What Ash of War Heals You? A Comprehensive Guide
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The world of Elden Ring is fraught with peril, and survival hinges on more than just offensive power. Healing is crucial, and while flasks are your primary source, some Ashes of War offer alternative methods of restoring your HP. The most direct answer to “What Ash of War heals you?” is: the Prayerful Strike Ash of War, and to a lesser extent, the Bloodboon Ritual Ash of War. However, understanding the nuances, limitations, and alternatives is vital for optimal build crafting and combat effectiveness.
Prayerful Strike: The Dedicated Healing Ash of War
How Prayerful Strike Works
Prayerful Strike is a unique Ash of War that imbues a weapon with the Holy affinity. Upon use, your character performs a slow, deliberate strike. If the attack connects with an enemy, it not only deals damage but also heals you for a significant portion of your maximum HP. The amount healed is influenced by your weapon’s damage output, scaling with stats like Strength and Faith, as well as the enemy’s resistance to Holy damage.
Weapons Compatible with Prayerful Strike
This Ash of War can be applied to a specific range of weapon types, including:
- Hammers
- Great Hammers
- Greataxes
- Colossal Weapons
This limits its use to strength-based builds, as these weapons generally require high strength to wield effectively. This also means the Ash of War will often be combined with a faith-based build, and the faith is usually more for requirements to wield some weapons.
Advantages of Prayerful Strike
- Significant Healing: Provides a substantial HP recovery, often enough to fully heal from moderate damage.
- Combines Offense and Defense: Eliminates the need to chug a flask in certain situations, allowing you to maintain offensive pressure.
- Useful for Solo and Co-op Play: Benefits both individual players and teams by providing sustainable healing without relying solely on flasks.
Disadvantages of Prayerful Strike
- Slow Animation: The attack is slow and easily telegraphed, leaving you vulnerable to counterattacks.
- Limited Range: Requires close-quarters combat, making it less effective against ranged enemies.
- Holy Damage Weakness: The Holy affinity can be a disadvantage against enemies resistant to Holy damage.
- FP Cost: Using the skill consumes FP, requiring management of your FP bar.
- Not Viable in PvP: Generally, the Ash of War is not viable in PvP. The slow and telegraphed animation makes you extremely vulnerable.
Bloodboon Ritual: Healing Through Blood Loss
How Bloodboon Ritual Works
Bloodboon Ritual is another Ash of War that can indirectly heal you. This skill imbues your weapon with a Blood affinity, dealing rapid bleed buildup to your enemies. Whenever bleed occurs, you gain health. The skill scales based on the arcane stat.
Weapons Compatible with Bloodboon Ritual
This Ash of War can be applied to Twinblades.
Advantages of Bloodboon Ritual
- Significant Healing: Provides consistent HP recovery as the blood loss damage continues to add up.
- Offense and Healing: Eliminates the need to flask, allowing you to maintain pressure.
- Useful in PvP and PvE: A viable option in PvE and PvP.
Disadvantages of Bloodboon Ritual
- Vulnerable: The attack animation is slow and can be easily interrupted, making you vulnerable.
- Limited Range: Requires close-quarters combat.
- FP Cost: Using the skill consumes FP, requiring management of your FP bar.
Other Healing Options in Elden Ring
While Prayerful Strike and Bloodboon Ritual are direct healing Ashes of War, other methods provide HP regeneration or recovery.
- Flask of Crimson Tears: Your primary source of healing, customizable with Sacred Tears to increase its potency.
- Incantations: Faith-based spells like Heal and Great Heal offer significant healing but require high Faith.
- Talismans: Certain talismans, such as the Assassin’s Crimson Dagger or Godskin Swaddling Cloth, restore HP upon critical hits or successive attacks.
- Regenerating Effects: Some equipment, like the Blessed Dew Talisman, grants passive HP regeneration over time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where can I find the Prayerful Strike Ash of War?
The Prayerful Strike Ash of War is dropped by a lesser Crucible Knight located in the eastern section of Stormhill, near the Warmaster’s Shack. The location is directly west of the shack. You will see the Crucible Knight patrolling the area.
2. Is the healing from Prayerful Strike affected by my character’s stats?
Yes, the healing is primarily determined by the weapon’s damage output. This scales with your character’s Strength and, to a lesser extent, Faith due to the Holy affinity.
3. Can Prayerful Strike be used with any weapon?
No, Prayerful Strike is restricted to Hammers, Great Hammers, Greataxes, and Colossal Weapons.
4. Is Prayerful Strike effective against all enemies?
No, enemies resistant to Holy damage will take reduced damage, resulting in less healing.
5. How does the healing from Bloodboon Ritual work?
Bloodboon Ritual restores HP to you on each blood loss inflicted on the enemy.
6. What type of weapon does Bloodboon Ritual work on?
Bloodboon Ritual can only be applied to Twinblades.
7. Are there any talismans that enhance healing in Elden Ring?
Yes, talismans like the Assassin’s Crimson Dagger (restores HP on critical hits) and the Godskin Swaddling Cloth (restores HP upon successive attacks) enhance healing. The Blessed Dew Talisman also grants passive HP regeneration.
8. Is there a way to increase the healing potency of my Flask of Crimson Tears?
Yes, you can increase the healing potency of your Flask of Crimson Tears by finding and using Sacred Tears. These are typically found in churches and cathedrals throughout the Lands Between.
9. Can I use Prayerful Strike to heal other players in co-op?
No, Prayerful Strike only heals the user. However, providing healing and support to other players are accomplished through Incantations.
10. What is the best way to incorporate Prayerful Strike into a build?
The best way is to incorporate it into a strength/faith build using a heavy weapon. Prioritize Strength for weapon requirements and scaling, then invest in Faith to enhance the Holy damage and your potential to use Incantations for additional buffs and healing.
11. Is the FP cost of Prayerful Strike worth it?
The worth of the FP cost depends on your build and playstyle. If you find yourself frequently running out of flasks, Prayerful Strike can be a valuable alternative, especially if you can consistently land hits.
12. Can I parry attacks while using Prayerful Strike?
No, Prayerful Strike is a weapon skill that cannot be parried. Attempting to parry during the animation will leave you vulnerable.
13. Does wearing heavier armor affect the effectiveness of Prayerful Strike?
Wearing heavier armor won’t directly affect the healing amount, but it can affect your poise and survivability, allowing you to land the attack more reliably.
14. How does the Poise from Prayerful Strike work?
The poise granted by Prayerful Strike allows you to potentially tank through an attack. If your poise is high enough, you will be able to continue the attack animation, and gain the healing effect.
15. Can I use Prayerful Strike while mounted on Torrent?
No, Prayerful Strike is a weapon skill and cannot be used while mounted on Torrent.