Calculate the level range for summoning allies and invaders in the Lands Between
Elden Ring Summon Calculator: Mastering Spirit Ashes
A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Optimizing Your Spirit Summons
In the vast, treacherous world of Elden Ring, Spirit Ashes represent one of the most revolutionary mechanics introduced by FromSoftware. These spectral allies can turn the tide of battle, providing crucial support against the Lands Between's most formidable foes. However, understanding how to maximize their potential requires delving into complex game mechanics that many players find obscure.
This comprehensive guide will explore the intricacies of Spirit Summons, from basic mechanics to advanced optimization strategies. While we won't be providing a functional calculator within this article (as requested), we'll equip you with the knowledge and formulas needed to understand how summon power is calculated and how to make informed decisions about which spirits to use in any given situation.
Whether you're a newcomer seeking guidance or a seasoned Tarnished looking to min-max your build, this article will serve as your definitive resource for mastering Elden Ring's summoning system.
Understanding Spirit Ashes: The Basics
What Are Spirit Ashes?
Spirit Ashes are consumable items that allow players to summon spectral allies to aid them in battle. Unlike traditional summons in previous Souls games, Spirit Ashes don't require human cooperation and can be used in most areas of the game, provided you have the appropriate summoning bell.
These spectral companions range from simple soldiers and wolves to powerful knights and legendary creatures. Each spirit has unique attributes, behaviors, and scaling properties that make them suitable for different combat scenarios.
Acquiring Spirit Ashes
Spirit Ashes can be found throughout the Lands Between, often hidden in catacombs, dropped by specific enemies, or awarded after defeating certain bosses. The first and most crucial spirit—the Lone Wolf Ashes—is given to players by Renna at the Church of Elleh after obtaining Torrent.
To summon spirits, players must acquire the Spirit Calling Bell, which is also provided by Renna during the same encounter. Without this item, even possessing Spirit Ashes won't allow you to call upon their aid.
Summoning Restrictions
While Spirit Ashes are powerful tools, they come with important limitations:
- Spirits can only be summoned in areas where a tombstone icon appears on the left side of the screen
- You cannot summon spirits while cooperating with other players
- Each spirit has a Focus Point (FP) cost that must be met to summon them
- Spirits have limited duration and health, though particularly resilient spirits can last entire battles
Summon Mechanics and Scaling
Spirit Upgrade System
Similar to weapons, Spirit Ashes can be upgraded to increase their power. This is done using Grave Glovewort for normal spirits and Ghost Glovewort for special spirits. Upgrading spirits significantly improves their health, damage output, and sometimes even adds new abilities.
Spirit upgrades follow a tiered system from +1 to +10, with each upgrade requiring increasingly rare Glovewort. The upgrade process is handled by Roderika at the Roundtable Hold after completing her questline.
Attribute Scaling
Different Spirit Ashes scale with various player attributes. Understanding this scaling is crucial for optimizing your build to maximize summon effectiveness.
Summon Power Formula
The general formula for a spirit's effectiveness can be expressed as:
Base Power × (1 + Scaling Factor × Attribute Modifier)
Where Base Power is determined by the spirit's upgrade level, Scaling Factor varies by spirit type, and Attribute Modifier is based on your character's relevant stats.
For example, magic-oriented spirits like the Crystalian often scale with Intelligence, while holy spirits like the Ancestral Follower may scale with Faith. Some spirits have complex scaling that considers multiple attributes.
Spirit Affinities and Damage Types
Spirits deal different types of damage, and their effectiveness varies against enemies with specific resistances. The main damage types include:
Physical Damage
Most spirits deal standard physical damage. Effective against most enemies but less so against heavily armored foes.
Magic Damage
Spirits like the Crystalian or Night Maiden deal magic damage, effective against enemies weak to sorcery.
Fire Damage
Spirits such as the Fire Monk summon deal fire damage, particularly effective against creatures vulnerable to flame.
Holy Damage
Spirits like the Ancestral Follower deal holy damage, effective against Those Who Live in Death and certain bosses.
Spirit Ash Effectiveness Analysis
The following interactive diagrams illustrate how different factors affect spirit performance. These visualizations help demonstrate the complex relationships between upgrade levels, player stats, and spirit effectiveness.
Spirit Upgrade Level vs. Power Scaling
This chart shows how spirit power increases with upgrade levels. Notice the significant jumps at +3, +6, and +9 upgrades.
