Elden Ring is here, and fans are far from disappointed by The Lands Between. As you follow quest lines and get lost, you'll encounter various bosses and enemies, as well as an abundance of different items that can be used to upgrade or transform your gear and equipment.
Ashes of War are a form of item/skill in Elden Ring that can be used on your armaments - weapons and shields - to raise specific stats on them. Some will be able to increase the damage you deal, while others will inflict a specific type of damage, such as Frost or Bleed.
Using an Ash of War on your weapon can make them all the more powerful, but it will cost you an amount of FP that can't be replenished using your Sacred Flasks, unfortunately, so these can't be used constantly. Without further ado, here's everything you need to know about using an Ash of War in Elden Ring, where to find them, their affinities and applicable armaments.
How to Use Ashes of War in Elden Ring
To be able to use Ashes of War in Elden Ring, you will first need to acquire the Whetstone Knife, which can be found near Gatefront Ruins. Southwest of the area, there will be a set of stairs that lead to an underground room containing a chest, and inside the chest will be the Whetstone Knife and Ash of War: Storm Stomp.
After this, you can go to any nearby Site of Grace and select 'Ashes of War' from the menu. When here, you can take a look at what Ashes of War you possess, preview them on various weapons and shields, then choose whether to apply the skill or skill and effect to that piece of gear.
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At any point, even prior to acquiring the Whetstone Knife, you can also add an Ash of War to any of your armaments by speaking with Blacksmith Hewg at Roundtable Hold. Roundtable Hold will be unlocked whenever you venture to a Site of grace beyond Limgrave. Melina will speak with you as you rest, and then she will take you to the Roundtable Hold, where you can interact with various merchants and NPC's, including Blacksmith Hewg.
Ashes of War will help to scale your gear to your character's stats, and can improve certain stat affinities on your chosen piece of gear. You can also head back to any Site of Grace to remove an Ash of War from a piece of gear at any point. As you may already have learnt, each weapon in Elden Ring will have an affinity, and Ashes of War can alter these affinities. Affinities are as follows:
- Keen - Dexterity
- Heavy - Strength
- Quality - Strength and Dexterity
- Magic - Intelligence
- Sacred - Faith
- Cold - Intelligence, with Frost
- Lightning - Dexterity, with Lightning Damage
- Fire - Strength, with Fire Damage
- Occult - Arcane, prevents the undead from reviving themselves
- Blood - Arcane, with Bleed
- Poison - Strength, Dexterity, and Arcane, with Poison
Also, using your Ash of War will use FP, so keep this in mind!
Ash of War Locations in Elden Ring
Thanks to our friends at MapGenie, the fully customisable map of The Lands Between above shows the locations of various Ashes of War in Elden Ring. These are typically found as drops from various bosses and enemies, or can be looted from corpses around the map. Ashes of War can also be dropped by Teardrop Scarabs around the map too, so don't miss out on any of those. If you're particularly lucky, an Ash of War can occasionally be looted from corpses you may find.
Lost Ashes of War, used to duplicate Ashes of War, can also be purchased from merchants such as the Isolated Merchant and the Nomadic Merchant of Ainsel River.
Ash of War Affinities in Elden Ring
In the below table, we've listed every Ash of War in Elden Ring. We have also included the type, affinities, and what armaments the Ash of War can be used on!
