Elden Ringis a hard game, there’s no doubt about that. It does an incredible job of continuing FromSoftware’s unprecedented run of challenging grim dark Medieval worlds for players to (eventually) conquer. Mix in a huge open world, crafting, andlore written by George R. R. Martin, and it’s a recipe for what some might call the perfect game.
Of course, the different ways players are able to approach bosses is a major part of the wholeSoulsseries, whether that’s creating the perfect build or calling upon other Chosen Undead/Good Hunters/Tarnished for some jolly co-operation.Elden Ringtakes that concept and expands on it with theSpirit Ashes systemthat lets players summon ethereal allies to aid them in combat. Below are some of the best new Spirit Ashes from theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC to help the Tarnished survive in the Land of Shadow.
5Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh
Summons A Nimble Blade Master With Leap Attacks
With the Demi-Human Spirit Ashes conjuring up a formidable squad of five feral attackers, players might initially be a bit disappointed by this single diminutive summon. However, judge him not by his size - he shares more than a passing resemblance to a certain small green Jedi master.
Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh is incredibly nimble and agile, delivering a flurry of lightning-fast strikes while gracefully dodging retaliation in a cloud of smoke. The Tarnished can obtain these Spirit Ashes bydefeating Demi-Human Swordmaster Onzeat the bottom of Belurat Gaol, and he costs 129 FP to summon.
4Divine Bird Warrior Ornis
Summons A Duel-Wielding Warrior With Airborne Attacks
This imposing Spirit Summon is a duel-wielding monster clad in heavy golden armor very much like Banished Knight Oleg. And if players have ever used the latter, they’ll have a good idea of how effective this iteration will be in combat. Equipped with two curved swords, Divine Bird Warrior Ornis swoops in with airborne spinning attacks, and can even cast some Incantations to boot.
The Spirit Ashes are locatednorth of the Temple Town RuinsSite of Grace. The Tarnished must ride past some purple stones and Kindred of Rot enemies to find a spiritspring that Torrent can use to reach a ledge. Then there’s a jump across a narrow gap that leads to a chest at the end of an uphill path. Divine Bird Warrior Ornis requires at least 131 FP to summon.
3Taylew the Golem Smith
Summons A Formidable Tank With High Poise
Any Tarnished who has struggled against the Golem Smith enemies at the Ruined Forge knows exactly what to expect from this Spirit Summon. Taylew’s intimidating bulk isn’t just for show. He uses a series of powerful punches and ground slam attacks to draw attention, while his thick stone hide shrugs off any and all blows with his monstrous amount of poise. He is the ideal tank for caster builds who have enough Mind to call him forth.
Unsurprisingly, Taylew the Golem Smith can befound at Taylew’s Ruined Forge. Players must find the middle platform that moves when a lever is pushed. They must then take the stairs up and interact with the furnace to receive the Spirit Ashes along with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Once obtained, he costs a whopping 138 FP to summon.
2Jolán and Anna
Summons Two Swordhands Of Night With Bleed Weapons
They say two heads are better than one, and the same goes for Spirit Summons. The Jolán and Anna Spirit Ashes call forth twin Swordhands of Night that wield a katana and duel claws respectively to attack. They attack in tandem, splitting the opponent’s attention and building up the bleed status effect with every strike. They’re a fantastic way to even the odds in multi-enemy fights or whittle down massive boss health bars for a more manageable battle.
Gathering these Spirit Ashes is, however, a task in itself. Players must firstcomplete Count Ymir’s questand give the Iris of Grace to Jolán at the end. They must then make their way to the Shaman Village from the Hinterland Site of Grace and take the path behind the settlement that leads to a secret part of Rabbath’s Rise. There the Tarnished will find Anna’s puppet body. Interacting with it lets players combine Jolán and Anna to claim the Spirit Ashes. This Spirit Summon cost an eye-watering 144 FP to call forth, making it more suited to builds with a lot of Mind.
1Horned Warrior
Summons A Hulking Spirit Wielding a Two-Handed Curved Sword
Swinging an enormous two-handed curved sword around in a four to six-hit combo makes the Horned Warrior a force to be reckoned with alone. Combine that with his high health, heavy armor, and unique Incantations, and the Tarnished has a behemoth of an ally that can decimate any challenge. As if that wasn’t enough, he can also coat his weapon in ethereal thorns and perform a slam attack that spreads a damaging area in a cone, stunning and interrupting smaller enemies and leaving them open to further punishment.
The Horned Warriorcan be found in Enir-Ilimpast the Spiral Rise Site of Grace. Players must climb the stairs and defeat four avian opponents before leaping to another staircase below. A corpse can be found there containing three items, one of which is the Horned Warrior Spirit Ashes. Once obtained, the Horned Warrior costs 101 FP to summon, which is easily within reach of most builds.
