Elden Ring: 15 Best Ashes Of War, Ranked (2024)

It's no secret that combat in Elden Ring can get really hard, really quickly. Oftentimes, standing a chance against some of the game's most powerful foes requires taking a step back and leveling up a bit before facing them again. Applying Ashes of War to armaments grants access to some incredibly powerful attacks that can turn the tides of battle around.

Ashes of War aren't universal solutions to every conflict in Elden Ring, though. Many of them are only applicable to certain types of weapons, and some of their effects may not be as effective, depending on which enemies they're used for. Nevertheless, some of Elden Ring's Ashes of War are much better than others, and knowing of their existence early on in the game can help new players a lot.

Updated August 10, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: There is a lot of variety when it comes to the best Elden Ring weapon skills, and the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree introduced a lot more that are well suited for different builds. Though many of these new weapon skills aren't actually too practical or useful, two of these new DLC Ashes of War are among the best weapon skills in the game: Savage Lion's Claw, and Palm Blast. The former can be put on a bunch of different strong weapons, and is essentially an upgrade to one of the base game's best Ashes of War, while the latter might only be usable on certain weapon types, but it's worth the secondary weapon slot – Dryleaf Arts don't weigh that much, after all.

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17 Savage Lion's Claw

A Better Version Of An Already Strong Ash of War

The Savage Lion's Claw is arguably the best Elden Ring DLC Ash of War because it is essentially a stronger version of Lion's Claw, one of the base game's best weapon skills. It is faster, deals more damage, has a follow-up, and costs the same amount of FP to execute.

This Ash of War can be put onto just about any weapon in the game, except small weapons like Fists, Beast Claws, and Daggers – but it's especially strong on Great Hammers and Colossal Weapons for the sheer amount of Poise damage it's capable of.

Savage Lion's Claw Location

To get the Savage Lion's Claw, find the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace just north of the starting point for the Elden Ring DLC, then head north while hugging the cliffside wall to the west. You should find the Savage Lion's Claw Ash of War on the ground in a small camp about a 20 seconds' ride north of the cave that leads to Belurat.

16 Palm Blast

Dryleaf Arts Only – But Well Worth The Second Weapon Slot

Palm Blast is one of the best DLC Ashes of War because, like Savage Lion's Claw, it doesn't cost a lot, deals a ton of damage, and is capable of breaking all but the most stalwart enemy's Stagger meter, interrupting attacks or outright breaking their Poise.

The one downside is that you have to charge up the attack before it reaches full effectiveness. But when timed well, if you can hit an enemy with a full charge of this skill, and follow up with a Heavy Attack, you're all but guaranteed a Critical Hit. To take advantage of this Poise-breaking skill, consider equipping a Colossal Weapon (or something that can do a lot of damage in one hit) to take advantage of the regular Critical Hits you will be able to get.

Palm Blast Location

To be able to use the Palm Blast Ash of War, you must equip the Dryleaf Arts weapon, as this Ash of War cannot be used with any other weapon type and comes as the default skill on these weapons. However, the trade-off here is negligible, as Dryleaf Arts don't weigh much and you can easily swap to it when needed instead of changing your whole build.

15 Storm Blade

Rapid Mid-Range Attacks For Melee Builds

Especially useful for strength-focused builds, the Ash of War: Storm Blade is favored by players reliant on melee weapons precisely because it allows them to carry out devastating ranged attacks at a very low FP cost.

This is one of the best Ashes of War Elden Ring players can get because it grants access to a fast ranged attack to traditionally melee-only builds. Strength builds in particular can benefit from this, though it performs best when scaling off of both Strength and Dexterity with its default Quality affinity.

Storm Blade Location

To get Ash of War: Storm Blade, Elden Ring players should head to the Warmaster's Shack in Stormhill, Limgrave. Follow the path leading towards Stormveil's entrance, then head eastward into the forest before the path winds back to Margit's boss room. In the Warmaster's Shack, or at his secondary location within Volcano Manor, Knight Bernahl sells Storm Blade for 1800 Runes.

