ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition Spirit Summons Not Working Fix

You just picked up the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna, equipped your newly acquired Lone Wolf Ashes, and stepped into a boss arena ready to summon help — only to find the option greyed out or completely absent. If ELDEN RING spirit summons not working has become your recurring frustration, you are far from alone. This troubleshooting guide breaks down every reason your summons fail, from missing the Rebirth Monument interaction to hidden co-op restrictions, so you can get your spectral allies fighting alongside you without wasting another flask.

The core issue usually comes down to four specific conditions: you haven't obtained the Spirit Calling Bell, you're standing in an area without the golden summon fog, your FP is below the Ash's cost, or you're in co-op where the host doesn't have a summon available. According to the official ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition page, these are the exact scenarios that block spirit summoning. Understanding which one applies to your situation is the difference between a smooth boss fight and a frustrating death loop.

Understanding Why ELDEN RING Spirit Summons Not Working Happens

The spirit summoning system in ELDEN RING depends on a chain of prerequisites that must all be satisfied simultaneously. When ELDEN RING spirit summons not working occurs, it's almost always because one link in that chain is broken. The most common culprit is the Spirit Calling Bell, which you receive from Renna at the Church of Elleh after obtaining your horse Torrent. If you missed this encounter because you fast-traveled past the church at night, the bell never enters your inventory.

Another frequent issue involves the Rebirth Monument, a small golden statue that appears near certain boss arenas and field encounters. This monument acts as the summoning anchor for your spirits. Without an active Rebirth Monument in the vicinity, your spirit ashes remain inert. The official Bandai Namco documentation confirms that checking for this monument in Limgrave is the first step when summons fail to activate.

Here are the primary reasons your summons refuse to appear: the most common culprit is attempting to use the Spirit Calling Bell in an area without a Rebirth Monument—those small, glowing blue statues that mark the only valid summon zones. Even with the bell equipped, you cannot activate your Spirit Ash if you have already summoned a cooperator via the Furlcalling Finger Remedy, or if you are in a dungeon catacomb with a fog gate still active. Additionally, ensure you have the bell in your inventory; if you missed Renna at the Church of Elleh early on, you must purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold for 100 runes.

• Missing Spirit Calling Bell — You never received it from Renna, or you skipped the Church of Elleh encounter entirely

• No Rebirth Monument nearby — The golden summoning statue isn't present in your current area

• Insufficient FP — Your current FP pool is below the ash's listed cost

• Co-op restrictions — You're in multiplayer where the host cannot summon spirits

• Area limitations — Some dungeons and legacy dungeons block spirit summoning entirely

The FP cost varies dramatically between ashes. A basic Wandering Noble costs only 10 FP, while powerful summons like the Dung Eater Puppet require significantly more. If you're running a melee build with minimal Mind investment, you might find yourself unable to summon anything beyond the cheapest options. This is why many players report ELDEN RING spirit summons not working specifically during boss fights after using their FP for weapon skills.

Checking the Rebirth Monument and Summoning Zone Requirements

The Rebirth Monument is the physical anchor that enables spirit summoning in a given area. When you approach a boss arena or a marked field encounter, look for a small golden statue emitting a faint glow. Interacting with it isn't required — simply being within range activates the summoning prompt. However, if you're standing too far from the monument, the option won't appear in your quick items menu.

Community reports from the Elden Ring Wiki indicate that certain areas intentionally lack these monuments. For example, most indoor dungeons without a boss encounter won't allow spirit summons. Additionally, some overworld areas with multiple enemies but no designated encounter marker won't have a Rebirth Monument either. Knowing where you can and cannot summon is essential to avoiding wasted attempts.

The table above shows that Evergaols are a notable exception — these circular arenas where you fight imprisoned bosses do not permit spirit summons at all. Players often discover this the hard way when attempting to summon against the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil. Similarly, certain scripted encounters like the first fight against Margit in Stormveil Castle do allow summons, but only after you've triggered the boss cutscene.

When you're in a co-op session, the rules change entirely. The host must have an active Rebirth Monument nearby, and even then, only the host can summon spirits. Phantom allies cannot use spirit ashes at all. This restriction catches many players off guard, especially those who join co-op sessions expecting to contribute with their upgraded Mimic Tear. The Reddit community frequently discusses this limitation, with many players noting that ELDEN RING spirit summons not working in co-op is actually the intended design rather than a bug.

How to Use Spirit Ashes Correctly

The Spirit Calling Bell: The Single Most Common Failure Cause

The #1 reason summons fail is a missing Spirit Calling Bell. This bell is not an automatic drop—you must obtain it from Renna at the Church of Elleh at night after acquiring Torrent. If you missed her visit, the bell is sold by the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold for 2,000 Runes. Without the bell equipped to your item slots, using any Spirit Ash produces only a grayed-out icon with no prompt, even if you have ample FP and stand inside the golden summon fog.

