Pure Faith Build Guide For Elden Ring PvE, PvP, And Invasions

Hey guys! I'm super stoked to dive into the world of pure faith builds in gaming, and I'm looking for some guidance from you experienced players out there. This is my first time really focusing on faith, and I'm eager to create a character that can shine in PvE, PvP, and even those thrilling invasions. I want to craft a character that's not only effective but also fun to play, with a focus on the versatility that faith builds can offer. Think lightning bolts, holy buffs, and maybe even some fiery incantations! I'm open to all sorts of suggestions, from stat distributions and weapon choices to the best talismans and incantations to use. I'm particularly interested in hearing about your experiences with different faith-based playstyles and how they perform in various situations. What are the strengths and weaknesses of a pure faith build, and how can I best overcome the challenges I might face? So, let's talk faith! What are your must-have incantations for PvE? Which weapons scale exceptionally well with faith? How can I optimize my build for PvP duels and invasions? Any tips, tricks, or general advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Let's build the ultimate faith-based warrior together!

Understanding the Core of a Pure Faith Build

Alright, let's break down the essence of a pure faith build. When we talk about pure faith, we're essentially committing to making faith our primary, if not sole, source of offensive and defensive power. This means investing heavily in the faith stat, which directly impacts the potency of our incantations – our spells, miracles, and sacred arts. The beauty of a faith build lies in its incredible versatility. We're not just talking about dealing damage; we're talking about healing allies, buffing ourselves and our teammates, debuffing enemies, and even controlling the battlefield with various AoE (area of effect) spells. Think of yourself as a holy warrior, a divine spellcaster, a beacon of light (or lightning!) in the darkness. But, with great power comes great…stat investment! Because we're dedicating so many points to faith, we need to be smart about how we allocate our remaining stats. Vigor (for health), Mind (for FP, our mana), and Endurance (for stamina and equip load) are crucial for survival and maintaining our spellcasting capabilities. We also need to consider the minimum stat requirements for our chosen weapons. Many powerful faith-scaling weapons require some Strength or Dexterity, so we'll need to factor that in. Now, let's dive deeper into the specifics. What kind of playstyle are you envisioning? Do you want to be a ranged caster, slinging lightning bolts from afar? Or a melee fighter, wielding a sacred blade and buffing yourself with holy magic? Or perhaps a hybrid, balancing both spellcasting and melee combat? Your preferred playstyle will significantly influence your stat distribution and equipment choices. Don't forget about the importance of talismans and seals! These items are essential for boosting our incantation power and can even provide additional effects, like increased cast speed or resistance to certain types of damage. Choosing the right talismans and seals can make a huge difference in our overall effectiveness. So, what are your initial thoughts? What kind of faith-based playstyle appeals to you the most? Let's discuss the possibilities and start shaping your build!

Incantations: The Bread and Butter of Your Faith Build

Now, let's talk incantations, the lifeblood of any faith build. This is where the fun really begins! Incantations are incredibly diverse, offering a wide range of offensive, defensive, and utility spells. Choosing the right incantations is crucial for success in PvE, PvP, and invasions, so let's explore some of the must-haves and how they can be used effectively. First, let's consider offensive incantations. These are your bread and butter for dealing damage. Lightning Spear is a classic choice, offering a good balance of damage, range, and casting speed. It's effective against a wide variety of enemies and can be a reliable source of damage in both PvE and PvP. For a more powerful option, consider Lightning Strike. This incantation calls down multiple lightning bolts, dealing massive damage in an area. It's fantastic for clearing groups of enemies in PvE and can be devastating in PvP if you can catch your opponent off guard. However, it has a longer cast time, so it's important to use it strategically. If you're facing enemies resistant to lightning, consider exploring other elemental incantations. Fire incantations, like Flame Sling and Giantsflame Take Thee, are excellent choices for dealing fire damage. Black Flame and Scouring Black Flame are particularly effective against bosses with large health pools, as they deal a percentage-based damage. For those who prefer a more aggressive playstyle, consider Bestial incantations. These incantations, like Bestial Sling and Stone of Gurranq, offer a unique blend of ranged and melee attacks. They're excellent for staggering enemies and can be surprisingly effective in PvP. But incantations aren't just about dealing damage. Defensive and utility incantations are equally important for a well-rounded faith build. Healing incantations, like Heal and Great Heal, are essential for survivability in PvE and can be a lifesaver in co-op. Buff incantations, like Golden Vow and Blessing's Boon, can significantly increase your damage output and defense. They're invaluable for both PvE and PvP. Don't forget about utility incantations! Flame, Grant Me Strength increases physical and fire damage, while Electrify Armament imbues your weapon with lightning damage. These incantations can further enhance your offensive capabilities. Finally, consider crowd control incantations. Wrath of Gold can knock back enemies and deal significant damage, while Black Flame Protection increases your fire resistance. These incantations can provide crucial breathing room in tough situations. So, what are your favorite incantations? What combinations have you found to be particularly effective? Let's discuss the nuances of incantation selection and how to build a diverse and powerful spellbook.

