I’m going to be real with you: when Elden Ring blew up after its release, I did not have “tech CEO drops his Tarnished build” on my bingo card. But Elon Musk went ahead and shared his setup, and I’ll give credit where it’s due—this one is more put together than plenty of builds I’ve seen in co-op. As a regular player who has spent way too many nights wandering the Lands Between, I can confirm the Intelligence and Dexterity combination is a solid game plan, not just celebrity fluff.

The core of Musk’s build is Intelligence and Dexterity, which is low-key one of the best pairings in the game. Intelligence makes your sorceries hit like a truck, while Dexterity shortens casting time so you can throw out a barrage of spells before enemies even know what hit them. That speed is not just for show; breaking an enemy’s poise opens the door for a huge critical hit, and a fast cast can be the difference between a clean fight and getting flattened.

Dexterity also gives you a little extra damage with fast weapons, which saves your Focus Points when you’re fighting weaker mobs. You can also buff those weapons with sorceries like Scholar’s Armament, giving you even more bang for your buck. Moonveil, the community’s favorite katana, also scales with Intelligence, so players leaning into this build have access to one of the most beloved weapons in the game.

Musk’s equipment choices make a lot of sense when you break them down. He keeps a shield in his left hand, which is a great panic button for a sorcerer who doesn’t want to trade hits up close. In his right hand, he uses a staff for casting, a rapier for melee, and claws for fast attacks. The rapier is a sneaky-good weapon because thrust damage is strong against a ton of enemies, and the claws are brilliant for weapon buffs since buffs apply to every single hit. That turns fast multi-hit weapons into absolute shredders.

Equipment Slot	Choice	Why It Works
Left Hand	Shield	Defensive safety net while casting
Right Hand 1	Staff	Required for sorceries, core of the build
Right Hand 2	Rapier	Fast thrust damage, strong vs most enemies
Right Hand 3	Claws	Multi-hit buff machine

Like most veterans, Musk swaps talismans depending on the situation, which is honestly the smart way to play. Elden Ring throws too many different enemy types at you for one talisman setup to carry you through the whole game. Armor-wise, I’d usually stick to medium gear because the fast roll is chef’s kiss—it makes dodging feel so much smoother. But if you have the health and poise to back it up, heavy armor can be useful for standing your ground and trading blows with bosses without getting staggered out of your attacks.

One thing Musk really emphasizes is summoning, and I’m with him on that. Elden Ring is at its core a game about calling in help, whether that’s spirit ashes or actual co-op players. The summoning system is deeper than in older FromSoftware games because you can find and upgrade different summons. For this build, summons are especially clutch because they pull aggro and give you the space you need to keep your distance, line up spells, and control the fight.

Even in 2026, after all the patches and the Shadow of the Erdtree era, the Intelligence and Dexterity playstyle still holds up. Fast casting, solid melee options, and a reliable shield feel just as good now as they did when the game first dropped. If you’re looking for a spellblade setup that doesn’t require a galaxy brain to understand, Musk’s build is a damn good starting point.

All in all, I’d say this is one celebrity build that actually passes the smell test. It plays to Elden Ring’s strengths, respects spacing, and doesn’t try to be a jack-of-all-trades mess. Whether you’re new to the Lands Between or a returning Tarnished, there are worse ways to play than copying this Int/Dex strategy.