Is Black Flame’s Protection Worth It in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive

In short, yes, Black Flame’s Protection is absolutely worth it for many Elden Ring builds, particularly those focused on Faith and seeking a potent, relatively long-lasting defensive buff against physical damage. While it comes with the drawback of reduced HP recovery from flasks, the significant 35% physical damage negation it offers for 70 seconds makes it a strong contender for one of the best defensive buffs in the game. Its value truly shines in boss fights and challenging areas where sustained survivability is key. Let’s delve into why.

Understanding Black Flame’s Protection

Black Flame’s Protection is an incantation that calls upon the power of the Godskin Apostles, summoning black fire within the caster to bolster their defenses. Unlike some other defensive buffs, it specifically targets physical damage, providing a substantial reduction to incoming attacks of this type. This makes it exceptionally useful against enemies that primarily deal physical damage, which encompasses a significant portion of the threats found throughout the Lands Between.

The Cost vs. Benefit Analysis

The main drawback of Black Flame’s Protection is the impairment of sacred flasks and other forms of HP restoration. This means that healing yourself becomes less efficient while the incantation is active. This necessitates a more strategic approach to combat, emphasizing skillful dodging, timely blocking, and careful resource management. However, the 35% physical damage negation frequently mitigates enough damage that less healing is required overall, making the tradeoff worthwhile.

Compare it to the Boiled Crab, a consumable item that offers 20% physical damage reduction for 60 seconds at the cost of zero FP. While the Boiled Crab is incredibly accessible, Black Flame’s Protection provides a significantly higher damage reduction and lasts longer, albeit at the cost of 30 FP and reduced healing. For Faith-based builds with a decent FP pool, the increased protection and duration often outweigh the healing penalty.

Ideal Scenarios for Use

Black Flame’s Protection excels in situations where you’re facing:

• Bosses with heavy physical attacks: Many of Elden Ring’s bosses rely on powerful physical attacks, making this incantation a game-changer for survivability.
• Areas densely populated with physical attackers: Certain regions are teeming with enemies that swarm the player with physical attacks. Black Flame’s Protection can significantly reduce the pressure in these areas.
• Prolonged engagements: The 70-second duration is long enough to provide consistent protection throughout extended fights, allowing you to focus on offense without constantly reapplying buffs.

Black Flame vs. Other Defensive Options

Elden Ring offers a variety of defensive options, including armor, talismans, and other buffs. While these options can contribute to overall survivability, Black Flame’s Protection stands out due to its high percentage of physical damage negation and relatively long duration for a single incantation. The stacking of armor and Black Flame Protection can make your character incredibly tanky.

Armor Considerations

Heavy armor provides passive physical defense, but it often comes at the cost of mobility. Black Flame’s Protection allows you to maintain a lighter equip load while still achieving significant physical damage reduction.

Talisman Synergies

Certain talismans can complement Black Flame’s Protection. For instance, the Crimson Amber Medallion increases maximum HP, offsetting the reduced healing from flasks. The Erdtree’s Favor boosts HP, stamina, and equip load, further enhancing survivability and allowing for more flexible armor choices.

FAQs About Black Flame and Related Mechanics

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Black Flame and its effectiveness in Elden Ring:

1. How long does Black Flame’s Protection last?

   Black Flame’s Protection lasts for 70 seconds.

2. How much physical damage negation does Black Flame’s Protection provide?

   It grants 35% physical damage negation.

3. What are the downsides of using Black Flame’s Protection?

   It impairs HP restoration from sacred flasks and other similar sources.

4. Is Black Flame Blade any good?

   Yes, Black Flame Blade is excellent, particularly against high-HP enemies like bosses. It applies a fire damage buff to your weapon and a percentage-based damage-over-time effect based on the enemy’s maximum HP.

5. What weapons are best suited for Black Flame Blade?

   Weapons with fast attack speeds benefit the most from Black Flame Blade, allowing you to reapply the damage-over-time effect frequently. The Grave Scythe, when combined with Phantom Slash weapon art, is a strong option.

6. Does Black Flame do dark damage?

   While the visual effect might suggest dark damage, sources indicate that Black Flame spells primarily deal fire damage, but it is also considered holy damage due to its ties with the gods.

7. Does the Fire Scorpion Charm boost Black Flame?

   Yes, the Fire Scorpion Charm increases the damage of fire-related spells and abilities, including Black Flame and Black Flame Blade.

8. Where can I find Black Flame?

   You can obtain Black Flame by finding the Godskin Prayerbook in Stormveil Castle and giving it to an incantation teacher like Brother Corhyn or Miriel.

9. How do you get Scouring Black Flame?

   You acquire Scouring Black Flame by defeating the Godskin Apostle at the top of Dominula, the Windmill Village in Altus Plateau.

10. How do you protect against Black Flame’s Protection?

    Black Flame’s Protection is obtained as a reward from Sir Gideon Ofnir in the Roundtable Hold after you have reached Miquella’s Haligtree and told him of your findings, or, buy it from the Twin Maiden Husks if you have already defeated him in Leyndell, Ashen Capital. It is cast by the player, so you cannot protect against it, but you may protect against Black Flame type attacks.

11. Does faith or intelligence scale better with black flame spells?

    Faith scales better with Black Flame spells, especially when using a Godslayer’s Seal.

12. Is faith worth upgrading in Elden Ring?

    Yes, Faith is a strong attribute to invest in, offering access to powerful incantations for both offense and defense.

13. Is the Sword of Night and Flame still good?

    Despite nerfs, the Sword of Night and Flame remains a viable weapon due to its unique Night-and-Flame Stance skill.

14. What is the hottest flame in Elden Ring?

    The hottest flame in Elden Ring is relative. Black Flame scales to max HP so, while it might not have the “hottest” output, it will be devastating.

15. What is Elden Beast weak to?

    The Elden Beast is notably weak to Black Flame magic.

Conclusion

Black Flame’s Protection is a worthwhile investment for many Elden Ring builds. Its high physical damage negation and decent duration, combined with smart talisman choices and strategic gameplay, can significantly enhance your survivability in challenging encounters. While the reduced healing from flasks requires careful resource management, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks, making it a valuable tool for any Tarnished seeking to conquer the Lands Between. For more on the educational aspects of gaming, consider exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.