Every weapon in Elden Ring has the ability to equip an Ash of War, a special ability that mimics the weapons arts seen in Dark Souls 3. For a small FP cost, you can use your weapon to unleash a flurry of attacks, quickly dodge out of an enemy's attack, or even cast a spell.
More importantly, Ashes of War allow you to alter the damage profile and scaling of your weapons. Sorcerers can make a weapon scale with Intelligence, and knights can spec their weapons to scale equally with Strength and Dexterity. Let's go over what Ashes of War are, how to obtain them, and how to use them.
What Are Ashes Of War?
Ashes of War are consumable items that can be infused into your weapons, granting them a unique weapon art (bound to LT by default) while changing your weapon's damage scaling. Unlike Dark Souls 3, Ashes of War in Elden Ring are usually tied to a weapon archetype instead of a specific weapon, unique/boss weapons notwithstanding. For example, all melee weapons can use the Quickstep Ash of War, not just daggers.
Just about every build in Elden Ring will want to take advantage of this system. Weapon arts can let you cast spells for significantly less FP, unleash a flurry of attacks to break an enemy's poise, or provide invaluable utility. Beyond that, Ashes of War are also how you'll be able to infuse your weapons with new damage types and alter their damage scaling.
How To Obtain Ashes Of War
Your main source of Ashes of War will be from white Scarabs scattered across the Lands Between. Scarabs are Elden Ring's take on Soulsborne's iconic crystal lizards, rolling balls of shimmering stone that flee when provoked. Thankfully, the inclusion of a mount in Elden Ring makes chasing these Scarabs much easier. Keep an ear out for their distinct noise. Ashes of War can also be purchased from certain vendors or found in the Lands Between.
Unlocking New Infusions
Ashes of War tie directly with weapon infusions in Elden Ring, yet you won't start with every infusion right off the bat. You'll unlock new infusions by finding whetblades. These items typically come with an Ash of War and can be found throughout Elden Ring's main story path and legacy dungeons. Be sure to utilize this system, as it's your main way of changing which stats a weapon will scale from.
Duplicating Ashes Of War
Should you find an Ash of War you wish to duplicate, you can visit the blacksmith in Roundtable Hold to create copies of that weapon art. You'll unlock the Roundtable Hold as you progress the main questline. Duplicating an Ash of War requires a Lost Ash of War, a rare upgrade material that is sometimes sold by merchants.
Changing A Weapon's Ash Of War
You can change a weapon's Ash of War at any time from a Shrine of Grace—Elden Ring's version of bonfires. Select the "Ashes of War" option in the Shrine of Grace menu to get started. From this menu, you'll be able to select your weapon and which Ash of War you wish to use. Ashes of War can be switched at any time for free.
Bear in mind that not all Ashes of War can be applied to every weapon. For example, the Unsheathe Ash of War requires a sheathe to use, hence why it's only available for katanas. If you're unsure which weapon types your Ash of War supports, you can view their description in your inventory to find out.
Changing Your Weapon Infusions
When you select a new Ash of War for your weapon, you'll be prompted to select an infusion for your weapon. While there are some restrictions, you are not forced to use a certain infusion with your Ash of War. For example, equipping an Ash of War that casts a sorcery doesn't mean you need to scale your weapon with Intelligence; you can use a Keen or Quality infusion instead. However, some infusions like Sacred are only compatible with certain Ashes of War. The Ash of War's description will typically state which additional infusion types it will grant, if any.
We'll add a table showcasing every weapon infusion once we've found them all. For now, just know that all of the classic infusions from previous Soulsborne titles have made their way to Elden Ring in some form.
