In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Velvet Sword of St. Trina build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a sleep build for that puts your enemies into an eternal sleep then you might want to check this build-out.

The Swordsman of St. Trina build features the new Velvet Sword of St. Trina. This weapon, an upgrade from the original Sword of St. Trina, boasts better stats and introduces the Eternal Sleep status effect. While many bosses in the game are immune to sleep, this build demonstrates how to effectively use sleep as a backup strategy.

The main differences between the Velvet Sword of St. Trina and the original Sword of St. Trina are the damage types and status effects. The Velvet Sword of St. Trina deals more magic damage, while the original does more physical damage. Additionally, the Velvet Sword has a critical rating of 110 versus the 100 of the original, making it superior for backstabs and critical attacks. The Velvet Sword also inflicts Eternal Sleep instead of regular sleep, though it does so at a slower rate. Sleep and Eternal Sleep share the same buildup bar in Elden Ring. This means that switching between the two swords can help or hinder your strategy. For instance, if you build up sleep with the original sword and then switch to the Velvet Sword, you can trigger Eternal Sleep more easily. Conversely, if you start with the Velvet Sword and switch to the original, you might trigger regular sleep, which is less effective. Eternal Sleep is a better status effect than sleep because it allows you to continue attacking the enemy for about five seconds before they wake up. If you keep hitting them with the Velvet Sword, you can maintain the Eternal Sleep effect, keeping the enemy incapacitated.

However, some enemies and bosses, like the Black Knights, can shake off both sleep and Eternal Sleep, although Eternal Sleep tends to last slightly longer. The build leans into the critical rating of the Velvet Sword of St. Trina, focusing on block counters and critical attacks. This approach is effective even against enemies that shake off sleep because the Eternal Sleep effect lingers, allowing for more attacks. The build also includes a Lordsworn's Straight Sword with cold infusion and the Square Off Ash of War, providing a reliable alternative when sleep is not effective. When exploring, use the cold-infused Lordsworn's Straight Sword against regular enemies, as they typically die before sleep can take effect. Reserve the Velvet Sword of St. Trina for enemies and bosses susceptible to sleep. The cold-infusion complements the block counter strategy, making stance breaks and critical attacks more efficient.

For armor, the build uses the following pieces of the Scaled Armor Set (Scaled Armor, Scaled Gauntlets, Scaled Greaves) with St. Trina's Blossom helmet, providing a good look while maintaining enough poise to prevent interruptions during block counters. You need armor with at least 51 poise to avoid being interrupted when performing guard counters.

The Mists of Eternal Sleep weapon skill is crucial, dealing 70 Eternal Sleep buildup with the spray and an additional 42 when the weapon connects. Buffing the weapon increases the Eternal Sleep buildup to 57 on regular attacks, making it more effective than the weapon skill itself. Always rebuff your weapon to maximize the buildup effect.

Key talismans for this build include the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman to boost stamina recovery, essential for a block counter build; the Blade of Mercy to increase damage after a critical strike, synergizing well with the critical hit focus of the build; and the Dagger Talisman to enhance critical damage, making stance breaks and critical attacks more lethal.

Other talisman options include St. Trina's Smile, which temporarily increases attack power by 20% for 30 seconds, useful when trying to apply sleep to a boss or difficult enemy. During boss fights, swap this out for the Crusade Insignia for increased attack power through rapid strikes.

At level 153, the attributes for this build are: 55 Vigor, 24 Mind, 37 Endurance, 30 Strength, 50 Dexterity, 20 Intelligence, 16 Faith, and 9 Arcane. Vigor is set at 55 for survivability, while Mind is at 24 to provide enough FP for periodic weapon skill use. Endurance is at 37 to enable medium rolling with the equipped items, including two swords and a heavy shield. Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity are balanced to maximize the attack rating of the weapons, with Dexterity being the primary scaling stat. Faith and Arcane are kept at minimal levels as they are unnecessary for this build.

Use the Opaline Hardtear for extra protection and the Greenburst Crystal Tear for improved stamina recovery. The Thorny Cracked Tear can also be useful for increasing attack power with repeated attacks, depending on your playstyle. The Deflecting Hardtear is another option, enhancing guard boost and block counter damage when timed correctly. The recommended Great Runes for this build are Radahn's Great Rune for extra stamina, health, and fp or Morgott's Great Rune for increased health.