In Elden Ring, weapons have a new mechanic called “Affinity”. Affinities define the damage your weapon does and how it scales, and a build cannot be complete without a proper affinity. However, the entire mechanic can be difficult to understand, and with over 10 Affinities to pick from, it can often become difficult to know which one is right for you.
In this guide, we’ll go over all the different Affinities in Elden Ring, their effects, and how they affect your chosen weapons. Additionally, we’ll also cover how you can apply these Affinities to your weapons through the use of Whetblades.
Weapon Affinities in Elden Ring Explained
There are thirteen different affinities available in Elden Ring. The affinities and their effects are defined below.
1. Standard
Standard affinity offers nothing. It’s a weapon without any affinity with its standard stat scaling. With a Standard affinity, you can buff your weapons with incantations.
2. Heavy
With this affinity, the strength scaling of the weapon is enhanced. However, all other attribute scaling is reduced.
3. Keen
With this affinity, the dexterity scaling of the weapon is enhanced. However, all other attribute scaling is reduced.
4. Quality
If you want the weapon’s dexterity and strength scaling to be enhanced with a balance, then this affinity is for you. However, all other attribute scalings will be reduced.
5. Magic
You can opt for this affinity if you’re willing to enhance the intelligence scaling of your weapon at the expense of its default scaling. This Affinity also adds magic damage to your weapon.
6. Cold
This affinity adds the frostbite status effect to your weapon. Other than that, the intelligence scaling of your weapon is enhanced at the expense of the weapon’s default scaling.
7. Fire
Your weapon can do both fire and physical damage and will scale primarily with Strength.
8. Flaming Art
Flaming Art works similarly to the Fire Affinity, but instead of Strength, your weapon scales with Faith.
9. Lightning
The Dexterity scaling of your weapon will improve at the expense of its default scaling. Your weapon will now have physical as well as Lightning damage.
10. Sacred
Faith scaling is enhanced at the expense of the weapon’s default scaling. In addition, the weapon will now have physical and Holy damage.
11. Blood
With this affinity, you can build up the blood loss/bleed status effect on your enemies, and your weapon will scale with Strength and Dexterity.
12. Occult
This affinity is the same as Blood, only that it prevents the dead from rising again.
13. Poison
Strength, Dexterity, and Arcane scaling of the weapon increases, and it can make poison attacks.
How to Change Affinities in Elden Ring?
Whetstones allow you to change your weapon’s Affinity by applying different Ashes of War. Five different kinds of Whetstones are available, and you’ll unlock them as you progress through the game.
The first Whetstone you’ll unlock is the Whetstone Knife, which unlocks the ability to apply Ashes of War to your weapons. All subsequent Whetstones are used to apply certain Affinities to your weapons.
1. Iron Whetblade
Found at Stormveil Castle in Limgrave, Iron Whetblade allows you to add Heavy, Keen, and Quality affinities to your weapon. The rest of the upgrades depend on what Ashes of War you use.
2. Glintstone Whetblade
Found near the Academy of Raya Lucaria in Liurnia, Glinststone Whetblade allows you to add Magic and Frost affinities to your weapon.
3. Red Hot Whetblade
The Red Hot Whetblade lets you apply the Fire and Flaming Art Affinities to your weapons. It can be found inside Redmayne Castle.
4. Sanctified Whetblade
The Sanctified Whetblade allows you to apply Lightning and Holy Affinities to your weapons. You can find this Whetblade inside the Fortified Manor in Leyndell.
5. Black Whetblade
Found near Nokron, The Eternal City, Black Whetblade allows you to add Black, Occult, and Poison affinities to your weapon.
