UPDATE: We have improved our Sword of Night guide by incorporating two interactive Elden Ring maps that display all the item locations listed below. These tools should assist you in quickly finding any requisite gear!

Introduction to the Sword of Night and Jolan

Swordhand of Night, Jolan is an intriguing NPC featured in Elden Ring’sShadow of the Erdtree. Although she initially offers little dialogue, progressing through Count Ymir’s questline will gradually earn her trust. However, be cautious, as this trust can easily be destroyed.

Your experience with Jolan culminates in a pivotal decision, granting you the opportunity to acquire her weapon, the Sword of Night. This sleek black katana executes sweeping attacks that deal significant Magic damage, elevating both its aesthetic and combat utility. Below, we delve into the best Sword of Night build in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree.

Item Location Maps for the Sword of Night Build

To assist in gathering all essential components for your Sword of Night build, we provide two interactive maps—one for The Lands Between and another for the Realm of Shadow.

Gear Required from The Lands Between

Gear Required from the Realm of Shadow

Optimal Sword of Night Build Overview

The Sword of Night, acquired at the conclusion of Jolan’s quest by providing her an Iris of Occultation, requires modest stats—only 11 Strength and 20 Dexterity. Once upgraded to +10, it offers impressive S scaling with Dexterity.

While the weapon delivers a blend of Physical and Magic damage, it is arguably less powerful than other katana alternatives, such as Moonveil or Rivers of Blood. However, you can create a versatile Magic-Fire hybrid build that performs well across the enigmatic Realm of Shadow.

This build emphasizes maximized Dexterity while allocating a few levels to Faith, enabling you to cast fiery Incantations alongside wielding the sword.

Stat Distribution and Class Recommendations

This build primarily utilizes weaponry and gear from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, with certain items—like the Sword of Night—available only after completing significant quests. As such, it’s recommended for players exploring the Realm of Shadow or participating in New Game Plus.The initial class selection isn’t critical; however, if starting anew, consider the Warrior or Bandit class to benefit from high base Dexterity.

The following stats are tailored for approximately Rune Level 200. If you find yourself closer to Rune Level 150, you can minimize Vigor and bypass Faith allocation while still successfully completing the core game.

  • Vigor: 60
  • Mind: 20
  • Endurance: 20
  • Strength: 12
  • Dexterity: 55
  • Intelligence: 9
  • Faith: 30
  • Arcane: 8

Upon entering the Realm of Shadow, prioritizing 60 Vigor is crucial to sustain lengthy boss encounters without succumbing to quick attacks. Furthermore, investing in Faith at 30 allows for wielding a Sacred Seal and beneficial Incantations, ensuring versatility when combat situations become challenging.

Mind and Endurance can both be capped at 20 Rune Levels, ensuring you have sufficient stamina. If you consistently deplete stamina, consider utilizing the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman. For enhancing Mind, equipping the Preceptor’s Big Hat will add +3 Mind levels.

Strength and Intelligence can be deprioritized for this build; maintaining 11 Strength is sufficient for effective Sword of Night usage. Dexterity remains the key focus, with an ideal soft cap of 55, making the most of the weapon’s capabilities. If resources allow, continue enhancing Dexterity to the next soft cap of 80.

Recommended Flask and Buffs

For the Flask of Wondrous Physick, personalization is key. The Opaline Hardtear is a frequently chosen option, briefly boosting damage negations. Pairing this with the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear or the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear to enhance respective fire or magic attacks is also a strategic choice.

If you prefer fewer Faith spells but still want Incantation buffs, the Faith-Knot Crystal Tear can elevate your Faith sufficiently for buff use before combat.

Weapons for the Sword of Night Build

Sword of Night, obtained by delivering an Iris of Occultation to Jolan at the end of her quest.

In your off-hand, equipping the Giants’ Seal and the Firespark Perfumer’s Bottle provides supplementary damage capabilities, enabling you to deal AoE damage and administer buffs prior to epic confrontations.

