Summary
One major aspect of theElden Ringexperience isPvP combat. Invasions and Colosseum duels are unlocked as the Tarnished explores the Lands Between, and so are the many differentAshes of War. These special moves can be equipped to or with the many armaments available in the game, allowing the player to customize their weapon with a unique attack or buff.
When engaging other players in PvP, it’s important to have an effective Ash of War that can take an opponent by surprise, deal heavy damage, or add strong buffs and movesets. This has led to several Ashes becoming popular within theElden Ringcommunity, but there are plenty of rarely-seen moves with the potential to compete in PvP. These arethe most underrated Ashes of War inElden Ringwhen it comes to PvP combat.
This list won’t feature any Ashes of War that are limited to one armament.
10Square Off
Simple And Effective
Some may overlookSquare Off,as it can only be applied tostraight swords, but this Ash of War is highly effective thanks to its quick execution and impressive stance/guard-breaking abilities. It also features both a light and heavy version of its attack.
The player waits in the Square Off stance before unleashing either a piercing heavy attack or a quick upward slash. The heavy attack has the player rushing forward to deliver the blow, making it perfect for roll-catching fleeing foes, and the upward light slash is quick and can often break the guard of blocking enemies.
9Kick
Perfect For Guard Breaking
TheKickisn’t going to deal much damage, but it’s a swift move that can take an opponent by surprise and open their guard for an easy critical attack or flurry. The Kick is also the default Ash of War when unarmed, so players can quickly swap out right-hand armament and deliver this move.
Invasionsnear high ledgesare excellent opportunities to use gravity without the Intelligence level requirement. When on level ground, the best use of the Kick Ash of War is to create distance when enemies get too close or to guard-break shield users. It’s a difficult move to land, but when it does, it can set up a devastating follow-up attack.
8Stamp (Upward Cut)
Send Them Flying
Both versions of theStampAsh of War are deadly in the right hands, but theUpward Cutmay have an advantage. The attack involves a forward step into a lethal arching slash, dealing damage both in front and behind the player. It can be applied to many different weapon types, and itscales with Strength.
The initial forward movement provides a great deal of hyper-armor, meaning it can only be interrupted by death itself, and the slash can be slightly delayed to make it more unpredictable. It’s useful for dealing with multiple enemies, as its arc can catch anyone trying to sneak in for a critical backstab.
7Spinning Weapon
Stun-Locking
Spinning Weaponmakes the area in front of the caster a very dangerous place to be. Usable on most small and medium weapons, including sorcerer’s staffs, this Ash of War rapidly spins the equipped armament, dealing a lot of damage quickly.
It activates pretty quickly and can stun-lock Tarnished who aren’t careful, being particularly harmful in more confined spaces against single opponents. Spinning Weapon works very well forsorcerer builds, as it provides a powerful melee attack to go alongside their ranged spells, making melee builds think twice about closing the distance.
6Vacuum Slice
Dangerous Ranged Attack
Vacuum Slice, used by the infamousValiant Gargoylebosses, creates a vertical projectile from the player’s choice of slashing weapon. It’s a great tool for catching enemies off guard if they start a fight believing they’ll be safe at a distance.
Attacking with this Ash of War head-on can be dodged relatively easily, but when timed correctly, it’s highly effective at roll-catching after a previous attack, or punishing an enemy stuck in a longer animation. It’s a solid option for Strength builds in need of a ranged attack to go with their melee setups.
5Wild Strikes
Versatile Repeated Attack
Wild Strikesis an Ash of War with practical uses in many situations. The initial ‘wild strikes’ can be used continuously on their own, racking up a solid amount of damage on anyone unfortunate enough to be caught by them. They can also be followed up by unique light and heavy attacks.
It’s great for invaders that have been cornered by a host and their summons, as it is activated quickly and has a wide swing, able to hit anyone in a 180-degree radius. The user can then deliver a faster short-ranged slash or a slower sweeping attack. Wild Strikes scales best with Strength, and can be used with any affinity.
4Spectral Lance
Strike With Precision
Spectral Lanceis similar to Vacuum Slice in that it provides a ranged option for melee builds, only this time, it’s for users' piercing weapons instead of their slashing weapons. Spears, great spears, and halberds are already long-range melee weapons, but they can reach further when they’re thrown.
This Ash of War transforms the user’s weapon into a javelin, launching it forward for heavy damage. It’s great for punishing opponents who create distance to try andheal with their flask, and since it’s quite rare to see, it can take foes by surprise when used at the right moment.
3Vow Of The Indomitable
Be Completely Unfazed
This Ash of War completely negates damage for a moment by giving the user 30 i-frames. For comparison, dodging with a medium weight ratio only gives 13 i-frames. In the right hands,Vow of the Indomitablecan make an opponent’s best attacks completely redundant. This Ash of War can be applied to mostshields in the game.
One slight drawback is the demanding cost of 20 FP, so it can’t completely replace rolling unless the player dedicates a large amount of skill points to the Mind stat, but it has a lot of potential uses in PvP. Its relative rarity is also an advantage, taking players by surprise when encountering it.
2Raptor Of The Mists
Perfect Counter Attack
If activated right before an enemy attack lands, this Ash of War makes the player vanish and reappear in the air, allowing for a plunging attack. It quickly places the player above their opponent while they’re recovering from their previous attack, making a successful hit very likely.
It works best against heavy-weapon users, and pairs well with equipment that boosts jumping attack damage, such as the Claw Talisman andRaptor’s Black Feather’sattire. Like the Vow of the Indomitable Ash,Raptor of the Mistsoffers an alternative to roll-dodging, but this time with a great opportunity to counterattack.
1Storm Assault
Stun And Destroy
Activating this Ash of War creates a storm on the ground, launching the player into the air and staggering anyone in their vicinity, before plunging back into the ground for devastating damage.Storm Assault’sinitial attack activates very quickly and lasts for a long time, so it’s very good at catching unprepared enemies.
The plunging attack does massive damage, and affects a wide area, too. This attack can be punished if used carelessly, as it has a long recovery animation to make up for its overall power. It can be equipped to polearms, heavy thrusting swords, and twin blades.
