This is what Elden Ring didn’t tell you about using Spirit Ash

One of the most game-changing combat mechanics in Elden Ring is the ability to summon NPC allies using Spirit Ashes.

Dark Souls 3 has an abundance of mods that allow players to freely summon NPC allies. This has ranged from mods that have a druidic starting class to others themed around the anime Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Despite that concept being popular with fans for a long while, FromSoftware hasn’t implemented it into their games. Until now.

With the use of Spirit Ashes, which players shouldn’t confuse with Ashes of War, Elden Ring players are able to summon monsters to help against bosses and large groups of enemies. In true FromSoftware fashion, this mechanic isn’t really explained or detailed to the player in any way.

Here’s how to get Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring, how to use them, and the specifics of when and where you can use them.

How to use ashes in Elden Ring

Elden Ring players can use ash to summon allied monsters by equipping the item to their quick item bar alongside their flask. Summoning them is as simple as hitting X on an Xbox controller or square on a PlayStation controller.

The trouble is that Spirit Ashes can only be used for summoning in select locations including enemy “camps” such as the Gatefront Ruins and boss arenas. In most situations, they cannot be used. Players also cannot use ash to summon when they are playing multiplayer.

Summoning also has a mana cost. This will prevent some players from being able to use high-level summons unless they get the Cerulean Hidden Tear for the Flask of Wondrous Physik, which allows players to have a short span of time to use spells without any mana cost.

While these restrictions might sound like they completely invalidate the mechanic, that’s not at all the case. Using ash summons is an ideal strategy for distracting Elden Ring’s AI-controlled enemies and drawing their aggro. This allows players to chip away at bosses or more effectively kite groups of enemies.

Though it would be nice to have the option of doing this anywhere, there’s little doubt it would be a wildly overpowered mechanic.

How many Spirit Ashes are there?

Elden Ring has 12 different spirit ashes that players can use to summon allies. The list of sprits includes:

• Fanged Imp
• Lone Wolf
• Wandering Noble
• Banished Knight Oleg
• Wandering Noble
• Noble Sorceror
• Warhawk
• Skeletal Militiamen
• Ancestral Follower
• Rya Lucaria
• Marionette Soldier
• Glintstone Sorceror

Players will automatically receive the Lone Wolf Ashes once they receive the item that allows them to summon. Those that want another early-game option can also select the Fanged Imp Ashes as their keepsake item.