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Elden Ring Best 15 Faith Builds – Early and Late Game

Publish time icon May 28, 2024, Author icon Castielle, Comment icon 0

The BEST Faith builds in Elden Ring, featuring 15 Faith Builds that are my favorite Faith builds in the game. Many viewers of my earlier Elden Ring videos mentioned how much they enjoyed seeing gameplay from different builds. So, in this guide, I’ll not only cover the progression of Faith builds throughout the game but also highlight the best Faith builds for your journey. I’ll showcase some of the builds I’ve personally used and recommend. You can find every item in our Elden Ring Map and get ready for the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree.

Elden Ring Best Faith Builds

Best Early Game Faith Builds (Level 50)

Venturing into the captivating world of Elden Ring requires more than just courage; it demands strategy. In this portion of the guide, we showcase the best Early Game Faith Builds at Level 50.

There are only a few low-level faith builds that I find particularly strong, in my opinion. Many of the best spells for faith are discovered in the mid or later stages of the game. However, there are still some early-game options that pack a punch. These builds will help you lay a solid foundation that can carry you well into the mid-game. With the right combination of skills and equipment, you’ll be prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead.

The Templar

A tanky melee focused build that can heal itself and allies, as well as deal decent damage with Block Counters and Holy Weapon buffs.

The first one we’ll explore is the Templar. This is essentially your go-to paladin build. At level 50, you can wield this build very effectively. You’ll likely opt for a medium shield at this stage to allocate points into Faith. Otherwise, you’ll need to invest in Strength to wield a great shield. Equip a Sacred Seal and set the infusion on your straight sword to either flame art or sacred to maximize that Faith scaling. Your stats will primarily focus on vigor, endurance, Faith, and a bit of strength to wield a decent medium shield. You’ll emphasize buffing and early-game spells while utilizing block counters and stance breaking. This build excels particularly well in the early stages of the game.

The Sword Sage

The Sword Sage is a combination of Intelligence and Faith, using the Sword of Night and Flame and Death Sorceries.

Now, let’s take a look at the Sword Sage build at level 50. This build revolves around wielding the Sword of Night and Flame. With the right setup, you can start using this sword quite early in the game. However, it’s worth noting that this weapon demands a significant investment in both intelligence and faith. Consequently, your health and endurance may be relatively low when using this weapon at level 50. Nonetheless, even after adjustments and nerfs, the Sword of Night and Flame remains a potent weapon. If you’re keen on wielding it early on, the Sword Sage build is the way to go, boasting impressive strength and versatility.

The Blackflame Apostle

A Faith-Dex Build that focuses on the use of Black Flame to boost damage and give multiple options to every scenario.

Now, let’s discuss my final level 50 faith build recommendation, which is the Blackflame Apostle build. This build focuses on enhancing your weapon with either Bloodflame Blade or Black Flame Blade, allowing you to cast Black Flame incantations or other faith-based spells like Catch Flame. Here’s how it works: you’ll wield a weapon with inherent bleed buildup that can still be buffed, such as the Uchigatana, Nagakiba, Nightrider Flail, or Bloodhound’s Fang. In your left hand, equip the Godslayer’s Seal. You’ll then buff your weapon to increase bleeding or apply the Black Flame effect, and cast spells using Black Flame. This setup offers a dynamic and enjoyable playstyle.

Best Mid-Game Faith Builds (Level 100)

Venturing deeper into the mesmerizing world of Elden Ring, you’ll find that the mid-game presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. Here, strategy becomes even more crucial, and selecting the right Faith Builds can make a significant difference in your journey.

In this portion of the guide, we focus on the best Mid-Game Faith Builds. While the most powerful faith spells are typically unlocked later in the game, mid-game offers a variety of potent options that can greatly enhance your gameplay. With these builds, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle tougher foes and navigate the complexities of Elden Ring’s evolving landscape.

The Deathblade

An Intelligence/Faith Build thas uses the Sword of Night and Flame to full effect, while also using both Sorceries and Incantations to dispatch enemies.

First up is the Deathblade build, an evolution of the Sword Sage archetype. While you’ll still wield the Sword of Night and Flame, this build doesn’t emphasize intelligence and faith as heavily as the Sword Sage. Instead, you’ll also use either the Gelmir Glintstone Staff or the Prince of Death’s Staff to cast death magic spells like Rancor and Ancient Death Rancor.

