Unveiling the Secrets of the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: A Deep Dive into its Compatibility with Bows in Elden Ring

The short answer? No, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia does not work with bows in Elden Ring. Its effect, which increases attack power based on successive attacks, is designed for rapid melee engagements and is not triggered by the slower, more deliberate pace of ranged archery.

Understanding the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is a coveted talisman in Elden Ring, prized for its ability to significantly boost attack power during sustained combat. This talisman operates on a tiered system, granting progressively larger damage increases as you land consecutive hits. Specifically, it provides attack power boosts of 6%, 8%, and 13% as you continue your assault.

However, these bonuses are fleeting. If you pause your attacks for too long, the buff will decay, forcing you to rebuild your momentum. This mechanic perfectly complements fast-attacking weapons and skills, incentivizing aggressive, close-quarters combat.

Why Bows Don’t Play Well with the Insignia

The reason bows are incompatible with the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia lies in the talisman’s activation requirements. It mandates a rapid succession of attacks, something difficult, if not impossible, to achieve effectively with bows.

Here’s why:

• Attack Speed: Bows, by their nature, have a slower attack cadence compared to melee weapons like katanas, swords, or even colossal weapons. Drawing, aiming, and firing an arrow takes time, making it challenging to maintain the required attack speed to trigger and sustain the Insignia’s buffs.

• Stamina Consumption: Using bows in rapid succession quickly drains stamina, further hindering your ability to maintain a consistent barrage of arrows.

• Strategic Positioning: Archers often prioritize positioning and spacing, factors that can interrupt the flow of successive attacks needed to activate the talisman’s effect.

Optimizing the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

To truly unleash the potential of the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, pair it with weapons and builds that emphasize speed and relentless aggression. Consider these options:

• Katanas: The Rivers of Blood katana, with its Corpse Piler skill, is a prime example. The skill’s rapid six-hit combo synergizes perfectly with the Insignia, allowing you to quickly reach the maximum damage bonus.

• Twinblades: These weapons are designed for fast, multi-hit attacks. The Godskin Peeler or Eleonora’s Poleblade can effectively leverage the Insignia’s successive attack boost.

• Claws/Fists: These weapons typically have fast attack animations that can quickly stack the insignia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What weapons do work well with the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia?

Weapons that excel with the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia are those that allow for rapid, continuous attacks. Katanas (especially Rivers of Blood), twinblades, claws, and certain colossal weapons with quick attack animations are excellent choices. Weapons with multi-hit weapon skills also benefit greatly.

2. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia stack with other attack-boosting talismans?

While the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia provides a scaling attack power boost, it does not stack with the standard Winged Sword Insignia. However, it can be combined with other talismans that offer flat attack power increases or stat boosts, such as the Shard of Alexander (skill damage) or Godfrey Icon (charged spells/skills).

3. How do I get the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia?

The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is acquired by completing Millicent’s questline and choosing to ally with her at the conclusion of the quest in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. This requires siding with Millicent against her sisters.

4. Is the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia better than Millicent’s Prosthesis?

This depends on your build and playstyle. The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia provides a higher maximum damage boost, but requires sustained attacks. Millicent’s Prosthesis offers a smaller damage boost but also grants +5 Dexterity. If you prioritize pure damage output and can maintain consistent attacks, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is superior. If you value the Dexterity bonus or struggle to keep the Insignia’s buff active, Millicent’s Prosthesis might be a better choice.

5. Can you get both the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and Millicent’s Prosthesis in a single playthrough?

Yes, but it requires a specific, morally questionable choice. To get both, you must initially assist Millicent through most of her quest. Then, at the Windmill Village or any time after, you need to kill her before completing the questline. This will grant you Millicent’s Prosthesis. However, to get Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, you need to complete the quest. This means to get both, you need to beat the game and go into NG+ (New Game Plus). You will be able to finish Millicent’s Questline to obtain the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia.

6. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia work with spells or incantations?

The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia primarily affects weapon attacks. While certain spells and incantations might benefit indirectly through faster casting speed (if Dexterity is increased), the talisman’s main effect of increasing attack power based on successive attacks is not directly applicable to spellcasting.

7. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia work with status effects like bleed or poison?

No, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia increases physical attack power only. It does not directly amplify status buildup like bleed, poison, frostbite, or scarlet rot. However, by increasing your weapon’s damage, you will indirectly apply these statuses more quickly.

8. How long does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia buff last?

The duration of the buff is relatively short. If you stop attacking for even a brief period, the attack power bonus will begin to decay. The exact duration varies, but it’s generally a few seconds between attacks to maintain the highest tier of the bonus.

9. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia work with jump attacks?

Yes, jump attacks are still weapon attacks and will contribute to the successive attacks needed to trigger the talisman’s effect. However, relying solely on jump attacks might not be the most efficient way to maintain the buff due to their slower execution speed.

10. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia work with charged attacks?

Charged attacks, like jump attacks, do contribute to the successive attack counter. Incorporating them into your attack pattern is fine.

11. Does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia work with ashes of war that deal multiple hits?

Some Ashes of War can deal multiple hits in one go. The most famous is the Corpse Piler skill from Rivers of Blood. These multi-hit Ashes of War will count each hit toward the successive attacks.

12. Is the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia useful for boss fights?

Yes, particularly for bosses that allow for sustained aggression. If you can maintain a consistent stream of attacks, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia can significantly increase your damage output. However, against highly mobile bosses or those with long periods of invulnerability, its effectiveness might be limited.

13. What stats does the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia scale with?

The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia itself does not scale with any stats. Its effect is a fixed percentage increase based on successive attacks, regardless of your character’s attributes.

14. Can the Winged Sword Insignia and Millicent’s Prosthesis stack?

If you have more than one talisman slot available, regardless of whether or not you’re doing NG+, then take the prosthesis and stack it with the normal winged sword insignia; which you can then replace later if you do a NG+.

15. What other talismans should I use with the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia?

Good pairings include talismans that enhance your overall damage output or survivability. The Shard of Alexander (boosts skill damage), Ritual Sword Talisman (boosts attack power at full HP), Green Turtle Talisman (increases stamina recovery), or defensive talismans like the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (reduces physical damage) are all viable options.

Conclusion

While the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is a powerful talisman, its compatibility with bows is nonexistent. To maximize its potential, focus on fast-attacking weapons and skills that allow you to maintain a relentless assault. Experiment with different combinations and find what works best for your playstyle.

And remember, the learning never stops! For more insights into the world of gaming and its educational potential, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.