How to Summon Spirit Summons: A Comprehensive Guide
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Summoning spirit ashes is a powerful mechanic in Elden Ring, allowing you to call upon spectral allies to aid you in battle. This guide provides a detailed explanation of how to summon these spirits, along with essential tips and frequently asked questions to enhance your understanding of this valuable combat tool.
The process of summoning spirits involves several key steps: obtaining the Spirit Calling Bell, acquiring Spirit Ashes, equipping them, and knowing the right locations and conditions for summoning. The summoning process itself is not complex, but understanding each element is vital to effectively using this feature.
First, the crucial item needed to start summoning, the Spirit Calling Bell, must be obtained. This is given to you by Renna at the Church of Elleh early in the game. If you happen to miss her, the bell can later be purchased from the Twin Husks merchant at Roundtable Hold. Once you have the bell, the journey to effective summoning begins with finding spirit ashes.
Getting Started: The Spirit Calling Bell and Spirit Ashes
Obtaining the Spirit Calling Bell
The Spirit Calling Bell is essential to begin using spirit ashes. You receive this item early in the game from Renna, a mysterious witch who appears at the Church of Elleh, which can be found just north of the Stranded Graveyard site of grace. If you miss Renna, don’t worry. You can buy the Spirit Calling Bell from the Twin Husks merchant located at Roundtable Hold.
Collecting Spirit Ashes
Spirit Ashes are the items you will use to summon various spirits. You will encounter these throughout the world as loot items, rewards for defeating bosses, or can be bought from vendors. They come in a variety of forms, each with different strengths and abilities. Some summon lone warriors, while others summon groups of smaller creatures. These are equipped in your inventory’s quick slots.
The Summoning Process: Where, When, and How
Equipping Spirit Ashes
Once you’ve gathered some Spirit Ashes, you’ll need to equip them for use. Similar to items, they can be equipped to your Quick Slots or Pouch for quick access. To equip them, open your inventory, go to the equipment tab, and select the desired slot to assign the Spirit Ashes.
Summoning Near Rebirth Monuments
You can’t summon spirits just anywhere. Summoning is only possible near Rebirth Monuments, which are small, square stone structures, often described as a little square statue about waist-high. You’ll know you’re in range of a Rebirth Monument when a white icon of a tablet appears in the bottom left of your screen. This icon signals that summoning is permitted in that area.
How to Activate Spirit Summons
To summon your equipped Spirit Ash, select it from your Quick Slots or Pouch. Your character will automatically ring the Spirit Calling Bell, and your chosen spirit will appear to fight alongside you, using its unique abilities to help you win the encounter. You do not have to manually equip the bell itself; selecting the spirit ash is all that is needed to trigger the summoning.
Costs and Limitations
Summoning Spirit Ashes consumes Focus Points (FP), so you must make sure you have enough FP for the type of spirit ash being used. Additionally, only one summoned spirit can be active at a time per Rebirth Monument. Once that spirit is no longer active you must rest at a Site of Grace to reset that limit. Also, spirit summons can’t be used while in multiplayer.
Understanding Summoning Pools
Summoning Pools are special areas in the game that make it easier to find co-op and hostile summoning signs. They are not directly used for summoning spirit ashes, but they facilitate summoning in other ways for multiplayer. They make it easier to connect with other players in online play.
Additional Important Information
Spirit Ashes are not Consumable
Spirit Ashes are not a consumable item and can be used multiple times in designated areas. They are more like spells and have unlimited uses while following the rules and limitations given. Don’t be afraid to use them in tough situations, as you will be able to summon them again.
Ashes of War vs. Spirit Ashes
Do not confuse Spirit Ashes with Ashes of War. Ashes of War are used to add special abilities and skills to your weapons, not summon allies. Ashes of War can be activated through controller buttons or keyboard shortcuts such as L2 or LT on a gamepad or Shift+Right Click on the keyboard.
Summoning NPC Characters
While Spirit Ashes allow you to summon spectral allies, you can sometimes also summon NPC characters to aid you. These NPC summons are not the same as spirit summons, but have similar restrictions such as requiring a Rebirth Monument nearby. These can often be found before boss encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the purpose of the Spirit Calling Bell?
The Spirit Calling Bell is essential for summoning spirits using Spirit Ashes. Without it, you will not be able to summon allies.
2. Where do I find Spirit Ashes?
Spirit Ashes can be found throughout the game as loot items, quest rewards, or by defeating enemies. Some can be purchased from merchants.
3. Can I summon spirits everywhere?
No, spirit summons are only available near Rebirth Monuments, indicated by a white tablet icon in the bottom left of the screen.
4. Do Spirit Ashes have a cost?
Yes, summoning Spirit Ashes consumes Focus Points (FP). Ensure you have enough FP before attempting to summon.
5. Can I use multiple spirit summons at once?
No, only one spirit summon can be active per Rebirth Monument, per site of grace rest.
6. Can I summon spirits during multiplayer?
No, spirit summons are not available while playing in multiplayer co-op mode.
7. Are Spirit Ashes a one-time use item?
No, Spirit Ashes are not consumables and can be used multiple times in designated areas.
8. What if I missed the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna?
If you miss Renna at the Church of Elleh, you can purchase the Spirit Calling Bell from the Twin Husks merchant at Roundtable Hold.
9. How do I upgrade my Spirit Ashes?
Spirit Ashes can be upgraded by talking to Roderika at Roundtable Hold after she is properly introduced by Hewg the Blacksmith.
10. Can I summon other players using spirit ashes?
No, Spirit Ashes summon spectral allies, not other players. For multiplayer co-op, you use Summoning Pools and specific items such as the Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
11. What are Summoning Pools used for?
Summoning Pools help players find co-op and hostile summoning signs, facilitating multiplayer interactions.
12. How do Ashes of War differ from Spirit Ashes?
Ashes of War add special abilities to your weapons, while Spirit Ashes summon allies to aid you in battle.
13. Can I use Spirit Ashes to summon NPC characters?
Spirit Ashes summon spectral allies, not NPC characters. However, some NPCs can be summoned in certain areas and boss encounters.
14. Are there specific strategies for using different Spirit Ashes?
Yes, different Spirit Ashes have unique strengths and abilities. Experiment with various types to find ones that complement your playstyle and the situation at hand.
15. Can I summon spirits in boss battles?
Yes, you can often summon Spirit Ashes in boss battles as long as there is a nearby Rebirth Monument.
This comprehensive guide provides all the necessary information to effectively use spirit summons in Elden Ring. By understanding these mechanics and restrictions, you’ll be well-equipped to face the challenges of The Lands Between with powerful allies by your side.