Finding the right Talismans in Elden Ring can be a pain. You’ll discover a few while you explore, but what if you want to get your build rolling first? Worse yet, what if you miss a useful talisman completely?
Just remember, everyone’s build is different. As a result, some talismans will fit you better than others on this list. The talismans here create a strong and early baseline for any build to start with. They are all found before entering the capital to make sure you can still explore and build your tarnished however you please.
With all of that in mind, we’ve made a list of the best Talismans you should find.
Looking for the best early weapons in Elden Ring? Take a look at our list to help you get started.
1. Radagon’s Scarseal/Soreseal
Effect:
- Radagon’s Soreseal: Adds 5 points to Dexterity, Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. Increases damage from all sources by 15%.
- Radagon’s Scarseal: Adds 3 points to Dexterity, Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. Increases damage taken by 10%
Location:
- Radagon’s Soreseal: Fort Faroth just South of the Dragonfork Site of Grace.
- Radagon’s Scarseal: Weeping Evergaol near the Fourth Church of Marika Site of Grace.
These two talismans are the epitome of “easy to find, extremely useful early, consider replacing them later.” You’ll want to find the scarseal first and then get the soreseal when you get to Caelid.
The soreseal practically adds 20 levels to your character. Since the soreseal adds health and damage reduction, you’ll ultimately take about 13% more damage instead of 15%. This can be reduced a little bit more with armor, but ultimately, you will still be taking more damage with it equipped.
These seals are great early on because each point adds a truck load of benefits to your character. However, when your stats reach their softcaps around 40 or 60 (a point where you’re getting diminished returns) that’s when these seals do more harm than good. If you’re interested in the exact numbers, Flamebane on reddit did some extensive testing that you can read here.
2. Marika’s Scarseal
Effect: Adds 3 points to Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. Increases damage from all sources by 10%.
Location: On a corpse at the base of the highest waterfall just past a Dragonkin Soldier near the Worshippers’ Woods Site of Grace.
Marika’s Scarseal is here because it has the same concept as Radagon’s seals – free levels at the cost of more damage taken – but Marika’s focuses more on helping mages and doesn’t offer as many defensive boons. This means Marika’s Scarseal is perfect for casters that plan to stay far away from their targets and reap the benefits of all their increased stats.
Once you reach Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, you’ll have access to Marika’s Soreseal which adds five to each stat instead of three, and you’ll take 15% more damage instead of 10%. At that point in the game, you’ll most likely be hitting the soft-caps on your skills, so definitely keep an eye out for other talismans that may serve your specific build better. But if you’re looking for a good general boost to your magical power, then Marika’s Soreseal is the perfect fit.
3. Claw Talisman
Effect: Increases Jump Attack damage by 15%.
Location: Stormveil Castle near the Rampart Tower Site of Grace
Jump attacks in Elden Ring are extremely powerful. They deal a similar amount of damage as a fully-charged heavy attack, are faster to pull off, and you’re dodging attacks while doing a heavy attack. Equipping the Claw Talisman leads to faster staggers and easier one-shots on smaller enemies when you’re power-stancing (equipping weapons of the same type in each hand). If you’re also power-stancing colossal weapons or greatswords then you’re getting even more stance damage from an already powerful attack.
Getting the Claw Talisman is a bit of an adventure. It’s found near the Rampart Tower Site of Grace. Just head out the front door and hop onto a nearby rooftop with a destroyed pillar. Get on top of that pillar, and follow the wall around the tower until you reach an opening. Hop into the opening, kill the enemies there, climb the ladder, and the Claw Talisman awaits.
4. Arsenal Charm
Effect:
- Arsenal Charm: Raises Equipment Load by 15%
- Arsenal Charm +1: Raises Equipment Load by 17%
- Great Jar’s Arsenal: Raises Equipment Load by 19%
Location:
- Arsenal Charm: Stormveil Castle, given to you by Nephali Loux.
- Arsenal Charm +1: Inside of the Atlus Tunnel, you can reach the tunnel from the Bower of Bounty Site of Grace.
- Great Jar’s Arsenal: From the Great Jar after defeating its three invaders near the Isoalted Merchant’s Shack (Dragonbarrow) site of grace.
Early in Elden Ring, more carry weight means either more armor, a better dodge, or more weapon options. While this may not affect pure mages, the arsenal charm opens up a new world of options for people hoping to use heavier gear.
Be warned, if you killed any other Shardbearer that isn’t Godrick the Grafted, then there is a chance you’ve missed this talisman. Nephali Loux starts in the Secluded Cell near Godrick the Grafted’s boss room. Talk to her enough times and she’ll offer her summon sign. Then when you beat Godrick she’ll move to the Roundtable Hold where she’ll give you the charm after talking with her.
Later in the game, you’ll find stronger versions of this charm (Arsenal Charm+1 and Great Jar’s Arsenal) so if you want to continue using this charm then those are decent options. But more likely, you’ll have enough endurance by then to free up this talisman slot and use the equipment you want.
5. Assassin’s Crimson/Cerulean Dagger
Effect:
- Assassin’s Crimson Dagger: Critical hits restore 10%(+85) of Max HP.
- Assassin’s Cerulean Dagger: Critical hits restore 15 FP.
Location:
If you plan on breaking poise, parrying, or backstabbing enemies, then these are two early talismans that will give you more recovery options. The Cerulean Dagger is especially useful with magical parries like Golden Parry or Ashes of War that breaks poise quickly like the Lion’s Claw since those skills will require anywhere between four to eight FP and a critical hit restores 15FP. The Crimson Dagger is useful if you’re constantly trading blows or parrying since you’ll usually take small amounts of chip damage from blocking or stray hits.
Getting both of these daggers is a pretty simple affair. Just go through their respective catacombs and find the Black Knife Assassins in their boss rooms. Once you defeat them, you’ll get their Dagger Talismans.
Need more Elden Ring? Here’s our list for the Best Optional Bosses and our guide to Parry like a Pro.
