Elden Ring Arcane Build Guide (2024)

How to Play an Arcane Build in Elden Ring

In this Elden Ring Arcane build guide, I will showcase the best way to utilize the Arcane stat. This build takes advantage of powerful weapons and statuses that scale very well with Arcane and can deal insanely high amounts of damage.

We will discuss the best leveling strategy to get through the game, the best weapons and seals, the best armor, talismans, summons, and consumables you can use.

This build can deal high damage even at lower levels but has longer wind-ups for skills. This means quicker enemies can interrupt your skills if you are not careful.

Head to our other Elden Ring build guides here.

Pros

• Extremely high damage potential, as Arcane increases the buildup of statuses on enemies like Bleed, Scarlet Rot, and Poison.
• The vast selection of unique weapons offers many playstyles and strategies to make each run feel unique.

Cons

• Many skills are relatively slow and easy to interrupt when faced with quicker enemies with shorter openings.

Leveling and Stats

We will choose the Bandit as our starting class. This class will give us the most optimal stat distribution compared to the other starting classes and a decent early-game weapon.

The first major breakpoint when it comes to leveling is level 25. The priority will be to get 20 Arcane to meet the requirements to wield the weapons in this build. While many weapons in this build have High Strength or Dexterity requirements, those stats can be boosted in various ways to help meet those requirements. It is much more difficult to boost the Arcane stat.

The second breakpoint of level 50 requires us to invest more points in Strength and Dexterity to reach the minimum stats required by the weapons in this build without stat-boosting.

The third breakpoint of level 100 is where you will see a sizable increase in damage. At 35 Arcane you will be dealing significantly more damage and status buildup depending on your chosen weapon.

At the last breakpoint, which is level 150 we put a stop to the build. 150 is the perfect level for people who want to PVP, so if you want to do that. We will invest more points into Arcane to maximize our damage. Avoid going past 80 Arcane, as there will be almost no return for points invested past the hard cap of 80 Arcane.

Weapons

A vast selection of weapons can work with this build, as any infusible weapon can be given an Arcane scaling.

I have listed a few of the strongest Arcane scaling weapons in the game, but feel free to experiment with weapons not listed, as there are many other strong Arcane scaling weapons.

Reduvia

It is acquired by defeating Bloody Finger Nerijus, who can be found just outside the Murkwater Catacombs in Limgrave.

• Requires Strength 5, Dexterity 13, and Arcane 13.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Dexterity.

Regalia of Eochaid

It can be found on the ground at the end of the Gaol Cave dungeon in Caelid.

• Requires Strength 12, Dexterity 18, and Arcane 15.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Dexterity.

Marais Executioner’s Sword

Acquired by defeating Elemer of the Briar in the Shaded Castle near Mt. Gelmir.

• Requires Strength 24, Dexterity 14, and Arcane 23.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Strength.

Bloody Helice

Can be found in a chest after defeating the Sanguine Noble in the Writheblood Ruins in the Altus Plateau.

• Requires Strength 16, Dexterity 19, and Arcane 17.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Dexterity.

Rivers of Blood

Acquired after defeating Bloody Finger Okina at the Church of Repose in the Mountaintop of the Giants.

• Requires Strength 12, Dexterity 18, and Arcane 20.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane.

Eleonora’s Poleblade

Acquired after defeating Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger at the Second Church of Marika, in the Altus Plateau.

• Requires Strength 12, Dexterity 21, and Arcane 19.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Dexterity.

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear

Acquired by trading in Mohg’s Remembrance to Enia at the Roundtable Hold.

• Requires Strength 24, Dexterity 14, and Arcane 27.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane/Strength.

Gargoyle’s Twinblade (Blood)

The Gargoyle’s Twinblade can have the ash of war Sepuku and be infused with blood to become a powerful arcane weapon.

Acquired after defeating the Valiant Gargoyles duo boss in Siofra River.

• Requires Strength 18 and Dexterity 15.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane.

Cross Naginata (Blood)

The Cross Naginata can have the ash of war Sepuku and be infused with blood to become a powerful arcane weapon.

