Elden Ring is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary and phenomenal video games ever created. It features an online multiplayer mode where players can team up for cooperative play to defeat bosses or engage in player-versus-player combat. At the beginning of the game, players can choose from a variety of characters, allowing for a personalized experience. This choice significantly impacts gameplay, as players have full control over their character’s performance.
Evolving from the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring introduces the Ashes of War, enhancing gameplay by allowing players to utilize multiple skills. With over fifty different Ashes to discover, players can continuously expand their arsenal and adapt their strategies.
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Ashes of War: Enhancing Your Arsenal
Ashes of War allow players to imbue their weapons and armour with new skills and affinities at Sites of Grace. Each armament can hold a single skill, which is replaced when a new Ash of War is applied. This system offers great flexibility, letting players choose the skills that best suit their playstyle.
Top 15 Ashes of War in Elden Ring
1. Waves of Darkness
- How to Obtain: Trade with Enia at the Remembrance of the Naturalborn
- Compatible With: Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, Greataxes, Colossal Weapons, Great Spears
Waves of Darkness unleashes a devastating area-of-effect attack, enveloping nearby enemies in darkness. This Ash of War is ideal for players facing overwhelming hordes, making it a strategic choice in intense battles.
2. Flames of the Redmane
- How to Obtain: Found near Fort Gael North Site of Grace, Caelid
- Compatible With: All weapons except shields and bows
Embracing fire magic, Flames of the Redmane imbues weapons with fiery prowess, dealing significant fire damage on enemies. It’s a versatile choice for players who prefer aggressive combat and elemental effects.
3. Bloody Slash
- How to Obtain: Defeat the Godrick Knight atop Fort Haight, Liurnia
- Compatible With: Daggers, Straight Swords, Greatswords, Curved Greatswords, Katanas, Twinblades, Thrusting Swords, Heavy Thrusting Swords
Bloody Slash infuses dex-based weapons with potent blood-based attacks, sacrificing a fraction of the player’s health for increased damage and bleed buildup on enemies.
4. Hoarfrost Stomp
- How to Obtain: Defeat a Teardrop Scarab near Caria Manor
- Compatible With: All weapons except shields and bows
Hoarfrost Stomp blankets the battlefield with freezing mist upon impact, damaging and slowing enemies within its expansive area of effect. It’s invaluable for controlling space and weakening adversaries.
5. Storm Blade
- How to Obtain: Purchased from Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack
- Compatible With: Daggers, Straight Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Curved Greatswords, Katanas, Thrusting Swords, Heavy Thrusting Swords
Storm Blade harnesses wind energy to augment slashing weapons, providing ranged capabilities and enhanced damage output against opponents at a distance.
6. Seppuku
- How to Obtain: Found on a frozen lake near the Freezing Lake Site of Grace, Mountaintop of the Giants
- Compatible With: Straight Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Curved Greatswords, Katanas, Thrusting Swords, Heavy Thrusting Swords, Great Spears, Halberds
Inspired by Japanese samurai ritual, Seppuku temporarily boosts attack power at the cost of the player’s health, inflicting additional bleed damage on enemies with each strike.
7. Bloodhound’s Step
- How to Obtain: Defeat a Night’s Cavalry near Lenne’s Rise tower, Dragonbarrow
- Compatible With: All weapons except shields and bows
Bloodhound’s Step grants players brief invincibility during evasive maneuvers, allowing for strategic repositioning and critical attacks from behind unsuspecting foes.
8. Phantom Slash
- How to Obtain: Defeat a Night’s Cavalry at the Forbidden Lands Site of Grace
- Compatible With: Twinblades, Spears, Halberds, Reapers
Phantom Slash summons a spectral instructor to deliver devastating attacks, enhancing melee combat effectiveness with swift, multi-stage assaults.
9. Holy Ground
- How to Obtain: Destroy three chariots in the Auriza Hero’s Grave
- Compatible With: Small Shields, Medium Shields, Great Shields
Holy Ground erects a protective barrier, bolstering defense and healing capabilities for players who prefer a more defensive playstyle.
10. Carian Greatsword
- How to Obtain: Sold by Sorcerer Rogier at the Roundtable Hold
- Compatible With: Daggers, Straight Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Curved Greatswords, Katanas, Thrusting Swords, Heavy Thrusting Swords, Twinblades
Carian Greatsword summons a mystical blade that inflicts poise damage on enemies, ideal for staggering foes and setting them up for powerful follow-up attacks.
11. Gravitas
- How to Obtain: Looted from a Lesser Alabaster Lord near the Seaside Ruins Site of Grace
- Compatible With: All melee weapons except shields and bows
Gravitas manipulates gravity to draw enemies closer, facilitating group control and strategic positioning during chaotic battles.
12. Earthshaker
- How to Obtain: Found on various colossal weapons
- Compatible With: Colossal Swords, Great Hammers, Greataxes, Great Spears, Colossal Weapons
Earthshaker unleashes seismic shockwaves, devastating nearby foes and disrupting their movements with powerful ground-based attacks.
13. Golden Vow
- How to Obtain: Defeat a mounted Godrick Knight above the Deathtouched Catacombs
- Compatible With: All weapons except shields and bows
Golden Vow enhances defensive capabilities, providing temporary buffs to damage mitigation and increasing offensive output against adversaries.
14. Rain of Arrows
- How to Obtain: Available with light bows, bows, and greatbows
- Compatible With: Light Bows, Bows, Greatbows
Rain of Arrows rains down a barrage of projectiles on enemies, leveraging ranged attacks to deal sustained damage and control battlefield engagements.
15. Kick
- How to Obtain: Purchased from Knight Bernahl at the Warmaster’s Shack
- Compatible With: All weapons except shields and bows
Kick disrupts enemy defences with a powerful, unblockable kick, ideal for breaking guards and creating openings for decisive counterattacks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ashes of War in Elden Ring represents a testament to FromSoftware’s commitment to innovation and depth in gameplay. Each Ash of War offers unique advantages and strategic possibilities, empowering players to craft their own path through the perilous Lands Between. Whether embracing elemental affinities, enhancing defensive strategies, or unleashing devastating attacks, mastering these Ashes is essential for any adventurer seeking glory in Elden Ring’s expansive world
