Weapon Skills - Ashes of War - Elden Ring Guide - IGN (2024)

There are around 100 different skills in total, and in addition to a weapon's default skill, more can be found as items called Ashes of War - which can be discovered through a variety of ways that include exploration, defeating enemies and tracking down Teardrop Scarabs, as well as purchasing them from NPCs.

Equipping Ashes of War Weapon Skills

Using Ashes of War will allow you to have free reign to interchange skills between a large variety of weapons - though certain powerful weapons will have unique skills that cannot be swapped out. Once you have collected an Ash of War and the Whetstone Knife from the Gatefront Ruins, you use the menu when resting at a Site of Grace to view each of your melee armaments, ranged weapons, and shields.

From this menu, you can see the weapon's default skill, and replace it with one of the Ashes of War if it is the right type. You can choose to replace just the Weapon Skill, or you can also choose to adjust it's attribute scaling. This can make the weapon more effective if your character has higher Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith - or give your weapon the ability to deal magical or elemental damage.

As you find more types of Whetstones, you'll be able to choose different types of scaling than the weapon's default scaling type:

  • Iron Whetblade - Allows additional affinities of Heavy, Keen, or Quality
  • Glintstone Whetblade - Allows additional affinities of Magic or Cold
  • Red-Hot Whetblade - Allows additional affinities of Fire or Flame Art
  • Black Whetblade - Allows additional affinities of Poison, Blood, or Occult
Ashes of War Scaling BuildIncreasesDecreases
QualityStrength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
Base Physical Damage
KeenDexterity ScalingStrength Scaling
Base Physical Damage
HeavyStrength ScalingBase Physical Damage
MagicIntelligence Scaling
Magic Damage
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
Guarded Damage Negation (excluding Magic Defense)
FireStrength Scaling
Fire Damage
Fire and Lightning Damage Negation
Base Physical Damage
Dexterity Scaling
All Other Damage Negation
Flame ArtFaith Scaling
Fire Damage
Fire and Lightning Damage Negation
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
Base Physical Damage
All Other Damage Negation
PoisonArcane Scaling
Poison Damage Buildup
Base Physical Damage
Physical Damage Negation
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
BloodArcane Scaling
Blood Buildup
Base Physical Damage
Physical Damage Negation
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
ColdMagic Damage
Intelligence Scaling
Frost Damage Buildup
Base Physical Damage
Physical Damage Negation
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
OccultArcane ScalingBase Physical Damage
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
LightningDexterity Scaling
Lightning Damage
Strength Scaling
Dexterity Scaling
Physical Damage
Guarded Damage Negation
SacredFaith Scaling
Holy Damage
Base Physical Damage
Guarded Damage Negation (excluding Holy Defense)

Below is a list of the different Ashes of War that you can find and collect in your adventures. Click on an individual one to learn more about it, and where it can be found.

Ashes of War NameRequirementsScaling
Ash of War - Barbaric RoarAll Melee Weapons (excluding daggers, thrusting swords, and whips)Heavy
Ash of War - Barricade ShieldAll ShieldsNone
Ash of War - Beast's RoarAll Melee WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - Blood BladeAll Small and Medium SwordsBlood
Ash of War - Bloody SlashAll Swords (excluding Colossal)Blood
Ash of War - Bloodhound's StepAll Melee WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - Carian GrandeuerAll SwordsMagic
Ash of War - Carian GreatswordAll SwordsMagic
Ash of War - Charge ForthAll Thrusting Polearms, Heavy Thrusting Swords, TwinbladesQuality
Ash of War - Chilling MistAll Melee Weapons (excluding Whips, Fists, and Claws)Cold
Ash of War - DeterminationAll Melee WeaponsQuality
Ash of War - Double SlashAll Swords and Slashing PolearmsKeen
Ash of War - Enchanted ShotAll Light Bows and LongbowsNone
Ash of War - EndureAll Melee WeaponsHeavy
Ash of War - Flame of the RedmanesAll Melee WeaponsFire
Ash of War - Flaming StrikeAll Melee Weapons (excluding Colossal and Whips)Fire
Ash of War - Giant HuntLarge and Colossal Thrusting Weapons, Spears, TwinbladesQuality
Ash of War - Glintblade PhalanxAll Swords, Thrusting Polearms (Excluding Colossal Weapons)Magic
Ash of War - Glintstone PebbleAll Swords, Thrusting Polearms (Excluding Colossal Weapons)Magic
Ash of War - GravitasAll Melee WeaponsMagic
Ash of War - Ground SlamAll Melee Weapons (excluding small weapons and whips)Heavy
Ash of War - Hoarfrost StompAll Melee WeaponsCold
Ash of War - Holy GroundAll ShieldsSacred
Ash of War - Ice SpearAll Thrusting Polearms and TwinbladesCold
Ash of War - Impaling ThrustAll Large Thrusting WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - KickAll WeaponsHeavy
Ash of War - Lightning SlashAll Swords, Axes, and HammersLightning
Ash of War - Lion's ClawAll Axes, Hammers, Swords (except small and thrusting)Heavy
Ash of War - Lifesteal FistAll Fists and ClawsOccult
Ash of War - Loretta's SlashAll Polearms and TwinbladesMagic
Ash of War - Mighty ShotAll Light Bows and LongbowsNone
Ash of War - No SkillAll Shields and TorchesNone
Ash of War - ParryAll Small and Medium Shields, Daggers, Curved and Thrusting Swords, Fist and Claw WeaponsNone
Ash of War - Poisonous MistAll Melee Weapons (excluding Whips, Fists, and Claws)Poison
Ash of War - Poison Moth FlightAll Small and Medium Swords (excluding Twinblades)Poison
Ash of War - QuickstepAll Melee WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - Raptor of the MistsAll Melee WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - Repeating ThrustAll Thrusting WeaponsKeen
Ash of War - Sacred BladeAll Melee Weapons (Excluding Whips, Fists, and Claws)Sacred
Ash of War - Sacred OrderAll Melee WeaponsSacred
Ash of War - Sacred Ring of LightAll PolearmsSacred
Ash of War - Shared OrderAll Melee WeaponsSacred
Ash of War - Shield BashAll ShieldsNone
Ash of War - Shield CrashAll ShieldsNone
Ash of War - Square OffAll Straight SwordsQuality
Ash of War - Spinning SlashAll Axes, Polearms, and Swords (except Colossal Swords)Keen
Ash of War - Spinning WeaponAll Small and Medium Swords, Axes, Hammers, Polearms, Staves (Excludes Great Spears)Magic
Ash of War - Spectral LanceAll Polearms (excluding Reapers)Occult
Ash of War - Stamp (Sweep)All Axes, Hammers, Large SwordsHeavy
Ash of War - Stamp (Upward Cut)All Large Swords, Axes, HammersHeavy
Ash of War - Storm AssaultThrusting Polearms, Heavy Thrusting Swords, TwinbladesQuality
Ash of War - Storm BladeAll Standard Slashing WeaponsQuality
Ash of War - Storm StompAll Melee WeaponsQuality
Ash of War - Sword DanceAll Swords, Axes, Slashing Polearms (excluding colossal weapons and greatspears)Keen
Ash of War - Thop's BarrierSmall and Medium ShieldsMagic
Ash of War - ThunderboltAll ArmamentsLightning
Ash of War - UnsheatheKatanasKeen
Ash of War - Vow of the IndomitableAll ShieldsSacred
Ash of War - War CryAll Weapons (except Daggers, Thrusting Swords, Whips)Heavy
Ash of War - Wild StrikesAll Axes, Hammers, Curved and GreatswordsHeavy

