The Golden Halberd Spell: A Deep Dive into Golden Vow
The Golden Halberd spell, more accurately known as Golden Vow, is a powerful buff incantation found within the world of Elden Ring. It is not a spell unique to the Golden Halberd weapon itself, but rather an incantation that shares the name and effect of the weapon skill found on the Golden Halberd. The core function of Golden Vow, whether as a weapon skill or an incantation, is to increase the attack power and defense of the caster and nearby allies. While the weapon skill version is a convenient buff for players wielding the Golden Halberd, the incantation version is generally considered superior due to its increased potency and duration.
Understanding Golden Vow: The Incantation
The Golden Vow incantation is an Erdtree Worship incantation that requires faith to cast. It is obtained by locating it in the Corpse-Stench Shack of Mt. Gelmir. When activated, it imbues the caster and any nearby allies with a significant boost to both attack and defense. This makes it incredibly useful for a variety of combat situations, from tackling challenging bosses to navigating through difficult areas with a co-op partner.
The benefits of the Golden Vow incantation are notable:
- Increased Attack Power: All affected characters experience a noticeable boost to their overall damage output, which is beneficial regardless of your build.
- Increased Defense: The defense boost helps mitigate incoming damage, enhancing survivability against tough foes and large groups of enemies.
- Area of Effect: The buffs apply not just to the caster, but also to any allies in a certain radius, making it a highly valuable incantation for co-op play.
- Stacking Potential: Notably, the damage increase from Golden Vow stacks multiplicatively with another powerful buff, Flame, Grant Me Strength, leading to a huge damage spike.
Golden Vow vs. Weapon Skill
While both the incantation and the weapon skill share the name and core effect, there are key differences:
- Power and Duration: The incantation version of Golden Vow has a stronger effect and longer duration compared to the weapon skill version, which is found on the Golden Halberd weapon.
- Cost: The incantation costs FP (Focus Points) to cast, while the weapon skill utilizes FP as well, but less so per use.
- Accessibility: The weapon skill is tied to the Golden Halberd, while the incantation can be used regardless of your weapon choice, if you have the Faith to do so.
It’s generally recommended to utilize the incantation for a more powerful buff when possible, unless you are specifically building your character around the Golden Halberd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions designed to further clarify and delve deeper into the nuances of Golden Vow and related aspects of the Golden Halberd:
1. What are the primary benefits of using Golden Vow?
The primary benefits of using Golden Vow (incantation or weapon skill) are increased attack power and increased defense for the caster and nearby allies. This enhances damage output and survivability, making combat encounters easier and more manageable.
2. Is the Golden Vow skill identical to the Golden Vow incantation?
No, while they share the same name and overall effect, the Golden Vow incantation is stronger and lasts longer than the Golden Vow weapon skill found on the Golden Halberd.
3. How do I obtain the Golden Vow incantation?
You can find the Golden Vow incantation in the Corpse-Stench Shack in Mt. Gelmir.
4. What stats does the Golden Halberd scale with?
The Golden Halberd scales primarily with Strength, Faith, and Dexterity.
5. Does the Golden Halberd deal Holy damage?
Yes, the Golden Halberd deals Holy damage in addition to Physical damage.
6. Does the Golden Vow buff stack with other buffs?
Yes, the attack power portion of Golden Vow stacks multiplicatively with Flame, Grant Me Strength. However, it will not stack with other buffs of the same type such as Rallying Standard, which applies the same buff as an area of effect. The damage reduction component stacks multiplicatively with food buffs such as Boiled Crab.
7. Is the Golden Halberd a good weapon for late-game content?
Yes, the Golden Halberd is an exceptional weapon, even in the late game. Its powerful attacks, holy damage, and beneficial weapon skill make it a strong contender for end-game content.
8. Is Golden Vow worth using for a non-Faith build?
While the incantation requires Faith, the weapon skill is available regardless. If you are not heavily investing in Faith, the weapon skill is convenient, but might not be as powerful as it could be. However, for a Faith build, Golden Vow is highly valuable.
9. Does the Golden Vow buff apply to all damage types?
Yes, the attack power boost from Golden Vow affects all damage types, whether physical, elemental, or magical.
10. What are some good spells or incantations to pair with Golden Vow?
Flame, Grant Me Strength is an excellent incantation to pair with Golden Vow, as their damage buffs stack multiplicatively. Other buffing incantations can also be beneficial.
11. How does Golden Vow affect allies in co-op?
The Golden Vow incantation provides a significant attack and defense boost to nearby allies, making it a fantastic support spell in co-op scenarios.
12. How do I maximize the duration of the Golden Vow incantation?
The duration of Golden Vow can be increased by using the Old Lord’s Talisman. It is recommended to invest in Mind to increase available FP, as the talisman and the spell’s high cost can drain resources quickly.
13. Is Golden Halberd better than the Winged Scythe?
While both are strong options, the Golden Halberd generally deals more damage than the Winged Scythe, especially at comparable upgrades. However, personal preference and moveset preference also play a role.
14. Are there bosses that resist Holy damage, making Golden Halberd less effective?
Yes, several major bosses in Elden Ring have a high resistance to Holy damage, such as Maliketh and Radagon/Elden Beast, reducing the effectiveness of the Golden Halberd’s Holy damage component against them.
15. Is the Commander’s Standard better than the Golden Halberd?
While the Commander’s Standard has a different moveset and is still powerful, the Golden Halberd generally performs better damage-wise due to its base damage and scaling. The choice depends on your preference of play style. The Commander’s Standard also has a great skill but can not be buffed by Golden Vow as they are the same type of buff.
Conclusion
The Golden Halberd and its associated Golden Vow skill and incantation represent powerful tools in Elden Ring. The Golden Vow incantation is a versatile and potent buff that can significantly enhance your combat prowess, while the Golden Halberd itself is a formidable weapon capable of dealing substantial physical and holy damage. Understanding the nuances of these mechanics allows players to optimize their builds and conquer the challenges that the Lands Between have to offer. Mastering the use of the Golden Halberd and the Golden Vow incantation is an excellent way to increase your survivability and power on your journey to become Elden Lord.