How to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign

As you explore Limveld and take on the Nightlords, you’ll come across an array of different weaponry from bows to greatswords by way of whips and seals. Those that veer on the larger side can be two-handed, allowing you to really tap into their damage-dealing capabilities – new combos, devastating charged attacks, and higher stagger potential. Two-handing weapons also allows you to perform guard counters if you don’t have a shield. Alongside, you’ll also come across Dormant Reward boons, talismans, and even weapon buffs that elevate two-handed attacks, making them a useful option especially if you’re playing a class like the Guardian or Raider.

Though the game does well to explain many of its mechanics, it doesn’t do the best job of detailing how to use a weapon with both hands. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to two-hand weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign. If you played the original Elden Ring, the process is identical. Once you’ve got a handle on that, make sure to check out our primer on weapon upgrades, including how to get Smithing Stones and Legendary weapons.

How do you two-hand weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign

Before we begin, make sure the weapon is in your inventory and equipped – you can tell it’s equipped when its icon appears in the HUD in the bottom left of the screen. To two-hand a weapon, hold down the triangle button on PS5 or Y on Xbox, then tap R1/RB to two-hand the weapon in your right-hand slot or L1/LB for the weapon in the left-hand slot. Your Nightfarer will then wield the weapon with both hands. To revert to one hand, repeat the same button combination.

On PC, the process is a little different: hold the Ctrl key then right click to two-hand the weapon in your right hand or left click for the one in your left hand. Follow the same process to revert back to one-handed. If the controls feel a little finicky, there’s always the option to dip into key bindings and adjust them as needed. If that’s the case, look for the Two-Hand RH Armament/Cancel and Two-Hand LH Armament/Cancel settings and tweak them.

For more help exploring Nightreign, check out our primer on every key location on the Limveld map, including Shifting Earth events, how to unlock the Duchess and Revenant classes, and how to unlock the Dresser in the Roundtable Hold and use skins.