Weapon Choices: Faith Scaling and Synergies

Let's dive into weapon choices for your pure faith build. Selecting the right weapon is crucial for complementing your incantations and playstyle. The key here is to look for weapons that either scale well with faith or have unique abilities that synergize with your faith-based spells. There are several fantastic options available, ranging from swords and hammers to seals that double as offensive tools. One of the most popular choices for faith builds is the Sacred Relic Sword. This greatsword scales incredibly well with faith and has a unique weapon skill, Wave of Gold, that unleashes a powerful AoE attack. It's excellent for clearing groups of enemies and can be surprisingly effective in PvP. Another strong contender is the Blasphemous Blade. This colossal sword also scales with faith and has a unique weapon skill, Taker's Flames, that deals fire damage and heals you with each hit. It's a fantastic choice for aggressive players who want to sustain themselves in combat. If you prefer a faster weapon, consider the Winged Scythe. This reaper scales with faith and dexterity and has a unique weapon skill, Angel's Wings, that deals holy damage and provides temporary invincibility. It's a stylish and effective option for both PvE and PvP. For those who prefer a more unconventional approach, consider using seals as weapons. The Frenzied Flame Seal and the Godslayer's Seal both deal significant damage with their weapon skills and can be a fun and unique way to play. In addition to these specific weapons, there are several other options that can work well with a faith build. Weapons with innate holy damage, such as the Treespear and the Coded Sword, can be powerful choices. You can also infuse weapons with holy damage using Sacred Ashes of War. This allows you to adapt your weapon choices to different situations and enemy weaknesses. When choosing a weapon, it's important to consider your playstyle and stat distribution. If you're focusing on melee combat, you'll want a weapon with good damage output and a moveset that you're comfortable with. If you're primarily a caster, you might prefer a lighter weapon that allows you to cast spells more quickly. It's also important to consider the stat requirements of your chosen weapon. Make sure you have enough Strength and Dexterity to wield it effectively. Don't forget about weapon upgrades! Upgrading your weapon is crucial for increasing its damage output. Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones can be used to upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith. So, what weapons are you considering for your faith build? What are your priorities in terms of damage, speed, and weapon skills? Let's discuss the pros and cons of different weapon choices and how they fit into your overall build.

