Are Ashes of War Affected by Weapon Damage?
The impact of weapon damage on Ashes of War is nuanced, with the effect varying depending on the type of Ash of War skill: skills that hit the enemy with the weapon take after the weapon damage regardless of scaling, while Ash of War skills with projectiles take after their native infusion, regardless of scaling. Understanding how Ashes of War interact with weapon damage is crucial for maximizing the potential of your build in Elden Ring.
Understanding Ashes of War and Weapon Damage
Introduction to Ashes of War
Ashes of War are special artifacts or upgrades in Elden Ring that can be applied to weapons to give them new skills and affinities, making them vital for various builds. These upgrades can change the scaling of your weapon, either by increasing the base damage and changing the scaling to a different attribute, or by lowering the base damage but improving the scaling in certain stats.
Impact of Weapon Damage on Ashes of War
The damage output of Ashes of War can be influenced by the weapon’s damage, especially for skills that directly utilize the weapon to hit enemies. However, for projectile-based Ashes of War, the damage is more dependent on the infusion of the Ash of War itself rather than the weapon’s base damage. This distinction is important for players looking to optimize their builds and combat strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Ashes of War Affect Weapon Stats?
Ashes of War can indeed affect weapon stats, particularly by altering the scaling of the weapon. They can either increase the base damage and change the scaling to match a different attribute, or they can lower the base damage while improving the scaling in specific stats.
2. Does Two-Handing a Weapon Increase Ash of War Damage?
Two-handing a weapon provides a damage boost due to the 50% strength bonus, which can indirectly increase Ash of War damage for skills that scale with strength. However, it may change your moveset and potentially make your character less flexible or slower.
3. How Do Ashes of War Work on Weapons?
Ashes of War work by being applied to weapons, granting them new skills and affinities. These upgrades are crucial for enhancing the combat capabilities of your build.
4. Does Upgrading a Weapon Improve Ash of War?
Upgrading a weapon can improve its base damage and scaling, which in turn can affect the damage output of Ashes of War that scale with the weapon’s stats. However, Ashes of War themselves are not considered upgrades in the traditional sense.
5. How Does Attribute Scaling Work in Elden Ring?
Attribute scaling in Elden Ring refers to how much a weapon’s damage increases based on the player’s attributes (such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane). Different weapons and Ashes of War scale with different attributes, making attribute scaling a key factor in determining the effectiveness of a build.
6. Does Golden Vow Increase Ash of War Damage?
The Ash of War: Golden Vow boosts weapon attack and defense by 10% for 45 seconds, which can indirectly increase the damage output of Ashes of War by making your weapon more potent during its effect.
7. Do Ashes of War Increase Damage?
Ashes of War can increase damage through their skills and by changing the scaling of your weapon to better match your build’s attributes. However, the extent of the damage increase depends on the Ash of War and the weapon it is applied to.
8. Which Talisman Increases Ash of War Damage?
The Godfrey Icon Talisman is particularly notable for enhancing all charged attacks by 15%, making it highly beneficial for Ashes of War that involve charged attacks.
9. What is the Best Ash of War for Strength Builds?
For strength-focused builds, the Storm Blade Ash of War is highly favored due to its ability to perform devastating ranged attacks at a very low FP cost.
10. Can Some Weapons Not Use Ashes of War?
While most weapons can have Ashes of War applied to them, there are exceptions, such as certain boss weapons, which may not allow the replacement of their innate Ashes of War.
11. How Do Ashes of War Affect Damage?
Ashes of War can affect damage by changing the scaling of your weapon and by providing new skills that deal damage in different ways (such as projectile attacks or area of effect attacks).
12. Is it Always Better to Dual Wield in Elden Ring?
Dual wielding can be highly effective, especially with the right stats or a quality build, as it allows for more damage per hit and increased combat flexibility. However, it also means you cannot use a shield, which may be a disadvantage in certain situations.
13. Does Ashes of War Make My Weapon Weaker?
Applying an Ash of War to a weapon can change its scaling and potentially lower its base damage, but it can also make the weapon more effective by adding new skills or changing its damage type to better suit your build.
14. What Makes Ashes of War Better?
Ashes of War are more flexible than traditional weapon arts, offering a wide range of effects, from fire, lightning, and magic to blood and poison. This variety makes them highly adaptable to different builds and playstyles.
15. What is the Best Strength Weapon for Ash of War in Elden Ring?
The Greatsword, when paired with the Ash of War: Lion’s Claw, is considered one of the best Strength weapons due to its high damage output and the significant buff to Strength it provides.