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So, if a player gets stuck at a difficult World Boss (which Elden Ring has plenty of), they can move on to a different area of Lands Between. Fortunately, Elden Ring has plenty of items to help a player win even the hardest of battles, and one such item is Spirit Ash Summons. But, with so many Spirit Ashes available (64 to be exact!), it can be challenging for players to know which one to use.
Updated May 8, 2022, by Daniel Dilena: Even though some players have expressed concern over the use of Summon Ashes since some of them can make a boss fight trivial, FromSoftware has continued to fine-tune them to fit the needs of newer Elden Ring players. And while they slightly adjusted the Mimic Tear Summon by removing its ability to consume flasks, it remains the best Summon Ashes in Elden Ring. But, also with those slight adjustments, some lesser-used Spirit Ashes have earned their right to be counted among the best Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring.
15 Skeletal Militiaman
Effect:
Summons Two Skeletal Militiaman Spirits
Players often encounter Skeletal Militiamen while farming for Deathroots for Gurranq Beast Clergyman since the bosses that guard this foul item usually are Necromancers. And even though the Skeletal Militiaman is far from powerful, its ability to resurrect after being slain is what makes it worthy of being called one of the best summons in Elden Ring.
So, players can use the Skeletal Militiaman Ash Summon to distract enemies and bosses since they will resurrect after a short period. But, of course, enemies or bosses that use slam attacks will render them useless since any slam will stop them from resurrecting. Players can obtain this Summon Ash by defeating Tibia Mariner Field Boss in Summonwater Village.
14 Banished Knight Oleg
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Banished Knight Oleg
Banished Knights are among the most fearsome enemies in Elden Ring since they are nimble, hit hard, and have a powerful leap attack that can stagger players. So, as players can expect, its Spirit Ash Summon counterpart is capable of all that and has a better AI.
Unfortunately, acquiring one of the best summons in Elden Ring comes at a price, fighting an Ulcerated Tree Spirit Boss in Fringefolk Hero’s Grave. So, players should prepare for this fight as the Ulcerated Tree Spirit is among the most challenging world bosses in Elden Ring.
13 Perfumer Tricia
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Perfumer Tricia
Most players use Spirit Ashes to distract or attack enemies and bosses, but Perfumer Tricia brings a whole different set of skills since she mainly supports players by buffing them. And the reason why she’s one of the best Spirit Summons is that she can cast a shield over the player that’ll negate 90% of the next incoming attack, and she can do this several times during a fight.
But, players will need to travel to Mt. Gelmir and fight Perfumer Tricia herself plus her Misbegotten Warrior before they can start using this useful support summon.
12 Bloodhound Knight Floh
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Bloodhound Knight Floh
Players that like to play aggressively in Elden Ring often find that some Spirit Ashes can’t keep up with them, but Bloodhound Knight Floh changes that since it’s perhaps the most aggressive Summon in Elden Ring. On top of that, Bloodhound Knight Floh can stagger and cause Blood Loss on enemies or bosses who are susceptible to it.
But, due to Bloodhound Knight Floh’s aggressive nature, players will need to act fast since it doesn’t last too long in a fight. Players that wish to use this Spirit Summon can obtain it after defeating Red Wolf of the Champion in Gelmir Hero’s Grave.
11 Raya Lucaria Soldier
Effect:
Summons Three Raya Lucaria Soldier Spirits
The Raya Lucaria Soldier deserves its spot as one of the best ashes in Elden Ring because they have the perfect mix of melee and ranged attacks. Moreover, they are incredibly aggressive, which can buy a few precious seconds for players to unleash a flurry of attacks before being targeted.
Players can find this Spirit Summon inside a chest at the end of Road’s End Catacombs. But, players should venture into these catacombs with precaution since it’s filled with Fanged Imps, waiting to ambush unsuspecting players.
10 Fanged Imp
Effect:
Summons Two Fanged Imp Spirits
Players who have faced Imps before know that these little creatures are nimble and cause Blood Loss buildup over time, making them very annoying to fight (but surprisingly not the most annoying enemies to fight in Elden Ring). The good news is that players can summon two annoying Fanged Imp that’ll distract enemies and bosses.
And while they’re not the strongest of the bunch, they can move around quickly, which means they can survive longer. Players can get the Fanged Imp Ash Summon as a keepsake at the beginning of the game, or they can buy it off a merchant near the Main Academy Gate.
9 Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff
One of several Legendary Ash Summons, Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff is the perfect companion for Sorcery or Incantation builds with minimal Vigor since he’s quite beefy and can take a beating. Moreover, he has a decent ranged attack where he strikes foes with thunderbolts, plus imbues his weapon with Lightning!
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Unfortunately, obtaining him can be a challenge, which is why he’s not ranked higher since players will need to pass Leyndell the Royal Capital and then complete Sainted Hero’s Grave. This location is home to Imps that players can only attack after a light is shone at them.
