Libra Expedition Recluse Build

In this Elden Ring build guide, we’ll be looking at the best equipment and strategy to take on Libra as the Recluse.

Libra is easily one of the most intricate and difficult bosses in the game. He can summon sigils that explode or launch projectiles, inflict Madness and Enrage, teleport, dash unpredictably, trigger madness eruptions, and, if allowed into his second phase, turn the entire arena into a chaotic deathtrap.

Despite how overwhelming he can be, Libra has several notable weaknesses. Madness, Holy, and Fire damage are all highly effective, while sorceries are much less so due to his strong resistance to magic. Defensively, you'll need to stack Holy negations and build up your Madness resistance if you want to survive his relentless barrage.

As the Recluse, it’s vital to play patiently and deliberately. Casting recklessly will leave you locked in place during his most dangerous moments, especially when he’s planting sigils under your feet.

Stay composed, manage your FP between casts, and take the time to learn his attack rhythm. Once you do, the fight becomes far more manageable.

Day 1

Recluse begins the game with one of the lowest health pools, making it crucial to stay close to your team early on to avoid avoidable deaths. Every death costs time, and time is one of your most limited resources; efficiency is everything on Day 1.

Your main goal today is to level up quickly and visit as many churches as possible to increase your flask charges.

Use the map’s overview feature to identify guaranteed sacred seal drops. Prioritize areas with Holy, Fire, Rot, Bleed, or Poison spells, in that order, as they’re the most effective against Libra.

If you’ve selected a relic effect that enhances a particular school of incantations, aim for seal locations aligned with that element to get the most value out of the bonus.

Once you’ve secured a solid catalyst and reached at least level 4, head to the central castle. Begin in the basement, where only one boss awaits; defeating it rewards you with both a boss drop and a guaranteed talisman from the chest beyond. If time permits, level up at a nearby grace and ascend through the castle to gather even more runes.

Equip any weapon with a useful passive as soon as you find it. To save time, collect all gear along the way and sort through it en route to your next objective.

Day 2

By now, you should be equipped with a reliable weapon and enough levels to confidently take on tougher enemies, so it's time to shift your focus to the more challenging zones in Limveld.

If a Shifting Earth is available, make it your main objective for the day. These areas consistently provide top-tier loot and enough enemy density to comfortably reach level 15 by the end. If a field boss happens to be along your path, it’s worth the detour—defeating it could yield a major upgrade to your damage output.

If there’s no Shifting Earth in this run, prioritize clearing as many of the newly spawned field bosses as possible. They tend to drop high-value gear and grant a significant rune haul, making them an efficient use of your time.

If the central castle is still untouched, this is the perfect time to clear it. The bosses in the basement and on the rooftop aren't heavily scaled and should go down easily now that you're better equipped.

After dealing with the Night Boss, don’t hesitate to farm the surrounding areas if you’re still underleveled. Environmental damage at this point is minimal, so you can safely gather a few more levels without much danger.

Day 3

Once you arrive, use any leftover runes to level up and pick up any last-minute upgrades or consumables from the merchant; he could have a Wending Grace in his shop. Ditch any upgrade materials or keys you won’t be using, since they’re useless in the final fight. It's smarter to fill your inventory with things that’ll actually help.

Make sure to buy Starlight Shards.

They’re vital for keeping your FP topped up without constantly chasing affinity residues. If you’ve got any runes left, spend them here; it’s absolutely worth it. When the fight begins and you’re presented with a deal, consider choosing “I wish for eventual greatness” and “I want resistance to ailments.”

“Eventual greatness” temporarily reduces your HP, FP, and Stamina by 30% for 2 minutes, a risky start, but after the effect wears off, all three stats are permanently increased by 20% of their original values, making it well worth the trade.

“Resistance to ailments” grants +150 resistance to every status effect, including Madness, which is especially valuable in this fight. The tradeoff is a 10% reduction in Stamina, which is manageable if you’re playing smart.

• Try to keep to the outer edge of your spell’s range to avoid taking unnecessary damage or drawing the boss’s attention.
• If the boss targets you, put some distance between you and it quickly, then lead it back toward your teammates to shift its focus safely.
• Keep your FP topped up by gathering affinities between casts; staying charged means staying effective.
• Equip at least two elemental damage types to give yourself options when mixing Magic Cocktails for the different phases of the fight.
• Above all, be patient with your casts. Overcommitting or getting caught mid-animation can cost you dearly.
• If he starts his phase transition, swap to your bow. You can use free aim to destroy the sigils that spawn in the sky, allowing your team to destroy the ones on the ground without worry.