You’ve heard it a thousand times. Don't use holy damage. It’s a waste of levels. Every major boss from Maliketh to Radagon has eighty percent resistance to it. Why would you ever spec into a build that the final boss literally heals from?
Honestly, the community consensus on Elden Ring holy incantations has been skewed for years. People treat the late-game resistance wall like it’s the only thing that matters. But they’re forgetting something. The game is massive. And since the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion dropped, the toolkit for Holy-focused Faith builds has become, frankly, ridiculous.
If you’re running a pure Faith build or a Golden Order hybrid, you aren't just a "worse version of a Pyromancer." You’re a Swiss Army knife. You have access to the fastest projectiles, the most efficient FP-to-damage ratios, and some of the most spectacular screen-clearing spells in the Lands Between.
Let's look at what’s actually worth your Memory Slots.
The Discus of Light Obsession
There is no getting around it: Discus of Light is the best incantation in the game for general exploration. Period.
It costs 3 FP. You read that right. Three. You can throw this thing until your arm falls off and you’ll still have a full blue bar. It has a returning mechanic, meaning it hits the enemy on the way out and the way back. If you time your positioning, you’re dealing double damage for a cost that is basically free.
I’ve seen people clear entire legacy dungeons like Enir-Ilim using nothing but this disc. It scales with both Intelligence and Faith, which is the "Golden Order" stat spread. If you’re just pumping Faith, it’s still good, but it truly sings when you have that 24/24 or 30/30 split.
What about the bigger rings?
You’ll eventually find Triple Rings of Light and the DLC’s Multilayered Ring of Light.
Triple Rings looks cooler. It covers a wider horizontal plane. But it’s finicky. In PvP, it’s great for roll-catching because the spread is so wide. In PvE? Stick to the single Discus for efficiency or the Multilayered version for bosses. The Multilayered Ring actually lingers on the target, grinding into them like a saw blade. It’s disgusting against large enemies like Furnace Golems or Dragons.
Why Holy Damage Doesn't Actually "Suck" Anymore
The biggest myth is that Elden Ring holy incantations are useless in the DLC.
It’s true that the base game’s final stretch is a nightmare for Holy. Radagon and the Elden Beast are basically immune. But look at the Shadow Realm. Messmer’s army? Undead. The Putrescent Knight? Undead. The Tibia Mariners? Obviously undead.
Holy damage has a unique mechanic: it prevents "Those Who Live in Death" from resurrecting. No more waiting for the skeleton to glow white so you can hit it again. One tap from a holy spell and they stay down.
Also, we need to talk about Light of Miquella.
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This is the "nuke" spell you get from the final boss of the DLC. It’s slow. It’s expensive. But it’s essentially a tactical orbital strike. If you’re standing in a room full of enemies, you cast this and the room is gone. It’s the ultimate "I’m done with this area" button.
The Best Tools for the Job
If you want to make this work, you can't just slap on any old seal. Your choice of catalyst dictates everything.
- Golden Order Seal: This is your best friend if you’re doing the Int/Fth split. It has the highest scaling for these specific incantations.
- Dryleaf Seal: New from the DLC. It boosts "Miquellan" incantations. If you’re focusing on the newer Rings of Light or Light of Miquella, this is a must-have in your off-hand for the passive boost.
- Ertdree Seal: Use this if you are pure Faith (80+).
Essential Synergies
You’ve got to use the Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear in your Flask of Wondrous Physick. It’s a 20% damage boost for 30 seconds. Pair that with the Sacred Scorpion Charm (another 12% boost), but be careful—it makes you take more physical damage.
Honestly, the "glass cannon" Holy build is more viable than people think because of the range. You shouldn't be getting hit anyway. You’re sniping enemies with Radagon's Rings of Light from a different zip code.
The PVP Perspective
In the Colosseum, holy incantations are a bit of a mind game. Elden Stars is widely mocked for its low damage, but its purpose isn't to kill. It’s to annoy.
While those tiny golden sparks are chasing your opponent, they’re panicking. They’re rolling. They can't see their screen. That’s when you hit them with a Wrath of Gold or a fast Discus of Light. It’s about pressure.
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Dealing with the Resistance Problem
So, what do you do when you finally hit Radagon?
You adapt. That’s the beauty of a Faith build. If you've put 80 points into Faith to make your holy spells hit like a truck, you also have access to Fire Art infusions and Flame Incantations.
- Keep a weapon like the Black Steel Greathammer (DLC) or a Flame Art Infused Broadsword.
- Switch your spells to Giantsflame Take Thee or Catch Flame.
- Profit.
You aren't locked into Holy. You’re a Faith caster. Holy is just one of the many ways you can delete health bars.
Practical Steps for Your Build
If you’re starting a new run or respecing at Rennala, here is how you actually set this up without wasting points.
- Level 150 Goal: Aim for 60-80 Faith. If you want to use the Golden Order spells, you’ll need at least 23-30 Intelligence.
- The "Shadow" Buff: In the DLC, make sure your Scadutree Fragment level is high. No amount of "expert" build-crafting saves you if your blessing level is 2 and you’re fighting Bayle.
- The Skill Cap: Don't sleep on Law of Regression. It requires 37 Intelligence, but it wipes all status effects and buffs. In PvP, watching a "buff-stacker" lose their five minutes of preparation in one second is the funniest thing you can do with a Holy build.
Forget the old Reddit threads from 2022. The landscape has changed. Between the FP efficiency of the Discus and the raw power of the Miquellan light spells, Holy is in a fantastic spot. Just have a backup plan for the guys made of literal gold, and you'll be fine.
Your next move: Go to the Church of Vows and talk to Miriel (the turtle). He’s the most reliable way to learn these spells without the questline-heavy drama of Brother Corhyn, though you'll still need Corhyn for the specialized Golden Order books. Start with Discus of Light—it’ll change how you play the game.