Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree introduces tons of new toys to try to kill its bosses with. After the best weapons and the best spell, here is a selection of the best Ashes of War as of right now (June 26, 2024). Balance changes may change, and this is to be expected in the future. It is also entirely possible that other Ashes of War are underrated at the moment.
Please note that we are not listing unique skills, tied to specific weapons, but Ashes of War which you can use with a wide variety of weapons.
Wild Lion’s Claw
Lion’s Claw was already one of the best Ashes of War on colossal weapons in the base game. An “enhanced” version is available at the very beginning of the DLC if you know how to look. Instead of a single jump with a powerful attack, there are now two, with a small spin accompanied by a mid-air attack, all with a Hyperarmor effect, which allows you to inflict this devastating combo on almost any boss. We finished the DLC with this ability, and it is indeed very powerful. The first attack is a little slower than the base Lion’s Claw, and the posture damage is weaker.
The time required to perform the second attack will also expose you to hits from enemies that aren’t interrupted by the first attack, making it difficult or even dangerous to use at times, but the damage is worth it. You can often break a boss’s stance quickly with a few more hits. The Wild Lion’s Claw is found in a small abandoned camp, north of the Grave Plains.
Palm strike
For players who decide to make use of the martial arts introduced in the DLC, this is by far the best choice. You can deal significant damage to enemies’ health and posture quickly with this technique. By charging it, the impact becomes devastating. This gives the “oomph” that this type of weapon sometimes lacks.
It’s a bit counterintuitive, but these Ashes of War are already infused into the Mortefeuille Arts Gloveswhich Dane gives you when you win the duel linked to his quest Monk’s Missive. This means that you use it naturally from the start. You have to remove it from the gloves, in order to be able to use it on another weapon of the same category.
Blind spot
With all these bosses capable of performing chains of 7 attacks and more, it takes nerves of steel to dodge everything, and even more to attack without risking a big slap in the teeth. These Ashes of War for Backhand blades (the new swords held upside down) are a bit like the heirs of the Quick Step and the Bloodhound Knight Step. It allows you to very quickly dodge on the target’s flanks, with iframes, then perform a quick piercing attack. Suffice to say that you have a titanic advantage in terms of positioning. Its flaws are its endurance consumption, and the fact that it is limited to a single weapon category.
As with the Palm Strike, these Ashes of War are obtained at the same time asa weapon in which they are already infused, the Reverse Blades. It’s not for nothing that they were so good and had a Sharp affinity. You can find them behind a stone tomb, northeast of the Grave Plains.
One-sided posture
More Ashes of War related to a new category of weapon, the Light swordfish. These weapons are a blast to use, and this power makes them even more so. Your character holds out their weapon, and then you can decide what to do. With a light attack, you’ll chain together 3 quick hits, perfect for killing a group of enemies or taking advantage of an attack opportunity on a boss. With a heavy attack, you’ll do a diving forward jump attack, much like Lion’s Claw, but with piercing damage instead. It also deals heavy balance damage.
These ashes are found in a chest atop a tower near the Overlord’s Chamber Grace Site in Ensis Castle, just before Rellana, Knight of the Twin Moons. Jump down the balcony to explore this somewhat hidden section of the area.
Sparkling surge
We continue our exploration of the Ashes of War linked to the new weapons, this time, it is the turn of the Perfume bottles. This power allows you to release a series of condensed explosions in front of you. The nature of the power depends on the perfume you use it on. The results are absolutely devastating, if you use it on the Incendiary or Lightning Perfume Bottle, with the right build, and targeting a nearby target. She will take all the explosions, and lose a ton of life, she could even die directly. It allows perfumes to be extremely competitive on bosses, even a little too much.
The Sparkling Surge is obtained by killing a Flying Scarab near the Perfumer Camp in front of the Black Castle. Listen carefully for its distinctive sound, then look up to spot it in the air; it is quite high. You will need to use spells or projectiles to reach it.
Fire Spear
This capability could appeal to many users ofthrusting weapons. It allows you to set your weapon on fire for 40 seconds, while performing a piercing attack in front of you, which will also project flames. By charging the attack, the damage inflicted on life and balance becomes very significant, and the flames will travel a relatively large distance. You benefit from a Hyperarmor effect by using it. If you manage to hit the target with your weapon, it should also be hit by the projected flames, which will really hurt a lot.
You will normally find these Ashes of War naturally, by progressing in the Seed Warehouse of the Black Castle. After the Grace Site accompanied by a Miquella’s Cross, exit the room, you will meet a rather annoying Fire Knight outside. He will leave you his helmet and this power as loot.
Sovereignty of Caria
Finally, this is probably the most powerful Ashes of War in the DLC, and the one most likely to be nerfed in the future. Caria’s Sovereignty gives a weapon a Magic/Intelligence affinity, and it mimics the Caria blade spells of the warlocks, but on a much larger scale. It almost feels like you’re stealing her technique from Rellana, since you’ll be doing a huge vertical attack, then a fairly quick horizontal attack over a very large area. There are a number of factors that make Caria’s Sovereignty so powerful, for starters, you have a Hyperarmor effect, which allows it to trigger even when you’re being hit.
Additionally, the damage is extremely high on both attacks. Finally, the balance damage dealt is simply absurd, a single attack combo with this skill will break the posture of the majority of bosses in the game. Adding in the Crystal Tear that boosts balance damage, you can literally break the final boss’s posture with these two attacks, allowing you to critically hit him afterwards. It is advisable to use a Claymore with Caria’s Sovereignty, as it is one of the most powerful weapons you can use it on, with very comfortable basic attacks to use.
Caria’s Sovereignty is found on a flying Scarab near the ceiling in a cave on the cliffside west of Manus Metyr Cathedral.
If you’re unsure how to reach some of the areas listed above, you can check out our map fragment guide or even our detailed directions.
