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Shadow of the Erdtree contains some of the toughest bosses FromSoftware has ever made. The solution? Blast them into magical oblivion with a little Faith and a lot of lightning. While some players may turn their noses up at magic builds, there’s no denying their power. The Land of Shadow delivers some of the best Incantations in the game, and it’d be a shame not to use them. The meta will inevitably evolve as players grow more familiar with the DLC, but for now, these spells rank amongst the strongest. Here are five of the best Incantations in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, in no particular order.
Knight’s Lightning Spear
Attribute Required – 36 Faith
Though similar to ordinary Lightning Spear, this variation creates additional projectiles when charged. Launching 4-6 spears in addition to the main projectile means introducing your foes to a world of hurt. Even if the casting of the main spear is interrupted, the others will still spawn and strike the enemy. This Incantation deals a ton of damage and can strike nearby enemies if it misses its main target. Unfortunately, it burns through your FP fast, and it demands 10 more Faith than the Pest-Thread Spears.
Fire Serpent
Attribute Required – 16 Faith
This short-range flame attack can be charged to increase its potency, but DPS isn’t the main draw here. The appeal of Flame Serpent (other than its metal name) is its speed, mobility, and tracking potential. It’s easy to throw this Incantation into the mix without committing yourself to a long casting animation, which feels great.
The combo of speed and tracking makes it exceptional for pinning down quick mobs and keeping up with other players in PvP. Fire Serpent can even curve around and strike enemies from behind, rendering their shields useless. That’s one slippery snake.
Golden Arcs
Attribute Required – 22 Faith
Do you feel like Elden Ring could use an infusion of Dragon Ball? Ever wanted to feel like Krillin chucking a Destructo Disc at Frieza? Now’s your chance. Two of the best Incantations in Shadow of the Erdtree offer just that opportunity. While Giant Golden Arc is great, Golden Arcs is arguably the better spell. It’s fast, chargeable, and offers decent area-denial opportunities. It even has good range, although you can’t snipe with it. Whether you’re angling for a speedy spellsword build or just wish you could spar with Goku, Golden Arcs is the answer.
Light of Miquella
Attribute Required – 72 Faith
Light of Miquella demands an astonishing 72 Faith, so it had better be good. It is. This Incantation creates a massive AoE beam of light that slams down on opponents. A moment later, it creates a volley of other, smaller beams that target nearby foes. It’s gorgeous in an over-the-top anime kind of way, and it will shred your foes, assuming you can afford it.
Spells that eat so much FP are always contentious, but Light of Miquella is worth it. Great damage plus a guarantee that you’ll hit multiple opponents if you aim anywhere near them makes it ideal for crowd control. It’s perhaps best used as a boss killer, but you can’t go wrong as long as you’re not targeting single, weaker foes (against whom it’s a waste).
Messmer’s Orb
Attribute Required – 60 Faith
It feels like Shadow of the Erdtree is competing with itself to offer not just the best but also the coolest Incantations. Messmer‘s Orb arguably wins both categories. Using it, you gather a blaze of energy around your fist before leaping into the air and doing a Superman landing. This attack deals a ton of AoE damage, making it perfect for blowing away surrounding hordes. You can, however, be staggered out of the animation if struck, so only launch this attack if you have time to finish it.