8 Oracle Envoy
Effect:
Summons Four Oracle Envoy Spirits
It’s no doubt that FromSoftware is known in the gaming community for creating some of the weirdest enemies and bosses in video games, and the Oracle Envoy proves that. This marshmallow-looking Spirit Ash Summon not only has high aggro stats but also has a decent ranged bubble attack.
But, the main issue with the Oracle Envoy’s is that their ranged attacks are slow, which means players shouldn’t depend on their damage in a fight. Players can find this Spirit Ash Summon near Haligtree Town Site of Grace, part of Miquella’s Haligtree Secret Area.
7 Azula Beastman
Effect:
Summons Two Azula Beastman Spirits
The Azula Beastman is a towering creature that can stagger enemies with relative ease, even more so since players can summon two of them. Furthermore, they are extremely aggressive, so they’ll attack enemies nonstop until they perish. Players may recognize them if they fought Beastman Of Farum Azula in Groveside Cave since they’re practically the same.
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Unfortunately, Azula Beastman Spirit Ash Summon is a late-game pick-up since it’s found below the Dragon Temple Site of Grace in the Crumbling Farum Azula area. On top of that, even though they have a powerful attack, they tend to die faster than others since they’re constantly getting into fights.
6 Radahn Soldier
Effect:
Summons Two Radahn Soldier Spirits
The Radahn Soldier Spirit Ash Summon is quite useful against bosses since they have high defense stats (since they wield a shield), plus their weapons are imbued with Fire. Unfortunately, Radahn Soldiers have a mind of their own and often walk away searching for more enemies, which can be annoying while exploring the open world.
Players can find this Spirit Ash Summon in War-Dead Catacombs, but players should come prepared as they’ll have to face Imps, Cleanrot Knight Spirits, Radhan Soldier Spirits, and the world boss: Putrid Tree Spirit.
5 Greatshield Soldier
Effect:
Summons Five Greatshield Soldier Spirits
The go-to Spirit Ash Summons for any glass cannon build, the Greatshield Soldiers are nearly invincible, especially at +9 and +10. Moreover, players that have healing-type Incantations like Lord’s Heal (which is among the best Incantations in Elden Ring) will be able to heal them, making them even more invulnerable.
But, all that defense comes at a price since they barely damage enemies, which is why players shouldn’t rely on their damage output. Players can find this Spirit Ash Summon on a corpse in a graveyard in Nokron, Eternal City.
4 Nightmaiden & Swordtress Puppets
Effect:
Summons Nightmaiden & Swordstress Spirits
Even though obtaining this Spirit Ash Summon isn’t easy since players will need to fight two powerful Swordstresses, it’s well worth the risk as they’ll prove useful in boss fights. The Nightmaiden & Swordstress Spirits are great aggro summons that can last throughout an entire battle, mostly because they can easily dodge attacks.
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Their only downside is that they’re slow walkers, which means that bosses who teleport or move around a lot will quickly lose their aggro. So, players should make sure they use them against slow-moving bosses or enemies.
3 Lhutel The Headless
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Lhutel the Headless
Lhutel the Headless has high-defense stats, powerful melee and ranged attacks, and can teleport around the area, so what more can a player ask for? Moreover, players that invest in her will quickly realize that she can play the role of a super tank and a damage dealer, making her the ideal Spirit Ash Summon of choice.
But why is she not first on today’s list? The main reason is that Lhutel the Headless isn’t reliable in aggroing enemies or bosses, mostly due to her teleporting around the area. So, players who rely on Spirit Ash Summons to aggro enemies will quickly notice that she doesn’t do a very good job at that. Players can obtain her by defeating the Cemetery Shade in the Tombsward Catacombs.
2 Black Knife Tiche
Effect:
Summons Spirit of Black Knife Tiche
Perhaps the most controversial Spirit Ash Summon is the Black Knife Tiche since many players find her too OP, especially during boss fights. This Spirit Ash Summon has melee and ranged attacks imbued with Black Flame, which creates a DoT effect on enemies.
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Some players have even noticed that the Black Knife Tiche can out-damage them in certain fights, which is why some feel that using her makes Elden Ring too easy. And players that like the Black Knife Armor can get one by traveling to Consecrated Snowfield.
1 Mimic Tear
Effect:
Summons Mimic Tear Spirit
The Mimic Tear is undoubtedly the best Spirit Ash in Elden Ring since it makes an exact copy of the player. Moreover, the Mimic Tear can do the following:
Use the Player’s Weapons, Armor, Talismans, Spells/Incantations Unlimited Supply of Bolts and Arrows Stat Increases as Player Levels Up
These perks will make a boss fight trivial since it’s essentially another player fighting alongside the player. But, summoning this Spirit Ash comes at a price since it’ll consume 660 HP from the player. Furthermore, the Mimic Tear cannot swap weapons, so whatever weapon you currently have equipped will be the one it uses. But, other than that, the Mimic Tear has nearly endless power since it scales with the player, making it truly the best Spirit Ash Summon.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
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