Attribute Scaling Comparison
Different spirits scale differently with player attributes. This chart compares scaling effectiveness for three popular spirit types.
Spirit FP Cost vs. Effectiveness
Higher FP cost generally correlates with greater spirit effectiveness, but the relationship isn't always linear.
Advanced Summoning Strategies
Spirit Synergy with Builds
Choosing spirits that complement your build can create powerful synergies. For example:
- Strength builds benefit from ranged spirits that can draw aggro while you close the distance
- Magic builds pair well with tanky spirits that can absorb damage while you cast spells
- Dexterity builds work effectively with agile spirits that can keep up with fast-paced combat
Situation-Specific Spirit Selection
Different spirits excel in different scenarios. Understanding when to use each spirit type is key to mastering the summoning system.
| Situation | Recommended Spirits | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Boss fights with wide AoE attacks | Lhutel the Headless, Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff | These spirits have high poise and survivability against area attacks |
| Enemies weak to stance breaking | Banished Knight Oleg, Greatshield Soldiers | These spirits excel at staggering enemies |
| Multiple agile enemies | Lone Wolves, Rotten Stray | Group spirits can divide attention and control the battlefield |
| Ranged combat scenarios | Archer spirits, Perfumer Tricia | These spirits provide supporting fire from a distance |
Optimizing Spirit Performance
Beyond simple attribute scaling, several factors influence spirit effectiveness:
Total Spirit Effectiveness Formula
(Base Stats × Upgrade Multiplier) + (Attribute Bonus × Scaling Coefficient) + (Talisman Bonuses) + (Buff Effects)
Talismans like the Cerulean Amber Medallion can increase your maximum FP, allowing you to summon more powerful spirits. The Great-Jar's Arsenal increases equip load, which can be beneficial for builds that want to maintain mobility while using spirit summons.
Additionally, certain armor pieces and weapon skills can enhance summoning effectiveness, though these effects are often subtle and require testing to quantify.
Spirit Ash Tier Analysis
While spirit effectiveness varies based on situation and build, we can categorize spirits into tiers based on their overall utility, scaling potential, and versatility.
S-Tier Spirits
These spirits offer exceptional performance in most situations and have excellent scaling properties:
Mimic Tear
Creates a copy of your character with equipped gear and spells. Exceptionally versatile and powerful with the right build.
Tiche
Extremely agile with high damage output and useful special abilities. Excellent against bosses with predictable patterns.
A-Tier Spirits
These spirits are highly effective and reliable in most combat scenarios:
Lhutel the Headless
Excellent tank with teleportation ability. Great for drawing aggro in difficult fights.
Omenkiller Rollo
High damage output with bleed buildup. Effective against enemies vulnerable to hemorrhage.
Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff
Well-rounded with good defense and lightning-based attacks.
Specialized Spirits
These spirits excel in specific situations but may be less versatile overall:
Greatshield Soldiers
Exceptional at holding positions and drawing aggro. Ideal for protecting ranged builds.
Crystalian
High magic resistance and poise. Excellent against magic-based enemies.
Mathematical Formulas for Summon Calculations
For players interested in the precise mechanics behind spirit summons, this section details the mathematical formulas that govern summon behavior and effectiveness.
Base Stat Calculation
Base Spirit Stats Formula
Base Stat = Initial Value × (1 + Upgrade Level × Upgrade Coefficient)
Where Upgrade Coefficient varies by spirit and stat type (typically between 0.08 and 0.12 per level).
Attribute Scaling Formulas
Different attributes contribute to spirit effectiveness based on scaling curves:
Attribute Contribution Formula
Attribute Bonus = Base Scaling × Scaling Curve(Attribute Value)
Scaling Curve functions are typically soft-capped, with diminishing returns beyond certain attribute thresholds (usually 40 and 60).
Damage Calculation
Spirit Damage Formula
Final Damage = (Base Damage + Attribute Bonus) × Motion Value × Defense Penetration × Resistance Multiplier
Motion Value varies by attack type, Defense Penetration considers enemy defenses, and Resistance Multiplier accounts for enemy resistances.
FP Cost Calculation
FP Cost Formula
FP Cost = Base FP × (1 - FP Reduction Effects)
FP Reduction Effects include talismans, armor bonuses, and certain buffs that reduce FP consumption.
