Mastering the Arcane Arts: How to Use Sorcery in Elden Ring

Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed open-world RPG, offers players a vast array of combat options. Among these, sorcery stands out as a powerful and versatile playstyle. For newcomers and veterans alike, understanding how to use sorcery in Elden Ring effectively can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. This guide will delve into the intricacies of sorcery, covering everything from stat requirements and spell acquisition to optimal equipment and combat strategies.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Sorcery

Before diving into specific spells and builds, it’s crucial to grasp the core mechanics of sorcery in Elden Ring. Sorcery scales primarily with the Intelligence stat. Therefore, investing points into Intelligence is paramount for increasing your sorcery damage and unlocking access to more powerful spells. Faith also plays a role if you’re delving into hybrid builds that combine sorceries with incantations. Arcane, while less directly related to sorcery scaling, can influence item discovery and the effectiveness of certain spells that inflict status effects.

Key Stats for Sorcerers

Intelligence: The primary stat for sorcery scaling. Higher Intelligence equates to more potent spells.
Mind: Determines your FP (Focus Points), which are consumed when casting spells. A larger FP pool allows for more sustained spellcasting.
Vigor: Increases your HP (Hit Points). Essential for survivability, especially in close-quarters combat.
Endurance: Affects your Stamina and Equip Load. Higher Endurance allows you to wear heavier armor without being encumbered, and it also allows you to perform more actions before running out of stamina.

Choosing a Starting Class

While any class can eventually become a powerful sorcerer, some starting classes are better suited than others. The Astrologer and Prisoner classes are excellent choices due to their high starting Intelligence and Mind stats. These classes provide a strong foundation for a sorcery-focused build.

Acquiring Sorceries

Obtaining new spells is a cornerstone of mastering sorcery in Elden Ring. Sorceries can be acquired from various sources throughout the Lands Between, including:

Merchants: Certain merchants, such as Sorcerer Rogier at Roundtable Hold and Miriel, Pastor of Vows at the Church of Vows, sell a variety of sorceries. Their stock often expands as you progress through the game.
Scrolls: Finding scrolls and giving them to sorcery teachers like Sorceress Sellen at Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave allows them to learn new spells, which they then sell to you.
Boss Remembrances: Defeating certain bosses grants you their Remembrance, which can be exchanged for unique and powerful sorceries at the Roundtable Hold.
Exploration: Many sorceries are hidden within chests, dungeons, and other locations throughout the open world. Thorough exploration is key to expanding your spell arsenal.

Notable Early-Game Sorceries

Several sorceries are particularly useful in the early game, providing a solid foundation for your build:

Glintstone Pebble: A basic but reliable spell that deals consistent damage at a low FP cost.
Glintstone Arc: Fires a wide arc of magic, useful for dealing with groups of enemies.
Rock Sling: A gravity-based spell that deals significant physical damage and can stagger enemies.
Carian Slicer: A melee-range sorcery that deals rapid, high damage with a sword-like motion.

Selecting the Right Staff

Your staff is your primary weapon for casting sorceries. Different staffs have different scaling values and passive effects, making them suitable for different builds and playstyles. Consider these factors when choosing a staff:

Sorcery Scaling: This stat directly affects the damage of your spells. Higher sorcery scaling results in more potent sorceries.
Stat Requirements: Each staff requires a certain amount of Intelligence (and sometimes other stats) to wield effectively.
Passive Effects: Some staffs offer passive bonuses, such as increased damage for specific types of sorceries or reduced FP consumption.

Recommended Staffs

Astrologer’s Staff: A solid early-game staff with decent sorcery scaling and low stat requirements.
Demi-Human Queen’s Staff: Another accessible early game option.
Academy Glintstone Staff: Obtainable mid-game, offers excellent sorcery scaling and requires a moderate amount of Intelligence.
Carian Regal Scepter: A late-game staff that provides high sorcery scaling and boosts the damage of Carian Sword sorceries. Obtained by defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
Lusat’s Glintstone Staff: Provides the highest sorcery scaling in the game but increases the FP cost of spells.
Azur’s Glintstone Staff: Reduces spell casting time but increases FP consumption.

Optimizing Your Gear and Talismans

In addition to your staff, other gear and talismans can significantly enhance your sorcery build. Consider these options:

Armor: While armor is less critical for sorcerers than for melee builds, it still provides valuable protection. Prioritize armor with good magic resistance and poise.
Talismans: Talismans offer a variety of passive bonuses that can boost your sorcery damage, FP pool, or survivability.

