Unveiling Elden Ring’s Incantation Arsenal: Which Spell Reigns Supreme in Damage?

The Lands Between are a dangerous place, and as a Tarnished, you’ll need every advantage you can get. For those walking the path of faith, incantations are your bread and butter. But with a vast selection available, the question inevitably arises: Which incantation deals the most damage in Elden Ring? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think, as it depends on the situation, enemy type, and your build. However, considering raw potential damage output, Black Flame Ritual stands out as a prime contender for the title of “Highest Damage Incantation.”

Black Flame Ritual deals Fire Damage. This Incantation creates a large, slow-moving pillar of black flame that deals significant damage to any enemy caught within its radius.

Black Flame Ritual’s potency comes from several factors:

• Percentile Health Damage: This incantation deals a percentage of the target’s maximum health as damage. This means it’s exceptionally effective against bosses with large health pools, making it a go-to choice for endgame encounters.
• Area of Effect: The wide area of the black flame pillar allows you to hit multiple enemies simultaneously, maximizing your damage output in crowded situations.
• Stacking Damage: If an enemy remains within the pillar, the damage continues to stack, leading to incredibly high damage numbers.
• Relative Safety: The range provided by the flame pillar allows the Tarnished to maintain a relatively safe distance from enemies.

However, it’s important to note that Black Flame Ritual isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Its slow casting speed and the fact that enemies can move out of the pillar mean it’s not always the best choice for fast-moving or highly aggressive enemies. Additionally, enemies resistant to fire damage will obviously take reduced damage from this incantation.

Other Contenders for Top Damage Incantations

While Black Flame Ritual is a strong contender, other incantations can rival it in specific situations:

• Lightning Spear: A classic incantation that deals Lightning Damage. Lightning Spear is a fast-casting, long-range projectile that’s excellent for single-target damage and hitting enemies at a distance. While its damage output isn’t as high as Black Flame Ritual against bosses with large health pools, its speed and versatility make it a valuable tool in many situations.
• Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike: Another Lightning Damage incantation. This high-faith requirement incantation rains down lightning strikes in a wide area, dealing massive damage to anything caught in the blast. It’s best used against large groups of enemies or stationary bosses.
• Flame, Fall Upon Them: Deals Fire Damage. This incantation throws multiple fireballs in an arc, dealing significant fire damage. It is particularly effective against large enemies who can be hit by multiple fireballs.
• Giantsflame Take Thee: This incantation summons a giant ball of flame that explodes on impact, dealing massive Fire Damage in a wide area. It’s slow to cast but can one-shot many enemies.

The Importance of Faith Scaling and Buffs

It’s crucial to remember that the damage of your incantations is heavily influenced by your Faith stat and the seal you use to cast them. Investing heavily in Faith is essential to maximizing your damage output.

Furthermore, buffs play a significant role in amplifying your incantation damage. Some notable buffs include:

• Golden Vow: Increases attack power and defense.
• Flame, Grant Me Strength: Significantly boosts fire damage.
• Howl of Shabriri: Increases attack power but lowers madness resistance. (Use with caution!)
• Seals: Seals such as the Gravel Stone Seal, Godslayer’s Seal and the Erdtree Seal greatly increase incantation damage.

By combining a high Faith stat, the right seal, and potent buffs, you can significantly boost the damage of your incantations and become a formidable force in the Lands Between. Furthermore, consider the opponent’s elemental weaknesses. Some enemies are extremely vulnerable to fire, lightning, or holy damage, which dramatically changes the damage output of certain incantations. Experimentation is key to finding the most effective incantations for each encounter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Incantation Damage in Elden Ring

Here are some frequently asked questions related to incantation damage in Elden Ring:

1. Does the type of seal affect incantation damage? Yes, seals directly influence incantation damage through their Incantation Scaling stat. Higher Incantation Scaling translates to increased damage output. Some seals also boost specific incantation types, such as the Godslayer’s Seal for Black Flame incantations or the Gravel Stone Seal for Dragon Cult incantations.

2. How does Faith scaling work for incantations? Faith scaling determines how much bonus damage your incantations receive based on your Faith stat. Different seals have different scaling grades (e.g., S, A, B, C, D, E), with S scaling providing the greatest damage increase per point of Faith.

3. What’s the difference between Incantation Scaling and Attack Power? Incantation Scaling determines the base damage of your incantations, while Attack Power (the damage value shown on your seal) reflects the total damage potential considering your Faith stat and the seal’s scaling.

4. Do talismans affect incantation damage? Yes, several talismans can enhance incantation damage. The Sacred Scorpion Charm increases Holy damage dealt, the Fire Scorpion Charm increases Fire damage dealt, the Lightning Scorpion Charm increases Lightning damage dealt, the Magic Scorpion Charm increases Magic damage dealt, and the Faithful’s Canvas Talisman and Radagon’s Icon both affect casting speed.

5. Does the damage type of an incantation matter? Absolutely. Enemies in Elden Ring have varying resistances and weaknesses to different damage types (e.g., Fire, Lightning, Holy, Magic, Physical). Exploiting an enemy’s weakness can dramatically increase your damage output.

6. Can I increase incantation damage by upgrading my seal? Yes, upgrading your seal using Smithing Stones will increase its Incantation Scaling and Attack Power, leading to higher damage output.

7. Are there any armor sets that boost incantation damage? While most armor focuses on providing protection and status resistances, certain armor pieces can boost specific incantation types. For example, the Godslayer’s Greatsword scales off faith, and so increases incantation damage.

8. How does poise affect casting incantations? Poise determines your resistance to being staggered while casting. Higher poise allows you to cast incantations without interruption, which is crucial for maximizing damage output.

9. Is it better to focus on a single damage type or diversify my incantations? The best approach depends on your playstyle and the challenges you face. Specializing in a particular damage type can be effective against enemies with specific weaknesses, while diversifying your incantations provides more flexibility to adapt to different situations.

10. Does charge time affect incantation damage? Some incantations can be charged for increased damage and effects. Experiment with charged casts to see how they impact damage output and utility. The Radagon Icon Talisman speeds up charge time!

11. Are there any Incantations that negate damage or heal? Absolutely. Great Heal, Heal, Urgent Heal, Lord’s Heal and Erdtree heal are examples of healing incantations. Golden Vow increases attack power and provides damage negation.

12. What are some good early-game incantations for damage? Catch Flame is a reliable option early in the game due to its low FP cost and fast casting speed, making it great for dealing quick bursts of damage.

13. How do I respec my stats if I want to change my incantation build? You can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear at Raya Lucarian Academy after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.

14. Do summoning ashes scale with faith? No, summoning ashes do not directly scale with your faith stat.

15. Is playing as a faith build fun? That’s subjective! Many players enjoy faith builds. The wide variety of incantations, including offensive spells, buffs, and heals, makes for a versatile and engaging playstyle. Plus, the lore and themes associated with faith in Elden Ring can add an extra layer of immersion to your experience. You can learn more about the role of games in education and learning at the Games Learning Society: GamesLearningSociety.org.

By understanding the nuances of incantation damage, experimenting with different spells and builds, and mastering the art of Faith scaling, you can unlock the full potential of your character and conquer the challenges that await you in Elden Ring. Good luck, Tarnished, and may your incantations strike true!