TL;DR
- Dragon-based incantations require Dragon Hearts from slain dragons and specific Church locations
- Lightning spells excel at zoning and interrupting enemy attacks with their quick casting times
- Flame buffs significantly boost physical and fire damage for hybrid melee/caster builds
- Black Flame deals percentage-based damage that melts high-health bosses effectively
- Proper seal selection and talisman combinations dramatically increase incantation effectiveness
While Elden Ring offers an extensive arsenal of weapons and sorceries, incantations provide unique versatility that can define your playstyle. These sacred arts serve as powerful alternatives to traditional magic, delivering both offensive strikes and defensive enhancements against the Lands Between’s formidable foes. Unlike sorceries that primarily scale with Intelligence, incantations rely on Faith and sometimes Arcane, making them ideal for hybrid builds that blend melee combat with magical support.
What makes incantations particularly valuable is their ability to inflict multiple damage types—from holy and fire to lightning and magical effects. With over a hundred options available, new players often struggle to identify which incantations offer the best return on their stat investment. This guide focuses on nine essential options that provide exceptional utility across various combat scenarios.
Many players underestimate the strategic depth of incantation combinations. Properly sequenced buffs and attacks can turn challenging encounters into manageable battles. The key is understanding not just what each incantation does, but when and how to deploy them for maximum impact.

Dragonclaw stands as one of Elden Ring’s most visually impressive and practically effective dragon communion incantations. This powerful spell manifests a massive draconic claw that slams forward, striking enemies with substantial physical impact and fire damage. Its true strength lies in its ability to stagger opponents, creating openings for follow-up attacks or safe repositioning.
Acquiring Dragonclaw requires engaging with the dragon communion system—specifically, you must defeat any dragon enemy to obtain a Dragonheart. Early-game players can farm the Agheel Lake dragon in Limgrave for relatively easy access. Once you have the heart, travel to the Church of Dragon Communion located in coastal Limgrave to exchange your trophy.
Pro Tip: Dragonclaw’s hyper armor during casting makes it excellent for trading blows with aggressive enemies. Time your cast as enemies approach to punish their advances while minimizing damage taken.

The Lightning Spear incantation offers exceptional ranged capability with one of the game’s quickest casting animations. Players conjure a crackling spear of lightning and launch it at targets, dealing significant lightning damage with impressive range and accuracy. This spell excels at controlling space and interrupting enemy spellcasting.
To obtain this powerful zoning tool, you must first acquire the Dragon Cult Prayerbook. This valuable item drops from Leyndell Knights patrolling near the Capital Rampart site of grace. Once obtained, deliver it to either Brother Corhyn at the Roundtable Hold or Miriel, Pastor of Vows at the Church of Vows.
Advanced Technique: In player-versus-player scenarios, use Lightning Spear to pressure opponents at medium range while conserving FP for closer engagements. The spell’s casting speed often catches aggressive players off-guard.
This remarkably efficient incantation provides one of Elden Ring’s most universally applicable damage buffs. Flame, Grant Me Strength enhances both physical and fire-based attacks by 20% for 30 seconds, making it indispensable for strength/faith hybrid builds. The buff stacks multiplicatively with other damage enhancements, creating devastating combinations.
Locating this incantation requires navigating to Fort Gael in western Caelid. Between two patrolling Flame Chariots lies a corpse containing the spell. Approach cautiously—the chariots can quickly overwhelm unprepared players.
Optimization Strategy: Combine this buff with fire-infused weapons and the Fire Scorpion Charm for massive damage output. The buff’s relatively short duration means timing its activation just before engaging major enemies is crucial.

Black Flame represents one of Elden Ring’s most mechanically unique damage incantations. This dark pyromancy launches a sphere of black fire that detonates on impact and continues dealing damage over time. Crucially, the initial explosion inflicts damage based on a percentage of the target’s maximum health, making it exceptionally effective against high-HP bosses.
Acquisition requires obtaining the Godskin Prayerbook from Stormveil Castle’s secluded cell area. Once secured, present it to either Brother Corhyn or Miriel to unlock the incantation for purchase.
Boss Strategy: Against enemies with massive health pools like dragons and remembrance bosses, Black Flame’s percentage-based damage can significantly shorten difficult encounters.

As Glintstone magic forms the foundation of Elden Ring’s sorcery system, Glintstone Breath bridges the gap between incantations and traditional magic. This dragon communion spell unleashes a continuous stream of magical energy that damages enemies in a wide cone. Its area denial capabilities make it perfect for controlling group encounters.
To obtain this spell, you must first slay a glintstone-affiliated dragon. The most accessible option is the Glintstone Dragon Adula in Liurnia’s Three Sisters area. Exchange the resulting Dragonheart at the Church of Dragon Communion in Caelid.
Resource Management: Glintstone Breath consumes substantial FP during its channeled duration. Manage your resources carefully and consider pairing it with FP-regeneration equipment like the Ancestral Spirit’s Horn.
This spectacular incantation calls down multiple crimson lightning strikes across a wide area, dealing massive damage to groups of enemies. The spell’s visual spectacle matches its practical effectiveness, with each strike capable of hitting multiple targets independently.
Acquiring this powerful area-of-effect tool requires progressing to Crumbling Farum Azula. There, locate the Ancient Dragon Prayerbook and deliver it to Brother Corhyn or Miriel to unlock the incantation for 10,000 runes.
Combat Application: Against large enemy groups or colossal bosses, Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike can deliver unprecedented damage output when multiple strikes connect.
Many players underestimate the spell’s utility in both PvE and PvP scenarios. The scattered strike pattern makes it difficult for opponents to evade completely, especially in confined spaces.

Mastering incantations extends beyond simple acquisition. Seal selection dramatically impacts spell effectiveness—the Dragon Communion Seal specifically boosts dragon incantations, while the Godslayer Seal enhances black flame spells. Matching your seal to your primary incantation type can increase damage output by 15-30%.
Talisman combinations further optimize your incantation build. The Flock’s Canvas Talisman directly boosts incantation power, while the Fire Scorpion Charm amplifies fire-based spells specifically.
Common Mistake: Many players spread their stats too thin trying to use every powerful incantation. Instead, focus on 2-3 complementary spell types that align with your preferred combat approach.
For players transitioning from pure melee builds, starting with buff incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength provides immediate value without requiring extensive Faith investment.
Action Checklist
- Farm Agheel Lake dragon for Dragonheart to unlock Dragonclaw
- Defeat Leyndell Knight for Dragon Cult Prayerbook to access Lightning Spear
- Navigate Fort Gael carefully to retrieve Flame, Grant Me Strength
- Acquire Godskin Prayerbook from Stormveil Castle for Black Flame
- Progress to Crumbling Farum Azula for Ancient Dragon Prayerbook
- Optimize seal and talisman combinations for your primary incantation type
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » 25 Best Elden Ring Incantations Master Elden Ring's most powerful incantations with expert strategies and acquisition guides
