The Dry Leaf Arts incantation in Elden Ring offers a unique approach to combat, utilizing a flurry of fast, successive attacks. Choosing the right Ash of War can significantly enhance its already impressive capabilities, allowing you to tailor your playstyle to perfectly suit your preferences. This guide will delve into the best Ash of War options for Dry Leaf Arts, considering various combat scenarios and playstyles.
Understanding Dry Leaf Arts
Before we jump into the Ash of War recommendations, let's quickly recap what makes Dry Leaf Arts so special. Its strength lies in its rapid attacks, making it excellent for disrupting enemy attacks and dealing consistent damage. However, it lacks range and the individual hits aren't particularly powerful. Therefore, the best Ash of War will either enhance its damage output or compensate for its shortcomings.
What are the Best Ashes of War for Dry Leaf Arts?
The ideal Ash of War for Dry Leaf Arts depends heavily on your build and preferred playstyle. There's no single "best" option, but rather a few strong contenders.
1. Bloodhound's Step: Enhancing Mobility and Evasion
For players who value mobility and precise positioning, Bloodhound's Step is a fantastic choice. This Ash of War allows for quick dashes, making it easier to evade attacks and reposition yourself for optimal damage. The short i-frames offer crucial survivability when facing aggressive enemies, complementing Dry Leaf Arts' fast but relatively low damage output. The increased mobility also makes it simpler to weave in and out of enemy attacks while maintaining a consistent damage stream.
Why it's great: It offsets the close-range nature of Dry Leaf Arts by enabling superior mobility and evasiveness.
2. Golden Vow: Boosting Damage Output
If your focus is purely on maximizing damage, Golden Vow is an excellent choice. This Ash of War significantly boosts your attack power and defense, making each hit from Dry Leaf Arts pack a more considerable punch. The increased damage output is crucial for overcoming tougher enemies or when facing large groups. This is an effective strategy for builds that prioritize offensive capabilities.
Why it's great: Directly enhances the raw damage of your Dry Leaf Arts attacks.
3. Lion's Claw: Adding a Powerful Finishing Move
Lion's Claw provides a powerful follow-up attack after a successful guard break. When used with Dry Leaf Arts, the combination can lead to devastating bursts of damage. While requiring precise timing, the reward for success is well worth the effort. This Ash of War is particularly effective against enemies vulnerable to guard breaks, turning a single successful hit into a substantial damage combo.
Why it's great: Increases the potential for large burst damage with a correctly timed follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions regarding the best Ash of War for Dry Leaf Arts:
Does the Ash of War affect the cast speed of Dry Leaf Arts?
No, the Ash of War primarily modifies the weapon's attack properties rather than affecting the incantation's casting speed. The casting time of Dry Leaf Arts remains consistent regardless of the chosen Ash of War.
Can I use multiple Ashes of War on the same weapon?
No, you can only equip one Ash of War per weapon at a time. You'll need to choose the Ash of War that best suits your overall strategy.
Are there any Ashes of War that are completely unsuitable for Dry Leaf Arts?
Ashes of War that heavily modify the weapon's attack style, such as those adding heavy, slow attacks, are generally less effective with Dry Leaf Arts. The quick, successive strikes of Dry Leaf Arts are best complemented by Ashes that enhance mobility, damage output, or add utility.
Conclusion
The best Ash of War for Dry Leaf Arts depends on individual preferences and playstyles. Bloodhound's Step enhances mobility, Golden Vow increases damage, and Lion's Claw offers a high-damage combo finisher. Experiment with different Ashes to find the perfect fit for your build and discover what works best for your preferred approach to combat in the Lands Between. Remember to consider your overall build, strengths, and weaknesses when making your decision.