Co-Op Restrictions: Host-Only Summoning Rules

Spirit summons are host-only—co-op phantoms cannot activate them, and the host cannot summon spirits while a Furled Finger is present in certain legacy dungeons. In co-op, the golden summon fog must be visible to the host; if the host has already used their summon for that area or is in a boss arena with multiplayer restrictions, the Ash fails silently. This is why the "summoning pool" system in co-op differs from solo play—check for the golden fog before spending FP, as the game provides no error message for co-op-specific blocks.

Learning how to use spirit ashes properly requires understanding the equipment and activation process. First, you need to equip the spirit ash in one of your quick item slots. Open your inventory, navigate to the Spirit Ashes category under the "Key Items" tab, and assign it to a pouch slot or quick item slot. During gameplay, you can then activate it by pressing the corresponding button when the summoning prompt appears.

The summoning prompt only appears when you're within range of a Rebirth Monument and have sufficient FP. When all conditions are met, a glowing golden sigil appears on the ground, and the prompt "Summon Spirit" displays. Activating this consumes the FP cost and summons your ally. The spirit remains until it dies or the encounter ends.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the summoning process, because the most common reason for "elden ring spirit summons not working" is skipping a prerequisite step. First, you must have the Spirit Calling Bell in your inventory—you can buy it from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold for 100 Runes if you missed it at the Church of Elleh. Next, ensure you're near a Rebirth Monument, the tall glowing obelisk that emits a blue particle effect; you cannot summon anywhere else. Finally, your FP bar must be full enough to cover the summon's cost (e.g., the Wandering Noble costs 10 FP, while the Dung Eater Puppet requires 105 FP). If you've met all three conditions and still see the prompt grayed out, you're likely in a boss arena with an active multiplayer password or in a catacomb where the game restricts summons.

• Step 1: Obtain the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna at the Church of Elleh (or buy it from the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold)

• Step 2: Acquire at least one Spirit Ash — the Lone Wolf Ashes are given by Renna alongside the bell

• Step 3: Equip the Spirit Ash to a quick item slot or pouch slot in your equipment menu

• Step 4: Approach a boss arena or field encounter with an active Rebirth Monument

• Step 5: Confirm your FP is at or above the ash's listed cost

• Step 6: Press the activation button when the "Summon Spirit" prompt appears

The Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold sell the Spirit Calling Bell for 100 runes if you missed Renna's encounter. This is a critical safety net for players who progressed past the Church of Elleh without triggering her appearance. According to player reports, Renna only appears at night after you've obtained Torrent, so if you fast-traveled during the day, you may need to rest at the site of grace until nightfall and revisit.

FP management becomes crucial when using higher-cost ashes. The Jellyfish Spirit Ashes cost 20 FP and provide excellent ranged support, while the Skeletal Militiamen Ashes cost 30 FP and offer resurrection capabilities. For players struggling with ELDEN RING spirit summons not working due to FP constraints, equipping the Cerulean Amber Medallion talisman or investing in Mind attribute points can expand your summoning options significantly.

Best Early Spirit Summons for Different Playstyles

Choosing the right spirit ash for your build can transform difficult encounters into manageable fights. The best early spirit summons depend heavily on whether you're playing a mage or a melee character. Each playstyle benefits from different ally behaviors and damage profiles.

For mage players, the best spirit ash for mage builds is typically the Jellyfish Spirit Ashes, which you can find in Stormhill near the Spirit Jellyfish enemies. This summon provides consistent poison damage over time, allowing you to focus on casting spells from a safe distance. The jellyfish's high HP pool also makes it an excellent tank, drawing enemy aggro while you charge up powerful sorceries.

For melee players, the best spirit ash for melee is often the Lone Wolf Ashes early on, since the three wolves can surround enemies and create openings for your attacks. As you progress, the Godrick Soldier Ashes provide a more durable frontline fighter who can hold aggro while you land critical hits. The Skeletal Militiamen Ashes are particularly valuable because they resurrect themselves after being defeated, effectively giving you an unkillable ally as long as you keep the pressure on.

The Dung Eater Puppet deserves special mention as one of the most powerful spirit summons in the game, though acquiring it requires a lengthy questline. This puppet applies the Seedbed Curse effect, which reduces enemy damage negation and HP recovery. For players who want to know more about obtaining this devastating ally, our Dung Eater Puppet acquisition guide covers the entire quest chain from start to finish.

When comparing summons, consider not just raw damage but also utility. The Mimic Tear remains the community favorite for its ability to copy your exact build and equipment, making it the best spirit ash for both mage and melee builds once you reach Nokron. However, it costs 660 HP instead of FP, which changes the resource equation entirely. For a comprehensive ranking of all summons, our best spirit summons tier list breaks down every option by performance across different boss encounters.

Troubleshooting Specific Scenarios and Advanced Fixes

FP Cost Thresholds: Why Your Ash Won't Activate

Every Spirit Ash has a fixed FP cost that must be met before activation. The Lone Wolf Ashes cost 42 FP, while the Jellyfish Ashes require 28 FP—if your current FP pool is below the Ash's cost, the summon icon appears dimmed. A common early-game mistake is equipping heavy armor that reduces your Mind stat, dropping your max FP below the threshold. For example, a Vagabond starting class has only 10 Mind (40 FP), making the 42-FP Lone Wolf unusable until leveling Mind or equipping the Cerulean Amber Medallion.