Essential Talismans for Sorcerers

Radagon Icon: Shortens spell casting time.
Cerulean Amber Medallion: Increases maximum FP.
Stargazer Heirloom: Increases Intelligence.
Magic Scorpion Charm: Increases magic attack power but reduces physical damage negation.
Graven-School Talisman: Increases sorcery damage.
Graven-Mass Talisman: Greatly increases sorcery damage.

Combat Strategies and Tips

Mastering sorcery in Elden Ring requires more than just powerful spells and equipment. Effective combat strategies are essential for success.

Positioning and Spacing

As a sorcerer, your primary advantage is your ability to deal damage from a distance. Maintain a safe distance from enemies to avoid taking damage. Use terrain and cover to your advantage. Utilize summons to draw enemy aggro, allowing you to cast spells without interruption.

Spell Selection and Timing

Choose spells that are appropriate for the situation. Use fast-casting spells like Glintstone Pebble for dealing with single targets, and area-of-effect spells like Glintstone Arc for groups of enemies. Time your spells carefully to avoid being interrupted by enemy attacks. Learn enemy attack patterns to anticipate their movements and cast spells accordingly.

FP Management

FP is a precious resource for sorcerers. Use spells efficiently to avoid running out of FP in the middle of combat. Consider using Cerulean Tears to replenish your FP. The Carian Glintstone Staff can also help conserve FP. Equipping the Cerulean Amber Medallion will significantly increase your FP pool.

Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses

Many enemies in Elden Ring are weak to magic damage. Exploit these weaknesses to deal increased damage. Experiment with different types of sorceries to find the most effective spells for each enemy. Some enemies are resistant to magic damage but vulnerable to physical damage, even from sorceries like Rock Sling.

Advanced Sorcery Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics of sorcery, you can explore more advanced techniques to further enhance your gameplay.

Spell Combos

Combine different spells to create powerful combos. For example, you can use Rock Sling to stagger an enemy, followed by a high-damage spell like Comet Azur. The Adula’s Moonblade spell can be followed by a Carian Slicer for massive damage.

Charged Spells

Some spells can be charged to increase their damage or range. Experiment with charging different spells to see how they affect their performance. The Loretta’s Greatbow spell benefits greatly from being charged.

Utilizing Ashes of War

Ashes of War can be applied to your staff to grant it new skills and abilities. Some Ashes of War, such as Loretta’s Slash, can provide additional offensive options. The Scholar’s Armament Ash of War can imbue your weapon with magic damage, further increasing your damage output.

Sorcery Builds: Examples and Recommendations

Here are a few example sorcery builds to inspire your own character creation:

The Pure Sorcerer

Stats: High Intelligence and Mind, moderate Vigor and Endurance.
Staff: Carian Regal Scepter or Lusat’s Glintstone Staff.
Spells: Comet Azur, Loretta’s Greatbow, Rock Sling, Carian Slicer.
Talismans: Radagon Icon, Cerulean Amber Medallion, Stargazer Heirloom, Graven-Mass Talisman.
Playstyle: Focuses on dealing massive damage from a distance.

The Carian Knight

Stats: Moderate Intelligence, Vigor, Endurance, and Strength.
Staff: Carian Regal Scepter or Academy Glintstone Staff.
Spells: Carian Slicer, Adula’s Moonblade, Founding Rain of Stars.
Talismans: Radagon Icon, Cerulean Amber Medallion, Magic Scorpion Charm, Graven-School Talisman.
Playstyle: Combines sorcery with melee combat.

The Gravity Mage

Stats: High Intelligence, Mind, and Strength.
Staff: Meteorite Staff (early game), then switch to a staff with better scaling as you level.
Spells: Rock Sling, Gravity Well, Collapsing Stars.
Talismans: Cerulean Amber Medallion, Magic Scorpion Charm, Graven-School Talisman, Radagon’s Soreseal.
Playstyle: Focuses on using gravity-based spells to control enemies and deal physical damage.

Conclusion

How to use sorcery in Elden Ring is a journey of discovery and experimentation. By understanding the fundamentals of sorcery, acquiring powerful spells and equipment, and mastering effective combat strategies, you can become a formidable sorcerer in the Lands Between. Embrace the arcane arts and unleash your magical potential. Remember to adapt your build and playstyle to suit your preferences and the challenges you face. Happy spellcasting!

[See also: Elden Ring Best Weapons Guide]

[See also: Elden Ring Best Armor Sets]

[See also: Elden Ring Boss Guides]