Faith builds in Elden Ring have always offered a unique blend of offense, defense, and support capabilities, appealing to players who enjoy versatility and hybrid playstyles. Unlike pure Strength or Intelligence builds, Faith builds allow for a combination of melee combat and powerful incantations, providing both crowd control and boss-fighting utility. This guide will cover the best weapons, stats, Elden Ring Runes and items to maximize a Faith build, helping players dominate both PvE and PvP content in the Lands Between.
Why Choose a Faith Build?
Faith builds are ideal for players who want flexibility in combat. By investing in Faith, players gain access to offensive miracles, healing spells, and buffs. This allows for a hybrid approach, combining weapon-based melee combat with devastating incantations that scale with Faith. Key benefits include:
Versatility: Can deal damage from a distance or in close combat.
Survivability: Healing incantations and buffs increase endurance in tough encounters.
PvP Utility: Faith builds offer buffs, status effects, and ranged pressure to challenge various playstyles.
Faith builds work best when balanced with a selection of Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence, depending on weapon choice and hybrid strategies.
Key Stats for a Faith Build
When creating a Faith-focused character, prioritizing the right stats is crucial for effectiveness. Below is a recommended stat distribution for mid- to late-game builds:
Faith (Primary)
Essential for scaling incantation damage and increasing the potency of buffs and healing spells.
Aim for 40–60 Faith by late game for maximum incantation damage.
Vigor (Secondary)
Increases your health pool, critical for surviving bosses and PvP engagements.
Target 30–40 Vigor by the endgame.
Mind
Boosts Focus Points (FP), allowing for more frequent use of incantations.
Aiming for 20–30 Mind ensures sustained spellcasting during prolonged fights.
Endurance
Increases stamina and equip load, allowing for heavier armor and more swings without fatigue.
Target 20–25 Endurance depending on armor choice.
Strength/Dexterity
Determines which weapons can be wielded effectively.
Faith builds often pair with moderate Strength or Dexterity, around 20–25, to equip versatile weapons while maintaining decent spell scaling.
Intelligence
Usually left low unless incorporating hybrid spells.
Not a priority for pure Faith builds.
Best Weapons for Faith Builds
Faith builds excel with blessed, holy, or faith-scaling weapons. These weapons often have special effects or incantation scaling that synergizes with Faith stats. Some of the best options include:
1. Blasphemous Blade
Scales with both Strength and Faith, making it perfect for hybrid melee/spellcasting builds.
Restores health with each enemy defeated, increasing sustain during exploration and boss fights.
2. Coded Sword / Coded Weapon Variants
Weapons that scale primarily with Faith and deal holy damage.
Effective against undead and spectral enemies.
3. Winged Scythe (Faith Variant)
Offers good sweep attacks with AoE potential.
Benefits from Faith scaling and works well with buffs and incantations.
4. Dragon Slayer / Holy Infused Weapons
Infusing weapons with Sacred or Lightning gems increases Faith scaling.
Adds elemental damage for enemies weak to holy or lightning.
5. Sacred Seals
Not a weapon, but essential for casting incantations.
The Erdtree Seal and Finger Seal provide high Faith scaling and reduce FP costs, making them staples for a Faith build.
Best Incantations for Faith Builds
Faith builds rely heavily on incantations for both damage and utility. Here’s a selection of powerful options:
Offensive Incantations
Lightning Spear / Wrath of the Gods: High single-target and AoE damage.
Dragonfire / Flame Grant Me Strength: Provides elemental attacks and buffs.
Defensive and Support Incantations
Blessing of Protection / Flame, Grant Me Strength: Boosts defense or weapon damage.
Heal / Replenishment: Sustain HP and support co-op partners.
Barrier / Magic Barrier: Reduces elemental or magic damage.
Status Effect Incantations
Poison Mist / Rotten Breath: Inflict damage over time for both PvE and PvP control.
Flame of the Fell God: Combines high damage with crowd control.
Faith builds thrive on balancing damage, healing, and buffs based on the encounter. Using offensive spells against bosses and supportive incantations in prolonged fights ensures maximum efficiency.
Essential Items for Faith Builds
To optimize a Faith build, certain items are indispensable:
Sacred Chime / Talisman
Boosts Faith scaling or reduces FP costs for casting.
Example: Carian Filigreed Crest for reduced spell costs.
Healing and FP Recovery Items
Flasks should be split between HP and FP to maintain balance between melee and magic.
Buffing Consumables
Items that temporarily increase Faith scaling or elemental damage, such as Blessed Dew or Fire Grease, can enhance damage output.
Armor Sets
Medium armor is ideal to balance protection and mobility.
Look for sets that offer Holy or Fire resistance and maintain manageable equip load for dodging.
Playstyle Tips
Hybrid Combat: Start fights with buffs and ranged incantations, then close in with a weapon like the Blasphemous Blade.
Positioning: Faith builds often have slower weapon swings, so positioning and timing are key.
Resource Management: Monitor FP usage carefully. Always keep a reserve for emergency healing or critical offensive spells.
Enemy Weaknesses: Exploit enemy elemental weaknesses. Many Faith builds excel against undead, demonic, and spectral enemies.
Final Thoughts
A Faith build in Elden Ring offers one of the most versatile and rewarding experiences in the game. By carefully allocating stats, choosing Faith-scaling weapons, and mastering incantations, players can tackle nearly any challenge the Lands Between throws their way.
Whether you enjoy powerful melee hybrid combat, ranged magical dominance, or co-op support, a well-constructed Faith build provides the tools to excel. Pairing the right weapons, items, and Elden Ring Items incantations creates a character capable of both devastating damage and sustained survivability, making Faith builds a top-tier choice for PvE and PvP adventurers alike.