With that in mind, we’ve compiled this list of the great early and late game spells in Elden Ring, including a few handy sorceries and incantations, to help ease you through especially difficult parts of the game. We’ve also included how to get each Legendary Spell, which, aside from being among the best, are required for one of Elden Ring’s achievements. If you’re going for a Faith build, check out our list of the best Incantations and Faith spells as well. Please take note that the following may contain some late-game spoilers if you haven’t made it that far yet!
Best early game spell: Rock Sling Another good early-mid game spell: Rock Blaster Glintstone Pebble Carian Slicer Carian Greatsword and Magic Glintblade Loretta’s Greatbow Best late game spell: Comet Azur Greatblade Phalanx Roiling Magma Flame Sling Flame of Frenzy Adula’s Moonblade Glintstone Icecrag Legendary Spells
Best early game spell: Rock Sling
This spell is excellent in the early game, especially when paired with the meteorite staff which can be conveniently located nearby. This spell summons three orbs that track the targeted enemy, dealing huge damage without costing too much FP. To find this spell, head to Caelid and travel to the Street of Sages ruins. This can be located north east of the Astray from Caelid Highway North site of grace. Once you’ve made it there, head into the underground section of the ruins and you’ll find the spell located in a solitary chest.
Another good early-mid game spell: Rock Blaster
Rock Blaster is a hands-on spell that blasts enemies into the ground, causing large AoE damage. Go to the Dragonburnt Ruins in the shallow lake just to the east of The First Step in Limgrave. Head down the steps in the middle, open the door, and then open the tempting treasure chest. The chest will, in fact, be a teleport to the Sellia Crystal Tunnel. If you’re in the early game, take care of high level enemies, and sprint past them to the end of the tunnels and up a ladder that takes you into a cavern on the left. If you find yourself stuck or lost, we’ve a step by step guide to traversing Sellia Crystal Tunnel and collecting all of its loot. In the shacks here, there will be a chest that contains Rock Blaster.
Glintstone Pebble
Astrologers rejoice! The starting spell that class receives - Glintstone Pebble - is a fantastic single target spell for the early game, able to quickly and easily take out regular enemies without spending too much FP or taking too long to cast. If you’re not an Astrologer, you can buy this spell from either Sorceress Sellen in the Ruins Cellar in the east of Limgrave, north of the Bridge of Sacrifice. They’re sitting in their own personal study past the pumpkin head boss. Alternatively, you can also buy this spell from Sorcerer Thops in the Church of Irith near Stormveil Castle.
Carian Slicer
Carian Slicer is a brilliant spell, where the caster swipes a magical sword that deals excellent damage without costing too much FP. As such, it’s a great option when enemies get too close and you don’t have time to back up and cast a powerful spell. To learn this spell, you must first give Sorcerer Sellen (found in the Ruins Cellar, north of the Bridge of Sacrifice) a Royal House Scroll. To find the scroll, start off at the Agheel Lake South site of grace, then head directly east until you run into two large stone structures. Make your way to the eastmost structure, climb the rocks beside the building and jump onto the roof. There, you’ll see a knight standing next to a corpse. Kill this knight, and the scroll can be found on the body he was guarding.
Carian Greatsword and Magic Glintblade
The Carian Greatsword is similar to the Carian Slicer, but has a larger AoE with its increased swing, thus dealing more damage to surrounding enemies. On the other hand, the Magic Glintblade works by casting a sign into the air, which will then fire a blade at your targeted enemy. To acquire either of these items, you must make it to the Church of Vows Site of Grace on top of the mountain east of Raya Lucaria and speak with Muriel, Pastor of Vows a few times. You can’t really miss him, because, well, he’s a huge tortoise with a hat. When his dialogue is finished, you can then purchase the Magic Glintblade spell from him for 3000 Runes, and the Carian Greatsword spell for 10,000 Runes.
Loretta’s Greatbow
Unlike some of the other best spells, Loretta’s Greatbow is locked behind a boss fight - however, it has the power level to match. This spell takes the form of a bow that can be cast at long range, and can deal higher the damage the longer it is charged. Go to the Caria Manor in the north of Liurnia of the Lakes and make your way past the creepy crawly hands and spectral knights to the top. This area is also where you find one of Elden Ring’s best weapons, and you will need to fight against the boss, Royal Knight Loretta, here. When finally felled, Royal Knight Loretta will drop the Loretta’s Greatbow spell - the giant OP spellbolt they’ve been nailing you with throughout the fight. Enjoy ruining other people’s day with it as much as they ruined yours.
Best late game spell: Comet Azur
There’s nothing cooler than a giant laser beam, and in Elden Ring one of the best spells has you shoot out a gigantic energy beam that can wipe out waves of enemies or deal incredible damage to bosses no problem. This spell is fairly easy to obtain, although you do have to be far through the game to find it. The spell can be found directly next to the site of grace directly north of the hermit village in the volcano North East of Atlus Plateau (we’ve not named the site of grace because it’s a giant spoiler). Once at this site of grace, there will be a friendly crystalised mage sitting nearby. Walk up to them and talk to your new buddy, and they’ll give you the spell. While Comet Azur is great, it uses a lot of FP and isn’t actually all that mind-blowing without a few extra steps. You’ll want to acquire the Cerulean Hidden Tear and apply this to your Flask of Wondrous Physick to eliminate FP consumption for a period of time. This can be found by defeating the Ulcerated Tree Spirit at the Minor Erdtree by the Road of Iniquity Site of Grace. Then, you’ll also want to acquire the Terra Magica spell, which will create a zone that increases your magic damage while inside of it. You can get your hands on this by completing Academy Crystal Cave. After felling the two Crystalian bosses, take the elevator behind them. You’ll reach a tower, and at the top is a chest containing the spell. Your plan of action when using Comet Azur is to use Terra Magica, drink your Flask of Wondrous Physick, and then boom. However, you can strengthen Comet Azur by using Ranni’s Dark Moon before drinking your flask; this lowers the magic resistance of your foe, but isn’t always necessary.