It can be found on a corpse near a Giant Land Octopus in the Gael Tunnel in Caelid.

• Requires Strength 16 and Dexterity 20.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane.

Ripple Crescent Halberd

The Ripple Crescent Halberd is a strong weapon for PVP. It can apply statuses such as bleed and sleep on enemy tarnished incredibly quickly.

It can be acquired as a rare drop from the Albnaurics that wield it. A few can be found in the Academy Gate Town in Liurnia of the Lakes.

• Requires Strength 12, Dexterity 12, and Arcane 20.
• AoW Scaling is Arcane.

Sacred Seals

The Dragon Communion Seal is by far the best option for this build.

What sets the Dragon Communion Seal apart from other Seals in the game is that it scales extremely well with Arcane. This will boost the destructive power of any spells we cast in our setup.

You can acquire this seal by defeating a resting Banished Knight in the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave in Limgrave.

Incantations

While many incantations will be accessible with this build, I recommend a few that go especially well with it.

Dragon Communion Incantations

Dragon Communion Incantations revolve around harnessing draconic powers and are a unique class of incantations.

They can be acquired by trading Dragon Hearts to the Altar at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion. Any of the Dragon Communion Incantations will work very well with this build, but I recommend three in particular.

Greyoll’s Roar

Transforms caster into a dragon to emit a terrible roar, reducing nearby enemies’ attack power and defense. Inflicts a debuff on enemies that decreases the damage they deal by 15% and increases the damage they take by 10%.

• Can be purchased at the Altar in the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for 3 dragon hearts after defeating Elder Dragon Greyoll in Dragonbarrow.

Theodorix’s Magma

Transforms caster into a great wyrm to spew a large volume of magma breath.

• Can be purchased at the altar in the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for 2 dragon hearts after defeating Great Wyrm Theodorix in the Consecrated Snowfield.

Dragonmaw

Transforms caster into a Dragon to bite enemies before them.

• Can be purchased at the Altar in the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for 1 Dragon Heart.

Buffs

Golden Vow (Spell)

This spell increases your damage by 15% and decreases the damage you take by 10%. Golden Vow is a very solid buff used in many different builds and requires 25 Faith.

• This spell can be found in the Corpse-Stench Shack in Mt Gelmir.

Flame, Grant Me Strength

This incantation increases your physical and fire damage by 20% while also giving you increased stamina recovery speed. It can be acquired very early on in the game and only requires you to have 15 Faith.

• This spell can be found behind Fort Gael, on a body between two Flame Chariots.

Howl of Shabriri

This incantation boosts all damage types by 25%, similar to Golden Vow, but it has a major drawback. It increases the damage you take by 30%, so only use this buff if you are confident you won’t get hit too much.

• This can be found in a chest on the second level of the Frenzy-Flaming Tower south of the Grand Lift of Dectus in Liurnia.

Flask of Wondrous Physick

Many crystal tears can be used with this build. Which ones you choose are entirely dependent on the weapon you wield. Listed here are a few strong options that pair well with this Elden Ring Arcane build.

Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear

Boosts fire damage by 20% for 3 minutes.

• Acquired by defeating the Putrid Avatar found at the Minor Erdtree in Caelid.

Thorny Cracked Tear

Makes consecutive attacks grow stronger the longer they continue.

• Acquired by defeating the Putrid Avatar at the Minor Erdtree in the Consecrated Snowfield.

Stonebarb Cracked Tear

Increases stance damage dealt to enemies by 30%.

• Acquired by defeating the Putrid Avatar near the Minor Erdtree in Dragonbarrow.

Opaline Bubbletear

Decreases damage received by 90% on the next hit.

• Acquired by defeating the Erdtree Avatar near the Minor Erdtree in the Weeping Peninsula

Talismans

Many Talismans can be used with this build. Which ones you choose are entirely dependent on the weapon you wield. Listed here are a few strong options that pair well with this Elden Ring Arcane build.

Shard of Alexander

Boosts skill damage by 15%.

• It can be acquired at the end of Warrior Jar Alexander’s questline in Farum Azula.

Godfrey Icon

Boosts charged spells and skills damage by 15%.

