Does Golden Vow Stack with Commander’s Standard in Elden Ring? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is a resounding NO. Golden Vow and Commander’s Standard do not stack in Elden Ring. Both provide similar buffs – increased attack power and defense – and are considered Aura buffs. Elden Ring’s buff system prevents multiple Aura buffs from being active simultaneously. Choosing one over the other is essential for build optimization.

Understanding Buff Stacking in Elden Ring

Elden Ring features a complex buff system with various categories. Understanding these categories is crucial for maximizing your character’s potential. Buffs generally fall into these categories:

• Aura Buffs: These affect both you and nearby allies, generally boosting attack power and defense. Golden Vow (both the spell and Ash of War) and Commander’s Standard fall into this category. Only one Aura buff can be active at a time.
• Body Buffs: These affect your character directly, such as Flame, Grant Me Strength or Black Flame Protection. They usually boost specific stats.
• Weapon Buffs: Applied directly to your weapon, examples include Bloodflame Blade or Scholar’s Armament. These typically add elemental damage or scale weapon damage.
• Food Buffs: Consumed items like Boiled Crab provide defensive boosts.
• Unique Buffs: Specific to certain equipment or abilities, like the Jellyfish Shield’s Contagious Fury.

Knowing which buffs stack and which don’t is the difference between a well-optimized build and a mediocre one. Stacking different categories of buffs allows you to reach incredible damage outputs and survivability.

Golden Vow vs. Commander’s Standard: A Detailed Comparison

While they don’t stack, understanding the differences between Golden Vow and Commander’s Standard will help you decide which is better for your build:

Golden Vow (Spell)

• Source: Obtained from a Godrick Knight in Limgrave.
• Requirements: 25 Faith, Memory Slots.
• Effect: Increases attack power by 15% and damage negation by 10% (reduced to 5% damage negation in PvP) for 90 seconds.
• Pros: Longer duration, generally accessible with a dedicated Faith build.
• Cons: Requires investment in Faith, uses FP, and occupies memory slots.

Golden Vow (Ash of War)

• Source: Obtained from a Godrick Knight in Limgrave.
• Requirements: None, can be applied to various weapons.
• Effect: Increases attack power by 11.5% and damage negation by 7.5% for 45 seconds.
• Pros: Doesn’t require Faith investment, usable on many weapon types.
• Cons: Shorter duration, slightly weaker buff than the incantation.

Commander’s Standard (Rallying Standard)

• Source: Default weapon skill for Commander’s Standard great spear.
• Requirements: Wield the Commander’s Standard.
• Effect: Increases attack power and defense for self and nearby allies for 30 seconds with a stronger buff than Golden Vow. The article stated this effect gives a 20% damage and defense buff.
• Pros: Doesn’t require Faith investment, strong buff.
• Cons: Tied to a specific weapon, shorter duration, and less flexible.

Which is better?

In most cases, the Commander’s Standard (Rallying Standard) is favored due to it’s stronger buff, but the Golden Vow incantation is a fantastic choice for Faith builds for the longer duration.

Maximizing Your Buffs: Synergies and Considerations

Knowing what does stack with Golden Vow and Commander’s Standard is just as important as knowing what doesn’t. Here are some key synergies:

• Flame, Grant Me Strength: This body buff stacks multiplicatively with both Golden Vow and Commander’s Standard, providing a substantial physical damage increase.
• Black Flame’s Protection: Another body buff that stacks, this incantation provides significant physical damage reduction.
• Food Buffs (e.g., Boiled Crab): These defensive buffs stack multiplicatively, further enhancing your survivability.
• Unique Buffs (e.g., Jellyfish Shield’s Contagious Fury): These unique effects can stack, adding another layer to your damage output.
• Talismans: Various talismans, such as the Faithful’s Canvas Talisman and Flock’s Canvas Talisman, can enhance incantation damage.
• Aromatics: Bloodboil Aromatic stacks with Golden Vow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about buff stacking, Golden Vow, and Commander’s Standard in Elden Ring:

1. Can I use Golden Vow and Rallying Standard together?

No, Golden Vow and Rallying Standard cannot be stacked. They are both Aura buffs and will overwrite each other. You must choose one or the other.

2. Does Golden Vow affect spell damage?

While early reports suggested it didn’t in newer patches, Golden Vow does affect spell damage.

3. Does Flame, Grant Me Strength stack with Golden Vow?

Yes, Flame, Grant Me Strength stacks multiplicatively with Golden Vow, providing a significant damage boost.

4. Does Black Flame’s Protection stack with Golden Vow?

Yes, Black Flame’s Protection stacks multiplicatively with Golden Vow, providing substantial physical damage reduction.

5. What knight drops Golden Vow?

A Godrick Knight located north-east of the Warmaster’s Shack in Limgrave drops the Golden Vow Ash of War. The Golden Vow incantation is in Corpse-Stench Shack of Mt. Gelmir.

6. Which is better, Golden Vow or Commander’s Standard?

The Commander’s Standard, due to it’s stronger buff, but the Golden Vow incantation is a fantastic choice for Faith builds for the longer duration.

7. Do aromatics stack with Golden Vow?

Yes, Bloodboil Aromatic stacks with Golden Vow.

8. How much of a buff does Golden Vow give?

The Golden Vow Ash of War provides an 11.5% damage buff and a 7.5% damage negation. The incantation version provides a 15% damage buff and a 10% damage negation.

9. Can Commander’s Standard be buffed?

Commander’s Standard is upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones.

10. What is the best damage buff in Elden Ring?

The best damage buff depends on your build. Flame, Grant Me Strength, Golden Vow, and unique buffs like Contagious Fury from the Jellyfish Shield are all contenders.

11. Does Howl of Shabriri buff damage?

Yes, Howl of Shabriri increases damage by 25% but also increases damage taken by 30%.

12. Do talismans stack with incantations?

Yes, talismans like the Faithful’s Canvas Talisman and Flock’s Canvas Talisman stack multiplicatively with incantation buffs.

13. What incantation does the most damage in Elden Ring?

Catch Flame is a powerful and efficient damage-dealing incantation.

14. Does Golden Vow work on incantations?

Yes, Golden Vow affects the damage of incantations.

15. How does damage scaling work for Elden Ring?

Understanding character leveling is crucial to progression in Elden Ring. The Games Learning Society has resources discussing this relationship in-depth.

Conclusion

While Golden Vow and Commander’s Standard don’t stack, mastering the Elden Ring’s buff system is crucial for optimizing your character build. Experimenting with different combinations and understanding the various categories will allow you to create a powerful and versatile Tarnished, ready to face the challenges of the Lands Between. Remember to explore resources at GamesLearningSociety.org to understand the underlying mechanics of games like Elden Ring and how they can be used for learning and engagement.