The BEST Elden Ring Black Flame Build [200+ Hours Experience]

As the name implies, an Elden Ring Black Flame Build involves a type of character that incorporates Black Flame spells into their fighting style. As you may know, these fall into the category of Godslayer Incantations, which effectively makes this playstyle a type of Faith build as well.

However, before I get into the details, I want to show you a summarized look at my Black Flame Build:

Black Flame Build Overview

For a Faith-focused build, choosing a starting class with high Faith is crucial. Among the available classes, the Confessor and the Prophet stand out with 14 and 16 Faith, respectively. These classes also start with a Sacred Seal, the catalyst for casting Incantations.

The Confessor and the Prophet are excellent choices for an early-game Faith build. While they start with the Finger Seal, the weakest Seal in the game, it’s the only option until you defeat Margit, the Fell Omen, and reach Roundtable Hold. Here, you can upgrade this seal, enhancing your Faith-based abilities.

Black Flame Build Gear

I will now recommend weapons, incantations, sacred seals, armor sets, and talismans for this build. Keep in mind that these suggestions are based on my experiences and preferences. You can choose items that suit your playstyle best.

The Black Flame build focuses not only on offensive spell casting but also on character buffs that enhance weapon attacks. Let’s start with weapons.

Weapons

For the Black Flame Build, there are two types of weapons that work well:

1. Buffable Weapons: Enhance with spells like Black Flame Blade; may need points in Dexterity and Strength.
2. Faith Scaling Weapons: Scale with Faith, powerful with unique skills; can’t be enchanted with magical effects.

While you don’t have to use faith-scaling weapons exclusively, some are exceptionally powerful. I will highlight a few choices and where to find them in the game.

Bloodhound’s Fang

The Bloodhound’s Fang is an excellent Curved Greatsword in Elden Ring. It’s a versatile weapon that can serve you well throughout your playthrough, especially if you keep upgrading it. However, it requires 18 points in Dexterity and 17 points in Strength to wield effectively.

Starting with D in Strength scaling and C in Dexterity scaling, it improves to C and B, respectively, at +7. You’ll need to invest significantly in one of these stats to maximize its potential.

What makes it worth the investment is its uniqueness among weapons in the Elden Ring. It can be buffed with magic and grease, and it also inflicts the Bleed Buildup property, making it excellent for a blood build. This allows you to cause the Hemorrhage status effect and significantly damage your enemies.

You can obtain this weapon early in the Limgrave region by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlon Hound Evergaol as he drops this greatsword.

Godskin Peeler

For Twinblade enthusiasts, the Godskin Peeler is a top choice and arguably one of the best weapons in its category. To wield it effectively, you’ll need 17 Strength and 22 Dexterity. Initially, it has a C in Dexterity scaling, but this improves to a B at the +25 upgrade level. If you change its affinity to Keen, it starts with C rank Dexterity scaling, which then improves to an A at +20.

The Godskin Peeler features a fast moveset and pairs exceptionally well with the Black Flame Blade Incantation, which is great for this build. It also boasts a unique skill called ‘Black Flame Tornado,’ allowing your character to spin the weapon overhead and slam it into the ground, creating an area-of-effect vortex. This not only launches foes into the air but also inflicts damage over time.

To obtain this weapon, you must first locate the two halves of the Dectus Medallion and reach the Altus Plateau. From there, head to the Windmill Village in the northern part of the region and defeat a Godskin Apostle mini-boss. Your reward for defeating this foe is the Godskin Peeler.

Godslayer’s Greatsword

The Godslayer’s Greatsword is a massive, high-damage weapon with a slow moveset and high stat requirements. To wield it effectively, you need 20 Strength, 20 Faith, and 22 Dexterity. It mainly scales with Dexterity (B rank at +10).

It features the exclusive ‘The Queen’s Black Flame’ skill, a three-move combo dealing Black Flame damage and inflicting damage over time. You can find it in the Divine Tower of Caelid, behind the room where you battle a Godskin Apostle mini-boss. It’s technically obtainable early but challenging.

Winged Scythe

The Winged Scythe is a weapon with extended reach, ideal for players who prefer longer-range combat. To wield it effectively, you’ll need 16 points in both Strength and Dexterity, along with an additional 24 points in Faith. Initially, it has poor scaling with all three stats, but you can improve Faith and Dexterity scaling to C rank at +5 and +9, respectively.

