What Upgrades the Mimic Tear in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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The Mimic Tear is widely regarded as one of the most powerful Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring. Its ability to create a perfect copy of your character, complete with your current equipment and abilities, makes it an invaluable asset in challenging encounters. But like any powerful tool, the Mimic Tear needs to be upgraded to reach its full potential. To upgrade the Mimic Tear Spirit Ash, you need Ghost Gloveworts. These spectral flowers are scattered throughout the Lands Between, primarily found in underground areas such as catacombs, tunnels, and mausoleums.
Understanding Ghost Gloveworts
Ghost Gloveworts are unique resources specifically designed for upgrading Spirit Ashes. Unlike regular Gloveworts used for upgrading summoned creatures like wolves or Godrick Soldiers, Ghost Gloveworts are solely dedicated to enhancing Spirit Ashes that are considered “spirits” themselves – beings that have a connection to the Erdtree or the afterlife. The Mimic Tear falls squarely into this category.
Types of Ghost Gloveworts
Just like regular Gloveworts, Ghost Gloveworts come in different varieties, each corresponding to a specific upgrade level. Here’s a breakdown:
- Ghost Glovewort [1]: Used for upgrading from levels +1 to +3.
- Ghost Glovewort [2]: Used for upgrading from levels +1 to +3.
- Ghost Glovewort [3]: Used for upgrading from levels +1 to +3.
- Ghost Glovewort [4]: Used for upgrading from levels +4 to +6.
- Ghost Glovewort [5]: Used for upgrading from levels +4 to +6.
- Ghost Glovewort [6]: Used for upgrading from levels +4 to +6.
- Ghost Glovewort [7]: Used for upgrading from levels +7 to +9.
- Ghost Glovewort [8]: Used for upgrading from levels +7 to +9.
- Ghost Glovewort [9]: Used for upgrading from levels +7 to +9.
- Great Ghost Glovewort: Used exclusively to upgrade a Spirit Ash from +9 to +10, its maximum level.
The number in brackets indicates the tier of the glovewort, with higher numbers corresponding to higher upgrade levels. You’ll need to collect progressively higher-level Ghost Gloveworts to fully upgrade your Mimic Tear.
Where to Find Ghost Gloveworts
Ghost Gloveworts are predominantly found in underground areas like catacombs, tunnels, and mausoleums. Some reliable locations include:
- Stormfoot Catacombs (Limgrave): A relatively early-game dungeon containing a few Ghost Gloveworts [1] and [2].
- Black Knife Catacombs (Liurnia of the Lakes): Home to several Ghost Gloveworts, including some higher-level variants.
- Road’s End Catacombs (Liurnia of the Lakes): Another excellent source of Ghost Gloveworts.
- Ainsel River Main: This underground area has numerous Ghost Gloveworts scattered throughout, particularly near the corpse piles.
- Siofra River: Similar to Ainsel River, Siofra River offers a good number of Ghost Gloveworts.
- Deeproot Depths: This late-game area contains higher-level Ghost Gloveworts, including Great Ghost Gloveworts.
Exploring these locations thoroughly is crucial for acquiring enough Ghost Gloveworts to fully upgrade your Mimic Tear. Remember to be cautious, as these areas are often filled with challenging enemies.
Purchasing Ghost Gloveworts
While exploration is the primary way to obtain Ghost Gloveworts, you can also purchase them from specific merchants after acquiring certain Bell Bearings:
- Twin Maiden Husks (Roundtable Hold): After giving them the Ghost-Glovewort Picker’s Bell Bearing [1], they will sell Ghost Glovewort [1], [2], and [3]. This Bell Bearing is found in the Nokron, Eternal City area, specifically near the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace.
- Twin Maiden Husks (Roundtable Hold): Giving them the Ghost-Glovewort Picker’s Bell Bearing [2] unlocks Ghost Glovewort [4], [5], and [6] for purchase. This Bell Bearing is located in the Nokstella, Eternal City, near the Waterfall Basin Site of Grace.
- Twin Maiden Husks (Roundtable Hold): The Ghost-Glovewort Picker’s Bell Bearing [3] allows you to purchase Ghost Glovewort [7], [8], and [9]. This Bell Bearing is found in the Deeproot Depths, specifically after defeating the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
Acquiring these Bell Bearings significantly simplifies the process of upgrading your Mimic Tear, especially if you find yourself short on a particular type of Ghost Glovewort.
The Upgrade Process
To upgrade your Mimic Tear, you need to visit Roderika at the Roundtable Hold. Initially, she’s located at the Stormhill Shack, but after progressing through the story and interacting with her, she will relocate to the Roundtable Hold.
