How to Play a Black Flame Build in Elden Ring
In this Elden Ring Black Flame build guide, we will discuss the best leveling strategy to get through the game, the best weapons and seals, and the best armor, talismans, summons, and consumables you can use.
Overall, the build maximizes the high percent health damage from Black Flame skills and incantations to quickly dispatch bosses.
This build can deal high damage even at lower levels but has longer wind-ups for skills. This means quicker enemies can interrupt your skills if you are not careful.
Explore our other Elden Ring build guides here.
Pros
- This build can deal solid amounts of damage even at lower levels.
- The skills in this build are unique and visually appealing while also dealing impressively high damage, leading to a more satisfying playthrough.
Cons
- Many skills are relatively slow and easy to interrupt when faced with quicker enemies with shorter openings.
- There is not much variety with this build as there are not many weapons and spells that use Black Flame.
Leveling and Stats
We will choose the Warrior as our starting class. This class will give us the most optimal stat distribution compared to the other starting classes and a decent early-game weapon.
| Stats | Starting Stats | Level 25 | Level 50 | Level 100 | Level 150 |
| Vigor | 11 | 15 | 20 | 40 | 50 |
| Mind | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Endurance | 11 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 25 |
| Strength | 10 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
| Dexterity | 16 | 20 | 22 | 40 | 75 |
| Intelligence | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Faith | 8 | 15 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Arcane | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
The first major breakpoint when it comes to leveling is level 25, at this point, you begin to be able to utilize the weapons in this build. The priority will be to get 17 points in Dexterity. This gives us enough stat points to wield either of the weapons in this build while we have Radagon’s Soreseal equipped.
The second breakpoint of level 50 will require us to invest heavily in Faith, as this will allow us to reach the required stats to wield the buffs and most of the incantations used in this build.
The third breakpoint of level 100 is where you will see a sizable increase in damage. At 40 Dexterity and 20 Strength, you can wield your weapons without the help of talismans while also dealing more damage with weapon skills.
At the last breakpoint, which is level 150 we put a stop to the build. 150 is the perfect level for people who want to PVP. Afterward, we will invest more points into Dexterity as this will maximize the damage from our ashes of war the most.
Weapons
While there are not many weapons in Elden Ring that deal Black Flame damage, you do have a few powerful options that you can choose from.
Godskin Peeler
The Godskin Peeler is a twin-blade with a powerful ash of war that spins the weapon overhead and then plunges it into the ground to summon a raging vortex of Black Flames.
It can be acquired by defeating the Godskin Apostle found at the top of Windmill Village in the Altus Plateau.
- It requires Strength 17 and Dexterity 22.
- Its AoW Scaling is Dexterity/Strength.
Godslayer’s Greatsword
The Godslayer’s Greatsword is a Colossal Sword with a powerful ash of war that sets the blade ablaze with Black Flame before delivering a sweeping slash.
It can be found in a chest behind the Godskin Apostle, which is located at the bottom of the Divine Tower of Caelid.
- It requires Strength 20 and Dexterity 22.
- Its AoW Scaling is Dexterity/Strength.
Sacred Seal
The Godslayer Seal is the best option for this build. What sets the Godslayer Seal apart from other seals in the game is that it boosts the power of Godslayer incantations by 10%. This will boost the destructive power of all the spells that we will use in our setup.
You can acquire this seal in a chest inside a room sealed by an imp statue below the Rampart Tower site of grace in Stormveil Castle.
Incantations
While many Incantations will be accessible with this build, one school of spells outshines the rest.
Godslayer Incantations
Godslayer Incantations revolve around harnessing the power of Black Flame and are some of the most unique spells in the game that can deal solid damage at safe distances. Any of the Godslayer Incantations will work very well with this build, but there are 3 in particular, that I will recommend over the rest.
Black Flame
Throws a ball of raging black fire. Charging enhances potency and causes the fireball to explode, which makes it a strong mid-range spell with low FP cost.
- It can be acquired by giving either Brother Corhyn or Miriel, Pastor of Vows, the Godskin Prayerbook and purchasing it from their shops for 7,500 Runes.
Scouring Black Flame
Sweeps a wide area before the caster with Black Flame. Charging enhances its range, and it is effective for dealing with swarms of enemies.
- It can be acquired by defeating the Godskin Apostle at the top of Windmill Village in the Altus Plateau.
Noble Presence
Thrust out belly with gusto to produce a shockwave that knocks back nearby foes. Charging enhances potency, knocking enemies into the air. It can deal very high damage when charged, and it is effective for dealing with NPC fights.
- It can be acquired by defeating the Godskin Noble in Volcano Manor.
Buffs
Here are a couple of buffs that can go well with this build.
