The Best Sacred Seals, Ranked

Players trying out Faith builds in Elden Ring likely already have a list of their favorite incantations, but, in order to cast Faith-based magic, a Sacred Seal is going to be required. Luckily, many of these best Elden Ring Seals are side-grades, meaning that the best pick usually comes down to what best fits a player’s intended build.

The Prophet and Confessor are the only classes that start with a Sacred Seal, but that doesn’t mean that other classes can’t obtain one down the line. Elden Ring allows for a lot of variety in builds, and obtaining a Seal can be done within the first hour of the game.

Updated September 22, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: There are a lot of Seals in the base game, but when it comes to the best Sacred Seals Elden Ring players can acquire, only really one stands out in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: the Dryleaf Seal. This Seal empowers some of the few new Incantations that are viable to use in combat, though its scaling is not quite as high as the best Faith Seal Elden Ring offers, being the Erdtree Seal. Still, if you plan to play a Faith build in the DLC, it’s worth going out of your way to get this new Seal. This guide to the best Seals in Elden Ring has been updated to include information on the Dryleaf Seal’s specific stats and bonuses, as well as a brief guide on how to find it in the Realm of Shadow.

What Are Elden Ring’s Sacred Seals?

There are two types of spells in Elden Ring, being Sorceries and Incantations. While Sorceries can only be cast with an equipped Staff, Incantations can only be cast with an equipped Sacred Seal. There are a total of nine Seals in Elden Ring, each with unique properties that favor certain playstyles over others.

Sacred Seals don’t tend to weigh much, and are just as powerful as an offensive, primary weapon in one’s main hand as they are a source of powerful support spells. They can be equipped in the main or off hand, though there is little point to dual-wielding Seals as it doesn’t unlock a new moveset.

Before equipping a Seal, ensure that you meet its minimum required stats or the Seal will not be able to be used, and players will be unable to cast their equipped Incantations.

The first property you want to look at to determine the best Sacred Seal Elden Ring has for your playstyle is its unique buff. One can get by with Seals that don’t give a passive buff, but most of the best Seals Elden Ring offers enhance one specific type of Incantations. The Dragon Communion Seal, for example, buffs Dragon Incantations, while the Golden Order Seal boosts Fundamentalist Incantations. Depending on what kinds of Incantations you prefer to use, some Seals will be much more appealing.

The second thing to look at is the Incantation scaling and stat scaling for each Sacred Seal. This determines the overall boost each Seal gives to Incantation potency and is typically determined by the Seal’s current upgrade level. While a Seal might boost your favorite Incantation, its Incantation scaling may be lacking, though its regular stat scaling may be pretty good for your build. Try out a few options on weak enemies to see which works the best for your playstyle and stats.

10 Finger Seal

Starting Equipment For Incantation-Users

Despite being a starter Seal, the Finger Seal is often good enough for early or mid-game content for builds that only dabble in incantations. That said, the Finger Seal, aside from being the easiest Seal to obtain, doesn’t provide buffs to any schools of incantations.

It can, however, be upgraded with smithing stones up to +25 with S Faith scaling and D Strength scaling, which makes it more than sufficient for most builds that want to dip into Faith. There’s nothing wrong with using the Finger Seal when first starting with Incantations, but be prepared to replace it pretty quickly.

Elden Ring Finger Seal Location

To get the Finger Seal Elden Ring players must either choose the Confessor or Prophet classes during character creation, or purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks. The Finger Seal is starting equipment for both the Confessor and Prophet, while the Twin Maiden Husks will also sell it for 800 Runes once you reach Roundtable Hold.

9 Frenzied Flame Seal

Great Seal For Frenzied Flame Builds, But Is Found Very Late

Many Sacred Seals give buffs to specific schools of incantations. As the name implies, the Frenzied Flame Seal buffs frenzied flame incantations — the ones that cause madness build-up on use. Because each cast with this Seal builds additional madness, it’s more situationally useful than other Seals on this list, as not all enemies are affected by madness.

The barrier to entry is quite high and requires players to do just about everything in the game, this Seal does have good weapon scaling for builds split between Intelligence, Faith, and Strength or Dexterity.

Elden Ring Frenzied Flame Seal Location

To get the Frenzied Flame Seal Elden Ring players must complete Hyetta’s questline. After meeting her for the first time at the rear entrance to Stormveil in Liurnia, she will request that players find and give her Shabriri Grapes. After giving her these, following her around to complete her quest line in Liurnia, and after reaching the Three Fingers’ location beneath Leyndell, Hyetta will give it to you.

8 Dryleaf Seal

Improves The DLC’s Most Useful Combat Incantations

Of the three new Sacred Seals Shadow of the Erdtree introduces to Elden Ring, the Dryleaf Seal is arguably the most useful. The Fire Knight’s seal improves Messmer’s Fire incantations, but the three Incantations it boosts are not great for practical use. The Spiraltree Seal is a close second, as the Golden Arcs Incantations are definitely decent in combat, but the Dryleaf Seal boosts more useful Incantations.