These formulas demonstrate the complexity of Elden Ring's summoning system. While players don't need to memorize these equations, understanding the underlying mechanics can help make informed decisions about spirit selection and upgrade priorities.
Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Summoning
Elden Ring's Spirit Ashes system represents a significant evolution in FromSoftware's approach to player assistance in challenging games. Unlike simplistic companion systems, Spirit Ashes offer depth, customization, and strategic variety that can dramatically alter gameplay experiences.
Through this comprehensive examination of summon mechanics, we've explored how spirit effectiveness is determined by multiple factors including upgrade levels, attribute scaling, and situational appropriateness. While we've provided the formulas and principles behind summon calculations, the true mastery comes from practical application and experimentation.
The most effective Tarnished are those who understand not just which spirits are powerful, but why they're powerful in specific contexts. They recognize that a fully upgraded Mimic Tear might be exceptional for a strength build but less optimal for a pure caster, and that sometimes a humble pack of wolves can be more effective than a legendary knight depending on the battle conditions.
As you continue your journey through the Lands Between, remember that Spirit Ashes are tools to be mastered, not crutches to be relied upon indiscriminately. The most satisfying victories often come from the perfect synergy between your skills and your spectral allies' capabilities.
Whether you're facing a demigod in a grand cathedral or exploring a poison-swamped cavern, may your spirit summons be ever effective, and may your calculations lead you to victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Attribute scaling for Spirit Ashes follows similar principles to weapon scaling but with some differences. Each spirit has hidden scaling values for different attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane). When you summon a spirit, its stats are boosted based on your character's corresponding attributes. The scaling isn't as pronounced as with weapons but becomes more significant at higher upgrade levels. Generally, spirits that use magic attacks scale with Intelligence, those with holy attacks scale with Faith, and physical attackers may scale with Strength or Dexterity.
No, Spirit Ashes cannot be used in player-versus-player combat. They are exclusively available in PvE environments where the summoning tombstone icon appears. When you invade another player's world or are invaded yourself, spirit summoning is disabled. This design choice maintains balance in PvP encounters and ensures that fights remain focused on player skill rather than AI companions.
The main difference lies in the upgrade materials required. Regular Spirit Ashes use Grave Glovewort for upgrades, while special Spirit Ashes (typically legendary or unique spirits) require Ghost Glovewort. Special spirits often have more complex behaviors, unique abilities, or better scaling potential. Examples of special spirits include Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, and Lhutel the Headless. Both types follow the same +1 to +10 upgrade path.
Generally, no. Most talismans and armor effects that boost player stats or abilities do not affect Spirit Ashes. However, items that increase your maximum FP (like the Cerulean Amber Medallion) allow you to summon spirits with higher FP requirements. There are no known talismans that directly increase spirit damage or durability, though some players speculate that certain gear might have hidden effects—extensive testing has largely debunked these theories.
The Mimic Tear creates a duplicate of your character with the exact equipment, spells, and items you have equipped at the moment of summoning. It will use the weapons in your active slots and can cast spells if you have the required FP. The mimic's behavior is influenced by your playstyle—it tends to be more aggressive if you typically play aggressively. Interestingly, the mimic can use consumable items from your inventory, but it won't run out of them.
Yes, certain spirits have advantages against specific bosses. For example:
- Spirits with high holy damage (like the Ancestral Follower) are effective against Those Who Live in Death, including the Death Rite Birds.
- Spirits with fire damage can be useful against enemies vulnerable to flame, such as the Erdtree Avatars.
- Tanky spirits like the Greatshield Soldiers excel against bosses with predictable, telegraphed attacks.
- Fast, agile spirits can be effective against quick bosses where drawing agrief is crucial.
If your spirit dies during combat, you cannot resummon it in that same encounter. Spirit Ashes can only be summoned once per rest at a Site of Grace or upon entering a new area. This limitation makes spirit survival an important strategic consideration. If you're relying on a spirit for a difficult fight, it's often worth using a spirit with higher survivability or employing tactics that protect your spirit from taking too much damage.
There is no hard limit to how many spirits you can upgrade, but the required materials become increasingly rare at higher upgrade levels. Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort are finite resources in each playthrough, though some can be found as infinite drops from specific enemies or purchased from merchants after finding their bell bearings. This means that while you can upgrade multiple spirits, you'll need to be selective about which ones you take to maximum level (+10) in a single playthrough.