Two-handing in Elden Ring is a versatile combat technique that can significantly enhance your offensive capabilities in various situations. It's particularly useful when you need to boost your damage output, as it increases your effective Strength by 50%, benefiting Strength-scaling weapons.
Two-handing also allows you to wield weapons with higher Strength requirements than your current stat, opening up more options earlier in the game. The technique changes weapon movesets, often providing powerful overhead strikes that are effective for breaking enemy guards.
It's ideal when you're confident in your dodging skills and don't need a shield, allowing direct access to weapon skills or Ashes of War. For certain weapon types like fists or claws, two-handing automatically activates dual-wielding, granting unique and powerful movesets. However, it's important to consider the trade-off between increased offensive power and the loss of shield protection when deciding whether to two-hand your weapon in any given combat situation.