The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For an Intelligence/Dexterity spellblade, build around Vigor, enough Mind to sustain your preferred skills and spells, weapon requirements, and Intelligence. Moonveil is the earlier, faster option; Dark Moon Greatsword is a heavier alternative acquired late through Ranni’s questline. Below level 50, focus on surviving and meeting Moonveil’s requirements rather than chasing an endgame stat spread.
What to level first on a Dex/Int build
There is no single best allocation for every character: your starting class, current level, weapon, and tolerance for risk all matter. A useful order is to add Vigor for survivability, reach your chosen weapon’s minimum requirements, then raise Intelligence for damage. Add Mind when repeated weapon skills or sorceries leave you short on FP; raise Dexterity beyond requirements when it suits your weapon and playstyle.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
ELDEN RING: Tarnished Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS4) | $46.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition | Digital | Nintendo Switch 2 Digital Code | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
For a new character below level 50, treat those priorities as a progression, not a fixed checklist of exact targets. The available level-based Moonveil examples begin at level 60, so they do not establish a specific below-50 allocation. Avoid investing heavily in both damage stats before your character can comfortably survive encounters and use the weapon you want.
Moonveil: the faster, earlier spellblade route
Moonveil requires 12 Strength, 18 Dexterity, and 23 Intelligence. It is obtained by defeating the Magma Wyrm at the end of Gael Tunnel. Its Transient Moonlight skill costs FP and offers a fast horizontal magic wave or a slower, longer-reaching vertical wave. When FP is low, Moonveil still has its fast katana moveset, but frequent skill use makes Mind and FP management relevant. These item details are reported by the fan-made Elden Ring Wiki Moonveil guide, updated September 11, 2026; the guide cautions that values can change with balance updates.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition contains the Elden Ring Base Game + Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion + Additional Content (including Torrent Skins, New Armors, and More...)
- MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
- DEEP, CUSTOMIZABLE COMBAT
- NEW STARTING CLASSES
- NEW PLAYER-FRIENDLY ENHANCEMENTS
Reported Moonveil stat examples
The same guide suggests the following level examples. They are recommendations from that guide, not official builds or measured performance results.
| Character level | Vigor | Mind | Dexterity | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 35 |
| 100 | 40 | 25 | 25 | 55 |
| 150 | 55 | 30 | 40 | 70 |
Those listed attributes are examples rather than a complete accounting of every point, and the appropriate spread depends on your starting class. The guide’s level-150 template favors Intelligence over Dexterity because it recommends meeting Dexterity needs while emphasizing Intelligence for Moonveil’s skill. A separate level-150 Intelligence build by Elena Ashford recommends Vigor 40, Mind 30, Endurance 20, Intelligence 80, and Dexterity 18, but it is a general Intelligence build, not a Dex/Int hybrid prescription. See EldenWiki’s Intelligence build guide, dated May 18, 2026.
Rank #2
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
Staff and sorceries
An off-hand staff lets you use ranged sorceries alongside Moonveil. The Moonveil guide recommends Meteorite Staff early and Carian Regal Scepter at high Intelligence; treat those as optional suggestions, not mandatory upgrades. Choose spells that give you a useful ranged option rather than spending levels on Mind and Intelligence for tools you rarely use. Staff and spell choices should fit your FP budget and how often you want to fight at range.
Dark Moon Greatsword: a heavier, late-game alternative
Dark Moon Greatsword requires 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, and 38 Intelligence. It is the final reward of Ranni’s questline at Moonlight Altar, so it is not an early-game substitute for Moonveil. With its skill buff active, attacks send out magic projectiles that scale with Intelligence and build frost. Its heavier, slower approach contrasts with Moonveil’s quicker katana moveset.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
- A New Fantasy World – Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential Dark Souls video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unravel the mysteries of the Elden Ring’s power. Encounter adversaries with profound backgrounds, characters with their own unique motivations for helping or hindering your progress, and fearsome creatures
- World Exploration in the Lands Between – Elden Ring features vast fantastical landscapes and shadowy, complex dungeons that are connected seamlessly. Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, foreboding castles and other sites of grandeur on a scale never seen before in a FromSoftware title
- Genre-Defining Gameplay – Create your character in FromSoftware’s refined action-RPG and define your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world. Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid. Many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
If you prefer that slower weapon and are willing to wait for the quest reward, it can anchor a different Intelligence-focused spellblade. Its higher Strength and Intelligence requirements also mean you should plan your stats around it rather than assume a Moonveil allocation transfers unchanged. The fan-made Elden Ring Wiki Dark Moon Greatsword guide, updated September 11, 2026, reports the weapon details and notes balance values may drift.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Moonveil or Dark Moon Greatsword?
| Consideration | Moonveil | Dark Moon Greatsword |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Defeat the Magma Wyrm at the end of Gael Tunnel. | Final reward of Ranni’s questline at Moonlight Altar. |
| Minimum requirements | 12 Strength, 18 Dexterity, 23 Intelligence. | 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, 38 Intelligence. |
| Attack feel | Faster katana moveset; skill offers horizontal and vertical magic waves. | Heavier, slower attacks; buffed skill sends magic projectiles and builds frost. |
| FP and ranged play | Transient Moonlight uses FP; an off-hand staff can support ranged sorceries. | The skill buff and projectiles support a magic-focused approach; an FP budget still matters. |
| Magic resistance | The Moonveil guide advises switching to physical damage against highly magic-resistant bosses. | The Dark Moon Greatsword guide gives the same general advice for highly magic-resistant bosses. |
For a faster weapon skill you can pursue earlier, Moonveil is the straightforward route. Choose Dark Moon Greatsword if you want its slower, heavier style and are progressing through Ranni’s questline. Neither choice removes the need to adapt to enemy defenses.
Rank #4
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
Handling enemies resistant to magic
The Moonveil and Dark Moon Greatsword guides both caution that highly magic-resistant bosses can blunt these weapons’ magic-focused damage. Their suggested response is to switch to physical damage for those encounters. Treat that as encounter-specific gameplay advice, not a guarantee that one damage type always performs better; keep a practical physical option available rather than forcing the spellblade approach into every matchup.
How to use the recommendations
- Below level 50: prioritize survivability and the minimum requirements for the weapon you intend to use; there is no sourced fixed stat line for this level range.
- Using Moonveil: add Intelligence as your principal damage investment in the cited template, with Vigor and Mind adjusted to your survival and FP needs.
- Planning for Dark Moon Greatsword: account for its different requirements and late acquisition before committing to a weapon-specific spread.
- Using sorceries often: carry a staff and budget Mind for regular FP use; if you mainly attack in melee, keep spell investment and FP demands aligned with how you actually play.
The weapon guides are fan-made and are not affiliated with or endorsed by FromSoftware or Bandai Namco. Their item details and stat spreads are useful reference points, but their build advice is not an official FromSoftware recommendation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