I like to start by casting Ancient Death Rancor or a few charges of it, then follow up with attacks from the Sword of Night and Flame, using Night Comet while the enemy is distracted by the barrage of skulls. This build offers a balanced mix of melee combat with the Sword of Night and Flame and potent death magic spells. It’s incredibly enjoyable to play and remains one of my favorite builds in the game.

The Hellfire Herald

A Dexterity/Faith Build that uses Black Flame and Bleeding to destroy enemies.

The next level 100 faith-based build I want to discuss is the Hellfire Herald. This build centers around dual-wielding greatswords, specifically two iron greatswords infused with either the Sacred Infusion or Flame, Give Me Strength.

You have the flexibility to switch between these infusions based on the enemy’s vulnerabilities throughout the game, adding versatility to the build. Essentially, you’ll buff yourself using spells like Golden Vow and Flame, Give Me Strength. Additionally, you can apply Determination or Royal Knight’s Resolve to your weapons and execute devastating jump attacks, utilizing talismans like the Raptor’s Black Feathers to boost their effectiveness.

This setup allows you to deal significant damage with jump attacks while still retaining the ability to cast spells due to the faith-based nature of the build. You can use offensive spells like Lightning Spear and healing spells like Golden Vow for sustain. Overall, it’s a highly effective and versatile build that excels in both melee combat and spellcasting.

The Blasphemous Beastman

A Strength/Faith hybrid build that uses Bestial Incantations and the Blasphemous Blade to destroy enemies at range or in melee combat.

Next up is the Blasphemous Beastman build, an incredibly enjoyable setup revolving around the use of Beast Incantations alongside the Blasphemous Blade. This build is essentially a Strength-Faith hybrid, aiming to maximize the effectiveness of the Clawmark Seal. Both the Clawmark Seal and Cinquedea, the dagger, synergize to amplify Beast Incantations. Equip the dagger in your left hand and the Blasphemous Blade in your right hand. Utilize the weapon art of the Blasphemous Blade as needed, then switch to the Clawmark Seal to cast your Beast spells such as Stone of Gurranq, Beast Claw, or Bestial Sling.

You can still enhance your combat capabilities by buffing yourself with spells like Golden Vow or Flame, Give Me Strength. This build offers a remarkable combination of high damage output, ranged options, and a formidable melee presence with the Blasphemous Blade. It’s an incredibly fun and effective Strength-Faith build that provides versatility and potency in various combat scenarios.

The Frenzied Acolyte

An Arcane/Faith Build that focuses on casting incantations from range, only meleeing when absolutely necessary.

And lastly, among the level 100 faith builds, we have the Frenzied Acolyte build, an arcane faith setup that centers on the use of frenzy or madness spells. With the game emphasizing fire damage through these spells, they become utterly devastating. It’s undeniably one of the most enjoyable and unique builds to play. Spells like Flame of Frenzy and Frenzied Burst are your main arsenal, each excelling in their own right—one at melting bosses and the other at sniping targets from afar.

The mechanics of this build are intriguing; casting is done with the Dragon Communion seal, with a focus on arcane and faith attributes. In your left hand, you’ll have the option of equipping either the Frenzied Seal, the Gravel Stone Seal, or the Godslayer’s Seal, or perhaps all three, rotating between them as needed. When casting a Frenzied spell, you’ll equip the Frenzied Flame Seal in your left hand for maximum damage. Alternatively, for spells like Black Flame or Lightning Spear, you can switch to the Godslayer’s Seal or the Gravel Stone Seal, respectively. This pure caster build maximizes spell damage output by utilizing talismans that buff them in your left hand while effectively casting with the Dragon Communion Seal and the corresponding stat spread.

Best Late Game Faith Builds (Level 150-200)

As you reach the late stages of the enthralling world of Elden Ring, the challenges you face become more formidable and the need for a well-honed strategy is paramount. In the late game, your choice of Faith Builds can significantly impact your success and survival.

This portion of the guide focuses on the best Late-Game Faith Builds. By this point, you’ll have access to the most powerful faith spells and a wider array of equipment, allowing for highly optimized builds. These late-game strategies will help you overcome the toughest adversaries and conquer the final hurdles of Elden Ring’s vast and intricate world.

The Crusader

A melee/caster hybrid that focuses on Faith and Block Counters to obliterate enemies with holy or fire damage.

Moving on to the level 150 Faith builds, let’s start with the Crusader. This build represents an evolution from the Templar archetype. Instead of relying heavily on Block Counters, you’ll find yourself wielding a greatsword with both hands more frequently, though you still have the option to use the Brass Shield when necessary. Moreover, the Barricade Shield can be equipped for situations where block counters are indispensable.

