When it comes to formulating a new and viable build inElden Ring, talismans play a surprisingly big part in making a build work. Sure, a weapon or incantation is the foundation upon which a build is crafted, but talismans are the glue that binds it together. For the longest time, we have had to make do with the base game’s assortment of talismans, but thanks to the newShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, we have a new bunch of toys to play around with.
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There are quite a few new additions to the game that open up new possibilities and will catch the eye of anyoneexploring this new and unforgiving realm, but the question remains: which of these talismans stands alone as the best of the lot? Well, we intend to answer that pressing question right now!
In a bid to make this list packed with new and interesting talismans courtesy of the DLC, we will not be including any Talismans that are buffs on existing base game talismans, like theCrimson Amber Medallion +3or theCrimson Seed Talisman +1, for example. These are great, don’t get me wrong, but we all know what they do, so let’s shine a spotlight on the unique additions instead.
10Pearl Shield Talisman
Ancient Ruins of Rauh
Boost all non-physical damage negation while guarding
We kick things off with a defensive talisman that will appeal to all those long-timeSoulsfans that never grew out of hiding behind a shield like the originalDark Soulstaught us to do. ThePearl Shield Talismanvastly increases the amount of physical damage you may tank when hiding behind your shield, and because your shield will negate a lot of that damage to begin with, this talisman can effectively make you near invulnerable, provided your stamina remains full, and your defense is strong.
This can be combined with something like theFingerprint Stone Shieldand a guard poke weapon like theGreat Épée, for example, effectively allowing you to block while guarding, making you almost invincible as you chip away at enemies. It’s not the most exciting build, but it’s damn effective.
9Crusade Insignia
Gravesite Plain
Raises attack power after defeating an enemy
Next up, we have a talisman that you’ll get your hands on when you deal with Fire Knight Queelign for the first time in the Belurat Tower Settlement, and while this talisman might not be the best when it comes to taking down the various brutal bosses jam-packed into this DLC, it’s a wonderful exploration talisman for all those moments in-between.
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TheCrusade Insigniais ideal when taking on large groups of enemies at once, and raises your attack by 15% for 20 seconds, refilling every time you take down another enemy. This essentially means that in a crowd control situation, you’ll effectively have a constant 15% buff as you try to thin out the crowd, which can be the difference between life and death. Plus, you can also use it to refine your rune farming routes and make killing huge groups much faster.
8Aged-One’s Exultation
Abyssal Woods
Madness in the vicinity increases attack power
In the base game, Frenzied Flame and Madness builds were more of a novelty rather than an actual viable build, and that was mainly down to the lack of items you could use to enhance the power of madness. However, if you head down to the Abyssal Woods, you’ll find a few great items that do just that, including theAged One’s Exultationwhich increases your damage output when Madness is in the vicinity.
This is effectively the sister talisman to similar items like theLord of Blood’s Exultationand theKindred of Rot’s Exultation, allowing you to build into Madness effectively and reap the rewards as you fill that little orange bar again and again. So if you fancy finally creating a madness build worth its salt, then this is a must-have DLC talisman.
7Blessed Blue Dew Talisman
Slowly restores FP
If you’re a spellcaster, or someone who relies almost entirely on your Ash of War skill to carry you in battle, then you’ll want to get your hands on theBlessed Blue Dew Talismanas soon as you can. This little number can be equipped to give you passive FP regeneration, which is great when exploring the world, and in battle as it will lower the amount of Cerulean Flasks that you need to pack when you set off from the Site of Grace.
It’s a slow burn, as you will only receive one FP point every two seconds, but it all stacks up pretty fast when you are riding Torrent to your next destination, or meticulously scavenging when working through a Legacy Dungeon. Not to mention, this can be combined with items like thePrimal Glintstone Blade, or theCarian Filigreed Crestto make your build very FP conservative. So, if you never want to be caught without the FP needed to cast a spell, this is the Talisman you need.
6Dried Bouquet
Raises attack power when summoned spirit dies
If you’re someone who believes thatusing Spirit Ashesis something that cheapens the wholeElden Ringexperience, then you’ll probably feel a little bit like someone pressing their nose to the glass while everyone else has their fun with usingGreat Grave Glovewortand summoning cool allies in battle. Well, this can all change, as you can use your weak, under-levelled spirit summons to your advantage and summon them as a sacrifice when theDried Bouquetis equipped.
This means that when these allies fall in battle, you can add a 20% buff to your overall damage for 30 seconds after they die, which can make the beginning of a fight a whole lot easier for you. And you’ll still be technically doing it solo. Or if you do like summoning, having the ability to use this buff after they fall to see the fight out can also be a lifesaver. Either way, the Dried Bouquet is a great DLC talisman worth picking up.
