Best Elden Ring Spirit Ashes for Beginners
Spirit ashes are intended tools. This guide covers how to unlock summons, which ashes carry early bosses, and when to invest Grave Gloveworts. Looking for weapon skills instead? See Ashes of War.
How to Unlock Spirit Summons
- Get the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna (Ranni) at Church of Elleh at night, or buy it later from the Twin Maiden Husks. That meeting also hooks the later Ranni questline.
- Look for a glowing white gravestone icon on the left of the HUD—summons only work in marked areas and most boss arenas.
- Equip ashes in your inventory, then use them from the pouch or quick item slot.
Best Early Spirit Ashes
| Ash | Why it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Wolves | Free early pack that splits aggro | Margit / Limgrave bosses |
| Spirit Jellyfish | High HP sponge, poison pressure | Slow bosses, learning patterns |
| Skeletal Militiamen | Revive once if not finished off | Long attrition fights |
| Banished Knight Oleg | Strong early damage dealer | Stormveil and castle bosses |
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Late-Game Power Spikes
- Mimic Tear: Copies your loadout. Excellent with strong weapons and buffs; costs HP to summon.
- Black Knife Tiche: Fast, aggressive, and great for many hard bosses including late-game encounters.
- Latenna the Albinauric: Strong ranged support when you can keep her safe.
Upgrade Priority
Spend Grave Gloveworts on one main ash until +4/+5 early, then push toward +10. Spreading upgrades across many ashes delays the power spike that helps bosses like Margit and Godrick.
- Regular ashes use Grave Glovewort
- Special ashes (Mimic, Tiche, etc.) use Ghost Glovewort
- Roderika at Roundtable Hold handles upgrades after her quest starts
Summon Checklist
Next Steps
Pair summons with flask upgrades, then use them in the Margit fight. For damage setups, browse weapon builds.