Golden Vow (Spell)
This spell increases your damage by 15% and decreases the damage you take by 10%. Golden Vow is a very solid buff that is used in many different builds, and because we will be investing points into Faith early, we will be able to meet the 25 Faith required to use it.
- This spell can be found in the Corpse-Stench Shack in Mt Gelmir.
Flame, Grant Me Strength
This incantation increases your physical and fire damage by 20%, giving you increased stamina recovery speed. It can be acquired early in the game and only requires 15 Faith, so you can use it as soon as you hit level 25.
- This spell can be found behind Fort Gael, on a body between two Flame Chariots.
Flask of Wondrous Physick
Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear
Increases fire damage you deal by 20%.
- It can be acquired by defeating the Putrid Avatar found at the Minor Erdtree in Caelid.
Dexterity-Knot Crystal Tear
Increases Dexterity by 10 for 3 minutes. This can help meet the stat requirements of the weapons in this build while also boosting the damage from weapon skills.
- It can be found in a bowl on an island south of Liurnia.
Faith-Knot Crystal Tear
Increases Faith by 10 for 3 minutes. This can help meet the stat requirements of many of the incantations and buffs in this build while also boosting the damage from incantations.
- It can be found in a bowl surrounded by poison flower monsters at the bottom of the cliff near the Church of Pilgrimage in the Weeping Peninsula.
Talismans
Here is a list of talismans that go well with this Elden Ring Black Flame build.
Radagon’s Soreseal
This is a strong early-game talisman that will help to meet the stat requirements for weapons in this build.
It can be found on a corpse surrounded by giant rats in Fort Faroth in Dragonbarrow.
- It increases Vigor, Endurance, Strength, and Dexterity by 5.
Shard of Alexander
It boosts the damage your weapon skills deal.
It can be acquired by defeating Iron Fist Alexander after completing his quest line.
- Boosts the attack power of skills by 15%.
Godfrey Icon
Increases the damage from charged spells and skills and synergizes with many aspects of this build.
It can be acquired by defeating Godefroy the Grafted, found in Golden Lineage Evergaol in Altus.
- Raises attack power of charged spells and skills by 15%.
Fire Scorpion Charm
It increases all fire damage you deal.
It can be found in the Wyndham Catacombs in a room locked behind a sealed imp statue.
- Increases fire damage by 12% but increases physical damage taken by 10%.
Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
Effectively increases your health by 20% against most bosses.
It can be found in a chest surrounded by pests in the building above the Haligtree Roots site of grace in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
- Decreases physical damage taken by 20%.
Armor
As the skills and spells used in this Elden Ring Black Flame build are quite slow, quicker bosses can easily interrupt you while you try to use them.
To solve this issue we will want to have at least 51 Poise, which makes it more difficult for enemy attacks to interrupt us while we are using our skills. Any armor set will work if it reaches the 51 Poise threshold.
I recommend pairing the Skeletal Mask, Blaidd’s Armor, Blaidd’s Gauntlets, and the Night’s Cavalry Greaves. This set looks stylish and also gets you over the 51 Poise threshold while also providing decent resistance. The total weight is 29.2.
Skeletal Mask
A Skeletal Mask that tightly grips the face. It is worn by the assassins of Ravenmount.
- Poise: 4
Blaidd’s Armor
Well-worn black armor of the man-wolf Blaidd. The pelt serves as a cape, protecting from cold.
- Poise: 28
Blaidd’s Gauntlets
Well-worn black gauntlets of the man-wolf Blaidd.
- Poise: 6
Night’s Cavalry Greaves
Pitch-black Greaves are thinly painted with dried blood. It is worn by the Night’s Cavalry who ride funeral steeds.
- Poise: 15
Flask Distribution
At the maximum amount of Flasks, I recommend going for a 10 Crimson Flask and 4 Cerulean Flask split.
This build relies on using FP to deal damage, so having a good number of Cerulean Flasks is necessary.
Summons
Other than the obvious summons, such as Mimic Tear and Black Knife Tiche, I have some recommendations that can go well with this build.
Blackflame Monk Amon
Blackflame Monk Amon summons the spirit of Amon, The Blackflame Monk. This summons pair well with this build as it serves as a good tank and utilizes Black Flame to quickly melt bosses.
- It can be acquired by defeating the Stray Mimic Tear found in the Hidden Path to the Haligtree dungeon in the Rold Lift in Mountaintops of the Giants.
Greatshield Soldier Ashes
Greatshield Soldier Ashes summons five greatshield soldier spirits. You can use them as a good distraction to spam Black Flame spells and chip down boss health bars from safety.
- It is found on a corpse in a graveyard in Nokron, Eternal City.
In Conclusion
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