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Is the Sword of St. Trina Worth Upgrading in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer? Yes, the Sword of St. Trina is absolutely worth upgrading in Elden Ring, if you’re building a character that can take advantage of its unique properties. It’s not a weapon for every build, but for those aiming to strategically use the Sleep status effect, it becomes a powerful and versatile tool. Let’s delve into the specifics.

Understanding the Sword of St. Trina

The Sword of St. Trina is one of the few weapons in Elden Ring that can inflict the Sleep status effect. This effect causes enemies (and sometimes even other players in PvP) to become temporarily unconscious, leaving them vulnerable to critical hits. This opens a multitude of strategic possibilities, from stunning powerful bosses to creating openings in tense PvP encounters. The sword scales primarily with Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity, making it suitable for hybrid builds.

Key Considerations Before Upgrading

Before investing your precious Smithing Stones into upgrading the Sword of St. Trina, consider the following:

Your Build: Are you investing in Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity? A weapon’s scaling is crucial. If your stats don’t align with the sword’s scaling, you’ll be leaving a significant amount of damage on the table. Consider a stat reset (Larval Tear) if you’re committed to this weapon but your current build isn’t optimized.
Your Playstyle: Do you favor a tactical approach, using status effects to control the battlefield? Or do you prefer a more direct, aggressive playstyle? The Sword of St. Trina shines in the hands of players who understand how to leverage the Sleep effect strategically.
Alternative Weapons: Are there other weapons that better suit your build and playstyle? Elden Ring is brimming with options. Consider whether a different weapon might offer higher overall damage or a more versatile moveset for your specific needs.
Resource Availability: Upgrading weapons requires Smithing Stones, which can be limited in the early game. Make sure you have enough stones available and a reliable source to acquire more as you progress. Check online guides for the location of Smithing-Stone Miner Bell Bearings to purchase an unlimited amount of specific tiers of Smithing Stones.

Why Upgrade the Sword of St. Trina?

Increased Sleep Buildup: Upgrading the sword directly increases the amount of Sleep buildup it applies per hit. This means you’ll put enemies to sleep more quickly and reliably.
Enhanced Damage Output: While the Sword of St. Trina isn’t primarily a damage-dealing weapon, upgrading it will still improve its physical and magical attack power, making it a more viable option for general combat.
Improved Scaling: As you upgrade the sword, its scaling with Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity will improve. This means you’ll gain even more damage from your stats.
Unique Weapon Skill: The sword’s unique weapon skill, Mists of Slumber, releases a cloud of sleep-inducing mist. Upgrading the sword will increase the mist’s effectiveness and damage.

When Not to Upgrade

Pure Strength or Dexterity Builds: If you are focused solely on Strength or Dexterity, there are many other weapons that will provide significantly more damage output.
Early Game Resource Management: Upgrading multiple weapons early on can spread your Smithing Stones too thin. Prioritize weapons that align with your primary build focus.
PvP Focus without a Dedicated Strategy: While the Sword of St. Trina can be effective in PvP, it requires a specific strategy and understanding of its limitations. Simply relying on putting opponents to sleep isn’t always reliable.

How to Maximize the Sword of St. Trina

Dual Wielding: As the article mentions, wielding two Swords of St. Trina dramatically increases Sleep buildup, making it much more effective in both PvE and PvP.
Talismans: Equip talismans that enhance status effect buildup or weapon skill damage. The Kindred of Rot’s Exultation talisman increases attack power when a nearby ally is afflicted with poison or rot, and while not directly related to sleep, combining this with other status effects could be a viable strategy.
Armor: Certain armor sets can also boost status effect buildup. Research armor pieces that synergize with your Sleep-focused build.
Ash of War (Limited): The Sword of St. Trina cannot be infused with Ashes of War, so you’re stuck with Mists of Slumber. Understand its range, cast time, and cost, and use it strategically.
Stat Allocation: Prioritize Intelligence as it appears to be the stat that scales most efficiently with the Sleep buildup of this weapon.

Is Sword of St Trina good for endgame?

The Sword of St. Trina can be useful in endgame scenarios, if you’ve built around it. Some bosses are resistant to Sleep, so it may be more effective on general enemies.

St Trina’s Torch vs Sword

The St. Trina’s Torch is an alternative method of applying Sleep. Consider using both for maximum effect. The torch also scales with Faith so it is excellent for characters who also put points in faith for incantations.

Additional Resources

Remember to consult online resources, community forums, and gameplay videos to further refine your understanding of the Sword of St. Trina and its potential.

Conclusion

The Sword of St. Trina is a niche but powerful weapon in Elden Ring. Upgrading it is a worthwhile investment for players who understand its strengths and are willing to build a character around its unique properties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What stats does the Sword of St. Trina scale with?

The Sword of St. Trina scales primarily with Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity.

2. How do I get the Sword of St. Trina?

The Sword of St. Trina is found in the Forsaken Ruins in the Caelid region. You’ll need to find it inside a chest.

3. Is Sleep a good status effect in Elden Ring?

Yes, Sleep is a very useful status effect as it renders enemies completely vulnerable to a critical hit. This is especially useful against bosses who are otherwise difficult to stagger.

4. Can all enemies be put to sleep?

No, some enemies and bosses are immune or highly resistant to the Sleep status effect.

5. Does upgrading the Sword of St. Trina increase Sleep buildup?

Yes, upgrading the sword increases the amount of Sleep buildup it applies per hit.

6. What is the best way to use the Sword of St. Trina in PvP?

In PvP, use the Sword of St. Trina strategically to create openings for critical hits or to disrupt enemy attacks. Dual wielding it, or using it in combination with other quick weapons that can add to the Sleep build up faster may be useful tactics. Be wary of enemies using consumables and skills to remove status ailments.

7. Can I put bosses to sleep with the Sword of St. Trina?

Yes, many bosses can be put to sleep, but some are more resistant than others. Experiment and adapt your strategy accordingly.

8. What talismans are good for a Sleep-focused build?

Talismans that increase status effect buildup, weapon skill damage, or critical hit damage are all beneficial for a Sleep-focused build.

9. Can I change the Ash of War on the Sword of St. Trina?

No, the Sword of St. Trina has a fixed Ash of War, Mists of Slumber, and cannot be changed.

10. Is the Sword of St. Trina good for a beginner?

It depends. While the Sleep status effect can be helpful, the sword’s scaling and tactical playstyle may be more challenging for new players. Simpler weapons with higher raw damage might be more suitable for beginners.

11. Where can I find Smithing Stones to upgrade the Sword of St. Trina?

Smithing Stones can be found throughout the Lands Between, in mines, and as drops from certain enemies. Consult online guides for specific locations and farming strategies.

12. What is the difference between the Sword of St. Trina and St. Trina’s Torch?

The Sword of St. Trina is a straight sword that inflicts Sleep, while St. Trina’s Torch is a torch that also inflicts Sleep. The torch scales primarily with Faith whereas the sword scales with Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity.

13. Is the Sword of St. Trina affected by Arcane?

While the sword doesn’t directly scale with Arcane, increasing Arcane will enhance your Discovery stat, increasing the chance of finding rare items and Smithing Stones needed to upgrade the weapon.

14. How do I respec my stats in Elden Ring?

You can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

15. What other resources are available for learning about Elden Ring?

There are countless online guides, wikis, forums, and gameplay videos dedicated to Elden Ring. Explore these resources to deepen your understanding of the game’s mechanics and strategies. You can also check educational platforms, for example the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) that studies the learning and social aspects of playing video games.

Is Sword of St Trina worth upgrading?