Greatblade Phalanx
A souls classic, the Greatblade Phalanx summons numerous swords around the caster, which shoot out and attack enemies when they come close. This deals decent damage, and allows magic users to either put up an automatic defensive counter attack, or a way of dealing additional damage when rushing in. To get this spell, you need to kill Bols, Carian Knight. This boss can be found in the Cuckoo’s Evergaol, which you can reach by travelling directly south from the Foot of the Four Belfries site of grace in Liurnia.
Roiling Magma
Roiling Magma fires off a ball of concentrated… well, magma, at your target. It deals high damage on its own, but also creates a pool of magma where it lands, which can damage enemies with low fire resistance. This one is on a corpse in the Hermit’s Shack, southeast of the Magma Wyrm near Fort Laiedd.
Flame Sling
Flame Sling is your basic Faith-based incantation, but it deals incredibly high damage even with a low Faith stat. The cast time is a little long, but you can augment that with Talismans and by boosting your Dexterity. Flame Sling comes from Brother Corhyn in Roundtable Hold, or on Altus Plateau if he’s moved on before you buy it.
Flame of Frenzy
This is a deadly spell for you and your foes. It fires beams of Frenzied Flame from your eyes. It deals repeated damage, and plenty of it, but it also boosts your madness meter. Use it too often, and you’ll lose a big chunk of HP and FP - not fun. The same goes for your enemies as well, though think carefully before casting. Flame of Frenzy has no stagger effect, which means your enemies are free to continue attacking you while you cast. Grab this one from Callu Baptismal Church on the Weeping Peninsula.
Adula’s Moonblade
Adula’s Moonblade is an excellent ice sorcery and one you won’t get your hands on until much later in the game. It’s a drop from Glintstone Dragon Adula, and while you’ll first encounter the beast in Three Sisters, near Ranni’s Rise, the dragon relocates to the Cathedral of Mana Celes after taking some damage. You can only access the cathedral after progressing Ranni’s quest and defeating Astel, so it’ll take awhile. Adula’s Moonblade creates a giant ice sword that slashes in a wide arc and unleashes a shock wave of ice in the process. It has a fairly low stat requirement too. You’ll need 34 Intelligence to cast it.
Glintstone Icecrag
This is another strong ice spell, similar to a frosty version of Roiling Magma. It fires a huge chunk of ice at the target and tracks their movement. You can purchase Glintstone Icecrag from Seluvis at his tower in Three Sisters for 7,500 Runes, and it only requires 15 Intelligence.
What are the Legendary Spells in Elden Ring?
If you’re after the legendary spells achievement, you’ll need to track down all seven of them. Their high stat requirements mean you likely won’t be able to use these until later in the game, but they’re among the most powerful you can find.
Flame of the Fell God
The Flame of the Fell God comes from Adan, Thief of Fire in the Malefactor’s Evergaol. You’ll find the prison on the southern shores of Liurnia. The Incantation requires 41 Faith to use and sends a giant ball of fire towards enemies, which explodes after a few seconds. Adan uses this spell too.
Greyolls Roar
Greyoll’s Roar unlocks for purchase at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion after defeating Greyoll in Dragonbarrow (northern Caelid, the bridge south of the Bestial Sanctum). It’ll cost you three Dragon Hearts and requires 28 Faith and 17 Arcane. The Incantation reduces attack and defense for all enemies within range.
Elden Stars
This Incantation derives from the Elden Ring itself and fires a host of small and large golden stars at enemies. The small ones break the enemy’s stance, and the large ones explode, dealing heavy damage. Elden Stars is in the Deeproot Depths. Head west from the Great Waterfall Crest, up the roots, and into the cave at the top of the roots. You’ll find the spell on a corpse inside and need 50 Fait to use it.
Founding Rain of Stars
Travel south from the Freezing Lake Site of Grace, and you’ll come across a ravine. Stop and take note of where the white patches are in midair. These mark a safe path you can follow up to Heretical Rise, and you’ll find the sorcery in a chest at the top. Founding Rain of Stars creates a shower of falling stars and requires 52 Intelligence to use.
Ranni’s Dark Moon
This is a more powerful version of Rennala’s moon spell, but you’ll have to progress Ranni’s quest near to completion before you can get it. It’s in Chennala’s Rise on the high plateau in Liurnia that only opens after defeating Astel. Ranni’s Dark Moon requires 68 Intelligence to use.
Comet Azur
This spell is part of Sellen’s questline. The sorcerer who has the spell is behind Demi-Queen Maggie on Mt. Gelmir, though you can just run by her and grab the spell without completing the boss battle if you want. It requires 60 Intelligence to use.
Stars of Ruin
Stars of Ruin is an enhanced version of Star Shower and fires multiple starbursts at once. It, too, is part of Sellen’s quest. You’ll get it from Sorcerer Lusat in Sellia Hideaway, and it requires 43 Intelligence to use. With Elden Ring taking the world by storm, you might also be interested in our guide on how to change your appearance in Elden Ring. If yo’re just starting out, you should also check out our Elden Ring beginners guide!
