Among the many weapon classes in Elden Ring, spears stand out for their exceptional reach, thrusting safety, and versatility in both PvE and PvP. While options like the Cross-Naginata and Bolt of Gransax often dominate discussions, one weapon remains criminally underrated despite its devastating potential: the Death Ritual Spear. For players who enjoy hybrid Intelligence builds, frost damage, and powerful ranged weapon skills, the Death Ritual Spear is one of Elden Ring Runes the best spears in the game.

This guide breaks down what makes the Death Ritual Spear so strong, how to build around it, where it excels, and why it deserves a spot among the top-tier spear options in Elden Ring.

What Is the Death Ritual Spear?

The Death Ritual Spear is a unique spear that scales primarily with Intelligence and Dexterity. Unlike most traditional spears that lean toward Strength or Quality builds, this weapon caters to spellblade-style characters who want both melee precision and magical pressure.

Its most defining feature is its weapon skill: Spearcall Ritual. This Ash of War transforms the spear from a standard thrusting weapon into a battlefield control tool capable of raining down magical projectiles from above. The skill summons a flurry of spectral spears that fall in a wide area around the caster, dealing significant Magic damage and excellent frost buildup.

In practice, this allows the Death Ritual Spear to function as both a close-range poking weapon and a mid-to-long-range spell substitute.

Base Stats and Scaling

The Death Ritual Spear requires moderate Strength and Dexterity to wield but heavily favors Intelligence scaling. It deals split Physical and Magic damage, which is particularly valuable against enemies weak to Magic or frostbite.

Its frost buildup adds another layer of power. Frostbite not only deals burst damage when triggered but also reduces enemy stamina regeneration and increases subsequent damage taken for a short period. Against bosses with large health pools, this effect becomes especially impactful.

While split damage weapons sometimes struggle against high resistances, the Death Ritual Spear compensates through scaling and its devastating weapon skill.

Spearcall Ritual: The Real Star

The true reason the Death Ritual Spear ranks among the best spears in Elden Ring is Spearcall Ritual. Activating this skill launches multiple magical spears into the air, which then rain down over a large radius around the player.

Why is this so strong?

First, it has excellent area coverage. This makes it ideal for clearing groups of enemies, particularly in late-game zones where mob density increases dramatically.

Second, it deals Magic damage, which many heavily armored enemies are weaker against compared to standard physical thrusts.

Third, it applies frost buildup rapidly. Large enemies and bosses can get frostbitten quickly if multiple spears connect, leading to huge burst damage.

Finally, it is relatively safe to cast. With proper spacing, you can trigger Spearcall Ritual outside of melee range and force opponents to approach through a storm of falling projectiles.

For PvP, this skill creates pressure and forces opponents to reposition, making it excellent for zoning and area denial.

Best Builds for Death Ritual Spear

The ideal build for this weapon centers on Intelligence and Dexterity.

Stat Priorities:

Intelligence: Primary scaling stat and core damage source.

Dexterity: Secondary scaling and improves casting speed.

Mind: Important for sustaining repeated Spearcall Ritual casts.

Vigor: Essential for survivability, especially in PvP.

Because the weapon scales well with Intelligence, it pairs naturally with sorceries. A spellblade setup allows you to mix glintstone spells with spear thrusts, keeping opponents guessing.

Recommended Talismans:

Magic Scorpion Charm for increased Magic damage.

Shard of Alexander to boost Spearcall Ritual damage.

Carian Filigreed Crest to reduce FP consumption.

Ritual Sword Talisman for bonus damage at full health.

Pairing these with Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear in your Flask of Wondrous Physick further amplifies your burst potential.

PvE Performance

In PvE, the Death Ritual Spear shines in several key areas.

Mob Clearing
Its weapon skill can wipe out clustered enemies quickly. In late-game dungeons and legacy areas, Spearcall Ritual clears packs efficiently without forcing you into dangerous melee exchanges.

Boss Fights
Large bosses are particularly vulnerable. Since the falling spears can hit multiple times, larger hitboxes take significant cumulative damage. Frostbite triggers quickly, leading to noticeable health chunking.

Safe Playstyle
The spear's long reach allows you to poke safely while waiting for openings to unleash the weapon skill. This makes it especially effective for cautious players who prefer controlled engagements.

However, the weapon does struggle slightly against enemies with very high Magic resistance. In those cases, leaning more into physical thrusting attacks or supplementing with alternative damage types is helpful.

PvP Viability

In PvP, the Death Ritual Spear offers a unique blend of pressure and unpredictability.

Zoning Tool
Spearcall Ritual forces opponents to move. The falling spears disrupt spacing and can catch overly aggressive players trying to rush you.

Roll Catch Potential
Standard spear thrusts are excellent for roll catching. Combined with the threat of sudden AoE magic damage, opponents must constantly guess your next move.

Hybrid Threat
Because it scales with Intelligence, you can seamlessly transition between melee and sorceries, creating mind games that pure melee builds cannot replicate.

That said, experienced PvP players may punish careless Spearcall Ritual casts. Proper timing and spacing are critical.

Comparison to Other Spears

When comparing the Death Ritual Spear to other top-tier options in Elden Ring, its identity becomes clearer.

Bolt of Gransax focuses on pure Dexterity and lightning-based ranged pressure.

Cross-Naginata excels in bleed builds and aggressive thrust combos.

Clayman's Harpoon supports Intelligence builds but lacks the explosive AoE power of Spearcall Ritual.

The Death Ritual Spear stands out as the best AoE-focused spear for Intelligence users. It may not have the raw single-hit burst of some lightning weapons or the bleed potential of others, but its versatility is unmatched within its niche.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

Exceptional AoE weapon skill.

Strong frostbite buildup.

Excellent synergy with Intelligence builds.

Great reach and safe poking potential.

Strong PvE mob clearing.

Weaknesses:

Split damage can be mitigated by resistances.

FP dependent for maximum effectiveness.

Requires careful timing in PvP.

Is It Worth Using?

Absolutely. For players running Intelligence builds in Elden Ring, the Death Ritual Spear is one of the most rewarding and visually impressive spears available. It combines style with substance, delivering consistent damage, frostbite pressure, and battlefield control.

It may not be the default choice for Strength or pure Dexterity users, but for spellblade enthusiasts or hybrid casters, it feels tailor-made.

Final Thoughts

Among all the spears in Elden Ring, the Death Ritual Spear carves out a unique and powerful identity. Its Spearcall Ritual weapon skill transforms it from a simple thrusting weapon into a magical artillery platform capable of controlling space and overwhelming enemies.

For PvE players seeking safe and efficient clearing tools, and PvP players looking for zoning pressure with Intelligence scaling, this spear deserves serious consideration.

If you are building around frost, magic damage, or Elden Ring Runes buy hybrid spell combat, the Death Ritual Spear is not just viable. It is one of the best spears in the game.