Elden Ring Spirit Ashes: Easy Summon & Upgrade Guide

This guide makes Elden Ring more manageable by showing you how to get, use, and upgrade Spirit Ashes. You’ll learn where to find the key items, how to summon spirits effectively, and how to upgrade them so they can hold their own in tough fights. By the end, you’ll have a reliable spectral ally that can distract bosses and turn the tide of battle.

What You’ll Need

• A copy of Elden Ring (any version).
• The Spirit Calling Bell (obtained early from Renna at the Church of Elleh).
• At least one Spirit Ash (you start with the Lone Wolf Ashes).
• Glovewort (for upgrading) – found in catacombs and underground areas.
• Runes to purchase upgrade materials from merchants.

Step-by-Step

1. Get the Spirit Calling Bell. After receiving Torrent from Melina, travel to the Church of Elleh at night. A blue figure named Renna will appear and give you the Spirit Calling Bell and the Lone Wolf Ashes. If you missed her, you can buy the bell from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold later.
2. Equip your Spirit Ash. Open your inventory and select the Spirit Ash you want to use. Assign it to a quick slot (like your flask slot) for fast access during combat.
3. Find a summoning spot. You can only summon spirits in specific locations, usually marked by a glowing blue archway on the ground. These appear near boss arenas and in some open-world areas. When you see the icon, you’re good to go.
4. Summon your spirit. Use the item from your quick slot. The spirit will appear and fight alongside you. It will stay until it dies or the area is cleared. You can only summon once per rest at a Site of Grace, so use it wisely.
5. Upgrade your Spirit Ash. Visit Roderika at the Roundtable Hold. She will upgrade your ashes using Glovewort. You’ll need to give her the Chrysalids’ Memento (found in Stormveil Castle) to unlock her upgrade services. Then, select “Upgrade Spirit Ashes” and choose the ash you want to enhance.
6. Collect Glovewort. Glovewort comes in tiers (1-9 for regular, Ghost Glovewort for special ashes). You’ll find them in catacombs, mines, and underground areas. Later tiers are in higher-level zones, so progress naturally. You can also buy some from merchants like the one in Liurnia.
7. Choose the right spirit for the fight. Some spirits are better for certain situations. For example, the Mimic Tear (found in Nokron) copies your build and is incredibly strong, while the Jellyfish is great for poisoning enemies. Experiment to find what works for you.
8. Use spirits strategically. Summon your spirit to draw aggro, then attack from behind. Use ranged spirits to keep enemies busy while you heal. Don’t rely on them to deal all the damage—they’re a tool, not a replacement for your own skill.

Common Mistakes

• Not upgrading your ashes. A base-level ash will get destroyed late game. Always upgrade when you can.
• Summoning in the wrong place. If you don’t see the blue archway, you can’t summon. Don’t waste time trying.
• Using the wrong spirit for the situation. A melee spirit against a flying boss is useless. Read the ash description and pick accordingly.
• Ignoring Roderika. Some players forget she can upgrade ashes, missing out on a huge power boost.
• Spending all your runes on upgrades. Balance your rune spending between levels, gear, and upgrades. Don’t neglect your own character.

Tips

• Mimic Tear is overpowered. If you want an easy mode, get the Mimic Tear. It copies your equipment and stats, making it a tanky copy of you. It’s found in Nokron, Eternal City.
• Use the Jellyfish for tough bosses. It has high HP and poisons enemies, making it excellent for distracting and chipping away at health.
• Upgrade a few different ashes. Don’t just upgrade one. Have a tank, a ranged, and a support option for different fights.
• Spirit Ashes scale with your level. The higher your level, the stronger your spirits. So leveling up your character also helps your summons.
• Use the Crystal Tears in your Flask. Certain tears can boost your spirit’s damage or HP. Experiment with the Physick.

Troubleshooting

I can’t summon my spirit. Make sure you’re in an area with a summoning pool (blue archway). Also, check that you have the Spirit Calling Bell equipped. If you’re in a multiplayer session, you cannot use spirit ashes.

Roderika isn’t upgrading my ashes. You need to give her the Chrysalids’ Memento. It’s in Stormveil Castle, in a room with a grafted scion. If you’ve already talked to her, exhaust her dialogue and she’ll move to the Roundtable Hold.

My spirit dies too fast. Upgrade it with Glovewort. Also, consider using a spirit with higher HP, like the Greatshield Soldiers or the Mimic Tear.

I ran out of Glovewort. You can buy some from merchants, but most are found in catacombs. Use a map to find catacombs you haven’t explored yet. Ghost Glovewort is for special ashes and is rarer.

The spirit won’t attack. Make sure you’re not too far away. Spirits have a limited range and will teleport back to you if you go too far. Stay close to the fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Spirit Ashes cost FP to summon? Yes, most cost FP (mana). However, some ashes, like the Mimic Tear, cost HP instead. Make sure you have enough FP to summon.

Can I use Spirit Ashes in co-op? No. Spirit Ashes are disabled when you summon another player for co-op. They’re only for single-player.

What is the best Spirit Ash? The Mimic Tear is widely considered the strongest because it copies your build. The Black Knife Tiche is also excellent for dealing damage. It depends on your playstyle.

How do I get the Mimic Tear? You need to progress to Nokron, Eternal City, which is accessed after defeating Starscourge Radahn. It’s in a chest in a building near the Ancestor Spirit boss.

Can I upgrade all Spirit Ashes? Yes, but special ashes (like the Mimic Tear) require Ghost Glovewort instead of regular Glovewort. Both are found in different locations.

Do Spirit Ashes respawn? Yes, you can summon them again after resting at a Site of Grace. They don’t have limited uses.

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