WEAPON REQUIREMENTS & SCALING

Similar to prior From Software games, all weaponry in Elden Ring comes with specific Stat prerequisites necessary for effective use. Without meeting these requirements, utilizing a weapon's Skill becomes impossible. Hence, plan your approach thoughtfully and seek out weapons compatible with your abilities.

Scaling denotes the extra damage a weapon gains based on your investment in particular Stats such as Strength or Dexterity. Elden Ring employs a system akin to the Souls franchise, with "S" representing the highest Scaling, followed by "A," "B," "C," "D," and "E."

In essence, the higher the letter grade, the greater the damage boost when allocating points to the associated Scaling Stat. Some weapons feature multiple Scaling Stats, so prioritize those that yield the most damage per Attribute Point.

Alterations to a weapon's Scaling are possible by modifying the Ash of War using various Whetblades. For instance, applying the Heavy Infusion removes all Scalings except for STR and enhances the weapon's STR scaling.

WEAPONDAMAGE TYPES

Each weapon in Elden Ring boasts one or more distinct Damage Types. Take the Longsword, for example; it inflicts both Standard and Pierce Damage. Its regular attacks constitute Standard Damage, while its thrust (R2/RB) deals Piercing Damage. Understanding the Damage Types associated with your chosen weapon proves advantageous as many adversaries display weaknesses or resistances to specific damage types.

Furthermore, in Elden Ring, you can alter the Damage Type of numerous weapons by inserting Ashes of War into them through the Ashes of War menu found at a Site of Grace. Upon selecting your weapon in this menu, you'll discover which Ashes of War you can employ based on your current inventory.

For instance, utilizing the Ash of War: Gravitas on your Longsword will introduce Magic Damage to the weapon, supplementing its existing Damage Types. This insertion of Ashes of War will also alter the Longsword's Scaling from STR D and DEX D to STR D, DEX E, INT C. Consequently, this adjustment allows for better utilization of your Intelligence Attribute. Magic Damage emerges as a favorable option for practitioners of Sorceries, given that their potency increases with higher Intelligence levels.

WEAPONUPGRADES

In Elden Ring, advancing your weapons occurs at the Smithing Table, where you employ gathered Runes and Smithing Stones for regular weapon upgrades, while Somber Smithing Stones enhance unique weapons.

Upgrading a weapon elevates it from its base version to the "+1" iteration, signifying one upgrade cycle. This not only amplifies the weapon's damage output but, in specific cases, enhances its overall Scaling as well. For instance, upgrading the Longsword to Longsword +1 escalates the Strength Scaling from D to C, augmenting the damage derived from investing in Strength.

Unlike the mechanics in the Souls games, there's no utilization of "Gems" or similar materials to modify weapon damage types. Instead, modifications involve the use of Ashes of War and Whetblades discovered throughout the game world.

WEAPON SKILLS&ASHES OF WAR

In Elden Ring, most weapons feature a designated Weapon Skill accessed by pressing the L2 button. These Skills utilize FP (Focus Points) found in the blue bar beneath your HP bar. Each Skill consumes varying amounts of FP based on its potency. Some Skills can be "Charged" by holding L2, demanding more FP but offering increased damage or effectiveness.

By slotting an Ashes of War into a weapon, you can replace its default Weapon Skill. This flexibility enables you to mix and match Skills with your preferred weapon, although not all Ashes of War are compatible with every weapon type—some are specific to certain weapon categories.

Using Ashes of War isn't a permanent alteration; you can easily reverse it by revisiting a Site of Grace and "Un-enhancing" your weapon. Alternatively, you can swap it out with other Ashes of War as desired. Many Ashes of War also provide options to modify the Damage Type or Scaling of the weapon, such as selecting "Keen" or "Quality." However, sticking with the default "Standard" Scaling is entirely optional, allowing you to retain the Weapon Skill regardless.

It's important to note that some weapons, like those with unique Weapon Skills such as Reduvia, don't permit the use of Ashes of War.