Summary
The wide variety of Ashes of War inElden Ringgives players the freedom to experiment with different play styles as well as options for how to approach certain encounters. For such a generally challenging game where different enemy types require different tactics, this freedom comes in very handy for players as it promotes creativity and does not limit players to justone way of dealing with tough situations.
For the most part, theAshes of Warare straightforward, requiring little more than a button press to properly execute. In some cases, things are a bit more complicated and to fully enjoy the benefits of the skills, a number of variables come into play.
5Storm Assault
Limited Range & Tracking
Storm Assault is detailed in the item description as “one of the skills that channel the tempests of Stormveil. Leap forward through surrounding storm winds and thrust armament downward. The attack will produce more storm winds at the point of impact”. When used properly, the first attack of the animation usually staggers and guarantees the second upon a successful hit. This works reasonably well in PvE but in PvP, where opponents are highly mobile and reactive, the attacks will usually whiff if used recklessly.
To be successful with this attack, players must have a good readof their opponent’s weaponand movements to discern the perfect window of opportunity. Timing is key, and the attack is more effective if the opponent is in a corner or has their back to a wall, limiting their movement and improving the likelihood of landing the Ash of War’s full combo.
4Ground Slam
Telegraphed Animation, Loud Audio Cue & Requires Precision Impact To Deal Max Damage
With this Ash of War, the player is launched up and towards the target, delivering a ground-shaking buttocks slam that creates an AOE shockwave upon impact. Theoretically, this sounds great forclearing small mobs. However, there are a few properties that limit how optimally the attack can be executed.
For one, the unmissable audio cue removes the element of surprise, literally announcing the incoming slam which only deals max damage when the impact is dead on. Surrounding enemies receive significantly less damage and its low tracking and predictable trajectory make it fairly easy for opponents to dodge, leaving the player vulnerable after the slam. Ground Slam scales solely with the player’s stats so those using it have to invest heavily in their chosen stat to reap its benefits.
3Spinning Weapon
Extremely Short Range & No Hyperarmour
Spinning Weapon essentially makes armaments levitate and spin violently, dealing successive hits to the target. It deals a little stance damage, and the successive hits should make it a good option to proc statuses such as frost for increased damage. The problem though, is its very poor range. When activated, the weapon practically spins right in front of the player, unlike its Carian Regal Scepter counterpart, which has considerably better range. This makes it necessary to get up close and personal with opponents.Whether PvE or PvP, this can be problematic since hostile enemies and invaders are unlikely to let players get that close without dishing out their own attacks. Without any hyperarmour, players risk getting punished when trying to set up this attack.
To max out the potential of this Ash of War, certain elements must be included in the player’s build. GodskinSwaddling Cloth and Rotten Wing Sword Insignia, for example, will greatly boost the damage of successive attacks as well as restore health, but these can only be obtained in mid and late-game respectively. Prior to obtaining these, the rewards for using this Ash of War pale in comparison to the optimal setup.
2Sky Shot
Poor Tracking & Generally Ineffective Indoors
Sky Shot is a very situation-specific Ash of War. When used,the player wields a bowin a low archery stance and fires an arrow straight up into the air, striking enemies below as it rapidly descends. The vertical trajectory should be ideal for reaching enemies that are behind obstructions such as barrels or walls where a regular shot would be blocked.
Unfortunately, enemies cannot be locked on when fully behind walls. Secondly, if used indoors, the arrow will most likely be blocked by the ceiling and finally, the unfortunate combination of no tracking and the time it takes for the arrow to reach its target means it can only be effective as a ranged stealth attack on unsuspecting enemies.
1Parry
Only Has An 11 Frame Active Window & Leaves Player Vulnerable When Missed
The infamous Parry opens enemies up for devastating critical attacks that could potentially one-shot foes in PvP. There are a few variations of the Parry, namely, Perfect Parry, Stormwall, Thopps Barrier, Carian Retaliation, and, to a lesser degree Golden Retaliation,which only parries magic.The standard Parry Ash of War is just as damaging as it is difficult to execute. On small shields, which is what most players infuse it with, there is a 9-frame start-up and an 11-frame window where the move will be successful.
Players who want to be proficient in its use will require deep knowledge of their opponents' patterns to make hard reads, recognize animations, and capitalize on attacks that can be parried. In PvE, all it takes is a little pattern recognition to perform a successful parry, but in PvP where sentient players are in control, a great deal of skill and baiting is required. Extreme caution must be taken when attempting to parry, as a failed attempt could mean taking the full brunt of the attack as well as a follow-up if the initial hit caused the player to stagger.
