Silent footsteps and health-draining attacks make this ideal for PVP or bosses.
11. Dragon Communion Acolyte

Rely solely on looted Dragon Incantations from altars and use the Dragon Communion Seal, found in Caelid. Focus on Arcane and Faith, using only dragon-based abilities.
12. Madman of the Frenzied Flame

Loot the Frenzied Flame Seal and madness spells around the Lands Between. Equip the Fingerprint Stone Shield and become a tanky, maddened wrecking ball.
13. Royal Revenant

Use Antspur Rapier and looted scarlet rot spells. The rot theme works well when combined with high Dexterity and Faith, requiring only items found or won.
14. Leyndell Enforcer

After reaching the Capital, gather Erdtree themed weapons and heavy armor drops. The Erdtree Greatshield, although dropped, fits the theme and the looting-only rule.
15. Bloodstained Ronin

Use Nagakiba and the White Reed Armor, all acquired through invasions and corpse looting. A highly effective bleed build that never touches a merchant.
16. Crucible Knight Disciple

Loot the Crucible Armor and Crucible Axe. Invest in strength and faith to cast Aspect of the Crucible spells, all found in the game world.
17. The Scavenger’s Relic

Arguably one of the strongest looted-only setups: dual-wield Scavenger’s Curved Swords, found in Mt. Gelmir. Bleed builds thrive with these weapons, and with talismans and armor also looted, you’ll feel unstoppable.



Going loot-only in Elden Ring changes how you approach every dungeon, invasion, and boss. It encourages exploration, adaptability, and deep knowledge of item locations and drop rates. It also makes every piece of gear feel earned, which is incredibly satisfying.

And for those who do want to experiment beyond what’s looted in-game — say for testing or theorycrafting — some players choose to buy Elden Ring Items or even buy Elden Ring runes to simulate builds quickly. But for the purists, a loot-only run is a rewarding journey that showcases just how generous and layered Elden Ring's world design really is.

No matter your approach, the Lands Between offers countless paths to power. Sometimes, the best one is the one where you take only what you find.