Unlocking the Mysteries of Arcane Scaling in Elden Ring
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What does arcane scaling do? In Elden Ring, arcane scaling primarily influences three key aspects of your character: item discovery, status buildup on weapons, and the damage output of specific weapons and spells. Let’s break down each of these areas in detail. First, arcane increases your discovery stat, which directly impacts how frequently enemies drop items upon defeat. This is invaluable for farming equipment, making the tedious process of obtaining rare items much more efficient. Secondly, arcane scaling directly enhances status buildup such as blood loss (bleed), poison, sleep, and madness, but only if the weapon inherently scales with Arcane or has an Arcane infusion. Finally, arcane scaling also directly boosts the damage of certain weapons and spells, particularly those with inherent Arcane scaling or those that receive an occult infusion, converting physical damage to Arcane damage. This means that a weapon that may not have had a significant Arcane component can be transformed into a powerful Arcane weapon.
How Arcane Scaling Affects Weapons and Combat
The mechanics of arcane scaling are multifaceted, affecting how your weapon performs in combat. If a weapon has innate arcane scaling, this means that the damage output of the weapon will directly improve as you increase your Arcane stat. Some unique weapons, such as Rivers of Blood, utilize arcane scaling to increase both physical and fire damage, alongside boosting the effectiveness of their innate bleed buildup.
Status Buildup Amplification
The biggest benefit of a high Arcane stat lies in its ability to dramatically increase the buildup of status effects like bleed, poison, sleep, and madness on weapons that either naturally scale with arcane or have been infused with a Blood, Poison, or Occult affinity. If a weapon does not inherently scale with Arcane or receive one of these infusions, increasing your Arcane stat will not impact the rate at which these status effects are applied. For bleed, in particular, a higher Arcane stat means fewer hits to trigger a Blood Loss, resulting in massive damage output. This has made bleed builds incredibly powerful in Elden Ring.
Arcane Weapon Scaling and Infusions
If you have a weapon that deals pure physical damage and apply an elemental infusion, such as fire, bolt, or Arcane, the weapon will lose its original physical scaling. It will convert its base physical damage to the applied element, then scale its damage with your Arcane stat. It should be noted that the elemental scaling is the primary scaling, while strength and dexterity will usually lose their scaling. An occult infusion is unique, as it will convert physical damage to arcane-based physical damage, but it will also enhance the existing bleed buildup that weapon may have.
The Importance of Occult Infusion
An occult infusion is particularly noteworthy for Arcane builds, as it allows you to convert weapons that may not have had innate Arcane scaling into weapons that thrive with the Arcane stat. This infusion does not change the weapon to a elemental type, instead, it adds additional physical damage that scales with Arcane. The occult infusion also amplifies status effects. For example, a weapon with innate bleed, when infused with occult, will have both its physical damage and bleed buildup scale with your Arcane stat.
When To Invest in Arcane
Deciding whether to invest in Arcane ultimately depends on your desired build and weapon choices. If you are looking to build a powerful bleed build, then Arcane is an excellent stat to focus on. If you are relying on innate Arcane weapons, such as the Rivers of Blood or the Serpent Bow, a higher Arcane stat will result in a noticeable boost in damage. This boost will also increase the effectiveness of status buildup on those weapons.
Split Scaling and Dexterity
When using weapons like Rivers of Blood or Morgott’s Cursed Sword which scale with both Dexterity and Arcane, the choice to increase either stat depends on what type of damage you are focusing on. If you are focusing on bleed buildup, then Arcane is the superior stat to increase. If you are focusing on direct damage, a balance of the two stats might be better. If you are using occult infusion on weapons with innate bleed, then focusing entirely on Arcane will maximize damage and bleed buildup.
Arcane and Spell Casting
While not the primary focus of Arcane scaling, this stat does affect some sorceries and incantations, especially those tied to Dragon Communion or Frenzied Flame. Weapons such as the Dragon Communion Seal also scale with Arcane, further cementing the stat’s importance for specific builds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arcane Scaling
Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to further clarify the intricacies of arcane scaling in Elden Ring:
1. Does leveling arcane increase discovery?
Yes, leveling Arcane directly increases your Discovery stat, leading to higher item drop rates from enemies.
2. Does arcane affect bleed buildup on all weapons?
No, arcane only increases bleed buildup on weapons that either inherently scale with Arcane or have been infused with a Blood, Poison, or Occult affinity.
3. What weapons scale best with arcane?
Key weapons that scale best with arcane include: Rivers of Blood, Eleonora’s Poleblade, Bloody Helice, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, Morgott’s Cursed Sword, the Serpent Bow, and the Dragon Communion Seal.
4. Does arcane increase spell damage?
Yes, some spells and incantations that scale with Arcane will see their damage increase as you level up your Arcane stat.
5. Is it worth leveling arcane just for item discovery?
While it is useful, leveling arcane solely for item discovery isn’t always the most efficient use of resources; it’s best combined with a build that utilizes arcane for its damage.
6. Does Moonveil bleed scale with arcane?
While the Moonveil does not scale with Arcane, investing in Arcane will improve the bleed buildup of the weapon. It is recommended to use other weapons if building around Arcane.
7. What is occult infusion and how does it work?
Occult infusion converts physical damage to arcane-based physical damage, scaling with Arcane, and amplifies the status buildup effects.
8. Does arcane increase other status buildup types besides bleed?
Yes, arcane increases the buildup of poison, sleep, and madness on the appropriate weapons as well, if the weapon inherently scales with arcane or has received an occult, blood, or poison infusion.
9. Is there a soft cap for arcane?
Yes, like other stats, arcane has soft caps, where the benefits from additional leveling diminish, but no true hard cap. It’s generally recommended to aim for 60 arcane and then increase other stats, like Vigor.
10. How much arcane should I have for a bleed build?
Aim for at least 45 to 60 arcane for a significant increase in bleed buildup and overall damage.
11. Which starting class is best for an arcane build?
The Bandit class starts with the highest base arcane stat at 14, making it the ideal starting point for an arcane build.
12. What is the best armor for an arcane build?
The Silver Tear Mask is one of the best armor pieces, as it increases your Arcane stat by eight points.
13. What should I prioritize with a bleed build – arcane or dex?
For a bleed build utilizing weapons that naturally scale with Arcane or that use an occult infusion, prioritize Arcane to maximize both damage and bleed buildup.
14. Does arcane scaling work on bows?
Yes, but only specifically for the Serpent Bow, which naturally scales with Arcane.
15. Is arcane or faith better for bleed?
Arcane is generally better for bleed builds as it directly increases the buildup of the status effect, while also increasing damage. Faith can only increase bleed by adding bleed to a faith scaling weapon.
Conclusion
Understanding arcane scaling is crucial for players looking to optimize certain builds in Elden Ring. Whether it’s for increased item discovery, devastating bleed builds, or harnessing the power of specific Arcane-scaling weapons, this stat offers a diverse array of advantages. By carefully considering your desired playstyle and weapon choices, you can effectively utilize arcane to become a formidable force in the Lands Between.