Is It Worth Upgrading Ashes in Elden Ring? A Tarnished Guide

Absolutely! Upgrading your Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring is not just worth it; it’s practically essential for conquering the game’s tougher challenges. Think of it as investing in a loyal (and spectral) companion who will dramatically increase your survivability and damage output, particularly in boss fights. A fully upgraded Spirit Ash can often be the difference between glorious victory and frustrating defeat, turning the tide when you’re facing overwhelming odds.

The Power of Spectral Allies: Why Upgrade?

Elden Ring throws a relentless barrage of difficult encounters at the player. While skill and strategy are paramount, having a reliable ally to draw aggro, deal damage, or provide support can be invaluable. This is where Spirit Ashes come in. These spectral summons offer a diverse range of abilities, from tanky protectors to ranged damage dealers and even support characters that apply status effects.

Upgrading these ashes enhances their core attributes, significantly boosting their effectiveness in combat. Here’s a breakdown of why upgrading is so crucial:

• Increased Attack Power: Upgrading directly translates to higher damage output from your summoned ally. This is particularly noticeable with damage-focused ashes like the Black Knife Tiche or the Mimic Tear, allowing them to contribute significantly to boss fights and clear out enemies faster.

• Enhanced Defenses: Upgraded Spirit Ashes can withstand more punishment, allowing them to stay in the fight longer. This is critical for tanking ashes like Lhutel the Headless, who are designed to draw enemy aggro and protect you from harm. A tankier ash gives you more breathing room to heal, cast spells, or unleash your own attacks.

• Improved Survivability: A combination of increased defenses and potentially increased health means your summons are less likely to be quickly dispatched by powerful enemies. This sustained presence on the battlefield is invaluable, providing consistent support and distraction.

• Scalable Benefits: The benefits of upgrading scale as you progress through the game. Early upgrades provide a noticeable boost, but the later upgrades, especially towards +10, yield exponential improvements. This ensures that your favorite Spirit Ashes remain viable even in the toughest late-game encounters.

The Glovewort System: Fueling Your Summons

Upgrading Spirit Ashes requires two types of materials: Grave Gloveworts and Ghost Gloveworts.

• Grave Gloveworts: These are used to upgrade Standard Spirit Ashes. They are typically found in graveyards, catacombs, and other areas associated with the dead.

• Ghost Gloveworts: These are used to upgrade Renowned Spirit Ashes. These are often more powerful or unique summons, and their upgrade materials are typically found in areas like the Eternal Cities (Nokron, Nokstella) or in higher-level dungeons.

You’ll need to collect increasing quantities of these Gloveworts as you upgrade your Spirit Ashes. Roderika, located at the Roundtable Hold, is the NPC who will upgrade your ashes for you, in exchange for Gloveworts and Runes. Talking to her and Master Hewg multiple times will prompt her to begin her ash upgrading service.

Choosing the Right Ashes to Upgrade: A Strategic Approach

While upgrading any Spirit Ash will provide some benefit, it’s wise to prioritize those that best suit your playstyle and build. Consider these factors:

• Your Build: If you’re a melee-focused character, a tanky ash like Lhutel the Headless or the Dung Eater Puppet might be ideal to draw aggro and allow you to deal damage safely. If you’re a caster, a damage-dealing ash like Black Knife Tiche or Nightmaiden & Swordstress Puppets can provide valuable additional damage output.

• Enemy Weaknesses: Some Spirit Ashes are more effective against certain enemy types. For example, the Spirit Jellyfish can be effective against enemies weak to poison, while the Cleanrot Knight Finlay is resistant to Rot and Poison.

• Personal Preference: Ultimately, the best Spirit Ashes to upgrade are the ones you enjoy using the most. Experiment with different summons and see which ones complement your playstyle and provide the most assistance.

The Mimic Tear, arguably the strongest Spirit Ash in the game, is a fantastic all-around choice. It creates a copy of your character, equipped with your weapons, armor, and spells. This allows it to adapt to a wide range of situations and provide significant damage and support.

Alternatives to Spirit Ashes

While Spirit Ashes can provide a tremendous boon to players, especially those who struggle with the challenges of Elden Ring, there are several alternatives for players to improve their characters in the game.