Discus of Light, Triple Rings of Light, Radagon’s Rings of Light, and Multilayered Rings of Light are all decent to great Incantations for combat thanks to their damage output, the range they cover, and the speed at which they are each cast. With the Dryleaf Seal equipped, these spells all deal about 15% more damage.

Multilayered Rings of Light is the most improved by this Seal, and when used against stationary enemies with this boost, it rarely takes more than two casts to break their Poise completely – plus, it only takes about half a second to cast.

Elden Ring DLC Dryleaf Seal Location

The Dryleaf Seal can only be acquired after unlocking the secret path to the Ruins of Unte, which can be accessed via a teleporting coffin underneath Shadow Keep (under the bridge near the first Golden Hippo). From the Castle Watering Hole site of grace, ride south until you reach a waterfall with a cliff on the left side. Walk along the edge of the cliff on the left to reach the Recluses’ River Upstream site of grace. Continue navigating southeast and jumping across the cliff tops until you see a graveyard filled with Gravebirds. The Dryleaf Seal can be found on a ledge just below an NPC message about halfway through this graveyard.

7 Giant’s Seal

A Strength-Scaling Seal, Sealed In A Hero’s Grave

The Giant’s Seal is one of the best Seals Elden Ring players can get because it boosts Giants’ Flame incantations – including Burn O Flame! and Flame, Fall Upon Them. Many of these spells are pretty underwhelming under normal circumstances, and this Seal goes a long way in making them more useful.

Unfortunately, it’s an item that players won’t be able to obtain until later on in the game, so players can’t take advantage of this boost until it’s almost too late to matter.

To get the Giant’s Seal, have to go all the way up north of the Erdtree, past several mandatory bosses, and because its weapon scaling is on par with the Finger Seal, it’s not ideal for early builds and players that don’t wish to speedrun to difficult locations.

Elden Ring Giant’s Seal Location

To get the Giant’s Seal Elden Ring players must head to the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave, which is located in the southwestern portion of the Mountaintops of the Giants.

In order to get to the Mountaintops of Giants in the first place, players will need to obtain both
parts of the Dectus Medallion
and make it through Leyndell.

The Giant’s Seal isn’t found at the end of the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave, it’s not the reward for beating the dungeon: it’s in a chest around halfway through the area in a side room. Watch out below for the Fire Monk Prelate – the guy with a volcano on his head – to locate this offshoot room within the Hero’s Grave.

6 Gravel Stone Seal

An Early Strength-Scaling Seal (With Low Scaling)

Similar to the Giant’s Seal, the Gravel Stone Seal is a late-game Seal that boosts many of Elden Ring’s lightning incantations through a buff to Dragon Cult Incantations. It’s one downside is its relatively low scaling, but paired with the Dragon Cult Incantations it buffs like Lightning Spear and Honed Bolt, it more than makes up for that loss of scaling with other Incantaitons.

Those wanting to stock up on lightning incantations before obtaining the Gravel Stone Seal can pick up the Dragon Cult Prayerbook south of the Liurnia of the Lakes Artist’s Shack, then slay the knight showcasing an onslaught of lightning attacks and take his book. Giving prayer books to either Brother Corhyn at the Roundtable Hold or the tortoise Miriel at the Church of Vows will unlock the incantations for purchase.

Elden Ring Gravel Stone Seal Location

To get the Gravel Stone Seal Elden Ring players must go to the West Capital Rampart Site of Grace, then walk into the room next door and kill the one enemy within. Look over the balcony outside, and jump over it to reach another area, near the Fortified Manor. Here, you will face down two Leyndell Knights, and the one wielding the Spear will drop the Gravel Stone Seal.

5 Godslayer’s Seal

Boost The Best Incantations in Elden Ring Before Godrick

While the Godslayer’s Seal does require players to have beaten Margit, it’s one of the first direct upgrades to the Sacred Seal. It has the same weapon scaling plus better damage output and a buff to Godslayer’s Incantations (which are found in the same room as the Seal itself).

The only downside is the 27 Faith requirement, which does make this item better suited to cleric and paladin builds rather than hybrids. But the boost to Black Flame spells is immense and noticeable, and it’s hard to put down once the Tarnished sees the percentage-based ticking damage the Black Flame inflicts.

Elden Ring Godslayer’s Seal Location

To get the Godslayer’s Seal Elden Ring players must make their way to Stormveil Castle and have one Stonesword Key in their inventory. Starting from the Rampart Tower Site of Grace, turn around, head into the hall, and take the elevator down.