14 Mighty Shot

Arguably The Best Ranged Ash of War

Ash of War: Mighty Shot is actually the default skill on the Longbow in Elden Ring, but it can be applied to other bows in the form of an Ash of War. When used, it releases a shot that is much more powerful than the regular arrow hit.

Although it may not be as flashy as some of the other Ashes of War mentioned below, Mighty Shot is an absolute must-own for ranged builds. Particularly useful when trying to stealthily take down larger groups of enemies, it is also helpful when taking bosses on from a distance.

Mighty Shot Location

To get Ash of War: Mighty Shot, Elden Ring players must find a Scarab in the Weeping Peninsula. From the Castle Morne Ramparts Site of Lost Grace, ride Torrent northwest along the path until you see the Scarab. Mighty Shot is very commonly the default Ash of War on most Bows, though it can't be transferred without the actual Ash of War: Mighty Shot "item".

13 Sacred Blade

Handy Extra Holy Damage For Applicable Weapon Types

Ash of War: Sacred Blade is a multilayered one. It fires off a golden blade projectile when activated, which deals quite a bit of damage and is a great skill to use for players who want to open up a fight with a bit of an advantage.

However, the projectile is only surface-level stuff. Players with STR/FTH builds will appreciate this Ash of War greatly, as it adds Faith scaling to the weapon it is used on. Finally, it also buffs the weapon with 85 Holy damage for 20 seconds. It can be used on all melee armaments, except for claws, fists, and whips.

Sacred Blade Location

To get Ash of War: Sacred Blade, Elden Ring players must head to the Third Church of Marika. Mount Torrent and head northwest from this Site of Grace until you pass a small nearby pond. Defeat the Scarab that appears near this pond to get Sacred Blade.

12 Lion's Claw

A Rapid Strike From The Air, Like A Stormveil Lion

While using an Intelligence or Faith-focused build is probably the easiest way to blast through Elden Ring and reach one of its endings, FromSoftware definitely makes it worthwhile for players to try out a Strength-based build at least once by continuing to buff Ashes of War that gel really well with strength-based, melee-focused play styles.

Ash of War: Lion's Claw is one of such Ashes. It slams foes into the ground, taking away a good chunk of their health and stunning them for a brief moment. It was a powerful Ash of War ever since release day, but players often complained about how slow it was. That all changed with the rollout of Patch 1.04, which radically increased the speed of this Ash. In the right hands, this skill can get incredibly overpowered.

Lion's Claw Location

To get Ash of War: Lion's Claw, Elden Ring players must defeat the Lion Guardian in Fort Gael. This Lion Guardian his right in the middle of the Fort, which itself is located on top of the western cliffs of Caelid.

11 Hoarfrost Stomp

Once Super Overpowered, Now Just Regular Overpowered

The Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War is one of the most powerful skills that can be found very early in the game. Ash of War: Hoarfrost Stomp can deal some hefty AoE damage and build significant Frostbite at the same time, for just 10 FP.

The skill emits a trail of freezing mist on the ground in front of the player, dealing loads of damage to any and all enemies that fall into its area of effect. Due to its low FP cost and frost-dealing qualities, players can use it in quick succession to inflict Frostbite to greatly weaken mobs.

Hoarfrost Stomp Location

To get Ash of War: Hoarfrost Stomp, Elden Ring players must look for a Scarab near Caria Manor. After beating Caria Manor, head immediately right from the manor's rear exit towards the Three Sisters, then head south. You should end up on the east side of the Manor, where you should look for a pond that the Scarab sits in.

10 Waves of Darkness

Magic Waves Of Energy Radiate Outward Three Times

Ash of War: Waves of Darkness is a situationally useful Ash of War, but in those situations, it's ridiculously good. Just like in the boss fight against the Astel, this Ash of War lets players slam their weapon into the ground and emit three fast waves of damage.

It's all but unavoidable, though it is better against large groups of enemies than in a 1v1 fight. Use this Ash of War for AoE situations, but swap to something faster and less interruptible during a faster-paced boss fight.

Waves of Darkness Location

To get Ash of War: Waves of Darkness, Elden Ring players must defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and trade its Remembrance with Enia at Roundtable Hold. Astel is found towards the end of the Lake of Rot, as part of Ranni's questline.