• Leveling Up: Increasing stats like vigor, strength, dexterity, intelligence, faith, and arcane will improve your survivability, damage, and spellcasting capabilities.

• Upgrading Weapons: Improve the effectiveness of your weapons by upgrading them at a smithing table with smithing stones.

• Ash of War: Imbue your weapons with special skills called Ash of War to give them special traits, skills, and scaling affinities.

• Talismans: Enhance your stats with passive buffs by equipping talismans.

• Great Runes: Obtain powerful great runes from defeating shardbearers that grant powerful passive buffs that greatly improve the character when activated with a Rune Arc.

Don’t Neglect Your Spectral Allies

In conclusion, upgrading Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring is a worthwhile investment that can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. By bolstering their attack power, defenses, and survivability, you transform them into invaluable allies who can turn the tide of battle. So, gather those Gloveworts, visit Roderika at the Roundtable Hold, and unleash the full potential of your spectral companions. And remember, for more insights into the design and impact of games, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I unlock Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring?

You obtain your first Spirit Ashes, the Lone Wolf Ashes, early in the game from Renna at the Church of Elleh after obtaining Torrent. She only appears at night. Other Spirit Ashes are found throughout the game, often in dungeons, tombs, or as rewards for defeating bosses.

2. What’s the difference between Standard and Renowned Spirit Ashes?

Standard Spirit Ashes are typically more common and less powerful, upgraded with Grave Gloveworts. Renowned Spirit Ashes are rarer, generally more potent, and require Ghost Gloveworts for upgrades.

3. Can I upgrade all Spirit Ashes to +10?

Yes, all Spirit Ashes, both Standard and Renowned, can be upgraded to a maximum of +10.

4. Which Spirit Ash should I upgrade first?

The Mimic Tear is widely considered the best, followed by Black Knife Tiche and tanky options like Lhutel the Headless. However, prioritize ashes that complement your build and playstyle. The GamesLearningSociety.org offers resources that delve into character builds, which can help you decide which Spirit Ash fits your playstyle.

5. Where can I find Gloveworts?

Grave Gloveworts are found primarily in graveyards, catacombs, and other areas associated with death. Ghost Gloveworts are found in the Eternal Cities and other high-level dungeons.

6. Does upgrading my weapon affect my Mimic Tear’s weapon?

Yes, the Mimic Tear copies your current equipment. So, upgrading your weapon will also improve the weapon wielded by the Mimic Tear.

7. Do Spirit Ashes scale with my stats?

No, Spirit Ashes do not directly scale with your stats. However, some ashes benefit from specific builds. For example, the Mimic Tear’s effectiveness is directly tied to the player’s equipped gear and stats.

8. Is it worth upgrading Spirit Ashes if I’m already high level?

Yes, even at high levels, upgraded Spirit Ashes can provide invaluable support and distraction, especially in challenging boss fights. Their survivability and damage output are significantly enhanced by upgrades.

9. Can Spirit Ashes be summoned everywhere?

No, Spirit Ashes can only be summoned in specific areas, typically boss arenas or areas marked by a small, glowing blue icon on the left side of the screen.

10. Can I summon multiple Spirit Ashes at once?

Normally, you can only summon one Spirit Ash at a time. However, certain items and Talismans like the “Spirit Caller’s Cave” can allow you to summon more under specific circumstances.

11. What happens if my Spirit Ash dies?

If your Spirit Ash dies, you can resummon it as long as you are in an area where summoning is permitted and you have sufficient FP (Focus Points).

12. Are some Spirit Ashes better for specific bosses?

Yes, certain Spirit Ashes are more effective against specific bosses due to their resistances, attack types, and abilities. Experimentation is key to finding the optimal summon for each encounter.

13. Does Golden Vow affect Spirit Ashes?

No, the Golden Vow skill and incantation only affect the player’s damage, defense, and attack power. It does not affect that of Spirit Ashes.

14. Does the Godfrey Icon talisman affect Spirit Ashes?

No, the Godfrey Icon talisman only affects the player’s charged spells and skills. It does not affect Spirit Ashes.

15. Are Spirit Ashes worth using in multiplayer?

Yes, Spirit Ashes can be helpful in multiplayer to draw the aggro of the enemies. This gives the other cooperator time to heal or deal extra damage to the enemy.