UPDATE: An interactive map has been incorporated into this guide, assisting you in locating all necessary items for the ultimate Faith build in Elden Ring.
The Ultimate Faith Build in Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide
When constructing a powerful build in Elden Ring, one essential tenet is to embrace the virtue of Faith. With the recent expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, the pinnacle of Faith builds centers around a time-honored weapon renowned for its devastating prowess.
Early gameplay presents its own challenges, particularly when developing intricate builds that necessitate specific stats to wield particular weapons. The optimal Faith build demands a balanced blend of Faith, Strength, and Dexterity, which may require you to temporarily disregard Vigor, Endurance, and Mind. However, the payoff is undoubtedly worthwhile when you achieve your goal.
The highlight of this Faith build is the Blasphemous Blade—a magnificent greatsword bestowed upon you by the Empyrean demigod, Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. Its substantial Ash of War has undergone multiple adjustments, yet it still stands as one of the most thrilling techniques available across the Lands Between.
Utilizing the Blasphemous Blade during my initial playthrough of Elden Ring, I found the experience imbued with nostalgia. The unique rhythm of combat—coordinating hefty sword swings alongside the extravagant animations of your Ash of War—will likely transform it into your preferred weapon as well.
To streamline your journey in acquiring the components for the best Faith build in Elden Ring, refer to the embedded interactive map that details all necessary gear specified in this guide.
Essential Items for the Best Faith Build in Elden Ring
Constructing the Best Faith Build in Elden Ring
Unlike many other builds, the leading Faith build prioritizes an exceptionally high Faith stat above all else. While the Blasphemous Blade seems straightforward, its Taker’s Flames Ash of War serves as your core offensively strategy, and you’ll want to utilize it liberally once it becomes available.
Your aim should be to enhance fire damage and Ash of War potency while integrating interesting Incantations for added versatility. There may be moments when the Blasphemous Blade feels overwhelmingly powerful—it’s easy to let it overshadow your involvement in combat.
In summary, the defining characteristic of the best Faith build is centered around the Ash of War of a single formidable weapon, so maximizing its effectiveness is vital!
Faith Build: Classes and Stats
The approach to your stats will depend largely on your familiarity with Elden Ring and how swiftly you wish to specialize in Faith as your primary offensive capability. If your goal is to role-play a pure Faith character, the Prophet class is a solid starting choice. However, be mindful that this class has lower Endurance and less optimal starting equipment.
If you’re not heavily focused on role-playing, picking the Samurai class will simplify your early game experience, allowing you to accumulate Faith levels before transitioning to Faith-based weaponry like the Winged Scythe.
Keep in mind that the “soft cap” for stats in Elden Ring is 60, meaning any points beyond this threshold will yield diminished returns. It is wise not to allocate any single stat over 60.
- Faith: The primary focus of this build, essential for enhancing the damage dealt by the Blasphemous Blade’s Ash of War and boosting Holy damage from your earlier weapons. When in doubt, lean into Faith!
- Strength: Equally important for wielding heavy weapons, enabling one-handed use. While requiring only half the Strength for two-handed usage, I prefer maintaining Strength as a secondary scaling stat.
- Vigor and Endurance: Vital for sustaining health and stamina, especially as you engage with melee builds and utilize your Incantations and Ashes of War frequently. Be prepared for higher stamina demands.
- Mind: More crucial here than in many builds, as Taker’s Flames has a significant FP cost, especially with frequent usage compared to traditional builds.
Stat Recommendations Based on Progression
Early Game Stats (Level 30+)
This configuration suits players eager to kick off their Faith build with the Winged Scythe. However, high Faith can make you feel less robust without sufficient Vigor. Consider using the Samurai class for its balanced health and stamina, leading to a dramatic spike in power when transitioning to the Scythe.
- Vigor: 12
- Mind: 11
- Endurance: 13
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 16
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 24
- Arcane: 8
Mid-game Stats (Level 80+)
As you reach the mid-game checkpoint, your Faith build should begin integrating the Blasphemous Blade. Ensure your Vigor and Mind are sufficiently high while also meeting the Strength requirement for the weapon.
- Vigor: 33
- Mind: 18
- Endurance: 20
- Strength: 20
- Dexterity: 16
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 35
- Arcane: 8
Late-game Stats (Level 120+)
By this stage, you should prioritize the Blasphemous Blade, possibly using a Larval Tear to adjust your Dexterity points, allowing for greater focus on Faith and later Strength for secondary damage scaling.
- Vigor: 45
- Mind: 23
- Endurance: 22
- Strength: 22
- Dexterity: 15
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 55
- Arcane: 8
Shadow of the Erdtree Stats (Level 150+)
As you gear up for the end-game DLC, ensure your health and damage stats are at or nearing the soft cap of 60, complemented by adequate Endurance and Mind to suit your play style with the Blasphemous Blade.
- Vigor: 50
- Mind: 25
- Endurance: 22
- Strength: 40
- Dexterity: 15
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 60
- Arcane: 8
Weapons for the Faith Build
The Winged Scythe is my go-to weapon for establishing a Faith build since it can be acquired early in the game. However, it demands a hefty investment in stats: 16 Strength, 16 Dexterity, and a substantial 24 Faith. This weapon is found in the northwest area of the Weeping Peninsula, specifically in the Tombsward Ruins.
