InElden Ring, equipping the right gear is just as important as knowing how to use it. But every piece of armor or weapon you wear adds to your equip load a hidden but vital stat that directly affects your movement speed, dodge roll, and stamina recovery. If your equip load becomes too high, you’ll start performing slower rolls or even be unable to dodge effectively, making combat more difficult. That’s why learning how to raise equip load is key to building a powerful yet mobile character. Whether you’re using heavy greatswords or sturdy armor, managing your load can mean the difference between life and death in the Lands Between.
Understanding Equip Load
What Is Equip Load?
Equip load is the total weight of all gear your character is wearing. This includes:
- Weapons in both hands
- Shield or off-hand tools
- Helmet, chest armor, gauntlets, and greaves
- Talismans that have weight
The total weight is then compared to your maximum equip load to determine your current load percentage. This percentage affects your movement style, dodge roll speed, and stamina consumption. For example, having a light load allows for a fast roll with quick recovery, while a heavy or overloaded status results in sluggish movement and delayed dodge animations.
Load Categories
Your current load falls into one of the following categories:
- Light Load Below 30% of max load: Fastest rolls and least stamina use.
- Medium Load Between 30% and 70%: Balanced roll speed and mobility.
- Heavy Load Between 70% and 100%: Slow roll with long recovery time.
- Overloaded Above 100%: Cannot roll, sprint, or move properly.
Most players aim to stay within the medium load range to balance protection and agility, though some tank builds may accept slower movement for higher defense.
How to Raise Equip Load in Elden Ring
1. Increase Endurance Stat
The most straightforward way to raise your maximum equip load is by leveling up theEndurancestat. Each point you put into Endurance increases your maximum stamina and also improves your equip load capacity. This allows you to carry heavier gear without becoming sluggish.
Here’s how to focus on Endurance:
- Visit any Site of Grace and choose to level up.
- Select Endurance and watch how your max equip load increases on the right side of the screen.
- Even a few extra points in Endurance can let you wear significantly heavier armor or dual-wield large weapons.
This is the most sustainable method long-term since it permanently boosts your capacity and helps with stamina management during combat.
2. Equip Talismans That Boost Equip Load
Another effective way to raise your equip load without spending level points is to use talismans. These special items provide passive bonuses and some directly increase your maximum load.
Useful talismans for equip load include:
- Radagon’s Scarseal / Sourceal Raises Strength and indirectly boosts equip load.
- Arsenal Charm Increases max equip load by a percentage.
- Arsenal Charm +1 / +2 Stronger versions found later in the game.
- Great-Jar’s Arsenal The most powerful talisman for equip load, increasing it by 19%.
These talismans are especially useful if you’re temporarily experimenting with heavier gear or switching playstyles. Combine them with a few Endurance points and you can significantly expand your options.
3. Optimize Your Gear Setup
Even if your equip load is relatively low, you can still manage it effectively by making smart gear choices. Here are some ways to do that:
- Choose armor pieces with high protection-to-weight ratio.
- Use lighter versions of weapons where possible.
- Avoid equipping duplicate or unnecessary weapons in secondary slots.
- Carry fewer items in your loadout and only equip what you use regularly.
In many cases, simply adjusting your armor or unequipping an unused off-hand weapon is enough to lower your load into a more comfortable range.
Best Build Strategies for Managing Equip Load
Tanky Build (Heavy Armor)
If you want to wear full heavy armor and wield ultra greatswords or colossal weapons, you’ll need to invest heavily in Endurance and equip the best load-boosting talismans. This build focuses on absorbing damage rather than dodging it.
- Endurance: 30 or higher
- Great-Jar’s Arsenal equipped
- Heavy weapons and full steel plate armor
While your roll may be slower, you’ll be extremely hard to kill in close combat. Just make sure to watch for enemies with fast attacks or magic.
Balanced Fighter Build
This is the most common playstyle inElden Ring, blending agility with moderate protection. You’ll wear medium armor and carry one main weapon, usually a greatsword or halberd.
- Endurance: 2025
- Arsenal Charm equipped
- Armor with good resistances but lower weight
This build lets you roll comfortably and deal good damage while still withstanding a few hits.
Light Build (Fast Rolling)
For players who prefer speed and dodging over defense, a light build can be devastating. You’ll focus on dual daggers, katanas, or magic builds that require high mobility.
- Minimal armor or robes
- Light weapons or wands
- Equip load under 30% at all times
You won’t take many hits, but your ability to avoid them will be your main defense. Consider investing less in Endurance and more in Dexterity or Intelligence for this setup.
Tips for Managing Equip Load Effectively
- Check your equip load percentage regularly in the status screen.
- Swap talismans temporarily if you’re struggling with weight.
- Try different armor combinations until you find a good weight-to-defense ratio.
- Use respec (via Rennala at Raya Lucaria) to reallocate stats if your build changes dramatically.
- Don’t forget that jumping and sprinting are affected by weight as well, not just rolling.
Small changes in your setup can make a huge difference in combat performance. Always be aware of your current load and how it affects your character’s movement and survivability.
Raising equip load inElden Ringis an essential part of optimizing your build and surviving the challenges of the Lands Between. By investing in Endurance, equipping the right talismans, and managing your gear smartly, you can ensure your character moves and fights exactly how you want them to. Whether you’re a heavy-hitting tank, a balanced fighter, or a lightning-fast rogue, proper equip load management gives you the flexibility and power to tackle any boss or enemy that comes your way.