You're standing in front of a fog wall. Inside, some nightmare made of grafted limbs or rotting demigod flesh is waiting to one-shot you. You check your gear. You’ve got the heavy armor, the massive sword, and enough Strength to lift a small house. But something feels off. Your damage numbers are okay, but they aren't monstrous. That’s usually the moment players start digging through their inventory for that one specific item added in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: the Two-Handed Talisman.
It sounds simple. It looks simple. The icon is literally just a tiny, stylized depiction of someone gripping a weapon with both hands. But in the weird, math-heavy world of FromSoftware’s buff stacking, this little trinket is basically a mandatory pick for anyone who hates shields and loves big numbers. Honestly, it’s kind of a game-changer for Strength builds that felt a bit left behind by the flashy magic of the DLC.
What the Two-Handed Talisman Actually Does
Let's get the raw numbers out of the way first because that’s why you’re here. The Two-Handed Talisman increases the damage of your attacks by 15%, but only when you are two-handing your weapon.
That sounds straightforward, right? Not quite.
In Elden Ring, almost everything has a catch. For this talisman, the "catch" is what it doesn't affect. It boosts light attacks. It boosts heavy attacks. It even boosts those spicy running and jumping attacks that we all spam during boss fights. However, it does not boost the damage of your Weapon Art (Ash of War). If you're using a Greatsword and you press the trigger to use Lion’s Claw, that 15% bonus disappears into the ether. It only cares about the physical swings of the blade itself.
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This creates a weird tension. A lot of players have spent the last two years just spamming L2. If that’s you, this talisman is kind of a waste of a slot. But if you’re a "bonk" purist—someone who actually uses the moveset of the weapon—this is a massive, permanent buff that doesn't require you to drink a flask or eat a piece of boiled prawn. It's just... there.
The Math of the Bonk
Think about the scaling. When you two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring, you already get a 50% virtual boost to your Strength stat. That’s a fundamental mechanic. The Two-Handed Talisman layers on top of that. It isn't just adding to your Strength; it's a multiplicative 1.15x modifier on the final damage output of your swings.
When you combine this with the Axe Talisman (which boosts charged attacks) or the Claw Talisman (for jump attacks), you start reaching a point where a single R2 can take a chunk out of a boss's health bar that feels almost like cheating. It makes the "Guts" Greatsword build feel like it actually belongs in the late-game DLC meta.
Where to Find This Thing
Finding the Two-Handed Talisman isn't exactly a walk in the park, but it's not as obtuse as some of the other DLC secrets. You need to head to the Temple Town Ruins in the Rauh Base area.
Look. Rauh is a mess. It’s a vertical labyrinth of trees, ruins, and those annoying pests that shoot threads at you. To get the talisman, you’re looking for a specific tower in the ruins. You'll have to do a bit of platforming—nothing too crazy, but enough to make you nervous if you're carrying a million runes. You’ll find a chest at the top of a small structure. Inside lies the prize.
Interestingly, the lore description mentions it represents a "warrior who feared nothing," which is flavor-text speak for "this guy didn't use a shield and probably died a lot, but he hit really hard." It fits the playstyle perfectly.
Why People Get This Talisman Wrong
There is a huge misconception floating around Reddit and Discord that the Two-Handed Talisman works with paired weapons. You know the ones—the Radahn Greatswords, the Backhand Blades, or the Dryleaf Arts.
It doesn't.
When you "two-hand" a paired weapon (like claws or dual swords that come as a set), the game treats that as dual-wielding, not two-handing. You're putting a weapon in each hand. The talisman looks for the specific animation of two hands gripping a single hilt.
I’ve seen so many people running around with the Backhand Blades and this talisman equipped, thinking they’re getting a 15% boost. They aren't. They’re effectively playing with three talisman slots instead of four. If you're using paired weapons, stick to the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia or Millicent’s Prosthesis. Leave the Two-Handed Talisman for the Colossal Swords, the Halberds, and the Great Hammers.