Attempting to wield it from the start may leave you at a disadvantage with lower health and stamina, posing a challenge in the early game—particularly for newcomers. If you’re in that group, beginning as a Samurai can provide a solid weapon and allow you to reach the Strength and Dexterity requirements while bolstering Vigor and Endurance. Transitioning to the Faith build is simple once these attributes are sufficiently developed.
Upon reaching the Altus Plateau, make your way swiftly to Volcano Manor. The battle against Praetor Rykard is classified as a “gimmick fight”because you are initially equipped with the Serpent Hunter spear, which inflicts extra damage against him. Provided you maintain your Vigor, this encounter should remain manageable, subsequently enhancing your Faith build.
After the encounter, claim the Blasphemous Blade from the Finger Maiden located next to the Two Fingers in the Roundtable Hold. This uniquely sinister greatsword, with its fluid animation, never ceases to unsettle. Apart from its impressive physical and fire damage capabilities, the Blasphemous Blade also grants passive health regeneration upon defeating enemies—ideal for dungeon explorations.
With an effective moveset, including strong sprinting R1 and R2 combos, you can dispatch weaker foes swiftly while successfully dealing damage to larger adversaries. The unique Ash of War, Taker’s Flames, delivers a visually stunning and effective area-of-effect assault—an essential tactic combing utility and enjoyment.
For casting Incantations, you will need to acquire a Sacred Seal that scales with Faith. The Finger Seal, purchasable from the Maiden Shop at the Hold, serves the purpose well. Alternatively, consider the Godslayer’s Seal, found in the Stonesword Key room at Stormveil Castle, especially if you intend to utilize Black Flame Incantations. For those pursuing Dragon Incantations, the Dragon Communion Seal can be acquired early on in the Stranded Graveyard.
Superior Ashes of War for Faith Builds
The optimal Faith builds in Elden Ring feature unique weapons with their signature Ashes of War, thus eliminating the need for substitutions. While the Winged Scythe boasts the Angel’s Wings for engaging enemies effectively, it cannot compete with the power of the Blasphemous Blade’s Taker’s Flames. This area-of-effect attack excels in breaking enemy defenses, managing crowds, and wreaking havoc upon bosses.
Best Talismans for the Faith Build
Heavy weapons and potent Ashes of War necessitate substantial stamina. One reliable choice is the Green Turtle Talisman, which can be upgraded to a Double-headed version in the DLC. The base variant resides in Summonwater Village, located behind a Stonesword Key door, while the upgrade is fetched from the Ellac Riverbed.
The Two Fingers Heirloom is another easily accessible option that enhances your Faith, a core stat for this build, located in the Purified Ruins in southeastern Liurnia.
Additionally, consider obtaining Radagon’s Soreseal from Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow—an excellent stat booster, albeit with a drawback of reduced damage resistance. However, leveraging the Taker’s Flames for ranged attacks lessens the risk associated.
For an advanced Talisman strategy, consider completing Living Jar Alexander’s quest for the Shard of Alexander. This Talisman boosts your Ash of War damage impressively, but it carries a similar drawback to the Soreseal. Avoid using both Talisman together as the debuffs stack unnecessarily. Seek this item in Fort Laiedd on the northern approach to Mt Gelmir.
Incorporating Incantations in Your Faith Build
Key to any Faith build are Incantations, which serve as the Faith counterpart to spells, offering a variety of functionalities. Much like buffs, Flame, Grant Me Strength and Golden Vow provide your character with essential boosts to offensive capabilities, enhancing the damage of Fire-imbued weapons such as the Blasphemous Blade.
You can find Flame, Grant Me Strength at Fort Gael in southwestern Caelid, while Golden Vow awaits in the Corpse-Stench Shack on Mt Gelmir, often filled with otherworldly charm.
For those interested in delving into Black Flame builds, the fundamental Black Flame Incantation offers valuable utility, should you find it appealing.
If you want to aim for versatility, consider investing some points in Arcane to access Dragon Incantations from the Dragon Communion Altar. My top choices include Rotten Breath for inflicting Scarlet Rot, Dragonice for Frostbite, and Glintstone Breath for damage against magic-weak foes.
Armor and Gear for Your Faith Build
As with most builds, armor in Elden Ring largely comes down to personal style; focus on what resonates with your vision. Nonetheless, prioritize two aspects: Equipment Load and Poise. Maintaining a medium Equipment Load allows you to dodge effectively. Transitioning to heavy load would severely limit your evasive maneuvers—an aspect you definitely want to avoid!
Due to the weight of your chosen weapon, armor selection may feel restricted. Nonetheless, I recommend pieces from Radahn’s outfit, Blaidd’s Outfit, or even Blackgaol Knight’s armor (if accessible through Shadow of the Erdtree) for enhanced Poise. High Poise enables you to withstand hits before your attacks are interrupted, allowing you to trade blows more efficiently with weaker enemies, or push through the aggressive tactics of stronger adversaries.
While seeking suitable helms, opt for choices like the Fire Knight Helm or the Mask of Confidence, as they provide beneficial stats without excess weight. Prioritize heavier body pieces for optimal Poise boosts.
