Elden Ring is not a forgiving game. You will die. A lot. But FromSoftware, in a rare moment of generosity, gave us Spirit Ashes – spectral allies that range from game-breaking mimics of your own character to packs of wolves that act more as distractions than killers. Choosing the right Spirit Ash is the difference between barely surviving and flattening bosses with smug ease.
This guide runs through the best Spirit Ash summons, weighing up their damage, durability, and tactical usefulness. If you are looking for every option under the sun, look elsewhere. If you want to know which ones actually pull their weight, read on.
Mimic Tear Ashes
Let’s start with the obvious. The Mimic Tear is you, only without the bad decision-making. It copies your equipment, spells, and items, meaning if you’ve built a powerhouse, you get two of them. It can tank, it can nuke, it can heal, all depending on how you’ve kitted yourself out. It was nerfed after launch but still remains one of the most dependable summons in the game.
Best for: Players who want a clone doing their dirty work while they hang back and watch.
Black Knife Tiche
Tiche is quick, relentless, and carves through enemies with attacks that chip away at health bars using percentage-based damage. Against bosses with vast health pools, she’s a monster. She can dodge like a player and hits harder than most humanoid summons. The downside? She’s fragile if the boss actually notices her.
Best for: Melting oversized bosses with unfair efficiency.
Latenna the Albinauric
She’s not much in meleem, in fact, she doesn’t move an inch once summoned, but give her space and Latenna turns into a living turret. Her ice arrows pierce through groups and can devastate bosses from a distance. She requires careful positioning, but if you play tactically, she’s one of the most rewarding Spirit Ashes.
Best for: Ranged players who like setting up death zones.
Banished Knight Oleg
A tank in spectral form. Oleg charges headlong into battle with twin swords and absurd aggression. He soaks up punishment like few others and buys you time to set up your spells or sneak in your attacks. He’s not subtle, but he doesn’t need to be.
Best for: Players who need a durable frontline distraction.
Lhutel the Headless
An elegant option with a spectral flair. Lhutel can teleport around the battlefield, throw spears of death magic, and refuses to stay pinned down. The teleporting means enemies constantly lose track of her, which makes her far more durable than her health bar suggests.
Best for: Boss fights where mobility trumps brute force.
Greatshield Soldiers
They’re not glamorous, but they are stubborn. A phalanx of spectral soldiers with massive shields that can lock down enemies and buy you endless openings. Against certain bosses, their sheer staying power borders on unfair. They won’t kill much, but you don’t summon them for stylem you summon them for survival.
Best for: Buying time and breaking boss AI patterns.
Honorable Mentions
- Dung Eater Puppet – If you want grotesque brutality with unsettling style.
- Cleanrot Knight Finlay – Tanky, poisonous, and generally a nightmare for enemies.
- Skeletal Militiamen – They get back up after dying. Annoying for enemies, handy for you.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Elden Ring is brutal, but Spirit Ashes give you a fighting chance. Whether you want to duplicate yourself with the Mimic Tear, shred bosses with Black Knife Tiche, or just throw a wall of shields at your problems, there’s a summon that suits every playstyle. Use the right one at the right time and you’ll start to feel slightly less like roadkill.
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