Elden Ring is a massive game with many options for building your character. One incredible option is putting many points in Faith and using the many Incantations in the game. With Elden Ring being so massive, it's easy to miss out on new ways to optimize your build.
With so many options is easy to get stuck on whichever incantations you stumble upon and miss out on some game-changers. Some incantations can mildly benefit you in combat, while others can end it almost instantly. Here are the best Incantations any Faith build needs to consider.
Updated by Joshua Leeds on July 17, 2023: Elden Ring has a wide array of incantations. For players to choose from. These spells offer a unique build as some are supportive and healing in nature while others are made to decimate your enemies. With so many options, it only makes sense that even more are useful options than were initially on this list.
20 Honed Bolt
This lightning-based spell may lose the spectacle of throwing a spear of lighting like other incantations found later in this article but does make up for its efficiency. This spell may do less damage than others but has a quick cast time making it an ideal spammable spell.
The first windup cast of the spell does take a moment longer than one would think, but it can be chain-cast to quickly fire off other charges of this spell into your enemy,
19 Barrier Of Gold
Magic is one of the more prevailing forms of damage you'll be dealt with in the Lands Between. With magic being the main form of damage for many enemies, Barrier of Gold becomes more and more useful.
Casting this spell will greatly negate incoming magic damage to yourself and nearby allies by more than half for a little over a minute. This is incredibly useful against later-game magic-using bosses, as their damage is greatly hindered. Casting it on nearby allies also helps magic-using enemies even less of a threat.
18 Frenzied Burst
Frenzied Burst is one of the simpler and more straightforward, frenzied flame spells, declaring fire damage and building up madness. This spell has a short cast time, travels far, and packs quite the punch.
This spell also triggers madness buildup for each successful hit, making it even more deadly. This spell can also be charged up, and with its range from a safe distance, allowing you to deal even more damage than before.
17 Greyoll's Roar
This Incantation is easy to gain access to, as farming Greyoll for runes early in the game has become a widely known trick within the community. This Incantation is one of the dragon incantations, dealing both physical damage along with debugging your enemies for a short time after.
This debuff alone makes the spell very useful, as it can be used at the start of the engagement to temporarily give you the upper hand; while this spell is a beast to memorize and cast, it is well worth the extra effort.
16 Law Of Regression
Status buildups can quickly turn the tide for or against you in battle. With so many status ailments to worry about, you will often find yourself unprepared for a fight, and by then, it will be too late. Stacking up on items can prepare you for these effects, but this can be a massive drain on runes over time.
Law Of Regression not only utilizes your rechargeable FP but also covers all status effects. With this one spell, you'll be prepared for any status effect and not have to worry about buildups. This spell can also be used to dispel illusions such as fake walls, greatly helping with exploration too.
15 Elden Stars
Elden Stars focuses on dealing damage to your enemies and can easily be used to overwhelm just about any foe. After casting this spell, it will act independently and continue the bombardment of stars on your enemy, allowing you to catch your breath and heal or double up on attacking while they're distracted.
While each individual star doesn't deal much damage, the sheer volume will quickly add up and can be devastating to any enemy susceptible to holy damage. While this Incantation is found later in the game, it is well worth the effort to find and the high Faith level to use.
14 Flame Of The Fell God
Like many other Incantations, Flame Of The Fell God has the caster throwing a massive fireball at your enemies. After exploding and doing some decent AOE, it will level the area ablaze and deal a bit more damage to the enemies affected or those who walk into it post-impact.
While this spell has a great effect, it does require two memory slots and doesn't do as much damage. Its total damage is split between the initial impact and subsequent burning damage, requiring you to plan accordingly to get the maximum effect on your enemies.
13 Flame, Grant Me Strength
Incantations can be very supportive spells, as Flame, Grant Me Strength boosts your fire affinity and overall damage output. Almost all builds will utilize some sort of physical weapon, even if it's just a backup option, making this an incredibly useful incantation for anyone to use.
This buff is only for the caster, but should you also use fire Incantations, this spell will boost both of your damage capabilities. The duration is only 30 seconds, but the bonuses to damage make this a very powerful buff.
12 Blessing's Boon
Healing in Elden Ring is an incredibly priceless ability. Most healing spells have a long cast time that keeps you from moving, making them relatively useless in combat. Your flask of crimson tears is ideal for combat, but it does have limited charges, and everyone knows the feeling of getting a boss low on health and not having enough flask charges to win.
Blessing's Boon not only heals the caster and nearby allies, but it will do a constant healing over time for a minute and a half after casting. Each second, 8 HP is restored, and using the Old Lord's Talisman will extend its effect for a longer time. While each second's health is not a great amount, the constant healing slowly adds up, and it can help you stay focused on fighting instead or running and healing.