- Talk to Roderika and complete her questline, which involves speaking to Master Hewg.
- Once Roderika begins spirit tuning, interact with her.
- Select the Mimic Tear from your list of Spirit Ashes.
- Choose to upgrade it using the required Ghost Gloveworts.
- Confirm the upgrade and spend the necessary runes.
The number of runes required for each upgrade level increases with the tier of the Ghost Glovewort used. Make sure you have sufficient runes before attempting to upgrade your Mimic Tear.
Benefits of Upgrading the Mimic Tear
Upgrading the Mimic Tear significantly enhances its effectiveness in combat. Each upgrade increases its health, attack power, and overall survivability. A fully upgraded Mimic Tear can:
- Tank significant damage, drawing enemy aggro away from you.
- Deal substantial damage, mirroring your own character’s build.
- Utilize your spells and skills, providing valuable support.
- Survive longer in prolonged battles, making it a more reliable companion.
A +10 Mimic Tear is a formidable ally, capable of soloing many bosses and trivializing challenging encounters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I upgrade the Mimic Tear with regular Gloveworts?
No, the Mimic Tear can only be upgraded with Ghost Gloveworts. Regular Gloveworts are used for upgrading other types of Spirit Ashes, such as wolves or soldiers.
2. Where can I find the Great Ghost Glovewort?
Great Ghost Gloveworts are primarily found in Deeproot Depths. Look for them near the large waterfalls and throughout the branching paths of this area.
3. Do I need to upgrade Roderika before I can upgrade the Mimic Tear?
Yes, you need to complete Roderika’s questline and have her begin spirit tuning before you can upgrade your Spirit Ashes. This involves speaking to both Roderika and Master Hewg multiple times at the Roundtable Hold.
4. Can I respec my Mimic Tear’s stats after upgrading it?
No, once you upgrade a Spirit Ash, its stats are permanently increased. You cannot respec or reset its upgrade levels.
5. Does the Mimic Tear inherit my character’s level?
The Mimic Tear does not inherit your character’s level directly, but its power scales with your overall progression. Upgrading the Mimic Tear with Ghost Gloveworts increases its stats and makes it more effective in combat.
6. How does the Mimic Tear’s equipment work?
The Mimic Tear copies your currently equipped armor, weapons, spells, and consumables at the time of its summoning. Make sure to equip the gear you want it to use before summoning it.
7. Does the Mimic Tear use FP for spells and skills?
Yes, the Mimic Tear uses FP to cast spells and use weapon skills. It will run out of FP eventually, so consider equipping a weapon with a low FP cost skill or a spell that doesn’t consume much FP if you want it to use those abilities more often.
8. Is the Mimic Tear affected by my talismans?
No, the Mimic Tear does not benefit from your equipped talismans. Its stats are determined by its base stats and the upgrades you’ve applied using Ghost Gloveworts.
9. Can I use the Mimic Tear in multiplayer?
No, you cannot use Spirit Ashes, including the Mimic Tear, when summoning other players for cooperative play. Spirit Ashes are disabled in multiplayer sessions.
10. Does the Mimic Tear heal itself?
The Mimic Tear does not naturally heal itself. However, it can use consumables like flasks if you have them equipped. Additionally, certain spells or weapon skills that provide healing can be used by the Mimic Tear to restore its health.
11. What’s the best build for the Mimic Tear?
The “best” build depends on your own playstyle. However, a popular strategy is to equip the Mimic Tear with a powerful weapon, durable armor, and some supportive spells. Since it mimics your build, focus on creating a well-rounded character that can deal both melee and ranged damage.
12. Does the Mimic Tear use charged attacks?
Yes, the Mimic Tear can use charged attacks with its equipped weapons, mimicking your own behavior in combat.
13. Does the Mimic Tear aggro enemies effectively?
Yes, a fully upgraded Mimic Tear is excellent at drawing enemy aggro. Its high health and damage output make it a formidable target, allowing you to focus on dealing damage or healing.
14. What happens if the Mimic Tear dies in combat?
If the Mimic Tear dies, you will lose the FP you spent to summon it, and it will disappear. You can resummon it if you have enough FP, provided you are still in an area where summoning is allowed.
15. How many Ghost Gloveworts do I need to fully upgrade the Mimic Tear?
To fully upgrade the Mimic Tear to +10, you need:
- Ghost Glovewort [1] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [2] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [3] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [4] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [5] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [6] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [7] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [8] x 1
- Ghost Glovewort [9] x 1
- Great Ghost Glovewort x 1
Gathering these resources is essential for unlocking the full potential of this invaluable Spirit Ash. Remember to explore the Lands Between thoroughly and be prepared to face challenging enemies in your quest to upgrade your Mimic Tear.