• Acquired by defeating Godefroy the Grafted in the Golden Lineage Evergaol near the Dectus Lift in Altus Plateau.

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia

Boosts damage from consecutive hits.

• This can be acquired by completing Millicent’s questline and siding with her in the final battle.

Millicent’s Prosthesis

Boosts damage from consecutive hits and increases Dexterity by 5.

• Can be acquired by defeating Millicent after progressing her questline and giving her the Valkyries Prosthesis near the Erdtree Gazing Hill site of grace in the Altus Plateau.

Green Turtle Talisman

Raises stamina recovery speed.

• Found in a chest surrounded by turtles in a room sealed by an imp statue in Summonwater Village in Limgrave.

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

Decreases physical damage received by 20%.

• You can find it in a chest surrounded by pests in the building above the Haligtree Roots site of grace in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.

Claw Talisman

Increases jump attack damage by 15%.

• It can be found on a corpse surrounded by birds atop a watchtower in the Stormveil Castle in Limgrave.

Fire Scorpion Charm

It increases fire damage by 12% but increases physical damage taken by 10%.

• It can be found in the Wyndham Catacombs, locked behind a sealed imp statue.

Ritual Sword Talisman

Increases damage dealt by 10% while at full HP.

• It can be found in a chest after defeating Demi-Human Queen Gilika in the Lux Ruins in the Altus Plateau.

Ritual Shield Talisman

This decreases damage taken by 30% while at full HP.

• It can be found just outside the door of the Colosseum in Leyndell, Royal Capital.

Lord of Blood’s Exultation

Increases damage dealt by 20% after blood loss occurs in the area.

• It can be acquired by defeating Esgar, Priest of Blood, in the Leyndell Catacombs in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds.

Armor

As the skills and spells used in this build are quite slow, quicker bosses can easily interrupt you while you try to use them. To solve this issue we will want to have at least 51 Poise, which makes it more difficult for enemy attacks to interrupt us while we are using our skills. Any armor set will work if it reaches the 51 Poise threshold.

I recommend using the White Mask, Blaidd’s Armor, Blaidd’s Gauntlets, and the Night’s Cavalry Greaves paired together. This set looks stylish and gets you over the 51 Poise threshold while providing decent resistance.

The most important piece of this set will be the White Mask. This helmet will increase your damage output by 10% after blood loss occurs near you. This effect can be triggered by using the Ash of War, Seppuku.

White Mask

Bloodstained, faintly grinning White Mask. They are worn by War Surgeons who effectively mercy killers.

• Poise: 5

Blaidd’s Armor

Well-worn Black Armor of the Man-Wolf Blaidd. The pelt serves as a cape, protecting from cold.

• Poise: 28

Blaidd’s Gauntlets

Well-worn Black Gauntlets of the man-wolf Blaidd.

• Poise: 6

Night’s Cavalry Greaves

Pitch-Black Greaves are thinly painted with dried blood. They are worn by the Night’s Cavalry who ride funeral steeds.

• Poise: 15

Flask Distribution

At the maximum amount of Flasks, I recommend going for an 11 Crimson Flask and 3 Cerulean Flask split. When fighting bosses with this Elden Ring Arcane build you will be trading hits quite often, so it is important to have many healing flasks on hand.

Summons

Other than the obvious summons, such as Mimic Tear and Black Knife Tiche, I have some recommendations that can go well with this build.

Omen Killer Rollo

Omenkiller Rollo summons the spirit of Omenkiller Rollo.

This summon is incredibly good at taking boss agro from you as it is very aggressive and deals very high damage. He also has a good amount of HP, so he can take agro for longer while you spam your weapon skills. Although he costs 113 FP, you can summon him using the Cerulean Hidden Tear for infinite FP.

• It can be acquired by defeating the Fell Twins at the Capital Outskirts

Rotten Stray Ashes

Rotten Stray Ashes summons the spirit of a rotten stray.

This summon can be used at the beginning of the fight in order to quickly apply a fairly strong version of scarlet rot to slowly chip down bosses.

• It can be found on a corpse north of the Selia Under-Stair site of Grace inside a broken-down building in Caelid.