At the core of this build is the wielding of a powerful greatsword like the Gargoyle’s Greatsword or the Iron Greatsword, infused with either the Sacred Infusion or Flame Art. By prioritizing your faith stat and utilizing the Erdtree Seal, you’ll unleash devastating incantations like Elden Stars, dealing significant damage while maintaining the ability to buff yourself with spells such as Golden Vow and Blessing of the Erdtree.

One standout feature of this build is the utilization of Sword Dance with the greatsword—a remarkably potent skill capable of often dispatching most enemies with just a single FP usage, underscoring the immense damage potential inherent in this setup. Additionally, the flexibility to switch between Lightning Armament and Sacred Armament adds to the versatility of this build, making it a formidable and adaptable choice that scales admirably into the late game.

The Blasphemous Herald

A melee build that uses Jump Attacks and the Blasphemous Blade to demolish enemies point blank and at range.

Next up is the Blasphemous Herald build, a fusion of the Blasphemous Beastman and Hellfire Herald builds. This build combines elements of both, utilizing the Blasphemous Blade in a dual greatsword configuration akin to the Hellfire Herald, while incorporating aspects unique to the Blasphemous Beastman. Unlike the Hellfire Herald, however, the Blasphemous Herald integrates the use of the Blasphemous Blade.

The strategy behind this build revolves around wielding the Blasphemous Blade in your right hand, complemented by either the Gargoyle’s Blackblade or the Gargoyle’s Greatsword infused with fire or sacred in your left hand. This setup enables you to execute jump attacks while effectively utilizing the Blasphemous Blade and Taker’s Vow weapon skill when needed. Additionally, you retain the ability to cast incantations using the Clawmark Seal, given the emphasis on strength and faith in this build. With a diverse array of options at your disposal, the Blasphemous Herald offers a potent blend of the strengths found in both its parent builds.

The Blackflame Bushido

A Dexterity/Faith Build that uses the Cross-Naginata to to set Hemorrhage and Black Flame on enemies in melee range.

Now for the Blackflame Bushido build, a natural progression from the Blackflame Apostle setup. The concept here revolves around utilizing either the Cross-Naginata or Nagakiba, both benefiting greatly from Keen Scaling, and allocating attribute points between Dexterity and Faith. By buffing the weapon with enhancements like Black Flame Blade or Bloodflame as needed, and casting spells such as Black Flame using Golden Vow and Scouring Black Flame with the Godslayer’s Seal for augmented effects, this build strikes a balance between melee prowess and spellcasting finesse.

The decision to play this build at level 150 stems from the challenge of efficiently distributing attribute points at lower levels. Attempting to split points between Dexterity and Faith at lower levels would necessitate neglecting vital attributes like Vigor, Mind, and Endurance. Therefore, the build thrives when allowed the flexibility of higher-level play. The gameplay primarily revolves around buffing and casting spells, complemented by devastating techniques like Phantom Slash on the Cross-Naginata or Sword Dance and Double Slash with the Nagakiba, all contributing to a formidable and versatile combat style.

Best New Game+ Builds (Journey 2)

Entering New Game Plus in the captivating world of Elden Ring offers a fresh set of challenges and opportunities. Here, the enemies are tougher, and the stakes are higher, making a well-crafted strategy more critical than ever. Your choice of Faith Builds in New Game Plus can be the key to mastering this advanced stage.

In this portion of the guide, we explore the best Faith Builds for New Game Plus. By now, you have access to the full arsenal of spells and equipment, enabling the creation of exceptionally powerful builds. These strategies will help you navigate the heightened difficulty and tackle the most daunting foes as you continue your journey in Elden Ring.

The Sword Saint

A Dexterity/Faith/Strength Build that focuses on using the Sacred Relic Sword and Wave of Gold.

The first build in this category is the Sword Saint build, centered around the formidable Sacred Relic Sword and its devastating weapon skill, Wave of Gold. This skill unleashes a powerful AoE wave that deals damage over an extended period, albeit at a high FP cost and not meant for continuous use.

To balance this, the build incorporates the Sword of Milos in the offhand, which grants five FP upon enemy kills. This setup allows for dynamic combat, enabling both dual greatsword jump attacks—an effective tactic for various encounters—and the strategic deployment of Wave of Gold when necessary. Additionally, with points allocated to faith, the build can utilize buffs like Golden Vow or Flame, Grant Me Strength, further enhancing its versatility and lethality on the battlefield.