The Stance Break Factor
Damage isn't everything. In Elden Ring, stance breaking is the secret sauce. While this talisman doesn't explicitly state it increases "Poise Damage," it encourages a playstyle that leads to more staggers.
Because you’re getting such a high damage return on your standard R1s and R2s, you’re more likely to stay in the pocket and keep swinging. When you’re two-handing a heavy weapon, your attacks already have higher stagger potential. Adding 15% more damage to those swings makes the risk of staying close to a boss like Messmer feel much more worth it. You aren't just chip-damaging him; you're actively trying to end the fight in five or six well-placed hits.
Synergies and Loadout Ideas
If you're going to use the Two-Handed Talisman, you need to build around it. Don't just slap it on and call it a day.
One of the most effective ways to use it is in a "Trade Build." This is where you accept that you’re going to get hit, but you ensure that when you hit back, it hurts way more.
- Weapon: Anything with high "Hyper Armor." The Anvil Hammer or the classic Greatsword are perfect.
- Armor: Heavy. You need the poise to finish your swing.
- Other Talismans: * Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (to survive the trades).
- Two-Headed Turtle Talisman (because two-handing heavy weapons eats stamina like crazy).
- Shard of Alexander (if you still want your Ash of War to hurt, even if the Two-Handed Talisman isn't helping it).
Honestly, the Two-Handed Talisman combined with the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman is the new gold standard for Strength players. It solves the two biggest problems of the archetype: lackluster swing damage and terrible stamina recovery.
The PvP Perspective
In the Colosseum or during invasions, this talisman is a bit of a psychological tool. When an opponent sees you two-handing a weapon, they expect a certain amount of damage. When they lose nearly half their health to a single neutral R1 because you’ve optimized your talismans, they start to panic. Panic leads to bad rolls. Bad rolls lead to "Host Vanquished" screens.
However, be careful. Two-handing means you can’t parry (unless you have a specific Ash of War) and your blocking is much worse. You are a glass cannon made of heavy iron. It’s a fun way to play, but it requires a lot of confidence in your spacing.
Is it Better than the Ritual Sword Talisman?
A common question is whether the Two-Handed Talisman is better than the Ritual Sword Talisman, which gives a 10% damage boost when your HP is at maximum.
The answer is almost always yes.
In the DLC, staying at full HP is nearly impossible. Bosses have long combos, environmental hazards are everywhere, and the "chip damage" is real. The Two-Handed Talisman gives you 15% (which is 5% more than Ritual Sword) and it is always active as long as you have both hands on your weapon. It’s more damage for less effort. That’s a win-win in a game as hard as Elden Ring.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Build
If you’re ready to incorporate the Two-Handed Talisman into your run, follow this checklist to make sure you aren't leaving damage on the table:
- Check Your Weapon Type: Ensure you aren't using a "paired" weapon like the Starscourge Greatswords. The talisman only works if you have one weapon and both hands are on it.
- Audit Your Ash of War: Since the talisman doesn't buff skills, consider switching to an Ash of War that provides a buff (like Royal Knight’s Resolve or Cragblade) rather than a direct attack. Cragblade increases your physical damage and poise damage, which then stacks beautifully with the 15% boost from the talisman.
- Prioritize Stamina: Two-handing heavy weapons is exhausting for your character. If you use this talisman, make sure your Endurance is high or you're using the Greenburst Crystal Tear in your Physick.
- Practice the R2: Since you’re getting a flat percentage boost, your strongest attacks see the biggest numerical gains. Get used to the timing of your weapon’s heavy attacks to maximize the 15% modifier.
- Go to Rauh Base: If you haven't found the Temple Town Ruins yet, look for the map fragment in the ravine north of the Gravesite Plain. Follow the river north and west to reach the base of the plateau.
The meta in Elden Ring often favors complicated setups with fifteen different buffs that you have to refresh every thirty seconds. The Two-Handed Talisman is a breath of fresh air because it rewards a fundamental, old-school way of playing. Put two hands on your sword. Swing it. Win. It really is that simple, and that’s why it’s one of the best additions to the game's massive item pool.