9 Bloodhound's Step

Dashing Around At The Speed Of Sound

Ash of War: Bloodhound's Step is one of the most useful weapon skills in Elden Ring because it allows even high-weight players to move around the battlefield effortlessly and efficiently. When using Bloodhound Step, the Tarnished will dodge to the side about as far as a Light Roll, and do it with more i-frames than a normal dodge – in all ways it's an improved version of the basic Quickstep Ash of War.

Though less powerful than it once was towards Elden Ring's launch, it's still essentially a better dodge, one that lets players go further, avoid damage easier and be ready to attack sooner.

Bloodhound's Step Location

To get Ash of War: Bloodhound's Step, Elden Ring players must defeat the Night's Cavalry open-world boss in the Dragonbarrow, just outside of Lenne's Rise on its eastern side. It's also the default Ash of War on the Bloodhound Claws weapon.

8 Carian Greatsword

Enormous Magic Blade That Gets Bigger When Charged

Ash of War: Carian Greatsword is an exceptional Ash of War for battlemage-type characters. The Carian Greatsword skill transforms the user's sword into a magical blade that deals a ton of damage and can be charged to increase both its damage and size.

Players who don't like the fuss and time consumption of certain Ashes of War will love this one, as it's an endgame-appropriate Ash of War that can be found very early in the game. It can be applied to all swords, excluding Colossal weapons.

Carian Greatsword Location

To get Ash of War: Carian Greatsword, Elden Ring players must find Sorcerer Rogier in Stormveil Castle and purchase it from him for 2,500 Runes. It can also be found in his inventory when he returns to Roundtable Hold after Godrick is defeated.

7 Seppuku

Self-Inflicted Damage To Buff Damage Output

Ash of War: Seppuku is perhaps one of the coolest Ashes of War in all of Elden Ring. Inspired by a Samurai honorable suicide ritual, this Ash has the player character stab themselves in the stomach, covering their blade in blood. It doesn't cost too much HP, and the buff is more than worth it.

After the self-piercing animation, the blade will have increased attack power and ability to inflict blood loss on enemies for 60 seconds. A minute is a long time on the battlefield in Elden Ring, and it can surely be enough to quickly clear out an area.

Seppuku Location

To get Ash of War: Seppuku, Elden Ring players must reach the Mountaintops of Giants after defeating Morgott the Omen King. Head to the Frozen Lake on the east side of the area and head all the way north, almost to about parallel with Castle Sol. Look for an invisible Scarab here that moves around a tree surrounded by jellyfish – its path is telegraphed with a set of white footprints traveling in a circle around this tree.

6 Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker

A Colossal Weapon Ash of War That's Faster Than It Seems

Similarly to the Lion's Claw Ash of War, Ash of War: Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker was a skill that frustrated many players because it was quite strong on paper but too slow to use as a main Ash of War. With the arrival of Patch 1.04 (which also improved Lion's Claw), the Earthshaker was sped up significantly.

The first blow has a much shorter preceding animation, and the second one arrives almost immediately afterward, which is a game changer in terms of the efficiency of this Ash.

Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker Location

To get Ash of War: Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker, Elden Ring players must acquire Hoarah Loux's Remembrance, which itself is dropped by Godfrey, the Elden Lord, upon defeat near the very end of the game. That makes this Ash a great choice for a New Game+ playthrough for Strength builds, as it is one of the few Ashes of War that works with Colossal weapons.

5 Glintblade Phalanx

The Best Defense Is A Magical Offense

The Ash of War: Glintblade Phalanx creates an arch of magic blades over the caster's head. These blades automatically attack nearby enemies, dealing a great deal of damage. They are also extremely effective when fighting a single enemy and trying to swiftly break their stance.

One of the best things about Ash of War: Glintblade Phalanx is that it does not have any Intelligence requirements, as opposed to its actual Sorcery counterpart. Just like Glintstone Pebble, this ability pairs exceptionally well with an all-in-melee character who wants to incorporate some Sorceries and Ranged attacks into their playstyle.

