Does Dex Speed Up Sword of Night and Flame? A Definitive Guide
No, Dexterity (Dex) does not speed up the Sword of Night and Flame. This weapon’s effectiveness is primarily determined by Intelligence (Int) and Faith (Fai), which scale its magic damage and overall attack power. Dexterity only impacts attack speed based on the weapon you are using; the Sword of Night and Flame cannot be sped up using Dex.
Understanding the Sword of Night and Flame
The Sword of Night and Flame is a unique straight sword in Elden Ring known for its powerful weapon skills: Night Comet and Flame Sweep. These abilities allow players to unleash both magical and fire-based attacks, making it a versatile option for both melee and ranged combat. The sword’s distinct scaling makes it a favorite among hybrid builds that invest in both Intelligence and Faith.
Key Attributes and Scaling
The Sword of Night and Flame’s effectiveness stems primarily from these attributes:
- Intelligence: Increases the damage of the Night Comet skill and overall magic damage of the sword.
- Faith: Boosts the damage of the Flame Sweep skill and contributes to the sword’s overall attack power.
While the sword does have a small Strength requirement to wield it, Strength and Dexterity do not contribute significantly to its damage output. Increasing these attributes will not yield a noticeable improvement in its effectiveness compared to Intelligence and Faith.
Why Dex Doesn’t Matter for Attack Speed
It’s a common misconception that Dexterity universally increases attack speed in Elden Ring. While Dexterity does improve casting speed for sorceries and incantations, and can marginally affect the speed of some weapon skills and animations, it has no direct impact on the attack speed of the Sword of Night and Flame. The speed at which you swing the sword is primarily determined by the weapon’s inherent speed and your character’s equip load (how much weight you’re carrying relative to your maximum capacity).
Optimizing the Sword of Night and Flame
To maximize the Sword of Night and Flame’s potential, focus on the following:
Investing in Intelligence and Faith
The most effective way to enhance this weapon is by leveling up Intelligence and Faith equally. This dual investment significantly boosts both weapon skills, allowing you to deal substantial damage with both Night Comet and Flame Sweep. Aim for at least 60 Intelligence and 60 Faith in the late game for optimal performance.
Choosing the Right Talismans
Talismans can provide valuable buffs to complement the Sword of Night and Flame. Some recommended options include:
- Radagon Icon: Increases casting speed for spells and weapon skills, making Night Comet and Flame Sweep slightly faster to execute.
- Godfrey Icon: Enhances the charge attacks, boosting the damage of a charged Night Comet.
- Fire Scorpion Charm: Increases fire damage, directly benefiting the Flame Sweep skill.
- Magic Scorpion Charm: Increases magic damage, enhancing the Night Comet skill.
- Faithful’s Canvas Talisman and/or Ritual Sword Talisman Further increase damage output.
Armor and Equip Load
To maximize mobility, aim for a medium equip load, allowing you to roll effectively and avoid enemy attacks. Light armor can help achieve this, while still providing decent protection. Heavier armor, while offering more defense, will slow you down and make it harder to dodge.
Utilizing Weapon Skills Strategically
The key to mastering the Sword of Night and Flame lies in effectively utilizing its weapon skills.
- Night Comet: Use this for ranged attacks against single targets or to exploit enemy weaknesses. Its homing capability makes it effective against fast-moving foes.
- Flame Sweep: Ideal for crowd control and dealing fire damage to enemies weak to fire. It can also be used defensively to create space between you and your opponents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the stat requirements for the Sword of Night and Flame?
The stat requirements for the Sword of Night and Flame are 12 Strength, 12 Dexterity, 24 Intelligence, and 24 Faith.
2. Where can I find the Sword of Night and Flame?
The Sword of Night and Flame can be found in a chest in Caria Manor, located in the Liurnia of the Lakes region. From the Manor Lower Level site of grace, carefully drop down ledges to find the chest on a lower level.
3. Does Strength affect the Sword of Night and Flame’s damage?
Strength has a minimal impact on the sword’s damage. Intelligence and Faith are the primary attributes that scale its damage.
4. Can I upgrade the Sword of Night and Flame?
Yes, the Sword of Night and Flame can be upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones. It can be upgraded to +10, maximizing its damage potential.
5. Is the Sword of Night and Flame still good after the nerfs?
While it was significantly nerfed from its original state, the Sword of Night and Flame is still a viable weapon if built around correctly. It requires a more balanced approach to Intelligence and Faith and a strategic use of its weapon skills.
6. How does the Radagon Icon affect the Sword of Night and Flame?
The Radagon Icon increases the casting speed of the weapon skills, making Night Comet and Flame Sweep slightly faster to execute. This can provide a marginal but noticeable increase in responsiveness.
7. What is the best build for the Sword of Night and Flame?
The best build focuses on investing heavily in Intelligence and Faith, aiming for at least 60 in each stat. Supplement this with talismans that boost magic and fire damage, and armor that allows for a medium equip load.
8. Does the Magic Scorpion Charm affect Flame Sweep?
No, the Magic Scorpion Charm only boosts magic damage, which primarily affects Night Comet. The Fire Scorpion Charm boosts fire damage, affecting Flame Sweep.
9. Which weapon skill is better: Night Comet or Flame Sweep?
The better weapon skill depends on the situation. Night Comet is better for single targets and ranged attacks, while Flame Sweep is more effective for crowd control and dealing fire damage to enemies weak to fire.
10. Can I dual-wield the Sword of Night and Flame?
No, you cannot dual-wield the Sword of Night and Flame as there is only one of it per playthrough, without trading or using multiple characters. You can pair it with another straight sword that complements its damage type or offers different weapon skills.
11. Does Dexterity increase the attack speed of other weapons in Elden Ring?
Dexterity does influence the attack speed of some weapons, especially those that have high dexterity scaling. Lighter weapons and those with faster animations typically benefit more from increased dexterity in terms of attack speed.
12. Can I respec my stats if I don’t like my build for the Sword of Night and Flame?
Yes, you can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear. This allows you to reallocate your attribute points and experiment with different builds.
13. How does the equip load affect the Sword of Night and Flame’s performance?
Your equip load affects your mobility and roll distance. A heavy equip load will slow you down and make it harder to dodge, while a medium equip load allows for more agile movement. Light equip load allows you to roll further, giving more I-frames.
14. What are some alternative weapons for a similar playstyle to the Sword of Night and Flame?
Some alternative weapons include the Moonveil Katana, the Dark Moon Greatsword, and weapons that can be infused with magic or fire affinity, allowing for a similar hybrid damage output.
15. Is the Sword of Night and Flame viable for PvP (Player vs. Player) combat?
The Sword of Night and Flame can be viable in PvP, but it requires strategic use of its weapon skills and careful timing. Opponents can easily dodge predictable attacks, so mix up your tactics and use the Night Comet and Flame Sweep in unexpected ways. It has fallen from grace as an overpowered weapon in PvP though, and is more of a fun choice now.