The ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition spirit ashes system can completely change how you approach boss fights, turning brutal encounters into manageable battles when you pick the right phantom ally. Whether you are stuck on Margit or pushing into the late-game gauntlet, knowing which summons deserve your Ghost Glovewort and which are best left unupgraded saves hours of frustration. This guide breaks down the strongest picks, how to unlock the Spirit Calling Bell, and the exact upgrade path that keeps your spirits competitive through every region.
Understanding the Spirit Ash System in the Tarnished Edition
The Tarnished Edition carries over the full spirit ash roster from the base game, meaning every summon you remember from the original release is available here with identical mechanics. According to the official Bandai Namco page for the Tarnished Edition, spirit ashes work exactly as they did in the base game: you summon phantom allies with the Spirit Calling Bell, upgrade them with Glovewort, and deploy the strongest ashes like Mimic Tear and Black Knife Tiche to carry difficult encounters.
How Summoning Actually Works
You cannot summon spirits anywhere you want. The game restricts summons to specific zones marked by a Rebirth Monument — a small tombstone icon that appears on the left side of your screen when you enter a summonable area. Boss arenas almost always qualify, but many overworld caves and catacombs do not. Your FP cost matters too: every ash has a fixed FP requirement that you must meet before the summon icon appears, so builds with low Mind will struggle to deploy expensive spirits like Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff (104 FP).
The Spirit Calling Bell and the Ranni Connection
Getting the Spirit Calling Bell is straightforward but easy to miss. After receiving Torrent from Melina and resting at the Church of Elleh in Limgrave, Renna (Ranni in disguise) appears at night and gifts you the bell along with the Lone Wolf Ashes. If you miss this encounter, you can purchase the bell later from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold for 100 runes. This is the single most important early purchase in the game, because without it you cannot use any of the elden ring tarnished edition spirit ashes you collect.
Best Ashes by Progression Stage
| Spirit Ash | Summon Cost (FP) | Max Upgrade Level | Upgrade Material | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mimic Tear | 660 | 10 | Ghost Glovewort | Duplicates player build; highest raw damage output |
| Black Knife Tiche | 132 | 10 | Ghost Glovewort | High mobility assassin; reduces enemy max HP |
| Dung Eater Puppet | 132 | 10 | Ghost Glovewort | Tanky melee fighter; applies Death Blight buildup |
Not all summons are created equal, and the gap between the best and worst options is enormous. The table below ranks the top performers based on community testing and player reports, focusing on raw survivability, damage output, and how well they hold aggro during boss fights.
| Spirit Ash | FP Cost | Best Use Case | Upgrade Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mimic Tear | 660 HP | Duplicating your build for massive DPS | S-Tier, max first |
| Black Knife Tiche | 132 FP | Melting boss HP bars with destined death | S-Tier, max second |
| Dung Eater Puppet | 104 FP | Tanking with constant pressure | A-Tier, high priority |
| Greatshield Soldiers | 104 FP | Stagger-locking humanoid bosses | A-Tier, solid choice |
| Lhutel the Headless | 104 FP | Teleporting tank with ranged attacks | B-Tier, situational |
| Lone Wolf Ashes | 47 FP | Early game aggro spreading | C-Tier, replace soon |
Mimic Tear's Copy Mechanic Explained
The Mimic Tear is famously overpowered because it copies your entire loadout, including weapons, spells, and consumables. If you are running a bleed build with Rivers of Blood or a sorcery setup with Comet Azur, the mimic becomes a second you that shreds bosses while you focus on positioning. The catch is that it costs 660 HP to summon rather than FP, which means you need a healthy health pool to deploy it safely. Players report that the mimic performs best when you equip it with a Greatshield and a fast weapon, because the AI handles blocking exceptionally well.
Black Knife Tiche and the Destined Death Effect
Black Knife Tiche is widely considered the best single-target summon in the game because her Blade of Death attack reduces the target's maximum HP by 10% and deals damage over time. She is incredibly evasive, dodging most boss attacks while chipping away at health bars from range. You obtain her by completing Ranni's questline and defeating Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader in the Moonlight Altar plateau. The fight is brutal, but the payoff is a summon that carries you through the entire endgame. For a deeper look at how she compares to other top-tier options, the spirit ashes tier list breaks down the full ranking.
How to Upgrade Spirit Ashes with Glovewort
Upgrading your summons requires Grave Glovewort (for regular ashes) and Ghost Glovewort (for special ashes that use Somber Smithing Stones for weapons). Each upgrade level increases the spirit's HP, damage, and defense, making upgrades absolutely essential for late-game viability. A +0 Mimic Tear will get shredded by Malenia, but a +10 version can solo her first phase with the right build.
Grave Glovewort Locations and Farming Routes
Grave Glovewort appears in catacombs and dungeons throughout the Lands Between, with higher-tier versions appearing in later regions. The best early farm is the Weeping Peninsula catacombs, which contain several [1] and [2] flowers. For mid-game, the Altus Plateau catacombs offer [4] and [5] versions, while the Mountaintops of the Giants catacombs provide [7] and [8]. The Consecrated Snowfield catacombs are the only place to find [9] flowers, and the final tier [10] is found in the Miquella's Haligtree region.
