Is the Meteorite Staff Worth It in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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The simple answer is absolutely, yes. The Meteorite Staff is unequivocally worth acquiring and utilizing in Elden Ring, especially in the early to mid-game. This staff, renowned for its S scaling with Intelligence and accessibility, is a potent tool for any aspiring sorcerer. However, like all things in the Lands Between, its supremacy is not absolute. This article will delve into the strengths and limitations of the Meteorite Staff, providing you with everything you need to know to make the best use of it in your playthrough.
Why the Meteorite Staff is a Game-Changer
The Meteorite Staff stands out for several reasons. Its most compelling feature is its S scaling with Intelligence, a characteristic usually reserved for late-game or heavily upgraded staves. This impressive scaling allows for substantial damage output even at relatively low Intelligence levels, making it perfect for players just beginning their magical journey. Requiring only 18 Intelligence, it allows you to quickly transition into a potent sorcery-focused build without excessive stat investment.
Furthermore, the Meteorite Staff provides a 30% boost to gravity-type sorceries, making spells like Rock Sling devastatingly effective. This synergy makes the staff particularly powerful in the early game when these spells are highly effective against various enemy types.
The Accessibility Advantage
Another major advantage of the Meteorite Staff is its early-game accessibility. You don’t have to defeat a challenging boss or navigate a treacherous dungeon to get it. It can be found relatively early on in the game, in the Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid, reached from a trapped chest in Limgrave. This early availability allows you to equip an incredibly powerful staff right as your sorcery build begins to take shape.
No Upgrade Required
Unlike most other weapons, the Meteorite Staff cannot be upgraded using smithing stones. While seemingly a drawback, this is actually a massive benefit early on. It saves you valuable smithing stones that can be used on other gear. You acquire it in its maximum potential state, which is extremely beneficial for those early hours of the game.
Limitations of the Meteorite Staff
Despite its strengths, the Meteorite Staff isn’t the be-all and end-all of sorcery catalysts. Its inability to be upgraded means it eventually gets outclassed by other staves with better scaling once they are fully upgraded. Here’s where its limitations become apparent:
Mid to Late-Game Performance
While it excels in the early game, its lack of upgradeability means its sorcery scaling doesn’t increase, leading to it being outpaced by other fully upgraded staffs. At higher Intelligence levels (60-65 and beyond) and after other staves are upgraded with Smithing Stones, catalysts like the Carian Regal Scepter and Lusat’s Glintstone Staff begin to surpass it in raw damage output.
Not the Best for All Spells
While the Meteorite Staff excels with gravity sorceries, its effectiveness with non-gravity sorceries is not its strong suit. For casting other types of magic, other staves become more viable as you advance through the game. At lower intelligence levels, the Demi-Human Queen’s Staff is a great alternative for non-gravity spells.
When to Switch from the Meteorite Staff
The question isn’t if you should switch, but when. The optimal time to move on from the Meteorite Staff generally occurs when:
- Your Intelligence stat is around 60-65 or higher.
- You have significantly upgraded a superior staff such as the Carian Regal Scepter or Lusat’s Glintstone Staff.
- You are primarily using non-gravity sorceries.
Once these conditions are met, the potential of other staves for raw spell power will outpace the Meteorite Staff, making them a superior choice for the late game.
FAQ: The Meteorite Staff in Detail
1. Is the Meteorite Staff the best staff in the game?
No, the Meteorite Staff is not the absolute best staff in the game overall. It is, however, one of the best early-game staves. Other staves, particularly the Carian Regal Scepter and Lusat’s Glintstone Staff, eventually surpass it in damage output when fully upgraded and at higher Intelligence levels.
2. When should I switch from the Meteorite Staff to another staff?
You should consider switching to a different staff, like the Carian Regal Scepter, when you have reached approximately 60-65 Intelligence and that staff is upgraded significantly.
3. What is the best early-game spell to use with the Meteorite Staff?
Rock Sling is undoubtedly the best early-game spell to pair with the Meteorite Staff. It’s a gravity sorcery that is boosted by the staff’s passive and deals significant damage.
4. Can you upgrade the Meteorite Staff?
No, the Meteorite Staff cannot be upgraded using Smithing Stones. This is a key limitation, but also an advantage in the early game, as it doesn’t require resources.
5. Is the Meteorite Staff better than the Carian Regal Scepter?
In the early to mid-game, the Meteorite Staff is generally superior due to its initial S scaling and boost to gravity spells. However, the Carian Regal Scepter surpasses the Meteorite Staff in the late game with high intelligence and sufficient upgrades.
6. What is the best weapon to pair with the Meteorite Staff?
For the early game, a weapon that scales with intelligence like the Moonveil Katana is an excellent pairing. In the late game, you may want to pair your late game staff with a weapon that supports your build.
7. Does the Meteorite Staff scale well with non-gravity spells?
While its S scaling applies to all spells, the Meteorite Staff’s real strength lies in its boost to gravity spells. For non-gravity spells, other staffs become more beneficial as you progress.
8. Is the Demi-Human Queen’s Staff better than the Meteorite Staff?
The Demi-Human Queen’s Staff is a strong contender, especially for low to mid intelligence builds, and for non-gravity sorceries. At 36 intelligence it surpasses the Meteorite Staff. Once upgraded this staff eventually becomes more powerful for non-gravity spells than the Meteorite Staff.
9. Is Lusat’s Glintstone Staff better than the Meteorite Staff?
Lusat’s Glintstone Staff offers the highest damage output in the game at the cost of 50% extra FP. It surpasses the Meteorite Staff when fully upgraded and at very high Intelligence.
10. Does the Carian Regal Scepter boost Full Moon sorceries?
Yes, the Carian Regal Scepter boosts Full Moon sorceries like Rennala’s Full Moon and Ranni’s Dark Moon by 10%.
11. Is the Meteorite Staff good for gravity sorceries?
Yes, the Meteorite Staff is exceptional for gravity sorceries due to its built-in 30% damage boost.
12. Where do I get the Meteorite Staff?
You can find the Meteorite Staff in the Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid. A trapped chest will teleport you there.
13. Is the Astrologer’s starting staff better than the Meteorite Staff?
The starting staff of the Astrologer can potentially be stronger than the Meteorite Staff with upgrades, but it takes a while to get to that point. Therefore, the Meteorite Staff is better for the early game.
14. Can I get both the Carian Regal Scepter and Rennala’s Full Moon?
Yes, you can obtain both the Carian Regal Scepter and the Rennala’s Full Moon sorcery without any issues.
15. Is the Meteorite Staff the best staff for beginners?
The Meteorite Staff is arguably the best staff for beginners due to its early accessibility, low Intelligence requirement, and powerful S scaling in the early game.
Conclusion
The Meteorite Staff is a truly invaluable tool for any sorcerer in Elden Ring, particularly during the early to mid-game. Its powerful S scaling with Intelligence and boost to gravity sorceries make it a formidable weapon right from the start. While it’s not the ultimate staff, it provides a significant advantage early on and remains relevant until you’ve invested heavily in Intelligence and found better-scaling alternatives. By understanding its strengths and limitations, you can make the most of this phenomenal staff on your journey through the Lands Between.