The Drake Knight

A Strength/Faith Build that focuses on the use of the Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword and its weapon skill Magma Guillotine.

Next is the Drake Knight build, a robust combination of Strength and Faith that revolves around wielding the formidable Magma Wyrm’s Scaleword alongside the Clawmark Seal. This setup enables efficient casting of incantations such as Golden Vow or Flame, Grant Me Strength, capitalizing on the build’s Strength/Faith orientation.

The Magma Wyrm’s Scaleword‘s unique blend of physical and fire damage meshes seamlessly with this build, optimizing the devastating potential of Magma Guillotine. This weapon skill is renowned for its sheer lethality, capable of single or double-shotting bosses with chilling efficiency. Whether embarking on a New Game Plus journey or tackling earlier game challenges, this build stands as a formidable force on the battlefield, capable of decimating foes with ease.

The Red Lightning

A Faith Build that focuses on the use of Dragon Cult Incantations that deal Lightning Damage.

After that is the Red Lightning build, a dynamic setup centered around harnessing the power of Lightning Spells, including the formidable Red Lightning Spells. With this build, you’ll be unleashing spells such as Golden Vow, Lightning Strike, Lightning Spear, Lansseax’s Glaive, Frozen Lightning Spear, and Ancient Dragon’s Lightning Spear. The core strategy involves casting spells using the Erdtree Seal while holding the Gravelstone Seal in your left hand to augment the damage output of these spells.

By focusing on maximizing Faith, the build excels in spellcasting, allowing you to dispatch foes with lightning-infused fury. Whether it’s sniping enemies from afar with Lightning Strike or Lightning Spear, or unleashing area-of-effect devastation with Lansseax’s Glaive, the build offers a versatile array of spells tailored to various combat scenarios. It’s a thrilling experience for those who relish the role of a lightning-wielding caster on the battlefield.

The Black Blade

A Strength/Faith Build that utilizes Maliketh’s Black Blade and the Black Blade Incantation to optimal effects.

And then the Black Blade build, a personal favorite among my creations and easily one of my top five builds. What sets this build apart is its unparalleled style, revolving around the iconic Maliketh’s Black Blade and its accompanying armor set. To complement this aesthetic, we incorporate the Clawmark Seal, enabling spellcasting prowess. Embracing the essence of a Strength/Faith build, the strategy unfolds in boss encounters.

You initiate the fight by casting the Black Blade incantation from a distance, inflicting initial damage and stripping the boss of 10% of its maximum health. Transitioning seamlessly into close combat, you unleash Destined Death from the sword, further reducing the boss’s health by an additional 20%. Notably, this health loss remains permanent even after the buffs and debuffs wear off, offering a substantial advantage. From there, you engage in standard melee combat, intermittently utilizing the Black Blade incantation from range as needed to maintain pressure on the adversary.

The Pyromancer

A Faith spellcaster Build that only uses Fire Magic to burn enemies to a crisp.

Lastly, we discuss the Pyromancer build, arguably one of the most exhilarating playstyles in the game. Renowned for its sheer power and enjoyment, this build revolves around harnessing the might of Fire Giant incantations. However, due to the late acquisition of these spells, the Pyromancer build is tailored for Journey 2 gameplay, requiring a significant investment across one playthrough to amass all necessary components.

The core setup entails wielding the Erdtree Seal in one hand and the Giant’s Seal in the other, capitalizing on a substantial faith attribute. While staples like Golden Vow and Flame, Give Me Strength enhance your arsenal, it’s the devastating fire spells like Burn, O Flame, Flame of the Fell God, Flame, Fall Upon Them, and Giantsflame Take Thee that steal the spotlight, unleashing catastrophic damage upon foes. As you progress through your new game plus journey, acquiring a second Giant Seal further amplifies your fiery onslaught, culminating in a relentless barrage of flames that incinerate everything in your path. Truly, few experiences rival the sheer exhilaration of wielding such immense power.

That concludes my guide on the top 15 faith builds for Elden Ring. While I’ve showcased my personal builds, keep in mind that your own versions may differ slightly based on talismans and stat allocations. However, the core concepts should remain consistent. If you enjoyed this guide and want to see more showcases of different build types we’ve created, please let me know in the comments. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on recent Elden Ring videos, with many of you expressing enjoyment in exploring various builds. If you think I missed any particularly powerful builds, or have suggestions for future guides, feel free to share your thoughts below.

About the Author

Castielle

Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.

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