How to Use Spells in Elden Ring

Souls games are often associated with melee combat. You watch gameplay videos of Dark Souls, for instance, and odds are good you’ll see players charging forward with sword and shield in hand. However, magic has been a part of these games since the beginning, and while using magic takes a bit more brainpower than a sword, it’s just as viable a strategy. Elden Ring has an entire magic system of its own, and if you want to be a magic specced character, it would behoove you to know how to actually use it. Here’s how to use spells in Elden Ring.

There are two flavors of magic in Elden Ring: Sorceries and Incantations. The effects of these two kinds of magic are more or less the same; they can be used to conjure attacks, buff yourself and your allies, or restore HP. The differences between the two types of magic are more mechanical, specifically in how you equip them and which of your character stats power them.

How to Use Spells in Elden Ring

Sorceries can be obtained either by finding them in the world or purchasing them from various merchants. Sorceries take the form of simple scrolls with the details of the spell outlined on them. When you’ve got some spells, go to a Site of Grace and visit the Memorize Spells menu to equip them. You can only equip as many spells as you have Memory Slots, though you can get more Memory Slots by using Memory Stones. With the spell memorized, you’ll then need to equip a Staff in order to channel it. Any staff is fine, though obviously, some are stronger than others, with better damage and effectiveness scaling to your INT stat. 

Incantations are equipped in the same way as Sorceries; just find or buy them, then memorize them at a Site of Grace. The difference is that Incantations are powered by your Faith stat instead of your INT, and you need to have a Sacred Seal equipped to one of your hands to channel them. Be aware that, unlike Staves, Sacred Seals can’t be upgraded.

In either case, once you’ve got your spells memorized and the proper tool equipped, you can cast magic in the field by pressing the mapped magic button (shoulder buttons on controllers). If you’re using a controller, you can switch which spell you have equipped by pressing up on the D-pad.