Rebirth Monument Zones: Where Summoning Is Permanently Disabled

Certain areas lack the Rebirth Monument (the golden summon fog), making Spirit Ashes unusable regardless of bell, FP, or co-op status. These include most caves, catacombs, and Evergaols—notably, the Weeping Evergaol and all Minor Erdtree Catacombs block summons entirely. In Limgrave, the Church of Elleh and the starting Stranded Graveyard are no-summon zones. If you're fighting a boss like Margit, the fog is present, but in overworld encounters like the Tree Sentinel, no monument exists, so the Ash icon stays inactive despite full FP and a equipped bell.

Sometimes the standard fixes don't resolve ELDEN RING spirit summons not working, and you need to dig deeper into your game state. One common scenario involves players who completed the game and entered New Game Plus, only to find their spirit ashes unavailable. In NG+, you retain all your spirit ashes and the Spirit Calling Bell, but you must re-obtain the Rebirth Monument interactions in each new area — though this happens automatically as you explore.

Another advanced issue relates to upgraded spirit ashes. If you've upgraded an ash to +10 using Grave Glovewort and it suddenly stops working, check whether you're in an area that restricts upgraded summons. Some late-game areas have level caps on spirit summons, though this is rare and undocumented by official sources. Community testing suggests this may be tied to specific boss encounters rather than a global mechanic.

If standard fixes fail, the culprit is often a hidden interaction between your equipped Spirit Ashes and the Rebirth Monument you're attempting to use. For instance, equipping the Dung Eater Puppet requires a Crimson Seed Talisman and a specific Mind stat (at least 20) to summon; if your FP is depleted after a failed attempt, the monument will remain inactive until you rest at a Site of Grace to fully restore your flask charges. Additionally, verify you haven't accidentally toggled the "No Spirit Summons" setting in your Gameplay menu, which persists across sessions and silently disables the golden summoning sigil, and confirm you're not in a Catacombs dungeon where the Erdtree Burial mechanic is replaced by a Stake of Marika—only the former allows spirit activation.

• Restart the game — This clears any temporary glitches with the summoning system

• Verify game files — On PC, corrupted installation files can break summoning mechanics

• Check for updates — The Tarnished Edition includes all patches, but ensure you're on the latest version

• Remove and re-equip the Spirit Ash — Sometimes the quick item slot glitches and needs refreshing

• Test in a known summoning zone — Return to the Tree Sentinel arena in Limgrave to confirm the system works

The Tarnished Edition of the game includes all previously released updates, which have addressed several summoning-related bugs since launch. According to the official Tarnished Edition announcement, the edition bundles the base game with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and all balance patches. If you're playing on the Switch 2, there are platform-specific considerations — our Switch 2 spirit summons guide covers those unique quirks in detail.

One frequently overlooked issue involves keyboard and mouse bindings on PC. If you've remapped your controls and the summon button conflicts with another action, the prompt may appear but not register your input. Resetting your control scheme to default and reconfiguring from scratch often resolves this. Console players rarely encounter this problem, but controller drift on aging hardware can occasionally prevent button presses from registering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my spirit summon option greyed out during boss fights?

The greyed-out icon means one of three conditions isn't met: you lack the Spirit Calling Bell, your FP is below the ash's cost, or no Rebirth Monument is active in the arena. Check your inventory for the bell, verify your FP against the ash's listed cost, and confirm you're standing inside the golden summoning sigil.

Can I buy the Spirit Calling Bell if I missed Renna?

Yes, the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold sell the Spirit Calling Bell for 100 runes. This purchase becomes available after you've obtained Torrent and progressed past the Church of Elleh encounter. Simply travel to Roundtable Hold, speak with the Twin Maiden Husks, and purchase the bell from their shop inventory.

Why can't I summon spirits while playing co-op?

In co-op sessions, only the host can summon spirits, and only when a Rebirth Monument is active nearby. Phantom allies cannot use spirit ashes under any circumstances. This is an intentional design choice to prevent co-op sessions from becoming overcrowded with multiple summons, so coordinate with your host before relying on spirit support.

What is the best early spirit ash for a mage build?

The Jellyfish Spirit Ashes are the best early option for mages because they provide consistent poison damage while tanking enemy attention. Located in Stormhill near the Spirit Jellyfish enemies, these ashes cost only 20 FP and scale well throughout the early game. The poison effect also works well with spell combos that require enemies to stay stationary.

Does the Dung Eater Puppet require special conditions to summon?

Yes. Beyond the 50 FP cost and Seluvis's questline requirement, the Dung Eater Puppet needs a standard Rebirth Monument with golden fog to appear. It won't work in no-summon zones, during co-op, or if you haven't obtained the Spirit Calling Bell from the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold.