What is Poise in Elden Ring? Stat explained

Elden Ring has an in-depth combat system, but in traditional FromSoftware style, it isn’t always upfront about some of the intricacies. So, if you’re left wondering what Poise is in Elden Ring and what it does, here’s all you need to know. 

Elden Ring‘s major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, is nearing its June 2024 release, so it is a perfect time to brush up on some of the core game mechanics. After all, bosses are expected to be harsher than they are in the base game.

Poise comes into play in Elden Ring no matter what you’re playing, be it PvP or PvE, and every weapon and armor grants you a certain amount of Poise. 

All that said, here is what Poise is Elden Ring.

How does Poise work in Elden Ring?

Poise in Elden Ring refers to how much interruption resistance you have from enemy attacks.

It is basically how sturdy you are against enemy attacks in Elden Ring. If you have low poise, even a small dagger has the power to interrupt your attacks. Likewise, if you have a high level of poise, you can continuously attack without being interrupted or staggered.

If you attack any small and regular enemies, like the Soldier of Godrick, with any decent sword, you can interrupt their attacks and relentlessly attack them unless your stamina drains. That’s because they have low poise and are easily interrupted. 

Something like the Bull-Goat Set has a whopping 100 Poise, so you’re likely to never be interrupted by a boss or enemy attacks. Weapons also have different amounts of Poise damage they can inflict. Deal enough poise damage and the enemy’s stance will break and they’ll be stunned briefly allowing you to perform a riposte (visceral) attack.

That’s everything to know about Poise in Elden Ring, for more on the game, check out:

Where to find Castle Sol in Elden Ring: Location, items, more | How to get Bloodflame Blade in Elden Ring & best builds | Where to find Somber Smithing Stone 7 in Elden Ring | How to get Bloodhound’s Fang in Elden Ring: Best builds | All Elden Ring achievements & trophies: Hidden, Platinum, more | Elden Ring Blasphemous Blade: How to get and best builds