Quick Answer: The best Ashes of War in Elden Ring are Hoarfrost Stomp (S-tier frost AoE), Seppuku (massive self-buff with bleed), Bloody Slash (heavy damage with self-cost), Bloodhound’s Step (invincibility teleport), and Sword Dance (multi-hit spinner). Ashes of War are applied at any Site of Grace using Whetstone Knives.
Ashes of War are the customization heart of Elden Ring’s weapon system. They grant your weapon a unique skill, change its damage scaling, and let you adapt the same weapon for completely different builds. Choosing the right Ash of War can be the difference between a build that struggles and one that dominates. This tier list ranks the best Ashes of War in Elden Ring, from S-tier all-around picks to niche A-tier specialists.
How Ashes of War Work
Ashes of War replace a weapon’s default skill and let you select a damage-scaling Affinity (Heavy, Keen, Quality, Magic, Flame, etc.). They are applied through any Site of Grace using Whetstone Knives — Elden Ring is generous with these, so do not be afraid to experiment.
Important rules:
- Each weapon class supports a specific set of Ashes;
- Some Ashes ignore weapon type restrictions (the “Ash of War: Determination” works on most weapons);
- Removing an Ash returns it to your inventory.
S-Tier — Game-Defining Ashes
1. Hoarfrost Stomp
The single most-talked-about Ash in Elden Ring’s history. A short slam that releases a wave of frost in front of you, dealing damage and building Frostbite buildup.
- Where: Caria Manor side area (kill the invisible scarab);
- Why it works: Hits multiple enemies, builds Frostbite (which deals 15% max HP damage), and has minimal cast time;
- Best on: Any straight sword, axe, or hammer.
2. Seppuku
A self-buff that sacrifices a chunk of HP to grant a major attack damage boost and innate Bleed buildup on your weapon for ~30 seconds.
- Where: Mountaintops of the Giants — drops from a teardrop scarab at the Church of Repose;
- Why it works: Combined with the Mottled Necklace and Lord of Blood’s Exultation, the damage boost is enormous. Best buff Ash in the game;
- Best on: Any bleed weapon — Uchigatana, Nagakiba, Eleonora’s Poleblade.
3. Bloody Slash
A heavy forward slash that self-damages you in exchange for a major damage spike. Procs Bleed reliably.
- Where: Stormveil Castle Mist Tunnel side area;
- Why it works: Massive single-hit damage with bleed proc, low FP cost;
- Best on: Greatswords, Heavy weapons.
4. Bloodhound’s Step
An evasive teleport-roll with full invincibility frames and very low stamina cost. Comparable to Sekiro’s dodge.
- Where: Lakeside Crystal Cave in Liurnia (Bloodhound’s Step Ash chest);
- Why it works: Removes attack tracking, dodges Malenia’s Waterfowl Dance, makes any fight cleaner. PvP staple as well;
- Best on: Off-hand weapon, swap as needed.
5. Sword Dance
A spinning multi-hit Ash that deals massive damage if all hits connect. Pairs perfectly with bleed weapons.
- Where: Drops from Nox Swordstresses in Sellia, Town of Sorcery (Caelid);
- Why it works: 5+ hits per use; great proc on Bleed/Frost/Poison weapons;
- Best on: Curved swords, twinblades.
A-Tier — Strong All-Round Choices
6. Determination / Royal Knight’s Resolve
Single-use buff that empowers your next attack with extreme damage. Royal Knight’s Resolve adds a glowing aura that lasts until you hit something.
- Where: Determination from Knight Bernahl. Royal Knight’s Resolve from the Auriza Hero’s Grave (Crucible Knight drop);
- Why it works: Single-hit attack multiplier — great on slow heavy weapons.
7. Lion’s Claw
A massive forward leap with a slamming attack that deals heavy stance damage. Excellent against shielded and large enemies.
