Table of Contents

The Erdtree Seal: Is It Worth the Somber Smithing Stones in Elden Ring?

Absolutely. For a dedicated Faith build focused on maximizing incantation scaling and damage output at higher levels, the Erdtree Seal is undoubtedly worth upgrading in Elden Ring. It eventually becomes the best pure Faith seal in the game, outperforming other options in terms of overall spell buff.

Understanding the Erdtree Seal: A Deep Dive

The Erdtree Seal is a Sacred Seal found relatively late in Elden Ring. While its initial stats might seem underwhelming, its potential at higher levels of Faith is unmatched. It boasts a unique scaling trajectory, reaching S scaling in Faith surprisingly early in its upgrade path. This makes it a powerful tool for incantation users, particularly those prioritizing raw damage output.

Key Features and Benefits

Superior Faith Scaling: The primary draw of the Erdtree Seal is its S scaling in Faith once upgraded to +5. This scaling far surpasses most other seals, resulting in significantly higher incantation scaling at high Faith levels.
Highest Incantation Scaling at 80 Faith: For players aiming for the soft cap of 80 Faith, the Erdtree Seal provides the absolute highest incantation scaling among seals dedicated solely to Faith. While other seals might offer comparable scaling at lower Faith levels, the Erdtree Seal pulls ahead at the endgame.
Versatility for Faith-Based Incantations: The seal doesn’t buff any specific school of incantations, but instead boosts all incantations based on the overall scaling. This makes it extremely versatile, allowing players to use a wide variety of offensive, defensive, and healing spells without penalty.
Somber Smithing Stone Upgrade Path: While the Erdtree Seal requires Somber Smithing Stones for upgrading, this is generally considered an advantage. Somber Stones are often easier to acquire in significant quantities compared to regular Smithing Stones, and also only require one of each level to fully upgrade.
Strong Endgame Option: The Erdtree Seal is primarily an endgame seal. It truly shines when your Faith stat is high, making it a perfect choice for players who have invested heavily in Faith throughout their playthrough.

Drawbacks and Considerations

Late-Game Acquisition: The Erdtree Seal is found in the Royal Capital, Leyndell, a relatively late-game area. This means you won’t have access to it for a significant portion of the game.
Lower Early-Game Scaling: Before reaching higher upgrade levels, the Erdtree Seal’s incantation scaling is relatively low. This can make it less effective in the early to mid-game compared to seals that offer specific incantation buffs or have better scaling at lower levels.
Opportunity Costs: Upgrading the Erdtree Seal requires Somber Smithing Stones. While these are readily available later in the game, using them on the Erdtree Seal means you might have to prioritize it over upgrading other weapons.
Not Ideal for Hybrid Builds: If you’re running a hybrid build that splits stats significantly between Faith and another stat, the Erdtree Seal might not be the optimal choice. Seals with split scaling (like the Golden Order Seal for Intelligence/Faith) can be more effective in those situations.

Comparing to Other Seals

The Erdtree Seal’s value is best understood in comparison to other prominent seals:

Clawmark Seal: While the Clawmark Seal boosts Bestial Incantations, the Erdtree Seal eventually surpasses it in raw scaling at higher Faith levels. A popular strategy involves using the Erdtree Seal and either the Cinquedea or an offhand Clawmark Seal for the Bestial Incantation bonus.
Godslayer’s Seal: This seal buffs Godslayer Incantations. If your build heavily relies on Black Flame spells, the Godslayer’s Seal is a better choice in the early game.
Dragon Communion Seal: This seal boosts Dragon Communion Incantations and scales with both Faith and Arcane. If you’re using Dragon Breath spells and have invested in Arcane, this seal is generally superior.
Golden Order Seal: This seal scales with both Faith and Intelligence, making it suitable for hybrid builds. If you have significant investments in both stats (80/80), this seal becomes the better choice.
Gravel Stone Seal: Boosts Dragon Cult Incantations, specifically Lightning based incantations. If you heavily use this damage type, the Gravel Stone Seal is a strong choice.
Frenzied Flame Seal: Scales with Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith. Only really viable for a very niche build.

Making the Decision: Is It Right For You?

Upgrading the Erdtree Seal is worthwhile if you meet these criteria:

You are building a dedicated Faith caster.
You prioritize maximizing incantation scaling for pure damage output.
You have reached a high Faith level (60+).
You are in the late game and have access to Somber Smithing Stones.
You primarily use incantations without a specific seal buff.

If you meet these requirements, the Erdtree Seal is an excellent investment. Its unmatched scaling will transform your incantations into devastating forces, allowing you to overcome the toughest challenges in Elden Ring. Don’t be fooled by its initially low stats; its true potential unlocks with dedicated investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 common questions about the Erdtree Seal and its place in Elden Ring:

What stats does the Erdtree Seal scale with? The Erdtree Seal primarily scales with Faith. It starts with C scaling, progresses to B, then A, and finally reaches S scaling at +5.
Where can I find the Erdtree Seal? The Erdtree Seal is located in the Royal Capital, Leyndell.
What is the highest incantation scaling achievable with the Erdtree Seal? The exact value depends on your Faith level, but at 80 Faith, the Erdtree Seal offers the highest incantation scaling among pure Faith seals.
Does the Erdtree Seal buff any specific incantation types? No, the Erdtree Seal doesn’t buff any specific school of incantations. Its strength lies in its overall scaling, which applies equally to all incantations.
Is the Erdtree Seal better than the Clawmark Seal? At high Faith levels, the Erdtree Seal provides higher spell buff than the Clawmark Seal. However, the Clawmark Seal provides a 15% bonus to Bestial Incantations, so it can still be valuable for those builds. At very high faith levels, a good strategy is to use the Erdtree Seal with either the Cinquedea or an offhand Clawmark Seal for the Bestial Incantation bonus.
Is the Erdtree Seal better than the Golden Order Seal? The Erdtree Seal is better than the Golden Order Seal for pure Faith builds. The Golden Order Seal is superior for builds that invest heavily in both Faith and Intelligence.
What upgrade materials are required for the Erdtree Seal? The Erdtree Seal requires Somber Smithing Stones for upgrading.
When does the Erdtree Seal reach S scaling in Faith? The Erdtree Seal reaches S scaling in Faith at +5.
Is it worth using the Erdtree Seal at low Faith levels? No, the Erdtree Seal’s low starting stats make it less effective at lower Faith levels. Consider using a seal with better early-game scaling or specific incantation buffs.
Can I dual-wield seals to stack buffs? Yes, buffs to incantation types provided by certain seals are applied passively when held, not when used. This allows you to stack buffs by dual-wielding seals.
What is the best seal to use at 80 Faith? The Erdtree Seal is the best pure Faith seal at 80 Faith.
What are some good incantations to use with the Erdtree Seal? The Erdtree Seal works well with any Faith-based incantation. Popular choices include Lightning Spear, Black Flame, Golden Vow, and Blessing’s Boon.
Does the Erdtree Seal affect weapon buffs? No, the Erdtree Seal only affects incantations. It does not buff weapons directly.
How does the Erdtree Seal compare to the Dragon Communion Seal? The Dragon Communion Seal scales with both Faith and Arcane and is best suited for Dragon Communion Incantations. The Erdtree Seal is specifically for Faith builds.
Where can I learn more about game mechanics and strategies? Check out organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for academic research and community discussions about gaming. They provide invaluable insights into game design, player behavior, and educational applications of games.

Is the Erdtree seal worth upgrading?