Quick Answer: The best Spirit Ashes for beginners in Elden Ring are Mimic Tear (best overall, copies your build), Lhutel the Headless (reliable mid-game), Banished Knight Oleg (early tank), Wolves Ash (cheap early summon), and Latenna the Albinauric (stationary archer with Frostbite). To upgrade Spirit Ashes, complete Roderika’s questline at the Roundtable Hold.
Spirit Ashes are one of Elden Ring’s most beginner-friendly systems. They let you summon allies to split enemy aggression, deal extra damage, and survive encounters that would otherwise feel impossible. For new players especially, the right Spirit Ash can turn a wall into a stepping stone. This guide covers the best Spirit Ashes for beginners — where to find them, why they work, and how to upgrade them efficiently.
How Spirit Ashes Work
You need two things to use Spirit Ashes:
- The Spirit Calling Bell — given by Renna at the Church of Elleh shortly after starting the game (she replaces the Site of Grace if you missed her, just sleep at any Site);
- Enough FP — each Ash has an FP cost. Higher-tier Ashes cost more.
You can only summon Spirit Ashes near areas marked with a glowing stone monument — usually before boss arenas and inside Legacy Dungeons. The arena will show a translucent stone icon if summoning is allowed.
Upgrading Spirit Ashes
Spirit Ashes are upgraded by Roderika at the Roundtable Hold (after her Stormveil Castle questline completes). She accepts two types of upgrade materials:
- Grave Glovewort — for normal (gray) Spirit Ashes;
- Ghost Glovewort — for special (gold) Spirit Ashes like Latenna and Mimic Tear.
Upgrade your most-used Ashes to +6 minimum. The difference in damage and survivability between +0 and +6 is enormous.
1. Mimic Tear — The God-Tier Summon
The Mimic Tear is the best Spirit Ash in the game and one of the most build-defining items in Elden Ring. It copies your character — the same weapons, talismans, armor, spells, and items.
- Where: Nokron, Eternal City — in the Mimic Tear boss arena. Defeating the boss drops the Ash;
- FP Cost: 660 (does not consume FP, but consumes HP);
- Why it works: The Mimic copies your loadout. If you have a strong build, you get a strong ally. If you have Rivers of Blood, your Mimic has Rivers of Blood. This is the single best summon for almost any boss.
Pro tip: Before summoning, equip your strongest gear and unequip consumables in the right-most slot so the Mimic does not waste Crimson Tears on itself.
2. Black Knife Tiche — The Endgame Killer
Tiche is a late-game Spirit Ash with extraordinary durability and damage. She dodges autonomously and inflicts Black Flame damage that scales with enemy HP.
- Where: Defeat Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader at Ringleader’s Evergaol on the Moonlight Altar (Moonlight Altar requires Astel defeated and Ranni quest);
- FP Cost: 132;
- Why it works: Her AI is exceptional — she rolls, repositions, and applies a percentage-based debuff. Excellent at high NG cycles where flat damage struggles.
3. Lhutel the Headless — Reliable Mid-Game
Lhutel is the best Spirit Ash for the mid-game. She teleports unpredictably, throws spectral spears, and tanks damage well.
- Where: Defeat Cemetery Shade in Tombsward Catacombs in southern Limgrave/Weeping Peninsula;
- FP Cost: 104;
- Why it works: Her teleportation means many bosses cannot focus her, so she lives long. Perfect for Caelid and early Liurnia bosses.
4. Latenna the Albinauric — The Sniper
Latenna is a stationary archer who deals consistent ranged damage and inflicts Frostbite — one of the strongest status effects in the game.
- Where: Slumbering Wolf’s Shack in Liurnia of the Lakes. You also need the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right) from a side quest;
- FP Cost: 79;
- Why it works: She is stationary, so place her in a safe spot and let her snipe. Her Frostbite procs cause major damage to bosses like the Fire Giant and Maliketh.
5. Banished Knight Oleg — Beginner-Friendly Melee
Oleg is a heavy-armored Banished Knight summon, perfect for new players who need a tank.
