What Do Sacred Tears Do in Elden Ring?
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Sacred Tears in Elden Ring are crucial upgrade materials used to permanently increase the potency of your Flask of Crimson Tears (HP recovery) and Flask of Cerulean Tears (FP recovery). Each Sacred Tear found and offered at a Site of Grace will improve the amount of health or focus points restored by each swig from your flasks, making them significantly more effective and allowing you to survive longer and cast more spells during challenging encounters. Finding and utilizing these tears is vital for progressing through the Lands Between.
How to Use Sacred Tears Effectively
Sacred Tears aren’t automatically applied. You need to find them scattered throughout the world, particularly in churches and cathedrals. Once you have a Sacred Tear, rest at any Site of Grace. A menu option will appear labeled “Flasks“, and within that, you’ll find the option to “Increase flask restoration.” Selecting this option and confirming will consume the Sacred Tear and permanently increase the amount of HP or FP recovered when you use a flask.
Strategic Allocation of Sacred Tears
Consider how you play the game. If you rely heavily on melee combat, you might prioritize upgrading your Flask of Crimson Tears first. Mages and other spellcasters will want to boost their Flask of Cerulean Tears to keep their FP reserves topped up for casting. It’s a good idea to distribute the tears intelligently to match your character build and play style. Also, later on, each Sacred Tear you find will have a smaller impact than the first few you find. Be prepared for a much smaller increase as you progress.
Locating Sacred Tears: A Comprehensive Guide
Finding Sacred Tears often involves exploring ruins, abandoned churches, and hidden corners of the Lands Between. These locations are generally guarded, so be prepared for a fight. Here are a few places to begin your search:
- Limgrave: Scattered throughout the starting area, including the Church of Elleh (though you might have grabbed that one already!), the Third Church of Marika, and Stormfoot Catacombs.
- Liurnia of the Lakes: Visit the Church of Irith, the Bellum Church, and the Revenger’s Shack, each containing valuable Sacred Tears.
- Weeping Peninsula: Explore the Church of Pilgrimage and the Fourth Church of Marika for additional tears.
- Altus Plateau: Check out the Second Church of Marika.
- Mountaintops of the Giants: First Church of Marika.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it provides a solid starting point for your search. Remember to thoroughly explore each location, as Sacred Tears can be hidden in unexpected places.
The Importance of Maxing Out Your Flasks
Maxing out your flasks is arguably the most important thing you can do to improve your chances in Elden Ring. The game is notoriously difficult, and every bit of health and FP recovery matters, especially during boss battles. The sooner you focus on finding and using Sacred Tears, the smoother your journey through the Lands Between will be.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many Sacred Tears are there in Elden Ring?
The exact number of Sacred Tears in Elden Ring isn’t explicitly stated, but there are enough to significantly boost your flask restoration throughout the game. You can find them in various churches and cathedrals. Most players find enough to make a huge difference in the mid and late game.
2. Does the effect of each Sacred Tear diminish over time?
Yes, the increase in restoration provided by each Sacred Tear diminishes. The first few tears offer a substantial boost, but later ones provide smaller incremental improvements.
3. Can I miss any Sacred Tears?
Yes, it is possible to miss Sacred Tears. Some are located in areas that might be easily overlooked, or require some extra exploration.
4. Do Sacred Tears carry over to New Game Plus?
No, Sacred Tears do not carry over to New Game Plus. Your flask potency resets, and you’ll need to collect them again. However, the flask upgrades you made in the previous game will remain accessible.
5. Are Sacred Tears the only way to improve flask potency?
Yes, Sacred Tears are the only way to improve the healing/FP restoration of your flasks. Golden Seeds, however, are used to increase the number of flasks you can carry.
6. Do Sacred Tears affect the duration of flask effects?
No, Sacred Tears only affect the amount of HP or FP restored per use. They do not influence the duration of any flask effects.
7. Is it worth it to prioritize Sacred Tears over other upgrade materials?
Yes, for most players, prioritizing Sacred Tears is highly recommended, especially early on. Having potent flasks greatly improves survivability and resource management.
8. Can I trade or sell Sacred Tears?
No, Sacred Tears cannot be traded with other players or sold to merchants. They are exclusively for upgrading your flasks.
9. Are Sacred Tears affected by difficulty settings?
Elden Ring has no selectable difficulty settings. The locations and effects of Sacred Tears remain consistent throughout the game.
10. What happens if I find a Sacred Tear and my flasks are already maxed out?
While technically you cannot fully “max out” your flask potency (the effect of each Sacred Tear diminishes significantly over time), if you find a Sacred Tear and your flasks are already as upgraded as you can get them, the Sacred Tear will be essentially useless.
11. Does co-op affect Sacred Tear acquisition?
Playing in co-op does not change the location or availability of Sacred Tears. Each player needs to find and use them in their own game.
12. Can I use Sacred Tears retroactively on flasks I already have?
Yes, you can apply Sacred Tears to your flasks at any time after finding them, even if you’ve already allocated them to Crimson or Cerulean Tears.
13. Are there any skills or items that help find Sacred Tears?
No items specifically highlight Sacred Tear locations on the map or in the game world. However, increasing your Discovery stat can help with general item find rates, potentially making finding them easier.
14. Does the Church or Cathedral location affect the power of the Sacred Tear?
No, the location of the Sacred Tear does not influence the amount of flask restoration it provides. All Sacred Tears function identically.
15. Should I prioritize Crimson or Cerulean Tears when using Sacred Tears?
This depends entirely on your build and playstyle. Melee-focused characters will likely benefit more from prioritizing Crimson Tears (HP recovery), while mages and spellcasters should prioritize Cerulean Tears (FP recovery). A balanced approach is also viable. You should try to match your playstyle with these two Flasks.