Glintblade Phalanx Location

To get Ash of War: Glintblade Phalanx, Elden Ring players must purchase it from Sorcerer Rogier in Roundtable Hold after defeating Godrick the Grafted, or after acquiring the Royal House Scroll. Rogier will give you his sword with the Glintblade Phalanx ability already on it, though any Sorcery vendor will sell the Ash of War itself once you give them the Royal House Scroll for 2,500 Runes.

4 Thunderbolt

One Of The Best PvP Ashes of War – And Flashy, Too

The Ash of War: Thunderbolt is another skill that doesn't require too much FP to use but is very effective against nearly all kinds of foes. It deals Lightnig damage and can be used from an enormous range. It is also extremely versatile: Ash of War: Thunderbolt can be used on all melee weapons with no exceptions.

You won't be able to get Thunderbolt until around halfway through the game in Leyndell. But the skill is well worth the wait, though, as it allows players to unleash deadly bolts of lightning in rapid succession for a measly 10 FP with little delay between casts.

Thunderbolt Location

To get Ash of War: Thunderbolt, Elden Ring players must get to Leyndell and find the body of Gransax. After getting to the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace, head down the stairs and look for the courtyard where the dead dragon lays. Near the bottom of Gransax' body you should find a Scarab beetle. Kill this Scarab to get the Ash of War.

3 Gravitas

Don't Let Them Get Away, Ever Again

This particular Ash of War isn't powerful because of the damage it deals, but rather due to its sheer usefulness on the battlefield. Many enemies, particularly wild beasts, deal a lot of damage by lashing or jumping onto the player from a distance.

Ash of War: Gravitas creates a "gravity well" that pulls all nearby enemies towards the player. This takes away the advantage of distance away from enemies, as well as granting players the window of opportunity to deal a great deal of damage to numerous enemies at once.

Gravitas Location

To get Ash of War: Gravitas, Elden Ring players must defeat the Alabaster Lord near the Seaside Ruins Site of Grace in Limgrave. From Castle Morne, head northward along the path and take a right into the woods before entering the ravine. You should run into a number of Gravity-magic-wielding enemies, and what looks like a portal. Walk up to the portal to summon the boss, and defeat it to get the Gravitas Ash of War.

2 Carian Grandeur

Fast Magic Blade That Can Also Be Charged

Before the release of Patch 1.04, the Ash of War: Carian Grandeur Ash of War was snubbed by most players in favor of its higher-damage-dealing relative, the Carian Greatsword. However, after the arrival of that update, the tables have turned somewhat on the Carian Ashes of War.

Carian Grandeur's attack speed and charging rate have been significantly increased, and although it still deals less damage than the Greatsword Ash, it is a lot more convenient to use in close-quarters combat thanks to its quicker recharge times. STR/INT builds were already at an advantage compared to others, but with this Carian Grandeur buff, they can blast through hordes of enemies even faster.

Carian Grandeur Location

To get Ash of War: Carian Grandeur, Elden Ring players must head to Caria Manor, in the northwest of Liurnia of the Lakes, and get almost all the way through the dungeon. Just before entering the final boss room, you will see an off-shoot room that leads outside to the left. Head here, jump down the wooden scaffolding, and avoid the Warrior Jars.

Head down the cliffside, jumping from rocky platform to rocky platform, until you land on top of a fortress wall. Carian Grandeur is located on a body on this wall.

1 Bloody Slash

The Best Ash of War (In The Hands Of The Best PvPers)

While there are quite a few skills and Ashes of War that deal a lot more damage than Bloody Slash, not many of them come at such a low cost and high speed of use.

Aside from granting the Blood affinity to the weapon it is applied to, Bloody Slash is a powerful move that takes away a good chunk of the enemy's health. As far as early game Ashes of War go, this might just be the very best one. It can one-shot most of the mobs found along the way, as well as break the stance of many bosses with a single hit.

Bloody Slash Location

To get Ash of War: Bloody Slash , Elden Ring players must head to Fort Haight at the south of the Mistwood, in eastern Limgrave. At the top of Fort Haight there is a Blood Knight, who must be defeated as part of Kenneth Haight's questline. This miniboss also drops the Bloody Slash Ash of War.

Elden Ring

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence