An Ash of War can usually be one of two things: a weapon skill or a summonable ally. In Elden Ring, you can use them to fine-tune your combat style without consuming resources. Furthermore, they can be found everywhere.
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Buy Ashes of War From Knight Bernahl Near the Warmaster’s Shack
You’ll find the most Ashes of War for sale is in a wooded area just east of the main path to Stormveil Castle. There’s a T-junction of crossroads in this small patch of forest. At the south of this crossroads is the Warmaster’s Shack Site of Grace. Within, there is a lone and friendly Tarnished named Knight Bernahl. This fellow is a warrior and a merchant. If you speak to him, he’ll offer to sell you a variety of Ashes of War. Knight Bernahl initially has 10 Ashes of War for sale:
| Name | Useable Weapons | In-Game Description | Affinity Granted | Rune Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp (Upward Cut) | -Swords (except small or medium swords) -Axes -Hammers | Brace armament and step into a low stance that prevents recoil from most enemy attacks. Follow up with a strong attack for an upward strike. | Heavy | 1,500 |
| Kick | All | Push an enemy back with a high kick. Effective against enemies that are guarding, and can break a foe' stance. Sometimes a simple tool is the most effective. | Heavy | 800 |
| Endure | All | Assume an anchored stance to brace for incoming attacks, briefly boosting poise. Damage taken when using this skill is reduced. | Heavy | 600 |
| War Cry | All (except Daggers, Thrusting Swords, and Whips) | Give a wary cry to rally the spirit and increase attack power. While active, strong attacks change to charging attacks. | Heavy | 800 |
| Spinning Slash | -Swords -Axes -Polearms *no colossal weapons | Skill favored by dexterous warriors. Slash foes as your body spins. Additional input allows for follow-up attack. | Keen | 1,200 |
| Impaling Thrust | All thrusting weapons (except colossal weapons) | Skill that lets piercing armaments overcome enemy shields. Build power, then lunge forward for a strong thrust that pierces an enemy's guard. | Keen | 1,000 |
| Quickstep | All | Skill prized by the crafty and fleet of foot. Perform a quickstep maneuver that allows for circling around lock-on targets. | Keen | 800 |
| Storm Blade | Swords (except colossal weapons and Twinblades) | Lost skill of Stormveil. Surround armament with shearing storm winds that can be fired forward. Can be fired in rapid succession. | Quality | 1,800 |
| Parry | -Daggers -Curved Swords -Thrusting Swords -Fists -Claws -Small Shields -Medium Shields | Use this skill in time with a foe's melee attack to deflect it and break that foe's stance. This provides an opening to perform a critical hit. | None | 600 |
| No Skill | -Shields -Torches | This armament has no skill. If the armament in the other hand has a skill, that skill will be used instead. | None | 600 |
Map Location of Knight Bernahl
The Tarnished merchant is always within his little shack by the woods. However, the dull coloration of his armor can make him hard to spot from afar—especially at night. If you need some more help to find the Warmaster’s Shack and Kight Bernahl, check out the video below:
Defeat Bosses for Ashes of War
There are a ton of minor bosses in Elden Ring, and plenty of them give you an Ash of War when defeated. Usually, the Ash of War you get will relate to that boss in some way. Sometimes it will be a skill that the boss used in combat or will be a summonable ally related to the boss thematically.
You can find bosses in dungeons, gaols, while exploring landmarks at night, and much more.
Explore the Wilderness to Find More Ashes of War
There is a large number of events that can result in finding an Ash of War. Here is a list of the ones that have the highest potential of giving you a new skill or summonable ally:
- Killing a gray Scarab Beetle (almost always results in getting an Ash of War)
- Defeating unique enemies
Where to Find Gray Scarab Beetles and Unique Enemies
You can use your map to find nearby landmarks. Ruins, statues, buildings, and more can be seen in simple yet clear details. Check inside and around any interesting landmarks for unique foes and gray scarabs. These will sometimes pose novel challenges, like difficult combat or needing to solve a puzzle.
However, always remember to be careful while exploring, as threats lie everywhere. You’ll even come across some traps in your travels. As such, be ready to dodge roll at any moment when crossing through a tight passage or walking along the shores of a lake.