The list below includes all known weapon skills, the description of their ability, and which weapon they can be found on by default. Skills in bold are unique to certain weapons and cannot be swapped out nor do they have an associated Ash of War.

Weapon Skills - Ashes of War - Elden Ring Guide - IGN (2024)

FAQs

Is there a no skill Ash of War for weapons? ›

The Ash of War - No Skill is one of the many equippable Ash of War Weapon Skills found throughout Elden Ring, and one that you can equip to your weapon to give it new weapon skills and scaling effect.

How do you use weapon art in Elden Ring? ›

The easiest way to use weapon arts is to hold the weapon with both hands. PC players would press E and right-click, and console players would hold the triangle or Y buttons then press the left trigger to enter the two-handed stance. The art can then be performed by pressing the left trigger or shift and right-clicking.

What does L2 do in Elden Ring? ›

Each weapon you acquire in Elden Ring will have a default Weapon Skill, and can be utilized in combat by pressing L2/LT.

Do Ashes of War replace weapon Skills? ›

You can unequip the Ashes to get the original weapon skill back. In at least one case, you can extract ashes of war from an item you found and put it on something else (Rogier's Rapier, don't sleep on it, one of the best support ashes for melee fighting).

Does Ashes of War make my weapon weaker? ›

Ashes are meant for after you have more fleshed out stats. They will lower the base damage, but improve the scaling in some stats, or increase the base damage, split it between two damage types, and change the scaling to a different attribute.

How to activate Ash of War on weapons? ›

To equip an Ash of War, once you have a Whetstone Knife, visit a Site of Grace. The option for Ashes of War should now be visible, and it's this menu where you can equip an Ash of War. From here, you can select a weapon and assign an Ash of War.

How do you put weapon abilities on Elden Ring? ›

Once players obtain the Whetstone Knife, they must visit a Site of Grace. In the Site of Grace menu, players will find an 'Ashes of War' option available. This section is where players can add Ashes of War to weapons and change their Weapon Skills.

What Ash of War should I put on my uchigatana? ›

Elden Ring: Best Cinders of Battle For Katanas The katanas in Elden Ring will generally work perfectly with Cinders of War like Tempest Cutting edge and Thunderclap for basic harm. Subsequently, Quickstep and Gravitas are perfect for mobility.

What is the Y button in Elden Ring? ›

Elden Ring Controls

Y/Triangle - Event Action (Examine, Open, etc.)

What is the advantage of two-handing Elden Ring? ›

Advantages of two-handing your weapon in Elden Ring

It can partially compensate for a lack of strength: If you fall marginally below the strength value required to wield a weapon, you can still use it efficiently with both hands. However, this only works on a small scale, such as if you are a few points short.

How to put no skill on weapon in Elden Ring? ›

Knight Bernahl acts as one of the many merchants in Elden Ring. He will sell the “No Skill” Ash of War, in addition to several others, for 600 Runes. With the Ash of War in your possession, you can stop at any nearby Site of Grace or the Blacksmith in Roundtable Hold to swap the skill to other weapons or shields.

How to remove a skill from a weapon in Elden Ring? ›

Use the “No Skill” Ash of War

The No Skill Ash of War allows you to remove an equipment's weapon skill.

Can you put any Ash of War on any weapon? ›

In your mod, I see that any type of weapon (be it dagger, sword, bow, shield, or anything else) can carry any type of Ash of War (for example, you could put a sword's Ash of War on a dagger).

What to do if you have no skills? ›

15 jobs for people with no skills
  1. Insurance claims processor.
  2. Security guard.
  3. Production worker.
  4. Construction laborer.
  5. Dog walker.
  6. Housekeeper.
  7. Taxi driver.
  8. Server.
Apr 18, 2024

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 6017

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.