Do Dual-Wielding Seals Stack in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive into Incantation Optimization
Yes, dual-wielding seals does stack in Elden Ring, offering a potential boost to your incantation damage. However, the stacking isn’t always straightforward and depends heavily on the specific seals you’re using. Generally, if a seal provides a passive buff to specific incantation types, wielding two of those seals will indeed stack the buff, often resulting in a multiplicative increase to the damage. The reported increase is around 32% for general seals and up to 44% for specific seals like the Giant’s Seal. It’s a potent strategy for faith-based builds aiming to maximize their offensive capabilities.
Understanding Seal Mechanics in Elden Ring
Before diving deeper into the stacking mechanics, let’s briefly recap what seals are and how they function in Elden Ring. Seals are sacred catalysts used to cast incantations. Each seal has specific stat scaling, primarily with Faith but potentially also with Arcane or other attributes. The incantation scaling stat on a seal directly influences the damage and effectiveness of your spells. Moreover, some seals offer passive buffs to certain categories of incantations, such as Dragon Communion incantations or Giants’ Flame incantations. It’s these passive buffs that are of primary interest when considering dual-wielding.
How Stacking Works: A Closer Look
The crucial point to understand is that not all effects stack in the same way. When dual-wielding seals with passive bonuses to incantation types, the damage increase typically follows a multiplicative pattern. This means the second seal’s bonus is applied to the damage already enhanced by the first seal, resulting in a greater overall increase than simply adding the bonuses together.
For example, the article mentions the Giant’s Seal, which boosts the attack power of Giants’ Flame and Fire Monk incantations by 20%. Wielding two Giant’s Seals results in a roughly 44% damage increase rather than a simple 40% addition. The difference between the additive and multiplicative stacking is significant and makes dual-wielding such seals a valuable tactic.
Optimal Seal Combinations for Maximum Damage
Choosing the right seal combination depends on the incantations you plan to use. If you’re focused on a specific type, like Dragon Communion incantations, equipping two Dragon Communion Seals is ideal. However, if you employ a diverse range of incantations, selecting seals with broader or complementary buffs might be more beneficial. Consider also the incantation scaling each seal provides, since a higher scaling factor will boost damage and other scaling aspects even further.
The Drawbacks of Dual-Wielding Seals
While the damage boost from dual-wielding seals can be significant, it’s not without its drawbacks. Giving up the use of a shield leaves you much more vulnerable to attacks. Also, managing your equipment load and stat requirements can become tricky if you’re trying to wield two high-level seals at the same time. Evaluate your playstyle and build before committing to dual-wielding. The enhanced damage can be amazing, but the increased vulnerability could also be very detrimental to your survival.
FAQs About Dual-Wielding Seals in Elden Ring
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the topic of dual-wielding seals in Elden Ring:
1. Does upgrading seals increase the stacking bonus?
Yes, upgrading seals increases their incantation scaling, which directly boosts the effectiveness of your incantations. Therefore, upgrading seals used in dual-wielding indirectly increases the overall damage output. The passive bonuses will remain the same, but the base damage will increase with each upgrade.
2. Which is the best seal to dual-wield for general use?
The Erdtree Seal is often considered the best seal for general use due to its exceptional Faith scaling, reaching S scaling at just +5. While it lacks specific incantation buffs, its high scaling makes it a strong all-around option for dual-wielding.
3. Do different seals stack differently?
Yes, some seals are more effective at stacking than others, particularly those with specific incantation type bonuses. Seals like the Giant’s Seal or the Dragon Communion Seal provide more substantial stacking benefits when dual-wielded compared to seals with only generic scaling bonuses.
4. Is it worth sacrificing a shield for dual seals?
This depends on your playstyle. If you prefer an aggressive, offensive approach, then the damage boost might outweigh the loss of a shield. However, if you rely heavily on blocking or parrying, the increased vulnerability may not be worth the trade-off.
5. Does dual-wielding affect casting speed?
No, dual-wielding seals does not affect the casting speed of incantations. To increase casting speed, you would need to invest in the Dexterity stat or use items like the Radagon Icon.
6. How does dual-wielding seals affect buffs like Golden Vow?
Dual-wielding seals won’t stack the buff granted by Golden Vow. Buffs are typically applied once regardless of how many seals you have equipped. However, the seal’s scaling will affect the damage increase caused by Golden Vow.
7. Can you dual-wield seals of different types?
Yes, you can dual-wield seals of different types. This can be useful for leveraging different incantation type bonuses or combining a seal with high scaling with one that offers a specific buff.
8. Does dual-wielding increase the healing power of incantations?
The incantation scaling of your seals will impact the potency of your healing incantations. Therefore, dual-wielding seals with high scaling will increase the amount of health restored.
9. Which stats should I prioritize when dual-wielding seals?
Faith is the most important stat to prioritize, as it directly impacts the scaling of most seals. Arcane can be beneficial if you’re using seals like the Dragon Communion Seal. Vigor, Mind, and Endurance are also important for survivability, FP management, and equipment load.
10. What are some of the best incantations to use with dual seals?
This depends on the seals you’re using. If you’re dual-wielding Giant’s Seals, focus on Giants’ Flame and Fire Monk incantations. If you’re using Dragon Communion Seals, prioritize Dragon Communion incantations. For general use, offensive incantations like Lightning Spear, Black Flame, and Honed Bolt are excellent choices.
11. How do you actually “dual wield” seals?
To dual-wield seals, simply equip one seal in your right-hand armament slot and another seal in your left-hand armament slot. There’s no special stance or button required, the bonuses are applied automatically as long as both are equipped.
12. Does upgrading a seal’s weapon skill affect incantations?
No, the weapon skill (Ash of War) on a seal does not affect the incantations you cast. Weapon skills are independent of the incantation scaling and passive bonuses of the seal.
13. Does the order in which you equip seals matter?
No, the order in which you equip the seals does not matter. The game will calculate the combined effects regardless of which hand holds which seal.
14. Is there a maximum level for optimal seal performance?
There isn’t a hard “cap” for seal leveling, but diminishing returns kick in at higher levels. Many players aim for a Faith level of 80 to maximize the effectiveness of most seals. Remember to also level up the seals themselves.
15. Where can I learn more about Elden Ring strategies and mechanics?
One great place to delve deeper into gaming strategies and understand how learning happens through games is the Games Learning Society, with more information available at GamesLearningSociety.org. They explore the educational potential and cognitive benefits of video games.
Dual-wielding seals in Elden Ring is a nuanced strategy with potential benefits for faith-based builds. By understanding the mechanics of stacking, the optimal seal combinations, and the associated drawbacks, you can make informed decisions about whether this playstyle is right for you. Experimentation is key in Elden Ring, so don’t be afraid to try different seal combinations and incantations to find what works best for your character.