If you've spent any time experimenting with Faith in Elden Ring's DLC, you already know how many weapons scale beautifully with Flame Art infusions-greatswords, halberds, curved blades, you name it. But every now and then, a pair of weapons flies completely under the radar until someone actually tests their movesets and realizes they're far stronger than they look.

Whether you're looking for a fast Elden Ring Items, aggressive duelist build or a PvP invasion setup that excels at punishing panic rolls and punishing clustered hosts, this dagger combo offers surprising range, frightening AR, and some of the best roll-catches you'll find in the Light weapon category.

Let's break down how the build works, how to set it up, and why its combination of speed, Faith scaling, and momentum-heavy R2 attacks makes it a standout option in the DLC.

Why the Erdsteel Dagger and Fire Knight Shortsword Work So Well

At first glance, these two daggers don't look like anything special.

But once you test their heavy attacks, the strength of the build becomes instantly obvious.

1. Multi-Hit Heavy Attacks

Both weapons have a unique R2 that:

 Comes out very quickly

 Moves you forward aggressively

 Hits multiple times

 Naturally roll-catches

 Combos into itself far more consistently than most daggers

This isn't your typical poke-and-evade dagger setup. These weapons want to be two-handed and thrown directly into your opponent's face. And because the attacks consist of multiple strikes, they synergize perfectly with any consecutive hit buffs you equip.

2. Great AR with Flame Art

Both weapons deal innate fire damage, which makes Flame Art infusion the obvious choice.

 502 AR → 603 AR using Flame, Grant Me Strength

 603 AR → 667 AR with the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear

Considering how fast these weapons attack, and the fact that multi-hit R2s trigger consecutive damage bonuses multiple times, the DPS ramps up fast.

3. Forward momentum = unexpected range

The R2 thrust covers more distance than you'd expect from a dagger. This makes it excellent for:

 punishing panic rolls

 closing gaps

 interrupting spellcasters

 forcing trades you often win thanks to poise and Faith AR

Most players don't expect a dagger to fly forward like a mini-charged spear. That surprise factor is half the fun.

Stat Spread and Buff Setup

Because both weapons are Flame Art infused, this is very much a Faith-first build. You're not splitting your stats-you're going all-in on maximizing that fire damage.

Key Stats

 High Faith for Flame Art scaling

 Enough Vigor to survive trades

 Enough Endurance to tank hits during aggressive pushes

 Minimal Strength/Dex to meet weapon requirements

Buffs

The main buffing tools of the build:

 Flame, Grant Me Strength-Major AR boost

 Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear-Big fire damage increase

 Optional: Golden Vow, Howl of Shabriri, or Black Flame's Protection depending on your playstyle

With these stacked, the weapon AR becomes legitimately impressive for daggers.

Ashes of War: Quickstep and Sword Dance

The build runs two styles of Ashes of War:

1. Quickstep

For crit fishing and hyper-aggressive PvP moments. Quickstep gives you:

 impressive mobility

 the ability to dodge into backstabs

 tight roll-catch timing on retreating enemies

 stylish anime moments (as shown when Chase quickstepped down a ladder attack)

Quickstep also helps close the distance in chaotic 2v1 or 3v1 invasions.

2. Sword Dance

Sword Dance pairs perfectly with the dagger's heavy attack pressure:

 closes distance

 deals several quick hits

 threatens roll chains

 pairs beautifully with consecutive-hit talismans

Sword Dance gives you a mix-up option-something to surprise players who think you'll just spam R2 chains.

Armor and Talismans

Armor

Fashion-first, stats second.

 trading mid-range

 pushing into a group of enemies

 tanking a hit to deliver an R2 follow-up

Daggers normally struggle with trades, but the right poise threshold lets you commit to pressure without getting staggered.

Talisman Options

This build has two loadouts depending on your goal.

If you're going for backstabs:

 Dagger Talisman-boosts critical hits

 Bull-Goat Talisman-poise

 Erdtree's Favor +2-HP/stamina load

 Two-Handed Sword Talisman-must-have for R2 damageIf you're going for damage:

Swap Dagger Talisman for:

 Shard of Alexander-boosts Ash of War damage

 Millicent's Prosthesis-consecutive attacks

 Rotten Wing Sword Insignia-huge multi-hit scaling

Both Sword Dance and the dagger R2s trigger consecutive hit talismans exceptionally well.

PvP Gameplay: Roll-Catching With Style

This build shines brightest in invasions. Chase showcases dozens of situations where the R2 completely controls neutral space.

1. Bridge Battles

Bridges in Elden Ring are either hilarious or horrifying. With this build? Hilarious.

Chase backstabs one opponent, then goes for a double knockoff-pushing both players off the bridge using pure pressure. It's a perfect example of:

 forward momentum

 terrain control

 roll-catching potential

If you want a build that excels on tight terrain, this is the one.

2. Wizards and Ranged Host Groups

This build deals shockingly well with:

 wizard backliners

 ranged spam

 ganks

When a wizard thinks he's safe:

Sword Dance says otherwise.

3. Trading Into Heavy Weapons

Most dagger builds can't trade with:

 colossal swords

 blasphemous blade users

 spear pressure

But with poise, Flame Art AR, and multi-hit R2s?

You win the trades.

4. 3v1 Chaos

One highlight features:

 A wizard

 A dual spear phantom

 A Blasphemous Blade host

Yet the dagger build holds its own through:

 constant repositioning

 perfect roll catches

 precise R2 timing

 smart focus fire on the burst-damage threats

It's an excellent example of how this build works in real DLC PvP conditions.

Backstab Tech for Style and Utility

 backstabs off rolls

 backstabs off heavy attack baits

 backstabs in tight tunnels

 backstabs using Quickstep to reposition

For players who enjoy stylish crit setups, this build gives you some of the flashiest movement options.

Environmental Mastery: Ledges, Ladders, Elevators, and Ice Winds

From Crumbling Farum Azula to the Snowfields, the build keeps performing-even in odd terrain.

The highlights include:

 knocking players off ledges

 quickstepping through ladder attacks

 baiting opponents into ice gusts for free knockdowns

 using catwalks, elevators, and tight corners to bait panic rolls

If you enjoy using the environment to your advantage, daggers give you the speed and precision to make those plays consistently.

Final Thoughts: A Shockingly Strong Faith Dagger Build

The Erdsteel Dagger and Fire Knight Shortsword might look like simple weapons, but in the hands of a Faith build and a skilled invader, they become:

 aggressive

 unpredictable

 high-pressure

 stylish

 and legitimately powerful

The heavy attack chains are the star of the show-fast, multi-hitting, forward-moving thrusts that catch rolls and punish hesitation. When paired with Flame Art scaling, Flame Grant Me Strength, and the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear, the AR becomes more than enough to stand toe-to-toe with meta setups.

If you want:

 A Faith build that isn't overused

 A dagger setup with real trading power

 A weapon pair with insane roll-catching best site to buy elden ring items

 A build that mixes Quickstep style with Sword Dance aggression

 Something fresh for the DLC PvP playground

This is absolutely worth trying.