This weapon also possesses the Bleed Buildup property, which is excellent. Additionally, it features the Angel’s Wings skill, allowing you to jump into the air and deliver two powerful slashes. This special attack is great for crowd control and prevents enemies hit by it from using recovery items, making it useful for disrupting opponents.

You can find the Winged Scythe early in the game by heading to the Weeping Peninsula in the southern part of the world map. While there, locate the Tombsward Ruins, and you’ll find the weapon inside a chest.

Coded Sword

If you want a weapon with minimal investment in stats like Strength and Dexterity, consider the Coded Sword. It only requires 20 Faith points to use and has good scaling (B at the start, A after +6).

The Coded Sword deals pure Holy damage, making it great for a Black Flame Build. It also has the ‘Unblockable Blade’ skill, which damages even blocking enemies.

To find it, explore Fortified Manor in Leyndell, the Royal Capital area. I won’t reveal the exact location to keep the surprise intact.

Blasphemous Blade

The Blasphemous Blade excels in a Greatsword build. You need 22 Strength, 15 Dexterity, and 21 Faith to wield it. It scales best with Faith (D to B).

It can’t be buffed, have Ashes of War applied, or change its affinity. The ‘Taker’s Flames’ skill is potent, creating a damaging wave of flames with good range.

To obtain it, progress to Volcano Manor, defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, and exchange his remembrance for the Blasphemous Blade at the roundtable.

Black Flame Build Sacred Seals

To optimize your Black Flame Build, choose the right Sacred Seals:

1. Godslayer’s Seal: Boosts Godslayer Incantations and scales well with Faith (S rank at +14).
2. Erdtree Seal: A versatile Sacred Seal that doesn’t favor specific Incantations but excels overall, reaching S rank with Faith at +5.
3. Giant’s Seal: Focuses on Fire Giant and Fire Monk Incantations but works well with all types. It achieves S rank Faith scaling at +15.

These three seals are ideal for this build. You can swap them based on your preferred spell types.

Black Flame Incantations

Now I finally get to talk about some of the best Incantations you’ll use in this Black Flame Build and how they work in combat.

There are a lot of other Incantations in the game that you can mix and match to utilize with this Build, but the ones we’ll discuss below specifically relate to the use of Black Flame. All of these require varying amounts of Faith to work, with the lowest required value being 15 and the absolute highest being 42.

Black Flame Blade

This Incantation buffs your right-hand weapon with Black Flame, boosting damage and causing enemies hit to lose health over a few seconds.

It costs 15 FP, which is affordable with a large FP pool, and has a quick casting time. However, it only lasts about six seconds, requiring frequent recasting, which may deplete your resources. Effective when used skillfully.

Black Flame

The Black Flame is a variant of the standard fireball, differing mainly in color. It leaves a lingering damage-over-time effect on the target, a signature of this Incantation class.

Costs 15 FP, and charging it by holding the cast button increases the projectile’s size and damage. Charging also makes the spell explode on impact, expanding its area of effect.

Scouring Black Flame

The Scouring Black Flame Incantation differs from the regular Black Flame. It creates a wide-spread blanket of flames, ideal for crowd control, although it doesn’t deal high damage to each target.

Costs 27 FP, and charging it extends the flames’ range. However, its casting time is somewhat slow and not suitable for hectic fights. Use it from a distance and be aware of its range.

Black Flame’s Protection

Black Flame’s Protection suits a melee playstyle. It boosts physical damage defense by roughly 35% at a cost of 30 FP.

The effect lasts for 70 seconds, but your Flask of Crimson Tears heals 20% less health during this time. Despite this drawback, it’s beneficial for a Black Flame Build.

Noble Presence

If you ever find yourself surrounded by enemies, then the Noble Presence Incantation can help you get out of that bind. It’s essentially a shockwave that deals damage to enemies in a 360-degree radius around you. It also has the added benefit of knocking foes back.

And if you charge the spell, not only does it deal more damage, but it also launches your enemies up into the air. Now, this Incantation is really powerful, but the tradeoff is that you have to get really close to your enemies for it to have any effect and it costs 20 FP per use.

Black Flame Ritual

At 42 required Faith, this Incantation has the single highest perquisites for any spell on this list. But at 24 FP per cast, the focus it consumes is not nearly the highest.

Its function is that it conjures up a circle of Black Flame pillars around the caster, which damages anyone who happens to walk into them. Of course, the casters themselves are immune to this damage. And if you take a moment to charge the spell, the size of the circle increases.

