Comprehensive Guide to Elden Ring Sorceries: Tier Lists, Locations, and Builds

Elden Ring, FromSoftware's expansive fantasy RPG, offers players a vast array of spells to master. Whether you aim to harness the destructive power of sorceries or utilize a diverse range of incantations for support and combat, understanding the game's magic system is crucial for success. This article provides a detailed overview of sorceries in Elden Ring, including tier lists, locations, and optimal usage strategies.

Understanding Sorceries in Elden Ring

Sorceries in Elden Ring are spells that require a Staff to cast and scale primarily with the Intelligence stat, though some may also require Faith and Arcane. These spells range from powerful offensive abilities to strategic buffs, making them a versatile option for various playstyles.

How to Use Sorceries

Stat Requirements: Each sorcery has specific attribute requirements (Intelligence, Faith, Arcane). Ensure you meet these requirements to cast the spell. You can view these requirements in your Inventory.
Memorization: Rest at a Site of Grace, select "Memorize Spells," and allocate your desired spells to your Memory Slots.
Casting: Equip a Staff and use it to cast the memorized sorceries.

Where to Acquire Sorceries

Sorceries can be acquired from various merchants and found throughout the game world. Exploring different areas and interacting with NPCs is essential for expanding your magical arsenal.

Sorcery Tier List

To help players navigate the extensive list of sorceries, here's a comprehensive tier list based on efficiency, FP cost, ease of use, and PvP viability. Note that this list reflects the game's state in version 1.16, and future updates may affect spell balance.

S-Tier Sorceries

Impenetrable Thorns: A bleed sorcery from Shadow Keep that is devastatingly strong with Arcane scaling.
Fleeting Microcosm: Creates an explosive bubble, offering excellent crowd control. It can be purchased from Count Ymir.
Glintstone Nail: An upgraded version of Glintstone Pebble with improved tracking, also available from Count Ymir.
Comet & Night Comet: High-damage nukes, with Night Comet being undetectable by PvE enemies.
Carian Slicer: A cheap, fast melee sorcery that can be bought from Sellen after acquiring the Royal House Scroll.
Rock Sling: A gravity sorcery that effectively staggers enemies, found in Caelid.
Comet Azur: A legendary beam spell obtained from Primeval Sorcerer Azur.
Terra Magica: Creates a buff zone for sorceries, located in the Academy Crystal Cave.
Ranni’s Dark Moon: A high-damage Frostbite sorcery unlocked via Ranni’s questline.

Lower-Tier Spells

Lower-tier spells are not necessarily useless but may be more situational or require more skill to use effectively. They can also be fun alternatives that surprise PvP opponents.

Detailed Breakdown of Top-Tier Sorceries

Impenetrable Thorns: Location and How to Get

Stat requirements: FAI 24
FP cost: 15

Impenetrable Thorns is a powerful sorcery from Shadow of the Erdtree, capable of defeating bosses vulnerable to Bleed with just a few casts. It scales exceptionally well with Arcane when used with staves like the Albinauric Staff or Maternal Staff, causing rapid Bleed buildup.

Location: Found within the Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon in northern Scadu Altus. Start at the Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace, head down the stairs, cross the bridge towards the central tower, turn right, descend the stairs, and drop to the castle rampart below. The spell is located on a corpse guarded by a bat enemy.

Fleeting Microcosm: Location and How to Get

Stat requirements: INT 42
FP cost: 26

Fleeting Microcosm creates a large, explosive bubble that deals significant damage and knocks down enemies, making it ideal for crowd control. Its damage can be further enhanced with items like the Finger Robe, Maternal Staff, and Magic Scorpion Charm.

Location: Purchasable from Count Ymir at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr in eastern Scadu Altus. Reach this location by traveling through the underground path at Moorth Ruins to Bonny Village, then head east across the bridge and north towards the Shadow Keep's Church District. The spell becomes available after ringing two bells for Count Ymir during his questline.

Glintstone Nail: Location and How to Get

Stat requirements: INT 18
FP cost: 10

Glintstone Nail is an upgraded version of the Glintstone Pebble, offering better tracking and a more potent attack. It maintains the efficiency of its predecessor while providing enhanced accuracy.

Read also: A Guide to Wizard Spells

Location: Also purchasable from Count Ymir at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr.

Carian Slicer: Location and How to Get

Carian Slicer is a melee sorcery that allows players to deal rapid, close-range damage. Its low FP cost and fast cast speed make it a valuable tool for both PvE and PvP combat.

Location: Can be bought from Sorceress Sellen after finding the Royal House Scroll.

Rock Sling: Location and How to Get

Rock Sling is a gravity-based sorcery that deals physical damage and staggers enemies, making it particularly effective against armored foes.

Location: Found in Caelid.

Comet Azur: Location and How to Get

Comet Azur is a legendary sorcery that unleashes a powerful beam of magical energy. Its high damage output makes it suitable for taking down bosses quickly.

Location: Obtained from Primeval Sorcerer Azur.

Terra Magica: Location and How to Get

Terra Magica creates a zone that boosts the magic strength of those within it. It is particularly useful for sorcerers looking to maximize their damage output.

Location: Found in the Academy Crystal Cave.

Ranni’s Dark Moon: Location and How to Get

Ranni’s Dark Moon is a frost-based sorcery that deals significant damage and inflicts Frostbite, reducing enemy defenses.

