Is Intelligence or Dexterity Better for Moonveil in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive

The Moonveil Katana in Elden Ring is a beloved weapon, celebrated for its elegant design, powerful Transient Moonlight weapon skill, and versatility. However, a common question among Tarnished aspiring to wield this blade effectively is: Is Intelligence or Dexterity more important for maximizing Moonveil’s potential?

The answer is nuanced, but in general, Intelligence takes precedence. While Moonveil scales with both Dexterity and Intelligence, its Intelligence scaling is demonstrably better. The Sorcery scaling from Intelligence directly impacts the damage output of the Transient Moonlight skill, arguably Moonveil’s most potent asset. Dexterity contributes primarily to the physical damage and slightly improves cast speed, but the core of Moonveil’s power lies in its magical capabilities.

Therefore, a Moonveil build should prioritize Intelligence until at least 60. After reaching that benchmark, you can then begin to invest more heavily into Dexterity, aiming for a respectable level around 50 or even higher depending on your overall build goals and stat allocation. Remember, Vigor is also crucial for survivability, so keep it at a comfortable level (40-60) depending on your playstyle and tolerance for risk.

Prioritizing Intelligence first allows you to unleash the full potential of Transient Moonlight early on, making you a formidable force in both PvE and PvP scenarios. While Dexterity is important for optimizing your melee attacks and cast speed, it ultimately plays a secondary role compared to Intelligence when it comes to maximizing Moonveil’s overall effectiveness.

Understanding Moonveil’s Scaling

To truly understand the importance of Intelligence, we need to delve deeper into how scaling works in Elden Ring. Weapons have scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) for various stats. These grades indicate how much bonus damage you receive based on your stat investment. Moonveil has a higher scaling grade for Intelligence than for Dexterity, meaning each point of Intelligence yields a greater return in damage than each point of Dexterity.

The Transient Moonlight skill further emphasizes this point. This skill fires off a wave of magical energy, and the damage of this wave is directly tied to your Intelligence stat. Investing in Intelligence not only increases Moonveil’s physical attack power but also drastically boosts the power of its signature weapon skill.

Build Recommendations for the Moonveil Katana

Here’s a suggested stat allocation guideline for a Moonveil build, recognizing that individual preferences and playstyles may necessitate adjustments:

• Vigor: 40-60. Crucial for survivability.
• Mind: 25-40. Needed for FP to cast Transient Moonlight frequently.
• Endurance: 15-25. Influences stamina and equip load.
• Strength: 12. Minimum requirement to wield Moonveil.
• Dexterity: 18 (Minimum)-50+. Improves attack speed and physical attack.
• Intelligence: 23 (Minimum) – 80. Primary stat, directly impacts Transient Moonlight damage.
• Faith: Base. Not required for Moonveil builds.
• Arcane: Base. Not required for Moonveil builds.

Remember that these are just starting points. Feel free to experiment and tailor your build to your specific needs.

Essential Talismans for the Moonveil Build

Talismans can significantly enhance your Moonveil build. Here are some recommended choices:

• The Winged Sword Insignia/Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Increases attack power with successive attacks.
• Warrior Jar Shard/Shard of Alexander: Boosts the damage of weapon skills (Transient Moonlight).
• Carian Filigree Crest: Reduces FP consumption of weapon skills.
• Magic Scorpion Charm: Increases magic damage, further amplifying Transient Moonlight. Be aware this charm increases your damage taken.
• Godfrey Icon: Enhances charged spells and skills, which can indirectly boost Transient Moonlight by empowering the follow-up attacks.

FAQ: Moonveil Katana in Elden Ring

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the Moonveil Katana and its optimal usage:

1. What are the stat requirements for Moonveil?

You need 12 Strength, 18 Dexterity, and 23 Intelligence to wield the Moonveil Katana.

2. Is Moonveil still good in Elden Ring?

Absolutely! Despite nerfs and changes, the Moonveil remains a highly viable and powerful weapon, especially with proper stat allocation and talisman choices.

3. What is the best class to start with for a Moonveil build?

Prisoner and Astrologer are both excellent choices. Prisoner has a more balanced stat distribution, while Astrologer starts with higher Intelligence.

4. What does the Transient Moonlight skill do?

Transient Moonlight allows you to sheathe your blade and then unleash a rapid slash that fires a wave of magical energy. The skill has both a light and heavy attack variant with different trajectories and damage profiles.

5. How do I get the Moonveil Katana?

You obtain the Moonveil Katana by defeating the Magma Wyrm in the Gael Tunnel in Caelid.

6. Can Moonveil be buffed with spells or consumables?

No, the Moonveil Katana cannot be buffed with spells or consumables like Greases.

7. How do I upgrade the Moonveil?

You upgrade the Moonveil Katana using Somber Smithing Stones.

8. Does Arcane affect Moonveil?

While Moonveil doesn’t directly scale with Arcane, a small investment can improve the Bleed buildup on the weapon’s attacks. However, it’s generally more efficient to focus on Intelligence and Dexterity.

9. What armor is best for a Moonveil build?

Light to medium armor that allows for good mobility is generally recommended. The appearance is subjective, but flowing, mage-like armor often complements the Moonveil’s aesthetic. The Spellblade set is a decent choice for early to mid-game.

10. How does Dexterity affect Moonveil?

Dexterity increases the physical attack power of the Moonveil and slightly improves cast speed, but its impact is less significant than Intelligence.

11. What is Sorcery Scaling?

Sorcery Scaling directly impacts the damage output of Sorceries. As the Transient Moonlight attack deals magic damage, it is directly affected by Sorcery Scaling.

12. How does the Magic Scorpion Charm affect Moonveil?

The Magic Scorpion Charm increases magic damage, which directly boosts the damage of Transient Moonlight. However, it also increases your damage taken, so use it with caution.

13. Is Moonveil good for PvP?

Yes, Moonveil is a strong PvP weapon due to its fast attacks, long-range skill, and ability to punish over-aggressive opponents.

14. Rivers of Blood vs. Moonveil, which is better?

Both are excellent weapons, but they cater to different builds and playstyles. Rivers of Blood excels at inflicting Bleed, while Moonveil focuses on magic damage and burst potential. Rivers of Blood is best for Arcane/Dexterity, while Moonveil is primarily Intelligence/Dexterity.

15. Where can I learn more about the impact of games on learning and education?

For more information on the impact of games on learning and education, visit the website of the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. GamesLearningSociety.org conducts research on games.

In conclusion, prioritizing Intelligence is the key to unlocking Moonveil’s true potential. While Dexterity is a valuable secondary stat, the raw power of Transient Moonlight and the superior Intelligence scaling make it the primary focus for any aspiring Moonveil wielder. So, go forth, Tarnished, and wield the Moonveil with intelligence and skill!