Best Ashes of War in Elden Ring: Tier List for Every Build

Ashes of War are the heart of Elden Ring's combat customization. They let you slot powerful skills onto any compatible weapon and change its affinity, scaling, and damage type on the fly. With dozens scattered across the Lands Between, choosing the right one can make or break your build. Whether you're a strength chad, a dexterity weeb, or a spellblade, this tier list will help you dominate.

S-Tier: Godlike Power

These Ashes are so strong they trivialize most encounters. Equip them on your favorite weapon and watch bosses melt.

Bloody Slash - A classic from the early game, this delivers a massive blood-tinged slash that can one-shot normal enemies and bleed bosses quickly. It costs a bit of HP but the damage is worth it.
Giant Hunt - The ultimate anti-boss tool. This skill launches enemies into the air and inflicts massive poise damage, opening them up for critical hits. Works on almost every humanoid boss, including Malenia.
Seppuku - Blood loss builds shine with this Ash. It sacrifices 20% HP to coat your weapon in blood, triggering insane bleed procs. Combine with White Mask and Lord of Blood's Exultation for a devastating build.
Unsheathe - The ikemen skill of the Uchigatana and Nagakiba. Its heavy attack has high damage, range, and hyper armor, making it a reliable choice for any dex build.

A-Tier: Amazing and Versatile

These Ashes are nearly as powerful as S-tier but require more thought or have situational downsides.

Lion's Claw - A classic spin-slam with super armor, this is a favorite for strength builds. It closes distance fast and deals high poise damage, making it perfect against aggressive foes.
Flame of the Redmanes - Despite the nerfs, this remains one of the best poise-breakers. A single charged hit can stagger most enemies, letting you land criticals repeatedly. It's especially strong against Radagon.
Hoarfrost Stomp - The infamous ice stomp may have been toned down, but it's still excellent for area denial, frostbite procs, and crowd control. Great on spears and halberds.
Wild Strikes - An underrated gem for heavy weapons. This rapid spinning attack can shred any enemy that isn't constantly attacking you. Pair it with a bleed or frost infusion for extra devastation.

B-Tier: Solid Choices

Good in specific situations or with the right build, but sometimes outclassed by the options above.

Carian Grandeur - Perfect for int builds, this Ash unleashes a giant magical sword slash. It hits like a truck but has a long charge time. Land it and you'll delete tough enemies in one hit.
Blood Tax - A rapid thrust that steals HP with each hit. It's useful for survivability, especially in long boss fights, but the damage is low and leaves you open.
Stormcaller - Creates a whirlwind around you, deflecting arrows and staggering nearby foes. It synergizes with storm-related weapons like the Stormhawk Axe.
Ice Spear - Launches a frost-covered spear for decent range and damage. It's a solid choice for frost builds, but the projectile can be dodged.

C-Tier: Niche but Fun

These Ashes aren't the best, but they can shine in certain builds or for meme potential.

Gravitas - Pulls enemies toward you and deals gravity magic damage. Good for setting up combos, but risky in the open.
Sacred Blade - Infuses your weapon with holy and fires a projectile. It's decent against undead in early areas, but falls off later.
Phantom Slash - Creates a spectral clone that mimics your attack. It looks cool and deals good damage, but the clone can miss if enemies move.

How to Choose the Right Ash

Your Ash of War should complement your weapon and build. For strength builds, look for Ashes with high poise damage like Lion's Claw or Giant Hunt. For dex builds, prioritize speed and bleed, like Bloody Slash or Unsheathe. Intelligence builds should slot Carian Grandeur or Gravitas, while faith builds can use Flame of the Redmanes or Sacred Blade.

Don't forget that you can change the affinity even if you don't use the skill. That means you can put a utility Ash on a weapon just to get Heavy, Keen, or Cold scaling. Experiment with different combinations to find what feels right for your playstyle.

Ultimately, the best Ash is the one that makes your build feel unstoppable. From softening up bosses with Hoarfrost Stomp to deleting them with Giant Hunt, Elden Ring offers a versatile toolkit to conquer the Lands Between. So pick your favorite, upgrade your weapon, and get hunting.