Unlocking Sorcery Supremacy: The Best Intelligence Scaling Staff in Elden Ring
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The question of the best Intelligence scaling staff in Elden Ring isn’t as simple as one size fits all. The “best” staff depends heavily on your current Intelligence level, progression in the game, and playstyle preferences. However, if you’re looking for a definitive answer for end-game optimization and maximum sorcery scaling, the Carian Regal Scepter takes the crown. At high Intelligence levels, typically 70 and above, and with significant upgrades, the Carian Regal Scepter delivers superior damage output compared to other staves, particularly for Full Moon Sorceries, and offers a unique and powerful Ash of War.
Diving Deeper: Staff Selection Based on Progression
While the Carian Regal Scepter reigns supreme in the late game, other staves are more suitable and powerful during different phases of your Elden Ring journey. Understanding these nuances will dramatically improve your sorcery prowess.
Early to Mid-Game Domination: Meteorite Staff
The Meteorite Staff is arguably the best staff for the early to mid-game. What makes it so powerful? It boasts an S scaling in Intelligence right from the start. More importantly, it doesn’t require upgrades! This means you can immediately access a potent sorcery catalyst even with relatively low Intelligence. Its main drawback is that it cannot be upgraded, so its viability decreases as you progress and raise your Intelligence stat significantly. This staff is easily acquired in Caelid and is perfect for launching powerful spells like Rock Sling. At level 50 Intelligence, Meteorite Staff is stronger until it is at +14. And you need 28 Intelligence to use the Academy Glintstone Staff anyway.
Mid-Game Transition: Academy Glintstone Staff
As you progress, the Academy Glintstone Staff becomes a viable option. It requires 28 Intelligence to wield and can be upgraded, allowing it to surpass the Meteorite Staff once you’ve invested enough Smithing Stones. This staff provides a solid balance of accessibility and scaling, making it a good bridge between the early and late-game options.
Late-Game Powerhouses: Carian Regal Scepter vs. Lusat’s Glintstone Staff
Here, we find two main contenders for the title of “best.”
- Carian Regal Scepter: As mentioned, the Carian Regal Scepter becomes the absolute best at high Intelligence levels and with upgrades. Its scaling surpasses almost all other staves. It also buffs Full Moon Sorceries, making it ideal for players specializing in those spells. It can deal more damage than any other staff without some drawback. This staff requires 60 Intelligence.
- Lusat’s Glintstone Staff: Lusat’s Staff can potentially deal slightly higher damage than the Carian Regal Scepter, but this comes at a significant cost: a 50% increase in FP consumption for all spells. While powerful, this drawback limits your spellcasting frequency and requires careful FP management.
Specialized Staff: Rotten Crystal Staff
The Rotten Crystal Staff is a powerful choice that scales well with Intelligence and boosts crystal sorcery power greatly. If your build focuses heavily on crystal sorceries, this staff can provide a noticeable damage boost, making it a competitive option in certain situations.
Intelligence and Scaling: Understanding the Fundamentals
To make the most informed decision, it’s crucial to understand how Intelligence affects your sorcery power and how staves utilize Intelligence scaling.
- Intelligence: Primarily governs your ability to use sorceries. It increases the Magic Adjust stat on your staff, which directly impacts spell damage.
- Scaling: Staves have a scaling grade (S, A, B, C, D, or E) that determines how much their Magic Adjust stat increases per point of Intelligence. S scaling is the best.
Intelligence fuels one of Elden Ring’s primary forms of magic: sorcery. It also builds a lot more than just spell casting, and it directly scales with the magic damage to many weapons throughout the game. Players building Intelligence have near limitless options open to them when it comes to selecting a primary weapon.
The smarter your character is the better his spells are. Intelligence increases the magic adjust on the sorcery catalysts. Higher Magic adjust equals more damage.
Soft Caps
Pay attention to the Intelligence soft caps. Investing points past these diminishing returns occur. Key soft caps are at 20, 50, and 80. It’s important to not waste levels in Intelligence when you are not getting much from them.
Choosing a Staff for a Dexterity/Intelligence Build
For players blending Dexterity and Intelligence, the Carian Regal Scepter remains a strong choice due to its overall effectiveness and scaling. If you prefer a weapon-focused approach with supplemental sorcery, you may consider a staff with lower Intelligence requirements but decent scaling like the Academy Glintstone Staff. Consider using the Moonveil weapon in your Intelligence/Dexterity build for a strong weapon and staff combination.
Off-Hand Options
When wielding a weapon like Moonveil, the best side weapon to use with Moonveil is another katana to unlock the Powerstancing moveset unique to the weapon class. Powerstancing in Elden Ring lets players trade off defense for raw damage output, practically dealing twice the amount of damage as normal.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, the “best” Intelligence scaling staff depends on your progress, Intelligence level, and playstyle.
- Early Game: Meteorite Staff.
- Mid-Game: Academy Glintstone Staff.
- Late Game (High Intelligence): Carian Regal Scepter (for overall effectiveness and Full Moon Sorceries) or Lusat’s Glintstone Staff (for maximum damage at the cost of increased FP consumption).
Experiment with different staves, consider your FP management, and choose the one that best suits your individual needs. Embrace the power of sorcery, and may your spells always find their mark! You can also learn more about the educational power of gaming at the Games Learning Society website. GamesLearningSociety.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Intelligence soft cap in Elden Ring?
Intelligence has soft caps at approximately 20, 50, and 80. After these points, the benefits of investing further points into Intelligence diminish, and you might want to focus on other stats like Vigor or Mind.
2. Is the Meteorite Staff better than the Carian Regal Scepter?
The Meteorite Staff is better in the early to mid-game due to its initial S scaling and lack of upgrade requirements. The Carian Regal Scepter surpasses it later when you have high Intelligence and upgrade the staff.
3. Does Staff of Loss scale with Dexterity?
The Staff of Loss scales primarily with Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence, making it suitable for hybrid builds.
4. What is the best Intelligence/Dexterity armor in Elden Ring?
The White Reed Set is often recommended for Dexterity builds due to its balance of protection and weight, with the Okina Mask providing an additional +3 to Dexterity.
5. What staff scales off Strength in Elden Ring?
The Digger’s Staff scales with Intelligence and Strength, boosting the power of Stonedigger sorceries.
6. What seals scale with Intelligence?
The Golden Order Seal scales with Intelligence and Faith, enhancing Golden Order Fundamentalist incantations.
7. Does Intelligence make spells stronger?
Yes, Intelligence directly increases the damage of your sorceries by improving the Magic Adjust stat of your staff.
8. What is the best class for Dex/Intelligence in Elden Ring?
The Prisoner and Astrologer are both excellent starting classes. The choice depends on your preferred starting equipment and stat distribution.
9. How many runes does it take to get to level 713?
Reaching level 713, the maximum level, requires approximately 1,692,566,842 runes.
10. Is Moonveil or Meteoric Ore Blade better?
Moonveil is generally considered better due to its unique and powerful weapon art, Transient Moonlight.
11. Does two-handing Moonveil do anything?
Two-handing Moonveil increases damage and speed, particularly for its special attacks.
12. Which boss drops Moonveil?
Moonveil is obtained by defeating the Magma Wyrm in the Gael Tunnel in Caelid.
13. When should I stop leveling Dex in Elden Ring?
The soft cap for Dexterity is around 60.
14. What is Intelligence Scaling?
Intelligence Scaling refers to how much a weapon or staff’s damage increases based on your Intelligence stat. Higher scaling means greater damage per point of Intelligence.
15. What is the max number of flasks in Elden Ring?
You can have a maximum of 14 flasks by fully upgrading with Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears.