Elden Ring is full of stylish ways to dominate enemies, but few feel as brutally rewarding as landing a perfect guard into a devastating counter while wielding a massive weapon. With the introduction of the Deflecting Hardtear and Elden Ring Runes the right setup-like the Dragon Slayer's Great Axe-players can turn defensive precision into overwhelming offense. It's flashy, effective, and deeply satisfying.

This guide breaks down why this combo works, how to execute it properly, and how enemies can counter it if they know what they're doing.

What the Deflecting Hardtear Actually Does

The Deflecting Hardtear significantly enhances perfect guards. When you time a block perfectly-just as an enemy attack connects-you trigger a perfect guard. With the Hardtear active, these perfect guards massively boost the damage of your follow-up guard counter.

In simple terms: block at the exact right moment, then retaliate, and your counterattack hits far harder than normal. This mechanic rewards skillful timing rather than passive turtling, making it a perfect fit for aggressive, high-risk playstyles.

Why Big Weapons Shine With Guard Counters

Colossal weapons like the Dragon Slayer's Great Axe benefit enormously from this setup. When two-handing a massive weapon, your guard counter already deals heavy posture and HP damage. Add a beefed-up guard counter from the Deflecting Hardtear, and the result is often instant posture breaks or outright kills.

The key is that the game multiplies several factors together:

Perfect guard bonus from Deflecting Hardtear

Guard counter damage modifier

Two-handed colossal weapon scaling

Stacked together, this turns one clean defensive read into a lethal offensive blow.

Braggart's Roar: The Hidden Multiplier

Many players overlook how much Braggart's Roar contributes to this combo. This War Cry–style buff increases attack power, defense, and stamina recovery, all of which directly support guard-counter gameplay.

Higher stamina recovery lets you block more reliably, while the attack boost further amplifies your already enhanced guard counter. When Braggart's Roar is active alongside the Deflecting Hardtear, even tanky enemies can be erased in a single exchange.

Execution: How to Pull It Off Consistently

Despite how powerful it looks, the execution is straightforward:

Activate your Flask with the Deflecting Hardtear before combat.

Two-hand your colossal weapon.

Time your block precisely to trigger a perfect guard.

Immediately follow with a guard counter.

When done correctly, the damage spike is unmistakable. Enemies stagger, posture breaks trigger, and in many cases, the fight ends instantly.

Counters and Limitations You Should Know

This setup isn't unstoppable. Skilled enemies-or informed players-can break through it in several ways.

Royal Knight's Resolve is a direct answer, as its massive damage bonus can overpower guards outright. The Hammer Talisman further punishes guard-heavy play by increasing stamina damage, often forcing a guard break and setting up a critical hit.

It's also important to remember that even colossal weapons do not gain hyper armor during guard counters. If you mistime your counter or get hit mid-animation, you'll take full damage. Fast enemies revealed the simplest counter: dodge the guard counter or swing twice to interrupt it.

Why It Feels So Good

There's something primal about turning an enemy's strongest attack into their downfall. The Deflecting Hardtear transforms defense into offense, and buy Elden Ring Runes when paired with a massive axe, the payoff is brutal and immediate.

A perfect guard, a massive two-handed swing, and a health bar evaporating in seconds-this is Elden Ring combat at its most expressive. It's not just effective. It's satisfying in the way only FromSoftware games can be.

If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay with style to show for it, this setup is absolutely worth mastering.