- Where: Stormfoot Catacombs in Limgrave — defeat the Erdtree Burial Watchdog;
- FP Cost: 104;
- Why it works: Tons of HP and poise; soaks hits while you damage. Available very early — great for Stormveil and Liurnia.
6. Wolves Ash — Cheap and Versatile
The Wolves Ash summons three spectral wolves. They are not strong individually, but they are dirt cheap and excellent for chip damage and aggression-splitting.
- Where: Renna gifts it to you at the Church of Elleh on your first night, or buy from the Twin Maiden Husks for 1000 runes;
- FP Cost: 55;
- Why it works: Three targets to split aggression; very cheap. Perfect for early areas before you find Lhutel or Mimic Tear.
7. Stormhawk Deenh — Hidden Gem
Deenh is a single buff-spreading hawk Spirit Ash. He flies around the battlefield and grants you an attack buff.
- Where: Defeat Stormhawk Deenh at the Castle Morne Site of Grace (Weeping Peninsula);
- FP Cost: 70;
- Why it works: The attack buff is permanent throughout the fight and stacks with weapon buffs. Great for builds that benefit from raw attack scaling.
How to Decide Which Ash to Use
The general logic:
- Tank fight (slow heavy boss): Oleg, Mimic Tear with heavy weapon;
- Mobile aggressive boss: Lhutel, Tiche;
- Multi-phase or high HP boss: Mimic Tear, Latenna;
- Early game general use: Wolves, Oleg.
Spirit Ashes vs Co-op Players
Both work, but they have different trade-offs:
- Co-op humans bring strategy and reaction; bosses gain extra HP and resistance;
- Spirit Ashes scale only with your level; bosses do not gain extra HP;
- For most builds, Mimic Tear is better than a random co-op partner.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Forgetting to summon. Always check the stone monument icon — it shows when summoning is available;
- Summoning too late. Summon at the start of the fight, while the boss is recovering from its arena entrance;
- Using a weak Ash all game. Upgrade your favorites to +6 minimum;
- Skipping Roderika’s questline. Without her, you cannot upgrade Spirit Ashes — and she is easy to miss.
Roderika’s Questline (Critical)
To unlock Spirit Ash upgrades:
- Meet Roderika at the Stormhill Shack in Limgrave;
- Bring her the Chrysalids’ Memento from a balcony in Stormveil Castle;
- Speak with her at Roundtable Hold;
- Rest at any Site of Grace until she appears as the Spirit Tuner;
- From now on, she upgrades Spirit Ashes with Glovewort.
Glovewort Farming
Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort are found in Catacombs and Sewers throughout the game. The best early farms:
- Wyndham Catacombs in Altus Plateau;
- Hidden Path to the Haligtree (Glovewort 9 area);
- Consecrated Snowfield Catacombs (highest tier).
Final Notes
Spirit Ashes are not a crutch — they are a core mechanic. FromSoftware designed Elden Ring with them in mind, and the bosses are tuned to be possible (but tough) without them. If you struggle with a boss, switch Ashes. If you still struggle, try a different build. The point of Spirit Ashes is to make Elden Ring’s vast, brutal world feel surmountable. Use them freely, upgrade them, and explore the rest of what the Lands Between has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best Spirit Ash in Elden Ring?
A: The Mimic Tear is the best Spirit Ash overall. It copies your character’s full loadout, making it as strong as your build. Found in Nokron, Eternal City.
Q: How do I upgrade Spirit Ashes?
A: Complete Roderika’s questline at the Roundtable Hold to unlock the Spirit Tuner. Then bring her Grave Glovewort (for normal Ashes) or Ghost Glovewort (for special gold Ashes) to upgrade.
Q: Where do I get the Spirit Calling Bell?
A: Renna gifts the Spirit Calling Bell at the Church of Elleh at night, shortly after starting the game. If you missed her, rest at any Site of Grace until she appears.
Q: Are Spirit Ashes considered cheating?
A: No. FromSoftware designed Elden Ring with Spirit Ashes as a core mechanic. Bosses are tuned to be challenging but possible without them, and the system is intended to make the game more accessible.