As a Tarnished who's spent countless hours exploring the Lands Between since the game's release, I've come to appreciate the incredible diversity of Erdtree Incantations. These spells, rooted in the ancient power of the Erdtree itself, offer everything from life-saving heals to earth-shattering attacks. Honestly, I remember when I first started playing—I was overwhelmed by all the options! But after multiple playthroughs and keeping up with the latest community discoveries through 2026, I've developed some strong opinions about which incantations truly shine. Let me walk you through my personal top 10 list, based on both raw power and how much fun they are to use. You know what they say—sometimes it's not just about the damage numbers, but how the spell feels when you cast it.
10. Blessing's Boon
Faith Requirement: 24 | FP Cost: 30
Let's start with Blessing's Boon, what I like to call the "reliable middle child" of healing incantations. It's not as efficient as Bestial Vitality for solo play, and it doesn't have the massive burst healing of Blessing of the Erdtree, but man, does it find its niche! The medium HP regeneration affects both you and your allies, making it perfect for co-op sessions.
What really makes it stand out for me is the accessibility. You can buy it straight from Miriel, Pastor of Vows in Liurnia early in the game. No crazy boss fights required! I always grab this when I'm running a faith build that focuses on supporting my friends. It's like having a constant health potion ticking in the background—nothing flashy, but incredibly dependable.
9. Aspect of the Crucible: Horns
Faith Requirement: 27 | FP Cost: 30
Now THIS is where things get fun! Aspect of the Crucible: Horns might not be the most practical spell for every situation, but it's easily one of the most entertaining incantations in the entire game. There's something incredibly satisfying about summoning a massive horn from your shoulder and charging across the battlefield like a raging bull.
Yes, the windup is long. Yes, it puts you right in melee range. But launching smaller enemies into the air never gets old! I've had moments where I'd use this just for the sheer spectacle, especially when buffed with the Crucible Knight armor sets or the Godfrey Icon Talisman. Finding it requires some parkour—you need to drop from Stormveil Castle's walls near Rampart Tower—but the journey is worth it for the pure fun factor.
8. Wrath of Gold
Faith Requirement: 32 | FP Cost: 40
Wrath of Gold is what I call my "panic button" incantation. When enemies get too close for comfort, this holy burst sends them flying! The uncharged version is exceptionally fast, perfect for interrupting boss attacks or catching PvP opponents off guard. If you have time to charge it, you trade some speed for increased damage and range.
The pure Holy damage does get resisted by many late-game enemies, which hurts its viability in certain situations. But against Undead enemies? Absolute devastation. Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about knocking enemies onto their backs. You can find it in a chest beneath the Woodfolk Ruins in Altus Plateau—a location that's easy to miss if you're not exploring thoroughly.
7. Aspect of the Crucible: Tail
Faith Requirement: 27 | FP Cost: 20
Easily the strongest of the Crucible Aspects available today, the Tail variant has become a staple in my faith builds. This thing is incredible for breaking enemy stances from a safe distance, and it absolutely wrecks NPC invaders who seem incapable of dodging it properly. I've used this to repeatedly knock down invaders who should have been way stronger than my character.
The best part? You can get it relatively early by defeating the Crucible Knight in Stormhill Evergaol. Fair warning though—that fight is no joke for low-level characters. I still remember my first attempt... let's just say I learned the meaning of "pain" that day. But once you get past that hurdle, this incantation pays dividends throughout your entire playthrough.
6. Erdtree Heal
Faith Requirement: 42 | FP Cost: 65
When you need healing and you need it NOW, Erdtree Heal is your answer. The amount of HP this thing restores is absolutely absurd—it can take your entire team from near-death to full health in one cast. The Faith and Mind requirements are steep, and you won't be able to use it until much later in the game, but when you finally get it... wow.
You can only access Erdtree Heal in the endgame, after covering Leyndell in ash by defeating Maliketh. It replaces Blessing of the Erdtree in the Queen's Bedchambers. Is it overkill for regular exploration? Probably. But for boss fights and difficult areas, having this in your back pocket can be the difference between victory and another "YOU DIED" screen.
