Intelligence and Faith Weapons in Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide
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The world of Elden Ring is vast and filled with opportunities for diverse character builds. Among the most intriguing is the combination of Intelligence and Faith, allowing Tarnished to wield powerful sorceries and incantations while also making the most of unique weaponry. This guide will delve deep into the weapons that scale with both Intelligence and Faith, providing insights and strategies for creating a devastating hybrid build.
What Weapons Can Intelligence and Faith Use in Elden Ring?
While Elden Ring offers numerous weapons with scaling tied to Strength, Dexterity, Arcane, Faith or Intelligence, true hybrid scaling, where a weapon meaningfully scales with both Intelligence and Faith together, is surprisingly rare. There’s really only one weapon in the base game that does this well, with the others being more fringe options:
- Sword of Night and Flame: This legendary armament found in Caria Manor is the most iconic weapon for Intelligence/Faith builds. Its unique weapon skill combines the power of both sorceries and incantations into devastating attacks.
- Golden Order Seal: While technically a seal for casting incantations and not a weapon, it deserves mention. This is a powerful choice for players who wish to get something out of both Intelligence and Faith due to it scaling with both stats.
Important Considerations:
- While not directly scaling, weapons can be infused with scaling options such as Sacred or Frost to be good options for int/faith builds.
- Remember to check scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) to understand how each stat contributes to the weapon’s damage.
Building Your Intelligence/Faith Arsenal
Building a successful Intelligence/Faith build requires careful consideration of your stats, equipment, and playstyle. Here are some key elements to consider:
Stats Allocation
Finding the right balance between Intelligence and Faith is crucial. A 50/50 split can be effective, but consider how the stats affect your Sorcery/Incantation Scaling and what your weapon requirements are. Don’t neglect Vigor and Mind for survivability and FP.
Catalysts
Selecting the right catalyst (staff or seal) is just as important as your weapon choice.
- Prince of Death’s Staff: A great option for Death Sorceries due to it scaling with both Intelligence and Faith.
Ash of War
Using specific Ashes of War can make a huge difference to scaling on certain weapons.
- Sacred Whetstone: An Ash of War that causes a weapon to scale to Faith.
- Cold Whetstone: An Ash of War that causes a weapon to scale to Intelligence.
Talismans
Talismans can further enhance your build.
- Radagon’s Soreseal: Increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength and Dexterity.
- Two Fingers Heirloom: Raises Faith by 5 points.
Practical Tips for Intelligence/Faith Builds
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Experiment with different weapon combinations: Don’t be afraid to test various weapons to find those that best suit your playstyle and stat distribution.
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Master your spells: Practice your spells for both PVE and PVP
Intelligence/Faith Hybrid Builds: A Powerful Playstyle
Playing an Intelligence/Faith hybrid build allows you to adapt to various situations and enemy types. The combination of melee combat, potent offensive magic, and helpful support incantations can make you a force to be reckoned with.
- Versatility: Switch between close-range combat and long-range magical attacks seamlessly.
- Survivability: Utilize healing and defensive incantations to stay alive in challenging encounters.
- Adaptability: Adjust your spell selection to exploit enemy weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Faith or Intelligence better in Elden Ring?
Neither Faith nor Intelligence is inherently “better.” They cater to different playstyles and offer unique strengths. Intelligence is typically associated with sorceries and ranged attacks, while Faith focuses on incantations, healing, and buffs. The best choice depends on your preferred gameplay and the specific build you want to create.
2. What staff scales with faith and Intelligence in Elden Ring?
The Prince of Death’s Staff is the primary staff that scales with both Intelligence and Faith. It enhances death sorceries, making it a good option for builds focused on dealing death damage.
3. Are there faith-based weapons in Elden Ring?
Yes, there are numerous faith-based weapons in Elden Ring. One standout is the Coded Sword, which requires a Faith attribute of at least 20. It’s found in the Lower Capital Church in Liurnia.
4. What weapon has the highest faith requirement in Elden Ring?
Several weapons have high Faith requirements, including:
- Blasphemous Blade
- Godslayer’s Greatsword
- Winged Scythe
- Maliketh’s Black Blade
- Sacred Relic Sword
5. How to make Uchigatana holy?
To make the Uchigatana holy, you need to apply a Sacred Ash of War to it. This will change its scaling to favor Faith. The Sacred Whetstone needed for this can be found in the same area as the Coded Sword.
6. Does Bloodflame Blade scale with faith?
Yes, Bloodflame Blade scales with Faith. It buffs your weapon with fire attack power, with the fire damage scaling based on your Faith-based Incantation scaling (0.40 * Faith scaling).
7. Does lightning damage scale with faith in Elden Ring?
Yes, lightning damage typically scales with Faith in Elden Ring. Many lightning incantations from the Dragon Cult of Leyndell are boosted by a higher Faith attribute.
8. Does leveling faith make Incantations stronger?
Yes, leveling Faith directly makes incantations stronger. Faith scaling is the primary factor determining the power of your incantations. Focus on upgrading a catalyst that scales well with Faith.
9. What is the best staff for faith and Intelligence?
As mentioned earlier, the Prince of Death’s Staff is an excellent choice for a Faith and Intelligence build. It boosts death-based sorceries and scales with both attributes.
10. What is the strongest Intelligence staff in Elden Ring?
The Carian Regal Scepter is considered one of the best all-around Intelligence staves in Elden Ring. It requires 60 Intelligence to wield effectively and reaches S-rank scaling at +9.
11. Is Intelligence useful in Elden Ring?
Yes, Intelligence is crucial for casting most sorceries and wielding the weapons required to cast those spells. It’s a primary stat for any build focusing on magic and ranged attacks.
12. What’s better, sorcery or incantations?
The choice between sorcery and incantations depends on your build. Sorceries are generally better for Intelligence builds, while incantations are more suitable for Faith builds. Both offer powerful offensive and utility options.
13. What is the best seal for a faith build?
The Gravel Stone Seal is excellent for a Faith build, particularly if you focus on lightning incantations. It boosts the power of your lightning spells, making it ideal for tearing through tough bosses.
14. Who is weak to lightning in Elden Ring?
Enemies with heavy, metal armor and dragons are particularly vulnerable to lightning damage in Elden Ring. Exploiting these weaknesses can give you a significant advantage in combat.
15. What are the best talismans for a faith dex build?
For a Faith/Dex build, consider these talismans:
- Radagon’s Soreseal: Increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength and Dexterity.
- Lightning Scorpion Charm: Boosts lightning damage, which can be very effective with Faith-based lightning incantations.
Further Exploration and Resources
For more in-depth discussions on gaming, learning, and community, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization is dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education, providing valuable insights and resources for educators and gamers alike.
Embrace the power of combining Intelligence and Faith to carve your own path through the Lands Between!