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Does Arcane Affect Physical Damage? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s Enigmatic Stat

The short answer is: not directly. In the world of Elden Ring, Arcane’s influence on physical damage is indirect and conditional. Arcane primarily impacts item discovery, resistance to Holy damage and Death Blight, and the scaling of weapons that inherently deal Arcane, Fire, or Holy damage or have been infused to do so. If a weapon’s scaling includes Arcane, then leveling the stat will improve that weapon’s damage output, even if the damage type appears to be primarily physical. But pumping points into Arcane won’t magically boost the raw physical damage of, say, a Greatsword with no Arcane scaling. You’ll need to modify the weapon or utilize specific builds for Arcane to have any effect.

Understanding Arcane’s Core Functions

Before we delve into specific weapon interactions, it’s crucial to understand Arcane’s primary functions:

Item Discovery: Higher Arcane significantly increases the drop rate of items from enemies. This is invaluable for farming materials and rare equipment.
Holy Damage Resistance: Arcane offers increased resistance to Holy damage, useful in specific areas and against certain bosses.
Death Blight Resistance: This resistance helps you avoid instant death from Death Blight buildup, a dangerous status effect in certain locations.
Scaling for Specific Damage Types: The most relevant function for our discussion. Arcane directly scales the damage of weapons that inherently deal Arcane, Fire, Holy, or Bleed buildup, or weapons that have been infused with an Ash of War to deal these types of damage.
Status Effect Buildup: Leveling up Arcane improves the status effect buildup value.

The Importance of Weapon Scaling

The scaling stat displayed on a weapon is paramount. A weapon that has “D” scaling in Arcane will receive a very minor damage boost from increasing your Arcane stat, and often that damage will come in the form of innate status effects or elemental damage. A weapon with “A” or “S” scaling in Arcane will see a much more significant damage increase as you level Arcane. Without Arcane scaling, increasing the stat will not affect the weapon’s damage output. Pay close attention to the scaling grades and damage types displayed in the weapon’s stat sheet.

Arcane Infusion: The Key to Physical-to-Arcane Conversion

The most common way to make Arcane affect your damage output is through weapon infusions. Using Ashes of War with affinities like Occult, Blood, or some Fire affinities will change a weapon’s damage type and scaling. An Occult infusion, for example, often converts physical scaling into Arcane scaling, allowing you to build a weapon that deals purely physical damage but scales directly with Arcane. However, it is essential to note that many infusions that alter a weapon’s damage will often result in the loss of physical scaling. It is, therefore, vital to read the specific descriptions for each infusion, so you are clear on how it will affect scaling. This conversion comes at a cost: the physical scaling will be diminished or removed entirely. Now, your weapon’s damage is directly tied to your Arcane stat, and increasing it will increase your weapon’s damage.

Builds That Leverage Arcane for “Physical” Damage

Several popular builds effectively leverage Arcane for significant damage output. Here are a few examples:

Bleed Builds: Weapons with innate bleed buildup, such as the Rivers of Blood katana, scale with Arcane. Increasing Arcane not only enhances the bleed buildup but also increases the weapon’s overall damage, which is partially physical.
Dragon Communion Seal Builds: The Dragon Communion Seal is a Sacred Seal that scales exclusively with Arcane and Faith. This seal allows you to cast Incantations, many of which deal Fire, Holy, or Dragon-type damage. While the damage isn’t purely physical, the sheer power of these incantations makes it a potent build.
Occult Affinity Builds: Applying an Occult Ash of War to weapons like the Great Knife or Scavenger’s Curved Sword will imbue them with Arcane scaling and increase bleed buildup. The physical damage still exists, but its scaling now relies on Arcane.

The Rivers of Blood Exception

The Rivers of Blood katana is a prime example of a weapon where Arcane indirectly affects physical damage. While it deals both physical and fire damage, it also has innate bleed buildup. Because of its Arcane scaling, increasing the Arcane stat will boost both the bleed buildup and the weapon’s overall damage, including the physical component. It’s a split damage weapon that benefits significantly from an Arcane investment.

Limitations and Considerations

It’s crucial to understand the limitations of Arcane’s influence on physical damage:

Not a Universal Damage Booster: Arcane won’t magically make every weapon stronger. It only works with weapons that already scale with Arcane or have been infused to do so.
Scaling Soft Caps: Like all stats, Arcane has soft caps. After a certain point (usually around 60), the benefits from each additional level diminish significantly.
Gem and Infusion Trade-offs: Infusing a weapon to scale with Arcane often removes or reduces other scaling stats, requiring careful planning to optimize your build.