Lucky for you, the Sword of Night enjoys a B scaling with Dexterity at +10, and so does the Firespark Perfume Bottle at +25. However, the Giants’ Seal boasts an S scaling with Faith at +25, which enhances Incantation potency, crucial for your fire-themed Sword of Night strategy.

Ashes of War Selection

As the Sword of Night is a Somber weapon featuring the unique Witching Hour Slash Skill, traditional Ashes of War allocations do not apply here.

For your Firespark Perfume Bottle, you can choose between Rolling Sparks and Wall of Sparks. The former sends a cone of mist that detonates instantly, while the latter surrounds you in explosive mist that activates after a brief duration.

Opting for Rolling Sparks is advisable; aim it beneath your targets for optimal damage output. It significantly outperforms Wall of Sparks!

Talismans for the Build

This fiery build allows for various Talismans, some of which are situational based on gameplay style.

  • Shard of Alexander – significantly boosts skill attack power.
  • Millicent’s Prosthesis – enhances Dexterity and attack power with successive hits.
  • Rotten Winged Sword Insignia – augments attack power with each successive strike.
  • Two-Headed Turtle Talisman – accelerates stamina recovery.
  • Fire-Scorpion Charm – amplifies fire damage but raises physical damage taken; use with the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman for balance.
  • Blessed Blue Dew Talisman – gradually restores FP.
  • Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman – greatly enhances physical damage resistance.

Currently, I am utilizing the Fire-Scorpion Charm alongside the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman to boost fire attacks, complemented by the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman for increased mobility, while also incorporating the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia for enhanced quick-hit sequences.

Feel free to adjust these selections according to your play style or specific build requirements. For instance, opting for Millicent’s Prosthesis will provide a slight Dexterity increase, whereas employing the Shard of Alexander will benefit those frequently utilizing the Witching Hour Slash.

Incantations to Enhance Combat

This Sword of Night build intricately weaves in Giants’ Flame and Fire Monk Incantations, all benefitting from the Giants’ Seal. Notably, Golden Vow and Lightning Spear stand out as essential options.

Golden Vow acts as your buff spell, while Lightning Spear offers a lightning damage alternative effective against numerous foes. This Incantation also excels in ranged precision.

  • Golden Vow – boosts attack and defense for you and allies.
  • Flame, Grant Me Strength – enhances physical and fire attack capabilities.
  • Giantsflame Take Thee – launches a substantial fireball toward your enemy.
  • Flame Fall Upon Them – unleashes several fireballs at the target over a long distance.
  • Burn O Flame! – conjures multiple fiery pillars around the caster, ideal for AoE crowd control or staggering weaker bosses.
  • Lightning Spear – throws a spear of lightning at your target.

Initially, you may opt to ignore the Faith stat and these Incantations, relying on your Sword of Night and Firespark Perfume Bottle during early stages. However, aim for 30 Faith level when feasible to unlock the full potential of all aforementioned Incantations.

For those focusing primarily on buff Incantations, such as Golden Vow and Flame Grant Me Strength, you will still require a minimum of 25 Faith to access the former. Any Sacred Seal suffices, though I favor the Golden Order Seal for buffing purposes, which requires 27 Faith. Additionally, consider utilizing the Two Fingers Heirloom or Godrick’s Great Rune for enhancing your Faith stat, with the option to incorporate the Faith-Knot Crystal Tear for your Flask of Wondrous Physick.

Armor and Gear Recommendations

Armor selection holds less significance in Shadow of the Erdtree, so prioritize aesthetics. Personally, I am donning the Armor of Night—Jolan’s set—complementing the Sword of Night beautifully.

Alternatively, Maliketh’s armor set and the Black Knight armor set (acquired from Black Knights in the Realm of Shadow) also offer visually appealing options that pair effectively with the weapon.

Consider the Okina Mask from the base game if you seek additional Dexterity; however, be aware of its penalty to Focus, which diminishes your resistance to Sleep and Madness effects.

For further exploration of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, be sure to check our other guides, including the Impenetrable Thorns build, Lightning Milady build, and Freezing Perfumer build.

Source & Images

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