Summary
This guide details Elden Ring Tarnished Edition's new Idus Knight starting class, ideal for beginners. It features the fast, versatile Idus light greatsword and a reliable Silver Grooved Shield, supporting multiple Ash of War options like Sacred Blade and Bloody Slash. The guide covers early armor upgrades, top talismans, optimal stat prioritization of vigor and endurance, and key build tips. Leveling and upgrades require ample Elden Ring Runes, and some players buy Elden Ring Runes to skip repetitive grinding and fully enjoy this flexible, powerful class build.
The Elden Ring Tarnished Edition update introduced two new starting classes, and one of the most exciting is the Idus Knight. This class stands out immediately because it begins with the Idus Sword, a light greatsword that no other class starts with. The weapon's flowing, rapid moveset feels powerful and stylish right from the first moments in Limgrave. Whether you are a returning Tarnished or a new player, the Idus Knight offers a strong, flexible foundation for exploring the Lands Between.
The Idus Sword: Speed and Versatility
The heart of the Idus Knight is the Idus Sword. As a light greatsword, it delivers quick, elegant attacks that feel rewarding to use. The heavy attack (R2) hits twice, and chaining two heavy attacks produces four rapid strikes. You can also follow a heavy attack with a light attack for a smooth slash combination. This speed makes the weapon excellent for applying status effects or stacking damage from repeated hits, such as those enhanced by Millicent's Prosthesis later in the game.
The sword comes equipped with the Impaling Thrust Ash of War. This skill deals solid stance damage-around 30 to 33 on this weapon type-making it reliable for staggering landscape enemies and setting up critical hits. While it is not quite as efficient as a true 40-stance-damage option for bosses, it remains very effective early on. You can find the Impaling Thrust Ash of War at the War-Master's Shack if you ever need another copy.
Many players replace Impaling Thrust with Sacred Blade. Sacred Blade provides a ranged projectile, boosts weapon damage for a useful duration, and deals extra damage when the projectile and blade hit at the same time. The light greatsword's fast attacks take excellent advantage of this temporary buff. An alternative is Bloody Slash, available at Fort Haight, which turns the weapon into a bleed applicator. Base damage drops, but the rapid strikes help trigger bleed in boss fights.
If you prefer not to start as the Idus Knight, the Idus Sword can still be found in Liurnia of the Lakes, so other classes can obtain it later.
The Silver Grooved Shield and Defensive Options
The Idus Knight begins with the Silver Grooved Shield, a medium shield with 100 percent physical damage negation. This means you can block physical attacks without taking chip damage-an advantage not every starting class enjoys. Its low strength requirement is another plus for players planning a dexterity-focused build.
The shield has no skill by default, which lets you use your main-hand Ash of War without two-handing. In the Tarnished Edition's 1.17 patch, the standard Parry skill received a significant frames buff and now matches the effectiveness of Carian Retaliation even on medium shields. Putting Parry on the Silver Grooved Shield therefore gives you solid blocking, block counters, and reliable parries in one package. When using Sacred Blade, simply two-hand the sword briefly to activate the buff, then switch back to one-handing with the shield.
For a quick upgrade, invest one point in strength and switch to the Banished Knight Shield. It offers ten extra guard boost while still allowing a Parry skill, reducing stamina loss on blocks. The Brass Shield is another option if you are willing to invest a few more strength points.
Armor and Poise Considerations
The default Silver Grooved armor set looks excellent and fits the class theme perfectly. However, it only provides 33 poise. This means light attacks or block-counter animations can be interrupted by enemy hits. Raising poise to 51 prevents interruption from a single attack and lets you finish combinations or charged heavies more reliably.
Once you reach the Roundtable Hold, purchase the Knight set. It reaches exactly 51 poise and serves as a direct defensive upgrade. You may need additional endurance to maintain a medium equip load and avoid heavy rolling, but endurance investment is worthwhile for this build anyway.
Early Talismans and Weapon Upgrades
Early in the game you have only one talisman slot; a second opens after defeating Margit. Strong early options include the Axe Talisman, which boosts charged heavy attacks (the Idus Sword's double-hitting heavies benefit greatly). The Warrior Jar Shard increases Ash of War damage, helping Impaling Thrust, Bloody Slash, or Sacred Blade's projectile. The Curved Sword Talisman strengthens block counters, while the Green Turtle Talisman improves stamina recovery.
Prioritize weapon upgrades over shield upgrades. Smithing stones from the Stormhill troll statue and the lake-area mine can take the Idus Sword to +3 relatively quickly. The damage increase is far more valuable than the modest guard-boost gains from upgrading the shield early.
Stat Distribution and Progression Path
When you do begin spending runes, prioritize vigor and endurance. Vigor lets you survive trades, while endurance supports medium equip load with the Knight set and provides more stamina for blocking and attacking.
If using the Banished Knight Shield, place one early point into strength. After that, damage stats-strength, dexterity, or a modest amount of faith-depend on your preferred infusion and Ash of War. Keen or Heavy infusions work well; Quality is generally better saved for New Game Plus. A few faith points open useful buffs such as Golden Vow if you move away from Sacred Blade.
The Idus Sword remains viable for most of a playthrough. In the DLC areas you can obtain additional light greatswords and even dual-wield them-the only starting class that can do so from the beginning if you collect a second Idus Sword in Liurnia.
Final Tips for Success
The Idus Knight rewards aggressive yet measured play. Use the weapon's speed to apply pressure, Sacred Blade or Impaling Thrust for stance breaks and ranged options, and the shield for safe defense and parries. Keep an eye on poise and equip load so you are never locked into heavy rolls. Upgrade the sword promptly, and invest early runes into vigor and endurance so you can experiment with fashion and playstyle without constant frustration.
Elden Ring Runes remain essential for leveling and upgrading, so efficient farming routes or thoughtful exploration will accelerate your progress. For players who prefer to accelerate that process further, some choose to buy Elden Ring Runes from reputable sources to focus more time on combat and exploration rather than grinding.
The Idus Knight is one of the strongest and most enjoyable starting options added in the Tarnished Edition. Its unique light greatsword, solid defensive tools, and flexible growth path make it an excellent choice for both newcomers and veterans looking for a fresh experience in the Lands Between. Grab the class, equip the sword, and start carving your path through the challenges ahead.