Then hug the wall to get past the Grafted Scion on the left side and walk out into the courtyard with Godrick Soldiers aimed at you. Quickly turn left and run into an underground area, and use the Stonesword Key on the Imp statue to open the fog wall and collect the Godslayer’s Seal.

4 Dragon Communion Seal

Arcane-Scaling Seal Found At The Start of Elden Ring

Boosting the power of Dragon incantations, this Seal is a great choice for players wanting to build into Faith and Arcane. Pair it with a Rivers of Blood or other weapon that scales with Arcane to maximize the stat – which also improves players’ item discovery rate.

Once acquired, set off on a hunt for dragons and use the hearts to unlock new Incantations at both the Cathedral and Church of Dragon Communion. The Dragon Communion Seal Seal boosts all of these Incantations considerably, but sadly doesn’t improve these Elden Ring incantations’ cast speed. Surprisingly, it’s one of the earliest Seals that can be obtained – for the bravest players.

Elden Ring Dragon Communion Seal Location

To get the Dragon Communion Seal Elden Ring players must take on the ​​Fringefolk Hero’s Grave found at the start of the game behind a wall of fog — a location easily missed by new players. Use two Stonesword Keys to open the fog wall and proceed down.

Once inside the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave, get ready to run! Down the ladder, and after a room full of poison, are several long halls where flaming chariots will chase players. Use the nooks in the wall and pick off enemies until you eventually find a small room with a Banished Knight. Kill this Knight to get the Dragon Communion Seal.

3 Golden Order Seal

The Essential Piece Of A Fundamentalist Incantation Build

While difficult to obtain for early builds, the Golden Order Seal sets itself apart for its Intelligence and Faith scaling. Hybrid casters who want to mix and match sorceries and incantations can get the most damage out of this Seal. And because it boosts Fundamentalist incantations like Radagon’s Rings of Light that already require 31 Intelligence and Faith, it’s a clear choice for those utilizing that school of incantations.

Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to get this item until the Tarnished has made it inside Leyndell. However, mages wishing to dabble in incantations have a great alternative that scales well with Intelligence. Utilizing the Two Fingers Heirloom also helps to boost the Faith required without requiring too many extra level-ups.

Elden Ring Golden Order Seal Location

To get the Golden Order seal Elden Ring players must head to the Minor Erdtree Church Site of Grace to the south of Leyndell. You cannot get here through the city, you must head south along the path from the Outer Wall Site of Grace in Altus. The Minor Erdtree Church overlooks the area as you ascend, and this Seal can be found on a body within.

2 Clawmark Seal

Boosts Fast, Staggering Bestial Incantations Early In The Game

Depending on the route taken, the Clawmark Seal may be the first Seal players find after the Finger Seal. And, given its low Faith requirements and decent Strength scaling, it’s perfect for creating an early hybrid build that has a combined focus on Strength and Faith.

To get beast incantations, players will need to collect Deathroot — a key item that can often be found by slaying the Tibia Mariner bosses or exploring catacomb dungeons spread throughout the Lands Between. Luckily, getting this Bestial Incantation boosting Seal is easier than getting the spells it enhances.

Elden Ring Clawmark Seal Location

To get the Clawmark Seal Elden Ring players must find a Deathroot.The easiest Deathroot to find is in Limgrave’s Summonwater Village, where a Tibia Mariner boss poses little threat.

After getting your first Deathroot, present it to D, Hunter of the Dead at the Roundtable Hold. He will then reveal the location of a teleporter. This teleporter takes players to the Bestial Sanctum north of the Dragonbarrow, where they meet Gurranq, one of the best dogs in Elden Ring.

Gurranq will reward the Clawmark Seal for giving him a single Deathroot.

1 Erdtree Seal

Best Incantation Scaling At +10, With High Requirements

Pure Faith casters should make the Erdtree Seal their main priority. It doesn’t boost any specific school of magic and has a hefty 40 Faith requirement, but it has the highest damage output for incantations once leveled to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones.

Though it starts at a paltry 60 Incantation scaling stat, one that only goes up to around 240 at +10, its Faith scaling is what raises the Erdtree Seal to be the best Sacred Seal in Elden Ring. It begins S scaling with Faith starting at just +5, though it can’t be found until relatively deep into the game.

Elden Ring Erdtree Seal Location

To get the Erdtree Seal Elden Ring players must have already unlocked the lift up to the Atlus Plateau. The fastest route is to complete Rya’s quest line. After returning Rya’s necklace to her, she can be found at the stairs atop the Grand Lift of Dectus and will take the player directly to Volcano Manor.

Once there, players will need to head south to the Prison Town Church. From inside the church doors, turn right and follow the winding cobblestone path heading down the stairs. Finally, go through the wrought iron gates and pass a bonfire, players will find the Erdtree Seal on a corpse in a cell.