11 Lord's Heal
With Elden Ring's massive map, many stretches can be endurance tests for players. Having a limited number of heal charges with an unknown distance to travel can be daunting. Lord's Heal will be some of the best bang for your buck in terms of FP usage to heal. Not only does it heal the caster, but it also does an AOE heal for allies.
The caster can also hold the spell to delay the healing, should that be necessary. It will heal your nearby spirit ashes and other summons mid-battle, making it the perfect support spell for crowded boss fights.
10 Golden Vow
Golden Vow buffs both the offense and the defense of the caster and those around them. While this spell seems straightforward, sometimes the straightforward bonuses can make or break a boss fight. Increasing both your own and allies' damage can help considerably shorten a boss fight's length.
This Incantation stacks alongside other attack and defense buffs like Flame, Grant me Strength. Mixing these different bonuses and buffs can make your character take less damage and deal more, a simple game changer.
9 Flame of Frenzy
This Incantation has a low FP cost, quick spell cast time, and can be chain cast. Mixing in the Madness buildup on the target can make this spell make short work of single enemies and drive opponents crazy in PVP.
While this spell does build up the player's madness, it is at a much slower rate. Focusing on one opponent will usually have you outlasting them and not suffering from madness yourself. Adding fire damage can help branch out a Faith based build to damage more enemy weaknesses.
8 Lightning Spear
Giving true power and damage to your faith skill, this Incantation allows tremendous damage over a medium distance. At only 17 Faith to use, it is an excellent early game incantation allowing your build to branch out to more damage-based incantations.
While mostly this spell is straightforward if you charge the cast, a little AOE bonus is added to the target upon impact. Also, who doesn't like throwing lightning?
7 Bloodflame Blade
This is an incantation that buffs your main hand weapon. After casting, your weapon will now deal additional fire damage and cause a bleed build-up on hit enemies.
An additional damage type on a weapon already does a lot to make it more powerful, but adding bleed on that weapon will make you borderline unstoppable. While in effect, this Incantation will make your weapon deal two elemental damages and cause bleed.
6 Swarm of Flies
Being a blood incantation, Swarm of Flies will also require Arcane to cast it. While also doing magic damage, this Incantation mostly does physical damage. Adding a hemorrhage buildup, this spell hurts its target and can lead to further if cast multiple times.
This spell does require a cast time but can be cast while moving. This is also one of the few spells and incantations that can be released while the player is crouched and allows them to stay crouched. While stealth in Elden Ring is often underutilized, this spell can help even a faith build utilize it.
5 Glintstone Breath
Glintstone Breath is one of the few incantations that cause magic damage and, in this case, only magic damage. Adding this Incantation to your spell lists allows a high-damage magic spell in a build that usually lacks magic damage.
This Incantation does suffer from a very long cast time, but its high and constant stream of damage makes it devastating when used correctly. While breathing the spell, you may also turn to attack in different directions if needed.
4 Aspects of the Crucible: Tail
Many glass cannon builds suffer from the lack of options when strong enemies get within combat range. This spell not only gives you an option but a devastating attack to eliminate the enemy. This Incantation does physical damage and can be charged to do more.
Its charged attack adds a second sweep that does more damage than the first. The second strike has a much broader strike, with both swings hitting everything in front of you. This spell is powerful enough for you to consider switching to a melee-based faith build.
3 Bestial Sling
Matching a quick cast time with a low FP cost and the ability to chain cast is the perfect recipe for an auto-take spell. Its cast time is so fast it can be chained into your primary weapons combos by switching between your hands. Bestial Sling is mostly physical damage and some magic damage.
The Bestial incantations are some of the best in the game and are a must-have for any faith build. Its incredibly low Faith requirement makes it perfect for finding and using early-game and will make those early bosses a cakewalk.
2 Giantsflame Take Thee
While this does have a high FP cost at 32, Giantsflame Take Thee makes up for it. This Incantation does massive damage, has AoE, and a knockback. This spell can be further charged up to increase the total damage and add a large range of AoE.
While the number of casts is limited due to the FP cost, enough attacks with this invitation will make short work of any boss or group of enemies you're fighting. This Incantation is one of the highest ranged damage abilities in the game and is needed for a faith build.
1 Beast Claws
Despite the balances to make this Incantation less powerful, it still stands at the top. With only eight Faith required, almost any character can use this ability, but Faith builds scale it to an incredible level. Its medium cast speed can be charged up for more damage.
It releases multiple claws that travel in a wide arc with slight gaps between each claw. Claws continue to move through after hitting enemies to also hit those behind them, making groups of enemies seem powerless against you.