If you weren't aware, Ashes of War are Elden Ring's version of the weapon skills (Also known as weapon arts) from the previous Souls games. FromSoftware has outdone themselves this time by making these abilities transcend simply being a simple skill attached to your gear. No longer are you limited as much by your current weapons, although it stands to reason that the type of weapon it came on will make good use out of its own skill.
It is important to remember, however, that not every weapon is compatible with or can use any Ash of War, and some special weapons can only use the Ash of War they came with. Fortunately, there exists a great variety of skills and weapons which you can use with this system. This list will help narrow down the choices of which ones you should consider. While all of them have their own niche and play style, the most noteworthy are typically stronger and more versatile than others.
10 Kick
Among the many flashy and showy skills that you are capable of unleashing upon your foes, nothing beats a well-placed kick. Kick allows you to break the guard of a blocking enemy or simply stagger an undefended one. While an attack may take too long or be easily shrugged off by a shield, a good kick can provide you with a window of opportunity to strike.
For a while, its usefulness was a bit diminished, but after a big balance patch its strength was buffed, putting it back in its rightful place as the enemy of shield users. It's a situational tool, so it might be recommended to prepare this on your off-hand or a weapon you can quickly switch to. It's one of several Ashes of War which can be acquired early in the game.
9 Phantom Slash
This one may be a bit underrated, especially as polearms are also a bit of an underrated armament. If you are a fan of spears or twin blades, however, this one can potentially become your favorite when you see how easy it is to use.
It's a simple move. You send forth a phantom warrior to charge and slash at your opponent, and it can be reactivated to follow up with your own charging slash. Again, simple, but it can be very effective. In PvE, it can be used to deal a big chunk of damage, but in PvP it can either fake out your opponent with a bit of misdirection by moving while you activate the skill. You can also time it to find an opening in someone's guard or combo, as well as use it to close the gap on an enemy who thinks they've escaped the range of your polearm.
8 Hoarfrost Stomp
A favorite of many newer players, Hoarfrost Stomp is an AoE move that is one of a few to develop a bad reputation for itself. It is very easy to use with minimal downsides to you, and it does a considerable amount of damage to everything around you. It is good against mobs of enemies surrounding you, good against single targets that you don't want to let touch you, and it deals great damage against bosses.
The most notable feature of its damage is the Frost status. Its buildup can deal a considerable amount of damage in bursts if allowed to stack. When used in PvE, Frost is very easy to stack and thus is very effective, even after the nerf it got.
7 Rain Of Arrows
Mighty Shot and Barrage will likely be two of your bread and butter skills to use as an archer, but another very important skill to find is Rain of Arrows. It shoots a volley of arrows that rain down in a small area. Another simple yet effective Ash of War that can decimate a pack of enemies or a single large enemy.
Against a single foe, such as a player, it is less effective due to the obvious fact not all the arrows will hit them. However, it is still important to note that the area is quite wide and centered on them, meaning that as long as they aren't sprinting, it is still likely you will score a good hit on them -- especially if they are unsuspecting. Combine with a status effect of your choice to take advantage of its multiple hits.
6 Giant Hunt
True to its name, Giant Hunt is a very effective tool for hitting giant enemies right where it hurts. The ability to stab directly upwards in a game where your movement is limited is not to be underestimated, especially when flying enemies can be the bane of melee players.
This, however, is not all it can do. The force of the upward thrust can launch just about any medium or smaller foe into the air, and large enemies such as the crucible knight will take hefty stagger damage. If you're wielding a greatsword or polearm, this can be used to put nimble enemies in their place. It can even make up for your lack of speed against bosses such as the Black Knife Assassin or even the fearsome Malenia.
5 Gravitas
A rather peculiar skill that draws enemies close with a short range aoe. While a bit hard to use properly in PvP, in PvE it can be very destructive against small and medium enemies.
Its damage isn't amazing, but no one in their right mind can understate the value of aoe crowd control. Feeble but agile enemies such as the various viscous dogs will get staggered long enough for you to quickly deal with them, and flying enemies will be at your mercy as they are pulled from the air. It isn't nearly as effective against players, but it can still be used to catch them off guard or put someone in a less favorable spot.
4 Thunderbolt
Usable on any weapon, thunderbolt is a cheap and quick Ash of War that casts a version of the spell of the same name. The damage on the lightning strike scales with your weapon, allowing you to pump out damage onto a single target without too much effort.
It is a very effective tool for safely dispatching a foe you want to maintain distance from both due to the speed and low cost. In PvP, it can also be used to put pressure on your enemy or punish them for running away.
3 Golden Vow
A very important support move, golden vow allows you to buff your and your allies' attack and defense. While it is a small and short buff, using it just before passing through a boss fog or entering an area you know is guarded by tough enemies can likely give you the edge.
The thing that makes this Ash of War important is that it is one of a few select spells that also appear as Ashes of War. The potency of the Ash of War version is reduced compared to the spell, but it also has no stat requirements to use, allowing it to be used with any build.
2 Bloodhound's Step
Bloodhound's Step, and it's easier-to-obtain sister Quickstep, is an evasive maneuver that covers a long distance. It's extremely useful for avoiding tricky attacks from hard bosses that you might find yourself getting hit by when attempting to dodge normally. It is also just as useful in fighting players in PvP, as it will guarantee you will be able to evade an attack rather than having the chance to get hit at the end or the start of your regular dodge roll.
Its only downside is that it is quite easy to over-rely on using it. One of the biggest dangers in any FromSoftware game is falling pray to overconfidence as i-frames are no replacement for skill. This is doubly true for PvP where one well-timed attack or one mistimed dodge could be the difference between life and death.
1 Bloody Slash
Bloody Slash is a powerful Ash of War and a favorite for Bleed builds due to its ability to rapidly apply the status effect. Bleed, much like Frost, is a very deadly status effect that can deal big chunks of damage if allowed to stack. The main difference being that while Frost is best in PvE, Bleed retains its usefulness against players in PvP as well.
Bloody Slash, in addition to being very nearly a guaranteed blood loss due to its affinity, is fast, has considerable range, and performs a decent amount of damage on its own. Combine this with a weapon with passive Bleed such as the Uchigatana, as well as the Bleed-buffing skill Seppuku, for maximum effect.