- Where: Redmane Castle (Caelid) — bought from a wandering merchant;
- Why it works: Stance break + big damage + gap closer;
- Best on: Greatswords, colossal weapons.
8. Black Flame Tornado
A spinning AoE that surrounds you with black flame, dealing percentage-based damage.
- Where: Defeating the Godskin Noble in Volcano Manor;
- Why it works: Damages enemies by % of max HP — devastating on bosses with huge HP pools.
9. Carian Greatsword
A magic sword skill that creates a large glowing greatsword for two swings. Massive horizontal sweep.
- Where: Carian Knight’s Sword (chest in Raya Lucaria);
- Why it works: AoE, magic damage, and excellent stance break.
10. Spinning Strikes
A fast spinning combo for twinblades that hits multiple times.
- Where: Drops from a teardrop scarab in southern Caelid;
- Why it works: Best Ash for twinblades; perfect for bleed builds.
B-Tier — Niche but Powerful
- Ice Spear — long-range frost projectile;
- Sacred Blade — adds Holy damage; great vs undead;
- Wild Strikes — fast multi-hit; good for bleed;
- Storm Stomp — early-game ranged AoE;
- Glintstone Pebble — Ash for casting sorcery on a melee weapon.
Best Affinities by Build
Strength Build
Heavy Affinity — scales weapon damage with Strength only. Pairs with Lion’s Claw, Bloody Slash, Royal Knight’s Resolve.
Dexterity Build
Keen Affinity — scales with Dexterity only. Pairs with Sword Dance, Bloodhound’s Step.
Bleed Build
Blood Affinity — innate Bleed buildup on attacks. Best pair: Seppuku, Bloody Slash.
Faith Build
Sacred Affinity — adds Holy damage that scales with Faith. Best pair: Sacred Blade, Black Flame Tornado, Lightning Slash.
Int Build
Magic Affinity — adds magic damage. Best pair: Carian Greatsword, Glintblade Phalanx, Loretta’s Slash.
Arcane Build
Occult Affinity — converts scaling to Arcane. Best pair: Spinning Strikes, Bloodboon Ritual.
How to Apply an Ash
- Rest at any Site of Grace;
- Select “Ashes of War”;
- Choose the weapon and the Ash you want to apply;
- Confirm the Affinity (you can switch later by reapplying);
- Spend 1 Whetstone Knife.
Common Mistakes
- Sticking with the default Ash. Many default Ashes are weaker than the alternatives. Always check for upgrades;
- Ignoring Affinity changes. The Affinity is just as important as the skill itself;
- Wasting Whetstones early. You earn dozens through normal play — but plan around your build;
- Forgetting Smithscript stones (DLC). If you have Shadow of the Erdtree, DLC Ashes need DLC stones to apply.
Final Notes
Elden Ring’s Ash of War system is one of the most flexible build-customization tools FromSoftware has ever shipped. You are not locked into a single build — every weapon in your arsenal can be transformed with a single Whetstone Knife. Experiment freely, especially with the S-tier picks above. The combination of weapon + Affinity + Ash is the real character build of Elden Ring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best Ash of War in Elden Ring?
A: Hoarfrost Stomp is the most universally strong Ash of War — fast cast, frost buildup, multi-target damage. It works on most straight swords, axes, and hammers.
Q: How do I apply Ashes of War?
A: Rest at any Site of Grace, select Ashes of War, choose the weapon and Ash, and confirm the Affinity. Applying costs one Whetstone Knife. Removing an Ash returns it to your inventory.
Q: What is the Affinity in Ashes of War?
A: Affinity changes the weapon’s damage type and stat scaling. Examples: Heavy scales with Strength, Keen with Dexterity, Blood adds bleed buildup, Magic adds magic damage scaling with Intelligence.
Q: Where do I get Seppuku?
A: Seppuku is found in the Mountaintops of the Giants, dropped by a teardrop scarab near the Church of Repose. It is one of the best bleed buffs in the game.