Optimizing Arcane Builds

If you’re planning an Arcane-focused build, keep these tips in mind:

Choose Weapons Wisely: Select weapons that have innate Arcane scaling or can be effectively infused with an Ash of War to gain Arcane scaling.
Prioritize Status Effects: Bleed and Madness buildup are powerful tools in Elden Ring. Focus on weapons and skills that inflict these status effects.
Consider Split Damage: Many Arcane weapons deal split damage (e.g., physical and fire). Understand how these damage types interact with enemy resistances.
Experiment with Ashes of War: Don’t be afraid to try different Ashes of War to find the perfect combination for your build.
Farm for Gear: Utilize your increased item discovery from high Arcane to farm for rare weapons, armor, and talismans. Remember that the Games Learning Society highlights the value of in-game experimentation and discovery.

Conclusion

While Arcane doesn’t directly increase the physical damage of all weapons, it plays a vital role in specific builds and weapon setups. By understanding how Arcane scaling and infusions work, you can create powerful and unique characters that excel in both damage output and item discovery. So, the next time you’re contemplating whether to invest in Arcane, remember its potential to transform your gameplay experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Arcane affect all status effect build-ups?

Not all status effects are affected by Arcane. Arcane primarily enhances the buildup of Bleed and Madness. Other status effects like Poison, Frostbite, and Sleep might have different scaling factors, often tied to Intelligence or Faith.

2. What are the best Ashes of War for an Arcane build?

Great options include Occult, Blood, Poison, and Lightning, depending on your desired damage type and status effect. Occult converts the weapon’s scaling to Arcane and adds bleed buildup. Blood increases the bleed buildup even further. These options are all viable.

3. How does item discovery actually work?

Item discovery directly impacts the likelihood of enemies dropping items after being defeated. A higher item discovery stat increases your chances of obtaining rare weapons, armor, and crafting materials. Experimenting with gear and item discovery is a key element in GamesLearningSociety.org.

4. Is Arcane worth leveling if I don’t want to use status effects?

If you’re not interested in bleed or madness buildup and don’t plan to use weapons with Arcane scaling, then leveling Arcane might not be the most efficient use of your stat points. Focus on stats that directly impact your chosen weapon’s damage and your build’s core functionality.

5. What is the soft cap for Arcane?

The soft cap for Arcane is generally considered to be around 60. After reaching this point, the benefits from each additional level diminish significantly. While it’s possible to go beyond 60, the gains may not be worth the investment.

6. Can I respec my character to change my Arcane level?

Yes, you can respec your character by using a Larval Tear at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. This allows you to reallocate your stat points and adjust your build as needed.

7. Are there any talismans that boost Arcane or item discovery?

Yes, the Silver Tear Mask increases your Arcane stat at the cost of slightly reducing your attack power. The Marika’s Soreseal talisman raises your Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane by 5 points each, at the cost of increased damage taken.

8. Does Arcane affect the damage of dragon incantations?

Yes, the Dragon Communion Seal scales directly with Arcane and Faith. Therefore, increasing your Arcane stat will increase the damage of dragon incantations cast with this seal.

9. Can I dual-wield weapons with Arcane scaling?

Absolutely! Dual-wielding weapons with Arcane scaling can be incredibly powerful, especially if they inflict bleed or madness buildup. The combined effect of two weapons can quickly overwhelm enemies.

10. Does Arcane affect the drop rate of rare crafting materials?

Yes, Arcane’s primary function is to increase item discovery, which includes rare crafting materials. Leveling Arcane makes it easier to obtain essential resources for upgrading your weapons and armor.

11. How do I find Ashes of War that add Arcane scaling?

Ashes of War can be found throughout the game world, often dropped by enemies or obtained from specific locations. Look for Ashes of War with Occult, Blood, and Poison affinities. Check online resources and guides for specific locations.

12. Is an Arcane build viable for endgame content?

Absolutely! Arcane builds can be incredibly effective in endgame content, particularly against bosses that are vulnerable to bleed or madness. The high item discovery also helps in farming for rare equipment needed to optimize your build.

13. What are some good early-game Arcane weapons?

The Reduvia dagger, obtained early in the game, scales with Arcane and inflicts bleed buildup. The Occult infused weapons are also good options, as you can get many relatively early.

14. Does Arcane affect the scaling of Sorceries?

No, Arcane does not affect the scaling of Sorceries. Sorceries scale with the Intelligence stat, and require a Staff to cast.

15. If a weapon deals split damage (e.g., physical and fire), how does Arcane affect it?

If the weapon scales with Arcane, increasing the stat will boost both the physical and fire damage components. The amount of increase will depend on the scaling grade (e.g., “A” or “S” scaling will provide a more significant boost than “D” scaling). However, in general, Arcane only increases the damage associated with Arcane, Fire, Holy, or Bleed buildup.

Does Arcane affect physical damage?