Can You Summon Spirit Ashes and NPCs in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can summon Spirit Ashes and NPCs in Elden Ring! These summons act as invaluable allies during challenging encounters, providing support, drawing enemy aggression, and generally increasing your survivability. However, summoning is not available everywhere and is governed by specific rules and conditions. Let’s delve into the mechanics of summoning in Elden Ring and answer some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding this vital gameplay feature.
Understanding Summoning Mechanics in Elden Ring
Summoning in Elden Ring is a powerful tool that can significantly alter the course of battle. But before you start relying on spirit allies, it’s crucial to understand how it works.
Spirit Ashes: Your Loyal Companions
Spirit Ashes are collectible items that allow you to summon spectral allies to fight alongside you. These spirits range from simple packs of wolves to powerful legendary figures.
- Acquisition: Spirit Ashes are found throughout the Lands Between, obtained from defeating bosses, exploring dungeons, completing quests, or purchased from merchants.
- Types of Spirits: There are various types of spirits, each with unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Some are offensive powerhouses, while others are more focused on support and defense.
- Upgrading Spirits: You can upgrade your Spirit Ashes at the Roundtable Hold with Roderika, the Spirit Tuner, using Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort, enhancing their stats and combat effectiveness.
- FP Cost: Each spirit has a specific FP (Focus Points) cost to summon. Make sure you have enough FP to summon your desired spirit.
NPC Summons: Aid from Fellow Tarnished
NPC (Non-Player Character) Summons are pre-determined characters that offer their assistance in specific boss fights or areas.
- Summon Signs: These summons are typically triggered by interacting with a gold summon sign found near a boss fog gate or within a particular area.
- Limited Availability: NPC summons are only available in certain locations and are usually associated with specific quests or storylines.
- Unique Abilities: Each NPC summon has their own distinct weapon, armor, and fighting style, offering a variety of strategic options.
Conditions for Summoning
Summoning in Elden Ring is not universally available. There are specific conditions that must be met before you can call upon your allies:
- Requisite Item: You must have the Spirit Calling Bell in your inventory. This bell is typically obtained early in the game from Renna the Witch at the Church of Elleh after obtaining Torrent.
- Summoning Pools: You must be in an area where summoning is permitted. These areas are indicated by a small, tombstone-like icon on the left side of your screen. Typically, these areas include boss arenas and open-world areas with significant enemy presence.
- No Multiplayer: You cannot summon Spirit Ashes if you have already summoned another player for co-op multiplayer. The game limits you to one summoned entity at a time (either another player or a Spirit Ash).
- FP Requirements: You must have sufficient FP to summon the desired Spirit Ash.
Strategies for Effective Summoning
To maximize the benefits of summoning, consider these strategies:
- Choose the Right Spirit: Select a Spirit Ash that complements your playstyle and the challenges of the encounter. A tanky spirit can draw aggro, while a ranged spirit can provide valuable support from a distance.
- Positioning: Summon your spirit strategically. Place them in a location where they can effectively engage enemies without immediately being overwhelmed.
- Upgrade Your Spirits: Invest in upgrading your Spirit Ashes at the Roundtable Hold to increase their survivability and damage output.
- Manage FP: Be mindful of your FP consumption. Ensure you have enough FP to summon your spirit and still cast spells or use weapon arts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Summoning in Elden Ring
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding summoning mechanics in Elden Ring, providing detailed answers to common player queries.
1. How do I get the Spirit Calling Bell?
To obtain the Spirit Calling Bell, travel to the Church of Elleh early in the game, after obtaining Torrent (your spectral steed). If you return to the church at night, Renna the Witch will appear and give you the bell and the Lone Wolf Ashes. If she does not appear, try resting at the Site of Grace and returning at night.
2. Why can’t I summon my Spirit Ashes, even though I’m in an open area?
Several reasons could prevent you from summoning:
- Summoning Pool Inactive: Ensure the tombstone-like icon is present on the left side of your screen, indicating an active summoning pool.
- Multiplayer Summon: If you’ve already summoned another player, you cannot summon Spirit Ashes.
- FP Insufficient: Check your FP bar. You may not have enough FP to summon the desired spirit.
- Specific Area Restrictions: Some areas within the open world may still restrict summoning.
3. Can I summon Spirit Ashes in multiplayer?
You cannot summon Spirit Ashes if you’ve already summoned another player for co-op. You are limited to one summoned entity at a time.
4. Where can I find more Spirit Ashes?
Spirit Ashes are scattered throughout the Lands Between. Look for them in:
- Dungeons and Catacombs: Many dungeons contain Spirit Ashes as rewards for defeating bosses or completing specific areas.
- Boss Fights: Some bosses drop Spirit Ashes upon defeat.
- Merchants: Certain merchants sell Spirit Ashes.
- Quest Rewards: Completing quests can sometimes reward you with Spirit Ashes.
- Exploration: Explore thoroughly! Many Spirit Ashes are hidden in the open world.
5. What are the best Spirit Ashes to use in Elden Ring?
The “best” Spirit Ashes depend on your playstyle and the encounter you’re facing. However, some consistently strong options include:
- Mimic Tear Ash: Creates a powerful copy of your character.
- Black Knife Tiche: A nimble assassin with high damage output and evasion.
- Lhutel the Headless: A tanky spirit with a powerful spear attack.
- Oleg, the Banished Knight: A strong melee fighter that can draw aggro.
- Lone Wolf Ashes: Early game ashes, good for distraction.
6. How do I upgrade my Spirit Ashes?
You can upgrade your Spirit Ashes at the Roundtable Hold with Roderika, the Spirit Tuner. She will require Grave Glovewort (for regular spirits) and Ghost Glovewort (for special spirits) to perform the upgrades.
7. What’s the difference between Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort?
Grave Glovewort is used to upgrade common Spirit Ashes, while Ghost Glovewort is used to upgrade special or “glowing” Spirit Ashes. Ghost Glovewort is generally found in more challenging areas.
8. Can I summon Spirit Ashes while riding Torrent?
No, you cannot summon Spirit Ashes while riding Torrent. You must dismount before you can use the Spirit Calling Bell.
9. How do I know if an area allows summoning?
Look for the small, tombstone-like icon on the left side of your screen. If it’s present, summoning is permitted in that area.
10. Do Spirit Ashes scale with my stats?
Spirit Ashes have fixed stats that are improved through upgrades. They do not directly scale with your character’s stats, but some spirits may benefit indirectly from certain buffs you apply to yourself.
11. Are there any limitations on the level of my Spirit Ashes?
Spirit Ashes can be upgraded to a maximum level of +10.
12. Can I summon Spirit Ashes against every boss?
No, summoning is not available against every boss. The summoning icon must be present in the boss arena for you to be able to summon Spirit Ashes.
13. What happens if my Spirit Ash dies during a fight?
If your Spirit Ash dies, you can summon them again, as long as you are still within a summoning-permitted area and have enough FP.
14. Are NPC summons better than Spirit Ashes?
Neither is inherently better. NPC summons often have unique abilities and can provide specific strategic advantages. Spirit Ashes offer more flexibility and customization, as you can choose from a wider variety of spirits and upgrade them to suit your playstyle.
15. Where can I find NPC Summon signs?
NPC summon signs are typically found near boss fog gates or within specific areas related to their questlines. Look for gold summon signs on the ground. These signs may only appear if you have progressed their questline to a certain point.