Ghost Glovewort Locations for Special Ashes
Special ashes like Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, and Dung Eater Puppet require Ghost Glovewort, which is rarer and found in different locations. The Nokron, Eternal City area contains several [1] through [5] flowers, while Nokstella, Eternal City has [6] through [8]. The Lake of Rot and Miquella's Haligtree contain the final tiers, with [9] and [10] appearing near the end of each area. If you are struggling to find enough flowers, the how to summon spirits guide includes a complete map of every Glovewort location.
Matching an Ash to Each Boss Type
Different bosses demand different summon strategies, and knowing which ash to deploy can mean the difference between a one-hour slog and a three-minute victory. The table below summarizes the best picks for some of the game's hardest encounters, based on community reports and player testing.
| Boss | Best Spirit Ash | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Margit, the Fell Omen | Lone Wolf Ashes | Three wolves split aggro and stagger him frequently |
| Godrick the Grafted | Greatshield Soldiers | Shield wall blocks his AoE attacks completely |
| Radahn, Starscourge | Mimic Tear | Duplicates your damage to outpace his phase transitions |
| Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Black Knife Tiche | Destined death bypasses her healing mechanic |
| Maliketh, the Black Blade | Dung Eater Puppet | Constant pressure prevents his ranged attacks |
| Elden Beast | Mimic Tear | High sustained damage with your best weapons |
Early Game Picks Before You Find the Best Ashes
During the first few hours, your options are limited but still useful. The Lone Wolf Ashes you get from Renna are solid for splitting aggro, and the Jellyfish Ashes found in Stormhill Shack provide a tanky poison-spitting ally that survives longer than the wolves. The Skeletal Militiamen Ashes are a hidden gem because they resurrect themselves after being knocked down, effectively giving you an infinite tank as long as the boss does not finish them off. These early picks are enough to carry you through Stormveil Castle, at which point you can pivot to stronger options.
Late Game Summons That Break the Difficulty Curve
Once you reach the Mountaintops of the Giants, the difficulty spikes dramatically, and your early summons will no longer cut it. This is the point where you want to invest heavily in Black Knife Tiche or Mimic Tear, as both can solo most non-boss enemies and significantly chunk boss health bars. The Dung Eater Puppet is also excellent here because his Omen Bairn attack deals massive damage and his high poise lets him trade blows with even the heaviest hitters. For a full walkthrough on acquiring the Dung Eater Puppet, the Dung Eater Puppet guide covers the entire questline step by step.
Advanced Spirit Ash Strategies and Synergies
Once you understand the basics, you can start combining your summons with specific builds and tactics to maximize their effectiveness. The most important synergy is pairing a tanky summon with a high-damage build, because the summon holds aggro while you unleash your strongest attacks from behind. This works exceptionally well with Greatshield Soldiers and a Moonveil katana build, as the soldiers block incoming damage while you spam Transient Moonlight weapon arts.
FP Budgeting and When to Summon
Deploying your summon at the right moment is just as important as choosing the right one. You should always summon at the start of a boss fight, before the boss begins its attack pattern, because the summon animation leaves you vulnerable. For bosses with long intro cutscenes, wait until the cutscene ends and immediately summon while the boss is still recovering. If you are using a high-FP summon like Black Knife Tiche, consider equipping the Cerulean Amber Medallion to boost your FP pool, or use Cerulean Flask charges to refill after summoning.
Spirit Ash vs Co-op: When to Use Each
Spirit ashes and co-op summons serve different purposes, and knowing when to use each can save you from unnecessary frustration. Spirit ashes are always available (in summonable zones) and do not require an internet connection, making them ideal for solo players who want consistent help. Co-op summons, on the other hand, bring real player intelligence and can adapt to any situation, but they also increase boss HP by 50% and open you up to invasion. For most PvE content, spirit ashes are the safer choice, especially if you are playing on the Switch 2 version where performance considerations matter. The Switch 2 spirit summons guide covers platform-specific performance notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the Spirit Calling Bell in the Tarnished Edition?
Return to the Church of Elleh in Limgrave after receiving Torrent from Melina, then travel at night to trigger Renna's appearance. She gifts you the bell and the Lone Wolf Ashes. If you miss this encounter, buy the bell from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold for 100 runes.
What is the best spirit ash in the game?
The Mimic Tear is widely considered the best because it copies your entire loadout and deals damage comparable to your own. Black Knife Tiche is a close second for single-target fights, thanks to her Destined Death attack that permanently reduces boss HP by 10%.
How many spirit ashes are there in total?
The base game contains 64 spirit ashes, including both regular and special variants. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC adds several more, bringing the total to over 70. Each ash has unique strengths, but only a handful are worth upgrading to max level.
Can I upgrade all spirit ashes to +10?
Yes, but you will need enough Grave Glovewort and Ghost Glovewort to do so. A single playthrough provides enough flowers to max out roughly 8-10 ashes, so prioritize the ones that fit your build and playstyle rather than spreading resources thin.
Do spirit ashes work in co-op mode?
No, spirit ashes cannot be summoned while co-op partners are present. The Spirit Calling Bell only functions in solo play, so you must choose between a phantom ally like Mimic Tear or a real player. This restriction applies identically in the Tarnished Edition, matching the base game's mechanics.