Elden Ring Carian Sorcery Sword Build - Carian Knight (Shadow of The Erdtree)

Jul. 11, 2024

Elden Ring Carian Sorcery Sword Build – Carian Knight (Shadow of The Erdtree)

In theShadow of the Erdtree Carian Sorcery Sword Build, I’ll be showcasing myCarian Knight build. This build centers around theCarian Sorcery Sword, which received a buff in patch 1.12.3. Previously, this weapon wasn’t very viable due to its Intelligence scaling, which still remains significantly worse compared to theCarian Regal Scepter. On average, it deals about 30% less damage per spell cast than theCarian Regal Scepter.

However, the advantage of this weapon is that you can cast spells without swapping back and forth between your casting implement and your sword. This allows you to use a shield in your offhand, which can be particularly beneficial for players who may not be as nimble with their fingers. Personally, I find it challenging to switch between my casting implement and my sword when facing intense pressure from bosses, a common occurrence in the DLC. Therefore, I believe there’s a solid case for using this weapon, and in this guide, I will demonstrate how I effectively utilize it.

In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Carian Sorcery Sword build. This is aShadow of the Erdtreebuild that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a thrusting sword build that deals great stance damage and deals even greater magic damage with Rellana’s Twin Moons, then you might want to check this build-out.

We have over 110 Elden Ringbuilds. Each one is meticulously crafted to offer unique playstyles, strategies, and experiences, ensuring there’s something for every adventurer in the Lands Between. Whether you seek the raw power of heavy weapons, the finesse of spellcasting, or the versatility of hybrid builds, our collection has you covered. Explore the depths of the game’s mechanics and unleash your full potential with our diverse array of builds.

TheCarian Sorcery Swordis a thrusting sword that primarily deals about one-third physical damage and two-thirds magic damage. It boasts S scaling in Intelligence, has some Dexterity and Intelligence requirements, and minimal Strength requirements. Notably, this weapon features a 110 critical rating, meaning your backstabs and critical attacks will deal more damage than most other weapons inElden Ring.

The Ash of War on this weapon isImpaling Thrust, which cannot be changed. This skill is effective at dealing stance damage and breaking through enemy shields. While I don’t use it extensively in this build, it can be very helpful against shielded enemies likeBlack Knights.

Given its decent critical rating, I decided to focus on a stance break build to take full advantage of the increased damage from critical attacks. I’ve included spells that prioritize stance damage rather than raw damage. This is crucial because, while your spells will deal less damage compared to a dedicated caster build, the stance damage will allow for more frequent stance breaks.

One of the significant advantages of this build is the ability to cast spells without swapping weapons. This flexibility lets you use spells as if they wereAshes of War. For instance,Greatblade Phalanxdeals substantial stance damage and can be used alongside block counters or regular attacks to build up stance damage before going in for stance breaks.Glintblade Phalanxis another good option for this, providing decent stance damage and helping secure stance breaks throughout fights.

I’ve paired this weapon with theWolf Crest Shield, which has low Strength requirements and an excellent guard boost of 66. I’ve addedCarian Retaliationto this shield, allowing for effective block counters to further build stance damage or parry attacks for critical hits. This combination works well depending on the enemy you face, offering flexibility in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

Spells included in this build, aside fromGreatblade PhalanxandGlimpblade Phalanxfor stance breaks, areScholar’s ShieldandRellana’s Twin Moons.Scholar’s Shieldenhances your shield’s protection and guard boost, a benefit of having your catalyst in your right hand and shield in your left.Rellana’s Twin Moonsis a new spell from the DLC, offering significant damage potential when timed correctly, especially during enemy staggers.

For armor, I’m using theCarian Knight Helmfor its iconic look, combined withRellana’s ArmorandGreavesfor a cohesive knightly appearance. TheBeast Champion Gauntletshelp achieve the necessary 51 poise breakpoint without needing theBull-Goat’s Talisman, preserving valuable talisman slots.

For Talismans in this build, I use theMagic Scorpion Charmbecause it enhances our magic damage, which complements both our weapon and the spells we use. While it increases the damage we take, the trade-off is worth it for this build.

I also use theAssassin’s Cerulean Daggersince it boosts attack power for a significant amount of time after performing a critical strike. Given our focus on stance breaks and parries, we get plenty of critical strikes, thereby maintaining a consistent damage boost.

When exploring, I equip theRitual Sword Talisman, which increases attack power when at full health. This pairs nicely with theAssassin’s Cerulean Dagger, stacking to provide even more attack power, which enhances both our weapon attacks and spells. Despite having lower sorcery scaling than theCarian Regal Scepter, these buffs help maintain decent spell damage.

For stamina recovery, theTwo-Finger Heirloomis essential, especially for a build that relies on block counters, casting spells, and frequent rolling. If you lean more towards parrying, you might consider dropping this, but it’s crucial for block counter strategies.

Other useful talismans include swapping out theRitual Sword Talismanfor theGraven-Mass Talismanduring boss fights to boost sorcery damage.

TheDagger Talismancan also increase critical strike damage, fitting the critical strike theme of this build. This is particularly useful for boss fights or general exploration.

TheCurved Sword Talismanis another option, enhancing block counter damage, while theGreatshield Talismancan provide more guard protection, reducing stamina loss when blocking. These options allow you to customize your setup based on your preferred playstyle and the challenges you face.

For attributes in this build, at level 154, I have 50Vigor, 31Mind, 25Endurance, 12Strength, 19Dexterity, 8Intelligence, 7Faith, and 9Arcane.

FaithandArcaneare not needed for this build. These attribute distributions allow the build to function effectively while leaving room for further optimization as levels increase.

For theFlask of Wondrous Physick, I use theMagic-Shrouding Cracked Tearto significantly boost melee damage. While you won’t get full value due to some physical damage, the majority of it being magic makes this a worthwhile addition. This tear will also enhance any magic-damaging spells used, which is beneficial for this build.

Additionally, I use theOpaline Hardtearfor increased damage negation, providing extra protection in fights. Other options include theGreenburst Crystal Tearor theThorny Cracked Tearfor increased damage with rapid hits. During boss fights, you often get many R1 pokes in with this weapon, so taking advantage of that can be beneficial.

A unique aspect of this weapon is that since R2 is used for spell casting, you don’t have a heavy or charged heavy attack. To perform ablock counter, you need to press both R1 and R2 simultaneously, which can be tricky if you’re not used to it and takes some practice to master.

ForGreat Runes,Radahn’s Great Runeis the best choice. It provides extra health, stamina for block countering, and FP for spell casting, making it ideal for this build. That wraps up my guide. As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.

Castielle

Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.