Talismans and Armor: Optimizing Your Faith Build

Now, let's talk about talismans and armor – the finishing touches that can truly optimize your pure faith build for PvE, PvP, and invasions. These items provide crucial passive bonuses and can significantly enhance your survivability, damage output, and spellcasting capabilities. Choosing the right talismans and armor is essential for maximizing your effectiveness in various situations. First, let's consider talismans. These trinkets provide a wide range of passive effects, from increasing your spellcasting speed to boosting your resistances. For a faith build, there are several must-have talismans that can significantly improve your performance. The Radagon Icon is a fantastic choice for any caster, as it shortens the casting time of your spells. This allows you to cast incantations more quickly, making you more agile and responsive in combat. Another essential talisman is the Erdtree's Favor. This talisman increases your maximum HP, stamina, and equip load, providing a significant boost to your survivability and allowing you to wear heavier armor without sacrificing mobility. For increasing your damage output, consider the Sacred Scorpion Charm. This talisman boosts your holy damage, making your faith-based incantations and weapons even more potent. However, it also reduces your physical damage negation, so it's important to weigh the pros and cons. If you're focusing on specific types of incantations, there are talismans that can further enhance their effectiveness. The Flock's Canvas Talisman increases the potency of all incantations, while the Godfrey Icon boosts the damage of charged spells and skills. These talismans can be particularly useful for specific playstyles. Now, let's move on to armor. Armor provides crucial protection against enemy attacks, but it also affects your equip load and mobility. For a faith build, it's important to strike a balance between protection and mobility. You don't want to be so heavily armored that you can't roll or cast spells effectively. Light to medium armor is generally the best choice for a faith build. This allows you to maintain good mobility while still providing decent protection. Look for armor sets that offer good physical and magical defense, as well as resistances to various status effects. The Mausoleum Knight Set is a popular choice for faith builds, as it offers a good balance of protection and mobility. The Cleanrot Set is another excellent option, providing high resistance to poison and scarlet rot. If you're focusing on a specific type of incantation, there are armor pieces that can further enhance their effectiveness. The Fire Monk Set boosts fire damage, while the Spellblade Set increases the damage of sorceries and incantations. These armor pieces can be particularly useful for hybrid builds that combine faith with other spellcasting disciplines. Don't forget about fashion! While stats are important, it's also fun to create a character that looks cool. Experiment with different armor combinations to find a look that you love. So, what talismans and armor are you considering for your faith build? What are your priorities in terms of survivability, damage output, and mobility? Let's discuss the nuances of equipment selection and how to create a well-rounded and effective character.

PvE, PvP, and Invasions: Adapting Your Faith Build

Finally, let's talk about adapting your pure faith build for different situations: PvE, PvP, and invasions. Each of these scenarios presents unique challenges and opportunities, and it's important to tailor your build and playstyle accordingly. In PvE, your primary focus will be on dealing consistent damage and surviving encounters with various enemies and bosses. A well-rounded faith build can excel in PvE, offering a mix of offensive spells, healing incantations, and buffs. For PvE, it's important to have a diverse spellbook that can handle different situations. Lightning Spear is a reliable choice for dealing damage at range, while Lightning Strike can clear groups of enemies. Fire incantations, like Giantsflame Take Thee, are effective against bosses with large health pools. Healing incantations, like Heal and Great Heal, are essential for survivability. Buff incantations, like Golden Vow and Blessing's Boon, can significantly increase your damage output and defense. When facing bosses, it's important to learn their attack patterns and exploit their weaknesses. Faith builds can be particularly effective against bosses that are weak to holy or fire damage. Don't be afraid to experiment with different incantations and strategies to find what works best. In PvP, your focus will be on outmaneuvering and outplaying your opponents. PvP combat is much more dynamic than PvE, and you'll need to be able to react quickly to changing situations. For PvP, it's important to have a mix of offensive and defensive options. Lightning Spear is still a good choice for dealing damage at range, but you'll also need faster spells for close-quarters combat. Black Flame Blade can be a powerful tool for dealing burst damage, while Wrath of Gold can knock back opponents and create space. Healing incantations can be useful in PvP, but they're difficult to cast in the middle of a fight. It's often better to focus on avoiding damage and using buffs to enhance your offensive capabilities. Invasions present a unique set of challenges and opportunities. When invading, you'll be facing one or more players who are likely working together. This means you'll need to be strategic and adaptable. For invasions, it's important to have a build that can deal with multiple opponents. AoE spells, like Lightning Strike and Wrath of Gold, can be particularly effective in this situation. Stealth and deception can also be powerful tools in invasions. Use the environment to your advantage and try to catch your opponents off guard. Healing incantations can be even more valuable in invasions, as they allow you to sustain yourself while fighting multiple opponents. However, be aware that healing can also make you a target. Ultimately, the best way to adapt your faith build for different situations is to experiment and learn from your experiences. Pay attention to what works and what doesn't, and don't be afraid to try new things. With practice and experimentation, you can create a faith build that excels in PvE, PvP, and invasions. So, what are your thoughts on adapting your faith build for different situations? What strategies have you found to be most effective? Let's discuss the nuances of combat and how to master the art of faith-based warfare!