There are eight main types of damage in Elden Ring, and players can inflict both physical and elemental damage to topple even the toughest foes.

There are eight different types of damage in Elden Ring that players can use to their advantage as they face challenging foes. However, Elden Ring leaves players largely to their own devices to discover how damage works, and figuring out the best types of weapons and spells to use against different enemies can be confusing at best. With all the different damage types and status conditions in the game, it’s tough to know which combinations will be most effective when taking on the wide variety of enemies that stalk the Lands Between.

Elden Ring classifies damage types by physical damage and elemental damage. Physical damage is typically dealt with the impact of a melee weapon and falls into one of four categories: standard, pierce, slash, or strike damage. Elemental damage, on the other hand, includes fire, holy, lightning, and magic damage, which can either be dealt with spells or applied to an armament to alter its effects and damage calculation.

Determining which enemies are weak to which types of damage requires some trial and error, and Elden Ring encourages players to experiment with different damage types and weapons to find what works best. However, most enemies are weak to at least one type of physical or elemental damage, and some have multiple weaknesses that players can use to gain the upper hand in battle. For the most part, players can deal both physical and elemental damage with their weapons, and Ashes of War can alter the damage and status effects they inflict. Additionally, enemies tend to be resistant against the types of damage they use themselves; for example, magic-wielding enemies will usually take less damage from magic attacks. Most enemies also have a weak spot that players can target to deal the maximum amount of damage.

Elden Ring - What Is Standard Damage?

Standard damage is Elden Ring’s default physical damage, so any damage that falls outside of the other types will be calculated as standard. Axes are one of the only types of weapon in the game that exclusively deal standard damage, and many swords have attacks that deal standard damage as well. Heavy armors like the Bull-Goat’s Armor Set offer great protection against standard damage, so players can arm themselves against enemies that fight primarily with swords and axes.

Elden Ring - Pierce Damage Guide

Pierce damage is dealt with thrusting attacks in Elden Ring, and spears, lances, and certain types of swords are the best choice to inflict this type of damage on foes. Enemies with light armor, medium armor, or scales tend to be weak to this type of attack, including dragons, so players should be sure to equip a pierce damage weapon when facing foes like Flying Dragon Agheel. A robust, heavy armor set like Lionel’s Set will provide players with the best defense against piercing damage, but heavily-armored enemies will be resistant to this damage type as well.

Elden Ring - What Is Slash Damage?

Slash damage deals damage with sharp, sweeping attacks, making them highly effective against Elden Ring’s unarmored or lightly armored enemies. Daggers, scythes, curved swords, and katanas like the Moonveil Katana can perform these types of attacks, though most daggers and katanas can inflict piercing damage as well. Slash attacks won’t deal much damage to heavily-armored or rock enemies, but players can suit up in a heavy armor set to protect themselves against slash damage as well.

Elden Ring - How To Use Strike Damage

Strike damage is dealt with heavy, blunt force attacks in Elden Ring. Weapons like hammers, maces, clubs, and flails can all deal strike damage, and shields will also inflict this type of damage when used offensively. Typically, most heavily-armored foes and rock enemies are weak to strike damage, but scaly enemies like dragons are resistant to it. Despite being heavy sets themselves, Lionel’s armor and the Banished Knight set offer players decent protection against strike damage.

Elden Ring - Fire Elemental Damage (& How To Use It)

Fire damage is a powerful elemental damage that can burn through undead and unarmored enemies in Elden Ring. Vyke’s War Spear, the Blasphemous Blade, and the Rivers of Blood Katana are some weapons that can deal fire damage without any alterations, but players can add a fire affinity to their weapons with certain Ashes of War like Flaming Strike.

Additionally, players can throw items like Fire Pots or temporarily buff their weapons with Fire Grease to inflict fire damage. However, there are several powerful Incantations like Dragonfire and O, Flame! that can unleash fiery attacks as well. The Fire Prelate armor and Millicent’s Tunic will give players protection against fire damage, and Fireproof Dried Liver can increase their fire resistance as well.

Elden Ring - What Is Holy Damage?

Holy damage is particularly effective against the undead in Elden Ring, and many holy weapons and attacks will prevent these zombies and skeletons from reviving altogether. There are a lot of weapons that offer holy damage by default, such as the Inseparable Sword and the Miquellan Knight’s Sword, though players can add the holy affinity to their weapon with a holy Ash of War like Sacred Blade. Consumable items like Holy Water Pots and Holy Grease can also be used to temporarily inflict holy damage. Faith-based holy Incantations such as the Litany of Proper Death spell are great options for dealing this type of damage as well. There are lots of great armor options that offer resistance to holy damage, but the Crucible Tree set, Millicent’s Tunic, and Godskin armor are some of the best in the game.

Elden Ring - How To Use Lightning Damage

Lightning damage can electrify foes, and Elden Ring enemies with heavy, metal armor are particularly weak against this type of elemental damage. Additionally, dragons are notably susceptible to this type of damage. The Dragon King's Cragblade deals lightning damage by default, but players can use lightning Ashes of War or Lightning Grease to add the lightning affinity to their armament before battle. There are plenty of lightning-based Incantations in Elden Ring as well, most of which can be obtained by slaying dragons. The Bull-Goat set is strong against lightning attacks, and Millicent’s Tunic can also protect players from this type of damage.

Elden Ring - Magic Damage Guide

Magic is incredibly powerful in Elden Ring, and this type of elemental damage can topple most well-armored enemies that are resistant to physical attacks. Most damage-inflicting Sorceries deal magic damage, as well as a few Incantations like Glintstone Breath. Crystal and Glintstone weapons tend to deal magic damage by default, and weapons like the Starscourge Greatsword and Dark Moon Greatsword will pack a powerful magical punch as well. However, like other types of elemental damage, players can add the magic affinity to their armaments with magic Ashes of War. Armor sets like Lusat’s Armor and the Preceptor's Set can grant players resistance against magic.

Elden Ring - How To Use Status Effects

In addition to Elden Ring’s eight damage types, there are a variety of status effects that can deal additional damage and weaken tough foes. These effects include Bleeding, Death Blight, Frostbite, Madness, Poison, Scarlet Rot, and Sleep. While certain bosses and enemies aren’t particularly weak to a certain damage type, a status effect may be the key to taking them down. Starscourge Radahan, for example, is weak to Bleeding and Scarlet Rot, and Margit, the Fell Omen is weak to Poison. Rennala, on the other hand, is weak to both the Bleeding status effect and any type of physical damage. Like damage types, however, some enemies are strong or even nearly immune to certain status effects. By experimenting with a variety of weapons, spells, and consumable items like grease, players can find effective combos against almost any Elden Ring enemy.

Next: Elden Ring: Complete Walkthrough, Boss Strategies & Build Guides

Elden Ring is available on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox X|S.