Decoding the Darkness: Is There a Black Flame Ash of War in Elden Ring?
Yes, there absolutely is a Black Flame Ash of War in Elden Ring! It’s called Ash of War: Black Flame Tornado, and it allows you to imbue certain weapons with the devastating power of black flames. This Ash of War opens up exciting build possibilities, particularly for Faith-focused characters. Let’s delve deeper into the fiery abyss and explore everything you need to know about Black Flame Ashes of War in Elden Ring.
Unveiling Ash of War: Black Flame Tornado
The Black Flame Tornado isn’t just any weapon skill; it’s a spectacle of destruction. When activated, your character spins the armament overhead before plunging it into the ground, unleashing a raging vortex of black flames. Holding down the activation button creates a continuous, initial flame tornado while spinning, adding an extra layer of offensive capability. This skill excels at both crowd control and dealing significant damage to larger enemies, especially those with substantial health pools, thanks to the black flame’s percentage-based damage effect.
Where to Find Ash of War: Black Flame Tornado
Securing this potent Ash of War requires venturing into the perilous Crumbling Farum Azula. Specifically, you must defeat the Godskin Duo boss located within the Dragon Temple area. This fight is notoriously challenging, so be prepared with appropriate gear and strategies. Summoning spirit ashes or enlisting the help of other players can significantly increase your chances of success.
Weapon Compatibility
Ash of War: Black Flame Tornado isn’t universally applicable. It’s primarily designed for use with polearms and twinblades. Experimenting with different weapons within these categories will reveal which ones best suit your playstyle and build. The Godskin Peeler twinblade, for instance, comes with the Black Flame Tornado skill by default but can be replaced with other Ashes of War.
The Power of Black Flame
The key to Black Flame’s effectiveness lies in its unique damage mechanic. It deals fire damage upon initial impact and then inflicts a damage-over-time effect that scales with the enemy’s maximum health. This makes it exceptionally effective against bosses and enemies with high HP pools, essentially melting away their health bar over a short period. This percentage-based damage is a major reason why Black Flame builds are popular for tackling some of Elden Ring’s most formidable foes.
Harnessing the Black Flame: Incantations and Builds
Beyond the Ash of War, “Black Flame” is a family of Godskin Apostle Incantations. These powerful spells are a central part of Faith-based builds, offering potent offensive capabilities.
Black Flame Blade
This incantation enchants your weapon with black flame, adding fire damage and applying a damage-over-time effect to enemies. This buff does work on weapons infused with Ashes of War, further enhancing their damage potential. The damage-over-time effect isn’t huge, but it’s percentage-based, making it more effective against tankier enemies.
Other Black Flame Incantations
- Black Flame: Throws a ball of black flame. Charging increases potency and explosion radius.
- Black Flame’s Protection: A body buff that increases physical damage negation, but lowers fire damage negation. It’s acquired by progressing Gideon Ofnir’s questline or buying it from the Twin Maiden Husks after defeating him.
- Black Flame Ritual: Summons pillars of black flame in an area, dealing significant damage to enemies caught within.
Building Around Black Flame
Creating a build centered around black flame involves:
- High Faith: Essential for scaling the damage of black flame incantations.
- Mind: Necessary for managing the FP consumption of spells and weapon skills.
- Godslayer’s Seal: This Sacred Seal boosts all Godslayer Incantations, making it a cornerstone for black flame builds.
- Appropriate Weapons: Choose weapons that synergize well with your playstyle and can be infused with black flame Ashes of War or buffed with Black Flame Blade.
- Talismans: Utilize talismans like the Radagon Icon (shortens spell casting time) and the Faithful’s Canvas Talisman (increases incantation potency).
Black flame builds are particularly effective against bosses like the Elden Beast, where percentage-based damage can make a significant difference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Black Flame in Elden Ring
1. Can you make black flames in real life?
While Elden Ring’s black flame is a fictional element, the concept has roots in real-world physics. Under specific conditions, like introducing sodium into a flame under a low-pressure sodium lamp, you can create a visual effect where the flame appears dark due to the sodium absorbing light. However, this is different from the destructive force of black flame in Elden Ring.
2. Does Black Flame Blade stack?
No, the damage-over-time effect of Black Flame Blade does not stack. Applying it repeatedly will refresh the duration of the effect but won’t increase its damage.
3. What is the best flame Ash of War besides Black Flame Tornado?
Some other excellent flame-based Ashes of War include:
- Flame of the Redmanes: Staggers most enemies, opening them up for critical attacks.
- Prelate’s Charge: A powerful charging attack that deals fire damage.
4. What is the most powerful Ash of War overall?
This is subjective and depends on your build and playstyle. However, some of the most highly regarded Ashes of War include:
- Bloodhound’s Step: Provides unparalleled mobility and invincibility frames.
- Seppuku: Greatly increases attack power at the cost of health.
- Hoarah Loux’s Earthshaker: A powerful AoE attack with high stagger potential.
5. What is the flashiest Ash of War?
Many players consider Black Flame Tornado to be among the flashiest Ashes of War in Elden Ring due to its dramatic visual effects and devastating power.
6. What is the best weapon to use Black Flame Blade on?
The “best” weapon depends on your stats and preferences. However, weapons with fast attack speeds, like katanas or curved swords, can effectively apply the Black Flame Blade’s damage-over-time effect.
7. Can you use Black Flame Blade on a scythe?
Yes, you can use Black Flame Blade on a scythe. This can be a powerful combination, especially when paired with the Grave Scythe’s unique weapon art.
8. Is black flame the hottest flame?
In the real world, blue flames are the hottest, followed by white. Black flame, as depicted in Elden Ring, doesn’t adhere to real-world physics.
9. Does black flame do more damage to the Elden Beast?
Yes, black flame incantations and weapon skills are particularly effective against the Elden Beast due to their percentage-based damage.
10. What’s the best twinblade in Elden Ring?
The “best” twinblade depends on your build. However, some popular choices include:
- Eleonora’s Poleblade: Inflicts bleed buildup and deals fire damage.
- Godskin Peeler: Comes with Black Flame Tornado and has good scaling.
11. What weapon should I put Black Flame Tornado on?
While the Godskin Peeler has it by default, experimenting with other polearms and twinblades will allow you to find the weapon that best suits your style.
12. What is the Duplicate Ash of War?
A Lost Ash of War is an item that allows you to duplicate an Ash of War. This lets you apply the same Ash of War to multiple weapons without needing to remove it from the original weapon.
13. What is the Ash of War Scarab?
The Ash-Of-War Scarab is a head armor piece that slightly reduces the FP cost of skills but increases damage taken.
14. Where can I find more information about game design and learning?
You can learn more about game design and its educational applications at the GamesLearningSociety.org website. They provide valuable resources and insights into the intersection of games and learning.
15. Can you change the affinity of a weapon with Black Flame Tornado?
Yes, when applying Ash of War: Black Flame Tornado, you can choose the Flame affinity. This primarily scales the weapon with Faith, making it ideal for Faith-based builds that utilize the weapon skill effectively.
Conclusion: Embrace the Darkness
The Black Flame Ash of War in Elden Ring is a potent tool for players seeking to harness the destructive power of black flames. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the Lands Between, mastering the art of black flame can significantly enhance your combat prowess and open up exciting new build possibilities. Don’t be afraid to experiment, adapt, and embrace the darkness – for within it lies immense power. Consider exploring resources available at the Games Learning Society to understand the mechanics of games like Elden Ring better.