5. Blessing of the Erdtree
Faith Requirement: 38 | FP Cost: 60
If Erdtree Heal is the emergency room, Blessing of the Erdtree is the preventative care. This is Elden Ring's premier healing-over-time spell, and it makes you feel nearly invincible while it's active. The regeneration is so strong that you can basically ignore smaller attacks and focus on dealing damage.
The requirements are high, but you can access it as soon as you reach Leyndell—it's in the Queen's Bedchambers. Just remember that it gets replaced by Erdtree Heal after the Maliketh fight, so make sure to grab it before then! I always make a beeline for this when I'm doing faith builds because it fundamentally changes how you approach combat encounters.
4. Golden Lightning Fortification
Faith Requirement: 24 | FP Cost: 30
Let's talk about specialization. Golden Lightning Fortification reduces incoming Lightning damage by a whopping 60% in PvE (20% in PvP). When you're facing bosses like Dragonlord Placidusax or Lichdragon Fortissax, this incantation turns what would be a terrifying fight into a manageable challenge.
The only downside is that you get it very late in the game, at Crumbling Farum Azula. But honestly, that's where you need it most! The area is filled with dragons and other enemies that deal massive lightning damage. Finding it requires hunting down a Teardrop Scarab, but trust me—it's worth the effort when you're not getting one-shot by lightning bolts.
3. Barrier of Gold
Faith Requirement: 24 | FP Cost: 30
Are you tired of sorcerers turning you into a pincushion? Barrier of Gold has your back. This incantation reduces Magic damage by 60% in PvE, making bosses like Rennala significantly easier. In PvP, the effectiveness drops to 20%, but that's still enough to prevent getting instantly deleted by a well-aimed spell.
My only complaint is that it appears too late to help with your first trip through Raya Lucaria unless you take a very specific route through the Lands Between. You need to find an invisible Teardrop Scarab in Leyndell, Royal Capital, near where you fight Godfrey's Golden Shade. Once you have it though, magic users become much less scary.
2. Black Blade
Faith Requirement: 46 | FP Cost: 26
Now we're getting into the heavy hitters. Black Blade is an endgame powerhouse that you can only get by trading the Remembrance of the Black Blade with Enia after defeating Maliketh. And let me tell you—it's worth the wait. This incantation is specifically designed to shred bosses with massive health bars.
What makes it so special? Two things: it temporarily reduces the enemy's maximum HP, AND it deals damage based on that maximum HP. If you can hit with both the blade and the projectile, the damage basically doubles. It looks incredibly cool too—summoning that massive black blade never fails to give me chills. This is my go-to boss killer when I'm running a faith build in New Game Plus cycles.
1. Golden Vow
Faith Requirement: 25 | FP Cost: 47
And here we are—the number one spot goes to Golden Vow, and honestly, was there ever any doubt? This incantation is the complete package: 15% damage increase (7.5% in PvP) AND 10% damage negation (5% in PvP) in a single spell. What's remarkable is that it's classified as an aura buff, meaning it stacks with most other buffs in the game.
I've lost count of how many builds I've incorporated Golden Vow into. Whether I'm running a pure strength build with just enough faith to cast it, or a dedicated faith caster, this spell always finds a way into my rotation. You can get it at the Corpse-Stench Shack in Mount Gelmir when Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater invades you. The versatility, the power, the accessibility—Golden Vow simply has no equal in the world of Erdtree Incantations.
Looking back at this list in 2026, I'm still amazed by how much depth Elden Ring's magic system has. Each of these incantations offers something unique, whether it's raw power, utility, or just plain fun. The Erdtree incantations in particular feel like they capture the essence of the Lands Between—ancient, powerful, and deeply connected to the world itself.
What's your favorite? I know everyone has their personal preferences, but after all these years and playthroughs, these ten have proven themselves time and again in my journeys through the Lands Between. Maybe in another few years, with new discoveries and strategies, this list will change... but for now, these are the incantations that have earned their place in my memory as a Tarnished.