Elden Ring: Spellsword Build Guide

As a seasoned Elden Ring veteran, I can confidently say that crafting a Spellsword build is a delightful challenge for any player who appreciates the intricacies of the game’s mechanics. With the right tools and strategy, you can unleash a torrent of sorceries while wielding a formidable weapon in battle.

In the game Elden Ring, many sorcery builds primarily focus on launching projectile attacks at enemies until they’re defeated. But it’s important to note that investing in the Intelligence stat isn’t just about this approach. If you prefer up-close battles, Elden Ring offers a variety of spells designed to cater to your love for melee combat.

In Elden Ring, magic-focused combat builds are often called Spellsword builds. These builds heavily utilize spells that incorporate sword-like gestures, such as those found in Carian sorcery. While there are numerous spells suitable for a Spellsword build, some notable examples include the Gavel of Haima and Adula’s Moonblade. This guide provides recommendations on the top spells, weapons, talismans, stats, and other essential information for building an effective Spellsword character in Elden Ring.

Best Spells for Spellsword Build in Elden Ring

Here are some of the best spells to use in a Spellsword build:

: When talking about Spellsword builds, not using the Carian Slicer spell would be considered a crime by many. With a low stat requirement of 14 Intelligence and available quite early in the game, with some investment in Dexterity or by using Radagon Icon, this fast-casting spell will let Carian Slicer out-DPS the strongest weapons in Elden Ring.
: If you want thrusting attacks as a sorcerer, the Carian Piercer spell is your best option. It thrusts a long greatsword into the game and has a pretty decent range, as well as good stance damage, especially when charged. You can spam-cast this spell to keep Tarnished and small enemies stun-locked.
: A reward for defeating Glintstone Dragon Adula, Adula’s Moonblade gives Spellsword builds access to Frost attacks. Since the spell deals a giant slash of AoE attack, it works quite well against waves of enemies. However, you must progress through Ranni’s quest, one of the longest questlines, to get this spell.
: While Zamor Ice Storm isn’t technically a sword-like spell, your build needs a get-off-me button, and this spell will help you out. Zamor Ice Storm creates a cold icy storm around the caster, inflicting fast Frost build-up on any enemies hit by it.
: This spell is a great way to knock off aggressive enemies in both PVP and PVE. It deals a high amount of stance damage and also comes with a follow-up attack.
or : If you want to build up stance damage on an enemy, having either Greatblade Phalanx or Glintblade Phalanx is necessary. As a spellblade sorcerer, you can cast a phalanx spell and get right into fighting an enemy. The blades from your phalanx spell will hit the enemy after a few seconds and deal great stance damage.

In an Elden Ring Spellsword build, don’t feel limited to just sword spells. There are many other enchanting spells worth considering. Give some of the versatile glintstone sorceries like Comet Azur, Glintstone Peerless, and Crystal Slice a try as well.

Best Weapons and Staves for Spellsword Build

As a devoted fan, I’ve found that one of the significant challenges when crafting sorcery builds is the heavy consumption of Focus Points (FP), which often necessitates additional Blue Flasks. Yet, shifting to a Spellsword playstyle offers a unique advantage: the ability to wield Intelligence-based melee weapons, a vast array of which exists. Here are some top-tier Intelligence weapons that enhance a Spellsword build:

: One of the most beautiful and strongest katanas in the game, Moonveil comes with an incredibly powerful Ash of War. While the weapon was nerfed with the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, it is nonetheless a powerful katana worth considering in any Intelligence build.
: A gift to you for becoming Ranni the Witch’s consort, the Dark Moon Greatsword comes with a strong Ash of War, infusing the weapon with Frost and turning charged attacks into projectiles. There are many ways to turn the Dark Moon Greatsword into a lethal weapon.
: Added with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the Carian Sorcery Sword is the only weapon capable of casting sorceries as well. It is one of the best options for both a staff and a weapon in a Spellsword build.
: This is a new weapon added in the Elden Ring SOTE DLC. It comes with a flashy Ash of War called Onze’s Line of Stars, featuring glintstone slashes with two follow-up attacks.

In a Spellsword character setup, you’ll be combining close combat with magic spells. In Elden Ring, there is an array of staffs to select from. Here are the staffs that offer the best magical enhancement for an intelligence-centric Spellsword build:

: This staff gets the highest sorcery scaling in a pure Intelligence build but comes with the downside of double FP consumption. You can consider using this staff if you have lots of Blue Flasks to spare in your build.
: It has one of the highest scaling and comes with no downsides. Instead, you get a cool magical Spinning Weapon Ash of War on it.
: Unlike Lusat’s Glintstone Staff, Azur’s Glintstone Staff consumes only 20% extra FP. In return, you get 40 virtual Dexterity points for faster casting speed. If you don’t have any extra points in Dexterity or are not using the Radagon Icon talisman, having Azur’s Glintstone Staff can make a big difference in a build’s overall strength.
: Available quite early in the game, the Academy Glintstone Staff is a recommended staff for Intelligence builds like a Spellsword build.
: The starter weapon of the Astrologer class should not be underestimated. If you plan to invest purely in Intelligence, then the Astrologer’s Staff is one of the best early-game options.

Best Talismans for Spellsword Build

At the heart of many Elden Ring character setups, you’ll find Talismans. These artifacts significantly influence your gameplay style and can elevate your setup to greater heights. In a Spellsword build, here are some exceptional talismans worth considering:

: A must-have talisman for any build using Ashes of War. If you are using weapons like Moonveil or Dark Moon Greatsword, be sure to have it equipped.
: Gives 12% magic damage in exchange for lowered damage negations. You can get it by finishing Seluvis’ questline.
: Lowers spell casting time, which helps with fast sorceries like Carian Slicer.
: Unconditional 8% damage boost to all kinds of sorceries.

Instead of primarily focusing on offensive talismans, consider opting for defensive ones such as Erdtree’s Favor or Bull-Goat’s Talisman, especially if you’re frequently finding yourself in perilous situations. These talismans provide additional equipment load, stamina, and health, making you more resilient, while also granting poise to help prevent interruptions during casting, a disruption you want to avoid at all costs.

Best Class and Stats for Spellsword Build

In this guide for creating a Spellsword character, the focus is on utilizing magical spells derived from Intelligence, as well as wielding weapons. To initiate this build effectively, it’s recommended to begin as a Prisoner due to its access to both Intelligence-based sorcery and extra points in Strength and Dexterity. Although Astrologer boasts a higher Intelligence, the Prisoner class offers additional benefits in physical attributes that are advantageous for the Spellsword build.

Regarding the data, the Spellsword character setup is a mix of Intelligence-based attributes that slightly favor Strength or Dexterity based on your chosen weapon. The downside to hybrid builds is their complexity at lower levels. Here’s a recommended stat distribution for a level 150 Spellsword build for the Prisoner class:

Vigor: 60
Mind: 30
Endurance: 25
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 19
Intelligence: 60
Faith: 6
Arcane: 9

A general practice is to ensure your character meets both the required Strength and Dexterity levels to handle a weapon, before pouring all remaining points into Intelligence. Simultaneously, it’s essential to maintain sufficient levels in Vitality, Perception, and Constitution as well.

2024-08-14 09:04

Best Spells for Spellsword Build in Elden Ring

Best Weapons and Staves for Spellsword Build

Best Talismans for Spellsword Build

Best Class and Stats for Spellsword Build

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