Ashes of War are a defining feature in Elden Ring, allowing players to truly customize their combat style and weapon attributes. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to master its mechanics, learning how to use Ash of War in Elden Ring is crucial for maximizing your build and combat potential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from equipping Ashes of War to understanding affinities and combat skills.
What Are Ashes of War in Elden Ring?
Ashes of War are special abilities that can be applied to weapons and shields in Elden Ring. When you equip an Ash of War, it not only grants a unique weapon skill (used in combat) but also allows you to change the weapon's affinity. This means you can modify how a weapon scales with your stats like Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith.
These customizations let you tailor your weapons to better suit your build, providing more damage, unique effects, and powerful combat techniques. Think of Ashes of War as Elden Ring’s version of enchantments and battle arts rolled into one, giving your gear a new level of versatility.
Why You Should Use Ashes of War
Using Ashes of War isn’t just about looking cool during combat—though that’s a definite bonus. Here’s why every Tarnished should make use of them:
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Customization: Tailor any compatible weapon to fit your playstyle.
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Stat Scaling: Improve damage output by aligning weapons with your highest stats.
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Combat Variety: Gain access to powerful weapon skills for offense, defense, or utility.
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Build Flexibility: Swap Ashes out at any time at a Site of Grace to adapt to new challenges.
Understanding how Ashes of War work can elevate your gameplay and make boss fights, PvP, and exploration significantly more manageable and engaging.
How to Get Started with Ashes of War
Before you can start using Ashes of War, you need one essential item: the Whetstone Knife.
Step 1: Find the Whetstone Knife
You can find the Whetstone Knife early in the game at the Gatefront Ruins in Limgrave. It’s located inside a treasure chest at the base of the ruins in a stone cellar. Once collected, it permanently unlocks the ability to apply and remove Ashes of War at any Site of Grace.
Step 2: Rest at a Site of Grace
With the Whetstone Knife in your inventory, rest at any Site of Grace. This will bring up the menu where a new option, “Ashes of War,” becomes available.
Step 3: Select a Weapon or Shield
Not all weapons and shields can be modified, so the menu will only show compatible gear. Standard armaments typically accept Ashes of War, but unique and special weapons (like boss weapons) usually do not.
Step 4: Apply the Ash of War
Choose which Ash of War to apply to your weapon. You’ll also be prompted to choose an affinity, which adjusts the weapon’s scaling. For example:
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Standard: Keeps the default balance of scaling.
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Keen: Boosts Dexterity scaling.
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Heavy: Boosts Strength scaling.
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Magic: Adds Intelligence scaling and magic damage.
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Fire, Sacred, Poison, etc.: Adds elemental or status effects.
Make your choice based on your current build and playstyle.
How to Use Ash of War Skills in Combat
After you apply an Ash of War to a weapon, it gains a special Weapon Art skill. These can be activated in combat and range from powerful slashes and dashes to buffs, spells, or defensive maneuvers.
Default Controls for Using Ash of War
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PlayStation: Press L2 (with weapon equipped).
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Xbox: Press LT.
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PC (Keyboard/Mouse): Typically Shift + Right-click, but can vary based on key bindings.
Note on Shield Interference
If you’re using a shield in your left hand that also has a skill (like Parry), pressing the skill button will activate the shield’s skill instead. To use your weapon’s Ash of War skill, either:
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Two-hand your weapon (press Triangle + R1 / Y + RB).
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Equip a shield with “No Skill” to prevent override.
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Remove the Ash of War from your shield.
This is an easy-to-miss detail that causes confusion for many new players.
Where to Find Ashes of War
Ashes of War can be found all over the Lands Between:
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Dropped by enemies and bosses: Especially from Teardrop Scarabs.
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Purchased from NPCs: Like Knight Bernahl or other weapon masters.
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Found in chests or hidden areas across dungeons and overworld zones.
You can carry dozens of them and swap them in and out as needed.
Understanding Affinities
Each Ash of War can be applied with different affinities depending on what Whetblade you’ve unlocked. These Whetblades allow additional types of scaling, such as:
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Iron Whetblade: Adds Heavy, Keen, and Quality scaling.
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Glintstone Whetblade: Adds Magic and Cold affinities.
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Flame Whetblade: Adds Fire and Flame Art affinities.
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And others.
These can be found as you explore the world and open up more customization options.
Best Practices for Using Ashes of War
Here are some quick tips to help you get the most from your Ashes of War:
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Match Ashes with Your Build: If you’re going Dex-heavy, choose Keen affinities and fast skills like “Quickstep” or “Double Slash.”
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Experiment Often: Don’t be afraid to try new Ashes. They cost nothing to swap at a Site of Grace.
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Don’t Overcommit Early: Some Ashes scale better later in the game. Use simple but effective ones early like “Storm Stomp” or “Flaming Strike.”
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Save Powerful Ashes for Bosses: Using explosive skills like “Flaming Strike” or “Bloodhound’s Step” can make difficult fights much easier.
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Use FP Efficiently: Weapon Arts cost FP, so make sure you balance their usage with your flask allocation and Mind stat.
How to Remove an Ash of War
Want to return a weapon to its original state? Simply go to a Site of Grace, select “Ashes of War,” and choose “Undo Ash of War” on the specific weapon. This removes the Ash and restores the default skill and affinity.
Conclusion
Learning how to use Ash of War in Elden Ring is a game-changer. It allows you to fully personalize your playstyle, get more out of your gear, and dominate your enemies with style. From the flexibility of switching skills on the fly to the strategic depth of matching affinities to your build, Ashes of War are a core mechanic that every Tarnished should master.
Whether you’re swinging a massive Greatsword or dual-wielding daggers, there’s an Ash of War out there that can make your weapon feel entirely new. Dive into the system, experiment often, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your build. The Lands Between are full of secrets—and Ashes of War are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal.
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