Location: Unlocked via Ranni’s questline.

Early Game Sorceries and Incantations

Elden Ring's early game offers several powerful spells that can significantly enhance your character's capabilities.

Best Early Sorceries

Glintstone Pebble: An efficient and cheap spell.
Carian Slicer: A melee sorcery for quick, close-range attacks.
Rock Sling: A gravity sorcery that staggers enemies.

Pair these sorceries with the Meteorite Staff, found in Caelid, for optimal performance.

Best Early Incantations

Black Flame
Flame Sling
The Flame of Frenzy

These incantations can be found in Stormveil Castle (Black Flame), purchased from Brother Corhyn in Roundtable Hold (Flame Sling), and located in the Weeping Peninsula's Callu Baptismal Church (The Flame of Frenzy).

Sorceries and Incantations for PvP

In PvP scenarios, certain spells excel due to their speed, damage, or utility.

Sorceries for PvP

Swift Glintstone Shard: A fast-casting spell that is hard to dodge.
Carian Slicer: A melee burst spell for quick damage.
Comet: A high-damage spell effective when opponents are distracted.
Gravitational Missile: (DLC) Pulls enemies, setting up combos.
Miriam’s Vanishing: (DLC) A dodging spell that breaks target lock.

Incantations for PvP

Bestial Sling: A fast and efficient spell.
Giantsflame Take Thee: A high-damage fireball.
Golden Vow and Erdtree Heal: Team buffs and heals.
Heal From Afar: (DLC) Supportive in co-op.
Fire Serpent: (DLC) Spammable fire damage.
Dragon Communion Spells: Such as Rotten Breath and Ekzykes’s Decay, are potent but FP-hungry.

Incantation Tier List

S-Tier Incantations

Fire Serpent
Pest-Thread Spears
Knight's Lightning Spear
Multilayered Ring of Light
Heal From Afar
Golden Vow
Flame, Grant me Strength
Giantsflame Take Thee
Black Flame
Black Blade
Smarag's Glintstone Breath
Ekzyke's Decay
Erdtree Heal

A-Tier Incantations

Golden Arcs
Messmer's Orb
Bayle's Flame Lightning
Bayle's Tyranny
Flame, Cleanse Me
Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike
Fortissax's Lightning Spear
Agheel's Flame
Dragonclaw
Bestial Vitality
Borealis' Mist
Greyoll's Roar
Lansseax's Glaive
Catch Flame
The Flame of Frenzy
Honed Bolt
Theodorix's Magma
Placidusax's Ruin
Swarm of Flies
Lord's Heal
Frenzied Burst
Lightning Spear
Blessing's Boon

B-Tier Incantations

Ghostflame Breath
Roar of Rugalea
Wrath From Afar
Glintstone Breath
Dragonfire
Rotten Breath
Dragonice
Dragonmaw
Gurranq's Beast Claw
Beast Claw
Bestial Sling
Aspect of the Crucible: Tail
Bloodflame Blade
O Flame
Aspect of the Crucible: Horn
Black Flame's Protection
Triple Rings of Light
Vyke's Dragonbolt
Stone of Gurranq
Pest Threads
Magma Breath
Blessing of the Erdtree

C-Tier Incantations

Giant Golden Arc
Light of Miquella
Land of Shadow
Minor Erdtree
Dragonbolt's Blessing
Electrify Armament
Black Flame Blade
Poison Armament
Order's Blade
Wrath of Gold
Barrier of Gold
Golden Lightning Fortification
Protection of the Erdtree
Bloodflame Talons
Burn, O Flame
Howl of Shabriri
Litany of Proper Death
Lightning Stake
Black Flame Ritual
Noble Presence
Scouring Black Flame
Frozen Lightning Spear
Ancient Dragon Lightning Spear
Inescapable Frenzy
Unendurable Frenzy

D-Tier Incantations

Spira
Watchful Spirit
Divine Bird Feathers
Divine Beast Tornado
Midra's Flame of Frenzy
Dragonbolt of Florissax
Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns
Furious Blade of Ansbach
Scarlet Aeonia
Flame, Protect Me
Flame, Fall Upon Them
Fire's Deadly Sin
Flame of the Fell God
Flame Sling
Bloodboon
Discus of Light
Radagon's Ring of Light
Aspect of the Crucible: Breath
Law of Causality
Law of Regression
Lord's Aid
Shadow Bait

F-Tier Incantations

Rain of Fire
Rotten Butterflies
Electrocharge
Aspects of the Crucible: Bloom
Death Lightning
Assassin's Approach
Whirl, O Flame
Urgent Heal
Heal
Great Heal
Immutable Shield
Darkness
Magic Fortification
Lightning Fortification
Divine Fortification
Flame Fortification
Lord's Divine Fortification
Cure Poison
Bestial Constitution
Rejection
Order Healing
Poison Mist
Surge, O Flame
Elden Stars

Tips and Strategies

Experiment with Different Spells: Don't be afraid to try out lower-ranked spells, as they can be effective in specific situations or provide unique gameplay experiences.
Consider Your Build: Choose spells that complement your character's stats and playstyle. Pure Faith or Intelligence caster builds are ideal for maximizing the effectiveness of magic.
Stay Updated: Keep in mind that Elden Ring's balance is subject to change, so stay informed about any updates that may affect the viability of different spells.

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