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Elden Ringfeatures numerous status effects that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Proccing bleed on an enemy removes a significant portion of their health, sleep renders an enemy vulnerable to attacks, and Scarlet Rot causes enemies to lose significant HP over time, among others. Most status effects are powerful and can trivialize boss fights. However, some, like Madness and Death Blight, have very niche uses and are effective primarily in PvP scenarios, and rarely in PvE.
WhileDeath Blightonly works against Tarnished enemies, Madness finds its purpose through its raw damage output rather than status build-up. Madness builds are generally avoided in PvE because most enemies are immune to the Madness effect. However, since Madness weapons and spells deal Fire damage, you can createa powerful Madness build inElden Ring.
Follow this guide to learn about the best weapons, spells, armor, and stats for a Madness build inElden Ring.
Best Weapons and Seals for Madness Build
Elden Ringhas many powerful weapons with potent status effects, but in the case of Madness, the options are quite limited. Players who want a melee Madness build can obtainVyke’s War Spearby defeating Festering Fingerprint Vyke on the way to the Church of Inhibition in northeast Liurnia. As a great spear, this weapon has an excellent moveset, perfect for chasing down enemies in PvP or performing safe thrust attacks in PvE. In addition to its innate Madness build-up, Vyke’s War Spear has a powerful Ash of War that ignites the ground with the Flames of Frenzy.
Along with Vyke’s War Spear, you can also use theFingerprint Stone Shield, one of the best shields inElden Ring. This shield also comes with Madness build-up and has an offensive Ash of War called Shield Bash. Even without considering the Madness build-up, Vyke’s War Spear combined with the Fingerprint Stone Shield creates a strong shield poke build that works well in all scenarios.
The Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC has added another melee option for fans of Madness - theMadding Hand. This fist weapon has a fast moveset that helps you build Madness rapidly on enemies vulnerable to it. Additionally, the Madding Hand gives a slight attack boost when Madness occurs nearby. While the weapon itself isn’t particularly impressive, it can be used to gain a little extra damage output.
In addition to Madness weapons, you’ll want to cast Frenzied Flame incantations, as they are the main stars of any Madness build. To ensure your incantations deal decent damage, the sacred seal you choose is crucial. Since all Madness incantations require Faith, theErdtree Sealis the best Sacred Seal for a Madness build. If you plan to focus solely on spells, it’s also recommended to use the Frenzied Flame Seal in your off-hand for an extra damage bonus to Madness incantations.
Best Frenzied Flame Incantations for Madness Builds
Frenzied Flameis one of the most powerful spell classes inElden Ring. Nearly all incantations belonging to Frenzied Flame are strong and effective. The only downside of using them is the Madness build-up on the caster. Here are the best Frenzied Flame incantations to include in a Madness build:
Two Frenzied Flame spells were not mentioned in the list -Inescapable Frenzyand Midra’s Flame of Frenzy. Inescapable Frenzy is a lethal spell but only works against Tarnished enemies at a very close range. Even in PvP fights, landing Inescapable Frenzy on a player is nearly impossible. However, you may use it against PvE Tarnished enemies to easily cheese them.
As forMidra’s Flame of Frenzy, it’s a DLC-exclusive spell available by exchanging theRemembrance of the Lord of Frenzied Flame. This spell requires two slots and has a higher Madness build-up compared to other Frenzied Flame incantations, and it is not a particularly powerful spell overall for its FP and spell slot cost. The Greatsword of Damnation is a much better choice than Midra’s Flame of Frenzy when exchanging the Rememberance of the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
Best Armor for Madness Build
When it comes to armor, most builds offer flexible options, allowing the wearer to choose their own fashion. However, Madness build enthusiasts need to be cautious when selecting an armor set, as you need high Focus to slow down Madness build-up. Here are some armor recommendations featuring high Focus stats:
Best Talismans for Madness Builds
There aremany strong talismansto use in a Madness build inElden Ring. Ideally, you want a mix of both offensive and defensive talismans to carry against mighty enemies. If you’re confident in your dodging skills, feel free to use only offensive talismans:
Best Class and Stats for Madness Build
Since all Frenzied Flame incantations require Faith, the Prophet starting class is the best choice for a Madness build inElden Ring. This class starts with 16 Faith, which allows you to use The Flame of Frenzy spell immediately. As for the stats, your primary focus should be on increasing Faith to meet the requirements for all other Frenzied Flame incantations. However, make sure to also level up Vigor and Mind along the way. Here’s a level 125 Madness build recommendation using the Erdtree Seal along with Vyke’s War Spear:
If you want to deal more damage with Vyke’s War Spear, invest points into Dexterity instead of Faith. For a spell-focused build, prioritize Faith, Mind, and Vigor.
Once you’ve completed your Madness build, you’ll need to decide on buffs for the build. Madness builds already have an excellent buff in Howl of Shabriri. you’re able to stack it with Golden Vow, Aged One’s Exultation, andBlack Dumplingheadgear. As for the Flask of Wondrous Physick, theFire Shrouding Cracked Tearis a must-have, and the second crystal tear can be either the Faith-Knot Crystal Tear, Speckled Hardtear, or Spiked Cracked Tear.