Ash of War | Affinity | Additional Info | Applicable Armaments |
|---|---|---|---|
Mighty Shot | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Parry | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
No Skill | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Storm Wall | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Sky Shot | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Enchanted Shot | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Barrage | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Barricade Shield | Standard | No special effects, but applies the AoW's skill | All weapons and shields |
Raptor of the Mists | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Double Slash | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Beast's Roar | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Repeating Thrust | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Unsheathe | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Quickstep | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Spinning Slash | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Impaling Thrust | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Sword Dance | Keen | Increases Dexterity scaling, but will decrease Strength and base damage | Swords, Double-Edged Swords, Katanas, Greatswords, Spears, Great Spears |
Vacuum Slice | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Giant Hunt | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Storm Stomp | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Storm Blade | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Storm Assault | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Square Off | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Charge Forth | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Determination | Quality | Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, but will decrease base damage | Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Katanas, Double-Edged Swords, Hammers, Axes, Strengths, Spears, Great Spears |
Gravitas | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Waves of Darkness | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Carian Retaliation | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Glintstone Pebble | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Carian Greatsword | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Glintblade Phalanx | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Thops's Barrier | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Spinning Weapon | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Carian Grandeur | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Loretta's Slash | Magic | Increases Intelligence scaling and adds Magic, but reduces Strength/Dexterity scaling and base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Golden Vow | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | All melee weapons |
Golden Land | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | Great Axes, Warhammers, Colossal Weapons |
Golden Slam | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | All melee weapons |
Sacred Blade | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | All melee weapons (except whips, fists, and claws) |
Sacred Order | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | All melee weapons |
Sacred Ring of Light | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | Polearms (excluding Great Spears) |
Vow of the Indomitable | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | Shields |
Prayerful Strike | Sacred | Increases Faith scaling and adds Holy, but reduces physical damage and damage negation | Axes, Hammers |
Lightning Ram | Lightning | Increases Dexterity and Strength scaling and adds Lightning, but reduces base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Lightning Slash | Lightning | Increases Dexterity and Strength scaling and adds Lightning, but reduces base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Thunderbolt | Lightning | Increases Dexterity and Strength scaling and adds Lightning, but reduces base damage | Katanas, Swords, Greatswords, Curved Swords, Spears, Great Spears, Hammers, Axes, Double-Edged Swords |
Poison Moth Flight | Poison | Increases Strength, Arcane, and Dexterity scaling, and adds Poison | Not Yet Known |
Poisonous Mist | Poison | Increases Strength, Arcane, and Dexterity scaling, and adds Poison | All melee weapons (except whips, fists, and claws) |
Flaming Strike | Fire | Decreases default scaling but adds Fire damage | All melee weapons (except whips and colossal weapons) |
Black Flame Tornado | Fire | Decreases default scaling but adds Fire damage | Polearms, Twinblades |
Flame of the Redmanes | Fire | Decreases default scaling but adds Fire damage | All melee weapons |
Eruption | Fire | Decreases default scaling but adds Fire damage | Swords, Hammers, Axes |
Stamp (Upward Cut) | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Stamp (Sweep) | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Wild Strikes | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
War Cry | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Kick | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Endure | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Ground Slam | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Lion's Claw | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Cragblade | Heavy | Increases Strength scaling but reduces all other scaling | Hammers, Axes, and Large Swords |
Hoarfrost Stomp | Cold | Adds Intelligence scaling with Frostbite | All melee weapons |
Chilling Mist | Cold | Adds Intelligence scaling with Frostbite | All melee weapons (except claws, fists, and whips) |
Ice Spear | Cold | Adds Intelligence scaling with Frostbite | Spears and Twinblades |
Blood Tax | Blood | Adds Arcane scaling with Bleed | All thrusting weapons (except colossal weapons) |
Bloody Slash | Blood | Adds Arcane scaling with Bleed | Swords (except colossal weapons) |
Seppuku | Blood | Adds Arcane scaling with Bleed | Swords and Thrusting Polearms |
Spectral Lance | Occult | Adds Arcane scaling but will decrease other scaling, and undead enemies will be unable to revive themselves | Polearms (excluding reapers) |
Assassin's Gambit | Occult | Adds Arcane scaling but will decrease other scaling, and undead enemies will be unable to revive themselves | Smaller Straight Swords and Thrusting Swords |
Lifesteal Fist | Occult | Adds Arcane scaling but will decrease other scaling, and undead enemies will be unable to revive themselves | Fists and Claws |
That's everything you need to know about Ashes of War in Elden Ring! For more on the game, take a look at how you can farm for Runes, where to get Sacred Tears, Larval Tears, and Crystal Tears, and the weapons that you'll encounter, and add Ashes of War to, around The Land Between.