Armor

Your armor choice in a Black Flame Build depends on your playstyle. Consider your preferences:

• If you’re skilled at dodging, opt for lightweight armor to enable fast rolling.
• If you tend to take hits, consider heavy plate armor and shields for durability.

Ultimately, choose what suits your playstyle best. Here are some sets to consider:

(Note: Please provide the sets you’d like me to elaborate on, and I’ll provide details for those specific sets.)

Raging Wolf Set

Consider the Raging Wolf Set if you prefer dodging over blocking. It’s a medium armor with decent physical damage reduction but lacks specialization. It’s versatile for both long-range Incantations and melee combat.

However, be cautious against Lightning damage. Overall, it’s a stylish and practical choice for your Black Flame Build.

Haligtree Knight Set

Consider the Haligtree Knight Set for a medium armor option with decent damage reduction. It’s slightly heavier than the Raging Wolf set but provides better damage reduction in both physical and magical aspects.

The standout feature is the Helmet, offering a +2 Faith stat boost. While not substantial on its own, it complements secondary stats like Strength and Dexterity, especially if you’re using Faith-boosting Talismans. This set can be a valuable addition to your Black Flame Build.

Crucible Tree Set

If you tend to take hits and prefer not to rely on dodging, consider the Crucible Tree Set. It’s a heavy armor with high physical damage reduction and decent magical defense.

What sets it apart is the full set bonus, granting a flat 15% increase in your damage output. This boost is particularly valuable for melee players and can enhance your Black Flame Build significantly. Plus, it’s visually impressive!

Talismans

In Elden Ring, Talismans are unique items that can be equipped to give your character a number of different bonuses. These range all the way from simple increases to your HP, FP, and Stamina, all the way to more radical effects like massively increased stats.

There are quite a number of these Talismans in the game, so we’re here to show you some of the best talismans for a Black Flame Build.

Flock’s Canvas Talisman

For spellcasters, enhancing the power of your spells is crucial. Flock’s Canvas Talisman is a must-have item as it boosts all your Incantations by 8%. This boost is valuable on its own and can stack with other Talismans like the Faithful’s Canvas, making it essential for a Black Flame Build, especially if you focus on magic over melee.

Radagon Icon

Different spells in Elden Ring have different casting times, and some of the absolute best ones in the game have fairly long casting animations. So to speed up that entire process of casting, I recommend having the Radagon Icon equipped on your character.

This is a simple Talisman, but it acts to exclusively decrease the time it takes you to cast a spell. And as a result, you can use Incantations more regularly, and stack them on top of one another in a short period of time. This is great not only for this build but for most Arcane and Intelligence Builds as well.

Marika’s Soreseal

In the mid to end-game, leveling up becomes costly. Marika’s Soreseal is a valuable item that grants +5 points to Faith, Mind, Intelligence, and Arcane stats, equivalent to 20 levels’ worth of stats from one item. The tradeoff is a reasonable +15% damage from all sources, making it a practical choice for attribute boosts in your Black Flame Build.

Black Flame Build Playstyle

I’ve emphasized it multiple times in this article: Black Flames possess a unique property, dealing damage over time after the initial hit. Both Incantations and Ashes of War utilize these flames. So, a key strategy for this build is to let the damage over time wear down your foes after you’ve attacked. When using spells or melee strikes, allow them time to take full effect. You might save FP and avoid risking proximity to enemies since the Black Flames can finish them off on their own.

Some players may not find this approach particularly satisfying, but it’s a necessary aspect of the Black Flame Build. Elden Ring bosses are more formidable than ever, and casters should make the most of any advantage available to them.

My Experience With The Blackflame Build

Certain faith builds have incentivized me to keep replaying Elden Ring further, even after a year of experience on my WaterJuice Steam account. The Blackflame build has some of the most visually appealing effects and is a build that isn’t weak, either.

I was shocked at how easily I could get through the title, even nearing the end, without making it overly easy or uninteresting, as the build itself was quite unique in all aspects. The weapons are very fun to wield, and the matching armor sets have impressive designs.

That concludes my Black Flame Build Guide. While you’re here, consider exploring other Elden Ring builds as well.

• Pyromancy Build
• Rivers of Blood Build
• Dex Build
• Arcane Build
• Sword of Night And Flame Build
• Astrologer Build
• Deathblight Build
• Moonveil Katana Build