5Verdigris Discus
Ancient Ruins of Rauh (NeedImbued Sword Key)
Raises defense with higher equipment load
As someone who personally usesa colossal weaponand heavy armor melee build almost exclusively inSoulsgames, the label of ‘Heavy Load’ is something I’m very used to seeing, but up until now inElden Ring, there hasn’t been an equivalent to theBlue Dancer Charmallowing players to benefit from their stocky build.
But thanks to the new addition, the Verdigris Discus, you may now get a 10% damage increase when running a heavy load, and an even more impressive 20% buff if you’re overloaded and don’t mind having to fat-roll around.
This works beautifully when you run a high-poise build with a fast-paced and mobile Ash of War. For example, running this withIronjar Aromatic, and theDancing Blade of Ranahallows you to effectively chain melee attacks to get around the battlefield while tanking attacks due to your high poise. This is just one of many interesting opportunities this talisman presents. So if you tend to run a heavy build anyway, this is your chance to get rewarded for doing so.
4Beloved Stardust
Scadu Atlas
Shortens casting speed for sorcery and incantations by the utmost, but increases damage taken
There are some items added within the DLC that allow melee users to make their character a glass cannon, such as theRakshasa Setand the Bloodsucking Cracked Tear, to name a few. But if you’re someone that tends to run an arcane build more often than not, you’ll want to make a beeline toward the Beloved Stardust Talisman, as this will allow you to cast sorceries much faster than normal, but in exchange, the talisman also makes you easier to take down.
This effectively means that if you have an optimized spell-based build, as most arcane users often will, you’ll be able to spam your spells and trade blows with bosses and enemies. And thanks to the added speed, chances are you’ll be able to tank enough hits and get enough spells off to win the fight quickly.
This works well with spells with long wind-ups like theImpenetrable Thornsfor example, making it easy to chain attacks and end fights before they really begin. You may need to add some defensive items to balance this one out a little, but all in all, its an arcane-focused talisman you’ll really want to add to your collection.
3Retaliatory Crossed Tree
Enhances attacks executed after rolling or backstepping
As aforementioned, I tend to gravitate toward melee builds. This means that I know firsthand just how often you’re required to backstep and dodge roll-turning fights if you don’t want to end up maimed, pulverized, or impaled by whatever monstrosity is coming at you with full force.
If you’re still wondering, it’s a lot, and it only becomes more frequent when battling against the fast-moving and relentless bosses within theElden RingDLC. So why not make the most of your evasiveness with theRetaliatory Crossed-TreeTalisman?
This talisman gives you a 17% buff for every attack that comes directly after a dodge roll or backstep, which, in case you haven’t gathered, essentially means you’ll have a constant 17% buff on the first hit of every first attack you land after a spell playing on the defensive. It’s a must-have talisman for melee players, and if you’re a seat-of-your-pants, reactionary fighter, this will suit you right down to the ground.
2Two-Headed Turtle Talisman
Greatly Increases Stamina Recovery Speed
Our runner-up is a talisman that is such a brilliant asset for just about any melee build you could ever dream up. I know I said no talismans that improve on existing ones in the base game, but this upgrade is too good to leave out.
No matter whether you rely on charge attacks to break stance, bulky shields to block incoming attacks, or powerful Ashes of War to land devastating blows, one thing remains constant. You’ll need a lot of stamina to make this work, otherwise enemies will break your guard and punish you without hesitation.
The Two-Headed Turtle Talisman helps keep your stamina bar by increasing your stamina regeneration by a whopping 22.5% percent, which is almost enough on its own to allow you to perpetually hide behind a big shield or spam costly Ashes of War. But even if it’s not, combining this with items like theViridian Amber Medallion +3and the Greenbust Crystal Tear really shores this strategy up. It’s a huge improvement on theGreen Turtle Talisman, and one you need to add to your arsenal.
1Two-Handed Sword Talisman
Ancient Ruins of Rauh (Rauh Base)
Enhances the attacks of two-handed weapons
I’ll admit, this one may be colored slightly by my love for this particular talisman, but no one can deny that the Two-Handed Sword Talisman is a wonderful addition to the game, thanks to theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC. This one holds a special place in my heart for allowing me to cast my shield aside, grasp a colossal weapon with both hands, and really put all my time and focus into landing charged attacks and breaking the stance of enemies.
It’s a talisman that works amazingly for colossal melee builds, and can be combined with other excellent items like theAxe Talisman, and theShard of Alexanderto really get the most out of this two-handed trinket. The 15% boost this talisman provides is an absolute game-changer, so if you’ve been looking for a reason to lay down your shield and embrace the art of dodge rolling ad nauseum, then this is the talisman that will tempt you, for sure.
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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
