In the highly anticipated expansion Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players are treated to a wealth of new content, notably with the introduction of 25 new Ashes of War. This brings the total to an impressive 116 Ashes of War, significantly enhancing character customization and gameplay strategies.

Overview of New Ashes of War

Ashes of War are special items that empower players to adapt their weapons to suit various playstyles by granting unique skills and affinities. This customization is vital for optimizing player builds, especially when encountering different foes throughout the expansive landscape of the Lands Between.

Detailed List of New Ashes of War

The newly introduced Ashes of War offer a range of abilities and affinities to suit different weapon types and play strategies. Below is a table featuring some of these new Ashes of War, including their unique features, compatible weapon types, and methods of acquisition:

| Ash of War Name | Usable on | Affinity | Location/How to Obtain |
|—————————————|—————————————————-|———-|——————————————————————————————————————-|
| Divine Beast Frost Stomp | All Melee Armaments | | Found in Roundtable Hold, can be accessed early in the expansion. |
| Flame Spear | All Thrusting Armaments (except Claws & Backhand Blades) | | Acquire by defeating Invader Fire Knight Queelign twice. |
| Flame Skewer | Medium and Large Thrusting Armaments | | Kill Invader Fire Knight Queelign twice. |
| The Poison Flower Blooms Twice | All Melee Armaments | Poison | Discoverable near a Scarab in the woods north of Temple Town Ruins. |
| Ghostflame Call | Swords and Spears (except Twinblades & Backhand Blades) | Cold | Earned by defeating the Death Rite Bird located in the marshes northwest of Charo’s Hidden Grave. |
| Igon’s Drake Hunt | Greatbows | Standard | Drop from Bayle the Dread on Igon’s Greatbow southeast of Foot of the Jagged Peak. |
| Dryleaf Whirlwind | Hand-to-Hand Weapons | Standard | Located on a ledge at a waterfall northeast from Rauh Ancient Ruins. |
| Overhead Stance | Great Katanas | Keen | Found beside a sleeping Ghostflame Dragon in the Abandoned Ailing Village. |
| Raging Beast | Beast Claws | Keen | Located northeast of the bridge leading to Bonny, in a forested area. |
| Savage Claws | Beast Claws | Keen | Defeat Logur, the Beast Claw south-east of Gravesite Plain to acquire it. |
| Blind Spot | Backhand Blades | Keen | Located north by northeast of Scorched Ruins, near a marked sarcophagus. |
| Shriek of Sorrow | All Melee Armaments (except Colossal) | Occult | Found near Belurat Gaol, underneath a large tree. |
| Aspects of the Crucible: Wings | Thrusting Swords and Polearms | Sacred | Dropped by Black Knight Edredd at the Fort of Reprimand. |

How Ashes of War Function

– Functionality: Ashes of War enable profound weapon customization, allowing each player to adopt a unique combat style through newly acquired skills that cater to specific gameplay strategies.
– Affinity Types: Each Ash of War is assigned an affinity (e.g., Standard, Keen, Heavy, Sacred, Poison), which influences damage types and effectiveness against particular enemies, thus encouraging players to choose thoughtfully based on their opponents.
– Affinity Scaling: The affinity of an Ash of War impacts how it scales with a player’s attributes, such as Strength and Dexterity, making these choices pivotal for maximizing weapon performance.
– Compatible Weapons: Since each Ash of War is restricted to specific weapon types, it’s essential for players to align their chosen Ashes with compatible armaments for optimal effectiveness.
– Acquisition: Players can find Ashes of War by defeating challenging bosses, discovering hidden loot, or engaging with Scarab Beetles scattered throughout the game world, creating an exploration incentive.

Conclusion

The introduction of new Ashes of War in Shadow of the Erdtree adds depth and variety to Elden Ring’s combat system, further enriching the gameplay experience. With these enhancements, players are encouraged to experiment with different weapon builds and strategies, enhancing both individual play styles and cooperative gameplay dynamics.