The success of FromSoftware's Elden Ring has been undeniable since its release at the end of February 2022 due to the sheer volume of different ways to play and approach the game, giving players the freedom to personalize their experiences that they often crave so much.
One way to play the game is to call upon the help of Spirit Ash Summons, which introduce versions of enemies and other creatures to help the player in some of the tougher battles. There are plenty of Ashes to collect, with some being much better than others, but there are those incredibly powerful examples that deserve to be recognized among the best in the entire game.
10 Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff Brings Some Exciting Lightning-Based Offense To The Table
The Ashes for Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff can be obtained after defeating the Ancient Hero of Zamor at the Sainted Hero's Grave. It is a fairly long and difficult process to obtain it, but when upgraded it can be a very useful Spirit Summons to call upon in battle.
Kristoff can use a variety of close- and long-ranged attacks, including utilizing thunder strikes if given enough space to unleash them. These Ashes will take over 100 FP in consumption, but give the player an impressive ally that is perfectly capable of taking a beating, for those players that don't have too much Vigor themselves and rely on distractions.
9 Omenkiller Rollo Is A Beast Of A Fighter That Can Breath Fire
Omenkiller Rollo is a Spirit Summon that can be especially helpful when facing bosses or enemies that favor defense. With his dual-wielding machetes, he is able to carve through almost any resistance. On top of this, Rollo is able to breathe fire, a talent that can come in handy when having to deal with multiple enemies at once.
These Ashes can be obtained after defeating the Fell Twin bosses near the Divine Tower of East Altus, and the summon is definitely one of the better larger Spirits.
8 The Nightmaiden & Swordstress Puppets Are Two Different Styles But Are Equally Effective
For the consumption of less than 100 FP, the player can make use of the Nightmaiden & Swordstress Puppets Ashes, two incredibly aggressive sisters and fighters that can do impressive amounts of damage in a short space of time.
Found in Nokstella of Eternal City, each member of the duo has their own individual battle styles, with one using a long-ranged melee weapon and the other liking to go in close. Expect any fight with these two to be fast-paced chaos, but with enough support from the player, they can deal a large portion of damage to bosses almost immediately.
7 The Five Greatshield Soldiers Bring Sheer Numbers & Frustration For Foes
The Greatshield Soldiers Spirit Ashes can be found in Nokron, Eternal City, and are a summoning that must not be overlooked. Using these Ashes summons a group of five shielded soldiers capable of blocking multiple heavy strikes in a row, with some cases seeing only one or two taking damage per powerful strike.
Through sheer numbers and how effective they can also be as individuals, upgrading this particular Spirit Summon should be considered a priority, as they are perfect for drawing attention away from the player while not dying straight away.
6 Cleanrot Knight Finlay Is Versatile With Various Means Of Being Useful
Cleanrot Knight Finlay is a versatile Spirit Summon that can attack from range with holy disks or go up close and personal with sword strikes, while also buffing the player with damage reduction. She can also deal rot damage to enemies, meaning that her damage may still be felt long after her Spirit Summon has been destroyed.
An upgraded Finlay is certainly one of the most underrated Ashes in the games, and can often be overlooked due to the expensive FP consumption. Her Ashes can be found in a chest in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, after some exploring from the Prayer Room Site of Grace.
5 Latenna The Albinauric Is The Best Purely Ranged Attacker Out Of The Spirit Summons
Latenna the Albinauric is about as good as it gets in terms of consistent ranged attackers. If the battle-at-hand has a large arena with plenty of space for her to navigate, she can prove a great help in fighting bosses. This will require the player to take most of the hits and attention from the bigger and more powerful bosses, allowing her to provide covering fire from a distance.
The Ashes can be obtained by first speaking to Latenna at the Slumbering Wolf's Shack in Liurnia of the Lakes. Upon completing her questline, she will hand over the Ashes.
4 Banished Knight Oleg Is A Tank With Devastating Offense
Banished Knight Oleg is one of the better Spirit Ashes that can be obtained earlier in the game compared to some of the other powerful Summons, with it being awarded to the player upon defeating the main boss of the Fringefolk Hero's Grave dungeon, found near the Stranded Graveyard Site of Grace from near the beginning of the game.
Oleg is a heavy soldier who can unleash deadly damage with his dual swords while also being able to take plenty of damage himself. He is a perfect Spirit Summon for players that thrive when they can set up attacks away from the boss's attention.
3 Black Knife Tiche's Weapon Brings Devastation For The Player's Enemies
Obtained by defeating the boss at the Ringleader's Evergaol in southwestern Liurnia, the Black Knife Tiche Ashes provide the player with one of the most powerful Spirit Summons of all, albeit at the cost of over 130 FP.
Black Knife Tiche's weapon, aptly named the Black Knife, is imbued with the Rune of Death, making every attack do extra damage over time. She is especially useful against a single opponent, as she is able to perfectly utilize space to dodge attacks and inflict heavy damage herself.
2 If The Player Has A Strong Setup Then The Mimic Tear Will Also Thrive
The Mimic Tear Ashes are often right up there in conversations regarding the best Spirit Summons in the entirety of Elden Ring. Upon obtaining the Ashes in Nokrom, Eternal City, the player is granted a Spirit Summon that copies the player in terms of equipment and items at the time of summoning.
This allows for great flexibility in trying different playstyles for the Mimic that are personal to the player, with the added bonus of it consuming HP rather than FP.
1 Lhutel The Headless Has Everything Apart From A Head
Lhutel the Headless is by the far the best all-around Spirit Summon on offer in Elden Ring. The spirit of a headless knight, Lhutel may require more than 100 FP to be summoned, but from her solid defense with bulky armor and huge shield to her teleport allowing her to evade some fatal swipes from bosses, she can be a huge asset to any type of player.
The teleport has the potential to lead enemies to briefly switch their focus to the player, but ultimately it allows her to get in close and inflict damage that can be maximized if the Ashes are upgraded enough. The Ashes are obtained by defeating the Cemetery Shade at the Tombsward Catacombs.