Mastering the Confessor: A Leveling Guide for Elden Ring

The Confessor in Elden Ring is a fascinating class, designed for players who enjoy a blend of melee combat and Faith-based incantations. When deciding what to level up, focus on building a hybrid character. In the early game, prioritize Vigor to survive, then Faith to cast powerful spells, and finally, Mind to fuel those spells. You should increase Strength or Dexterity just enough to wield your desired weapons.

Early Game Leveling Strategy

The first few levels are crucial for establishing your character. Consider these points:

• Vigor (Health): This is your lifeline. Pump Vigor to at least 30-40 early on. Dying less means more runes and faster progress.
• Mind (FP): You’ll need FP (Focus Points) to cast incantations. A moderate investment here will keep you casting throughout encounters. Aim for around 20-25.
• Faith: This is your primary damage stat. Level Faith to meet the requirements of the incantations you want to use, and then continue to increase it to improve their scaling. Aim for 40-60 for mid-game, and higher as you progress.
• Endurance: Enough to wear your desired armor and medium roll. It also governs your stamina, which will affect your combat capabilities.
• Strength/Dexterity: Only level these enough to wield the weapons you intend to use. Don’t over-invest unless you’re specifically building a Str/Fth or Dex/Fth hybrid.
• Arcane: Leave this alone unless you’re planning a niche build or need it for a specific weapon requirement.
• Intelligence: Avoid this stat entirely unless you are planning to switch entirely to an intelligence build.

Mid to Late Game: Specializing Your Confessor

As you progress, you’ll want to refine your build to suit your playstyle. Here are some options:

• Pure Faith: Maximize Faith for incredible incantation damage and healing capabilities. You’ll become a powerful caster and support character.
• Strength/Faith: Combine heavy weapons with potent incantations. This build focuses on delivering devastating melee attacks with Faith-based buffs.
• Dexterity/Faith: Use faster weapons and spells to create a swift and versatile character. You’ll be able to adapt to a variety of combat situations.

Recommended Equipment

The Confessor starts with a very solid kit:

• Brass Shield: Keep this shield. Its 100% physical block and high Guard Boost make it invaluable.
• Broadsword: A reliable weapon early on. Consider upgrading it or finding a weapon that better suits your build.
• Finger Seal: Essential for casting incantations. Find a better seal as you progress for improved incantation scaling.
• Confessor Armor Set: A decent starting armor set, providing a good balance of defense and weight.

Best Incantations for the Confessor

Faith is your primary stat as a confessor, and knowing the best incantations is essential. Here are a few recommended ones:

• Heal: A fundamental healing spell. Upgrade to Great Heal or Bestial Vitality for more potent recovery.
• Flame Sling: A basic ranged fire attack. Useful for dealing fire damage and triggering environmental effects.
• Black Flame: A powerful fire attack that deals percentage-based damage, making it effective against bosses.
• Golden Vow: A fantastic buff spell that increases attack power and defense for yourself and allies.
• Lightning Spear: A ranged lightning attack. Lightning is an incredibly strong element in Elden Ring.

Understanding Scaling

Weapons and spells in Elden Ring scale with your stats. This means that the higher your stats, the more damage or effectiveness you’ll get from them. Pay attention to the scaling grades on your weapons and seals (S, A, B, C, D, E). S scaling provides the highest bonus.

Confessor vs. Prophet: Which is Better?

The article mentions that the Confessor is the better introductory class due to its balanced stat spread and strong starting equipment. Prophet is a good choice only if you plan on going a full Faith build. However, the Confessor’s balanced stats give you more flexibility to change your build.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I respec my stats in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can respec your stats after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. You’ll need a Larval Tear to respec.

2. What’s the best early-game weapon for a Confessor?

The Broadsword you start with is decent, but consider finding a weapon that scales well with Faith, like the Sacred Scythe. However, you need to progress for a while to find weapons like that.

3. How important is Endurance for a Confessor?

Endurance is essential. It governs your stamina and equip load. You’ll want enough to equip your armor and weapons while still being able to medium roll.

4. What are some good talismans for a Confessor?

• Erdtree’s Favor: Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
• Marika’s Soreseal/Scarseal: Increases Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane at the cost of increased damage taken.
• Green Turtle Talisman: Boosts stamina recovery speed.
• Radagon’s Soreseal/Scarseal: Increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength, and Dexterity, but the tradeoff is that you take more damage.

5. How do I find more incantations?

You can find incantations as loot in the world, purchase them from merchants, or receive them as rewards for completing quests. Explore thoroughly!

6. What stats should I focus on in the late game?

In the late game, maximize your Faith, Vigor, and Mind. By then, your Strength or Dexterity should be at a comfortable level to use your chosen weapons.

7. Is it worth investing in Arcane for a Confessor?

Generally, no. Unless you are specifically building a niche build that utilizes Arcane, focus on other stats. However, certain weapons and incantations do scale with Arcane.

8. Can I create a pure caster Confessor build?

Absolutely. Focus on Faith and Mind, and use a seal that provides high incantation scaling. This can be very effective!

9. What armor set is best for a Confessor?

It depends on your playstyle. The Confessor Set is a good starting point. Later on, look for armor that provides good protection while maintaining a medium equip load.

10. How do I upgrade my weapons?

You can upgrade your weapons at a blacksmith using Smithing Stones. Early on, you can find Smithing Stones in mines and dungeons.

11. What is Incantation Scaling?

Incantation scaling affects the damage and effectiveness of your spells. Higher scaling means more damage and better effects.

12. Should I use Ashes of War on my weapons?

Ashes of War can significantly enhance your weapons. Choose Ashes that complement your build and playstyle.

13. How does Faith scaling work in Elden Ring?

Faith scaling dictates how much additional damage your incantations will do, based on your faith stats. Incantations deal more damage depending on your Faith.

14. Can I play a Confessor as a tank?

Yes, you can build a tanky Confessor by investing in Vigor and Endurance, and using heavy armor and a shield. However, you may sacrifice some damage output.

15. Is Elden Ring a good game for learning about problem-solving?

Yes, Elden Ring, like many video games, can be an excellent tool for learning about problem-solving. The game presents numerous challenges that require players to think critically, experiment with different strategies, and adapt to changing circumstances. For more on the educational aspects of games, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org.

The confessor has a flexible stat spread, allowing you to experiment with different weapons and incantations. Remember to balance your stats effectively and have fun exploring The Lands Between!