Talismans in Elden Ring give your protagonist additional strength needed to overcome many difficulties. With the addition of Shadow of the Erdtree, new talismans have appeared in the game that surpass everything that can be found in the main game in terms of characteristics. In this guide, we have compiled the ten best talismans that you should find first.
Depending on your build, you will probably want to find other talismans as well. We will expand this list as we progress through the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
The Two-Handed Sword Talisman is considered one of the best talismans for fighters specializing in Strength and Dexterity skills, as it increases damage from two-handed weapons. Since for two-handed weapon owners, switching to a two-handed stance is the only way to deal a lot of damage, this accessory will be very useful. Keep in mind that the talisman will only work if the protagonist holds the weapon with both hands.
This accessory can be found at the top of the Temple City Ruins in the Rauh Sanctuary Ruins area. If for some reason you haven't reached this zone yet, the route is as follows:
Note that the talisman is one of the best options also because you can get it in the early stages of the expansion.
This talisman is quite unique as it increases the hero's attack power when «madness» is present in the area. Anything infected with frenzied flame increases overall attack power. The easiest way to use it: equip the talisman, infect the hero with madness for a quick damage boost, then attack enemies.
You can obtain the accessory in the Abyssal Forest. You can reach this location via the path leading to the sample vault lift in the Shadow Haven. Here you need to go down the stairs and attack the wall to the right of the painting to unlock a hidden passage. Just keep running forward until you see a river far below. Follow it and continue walking; after a while, you will find yourself in the Gloomy Catacombs. You will have to go through the dungeon to get to the Abyssal Forest.
In the forest itself, you will have to make some effort to get the talisman. Find the grace point «Forest Path». From there, follow the road deeper into the forest, but keep to the right. When rats appear, turn. You need one specific mob with a tumor instead of a head. The enemy cannot be defeated in the standard way. If he notices the protagonist, he will start casting madness, then teleport and instantly kill. The only way to defeat him is to parry the attack with a shield. Note that the timing can be tricky, but parrying should save your life. As soon as you parry the blow, attack with any weapon and kill the enemy as quickly as possible.
This is another talisman that increases the main character's damage. The accessory will significantly increase damage for 30 seconds after the death of a spirit ash. At this moment, you will receive a 20% damage boost, which is quite useful for solo players, especially in boss battles. Moreover, the spirits you summon are doomed to die in most cases, so this is a good way to increase the damage from standard attacks.
The Withered Bouquet is located in Belurat. Find the grace point «Minor Private Altar». From there, go up the stairs, passing the sewers.
Run into the open house and climb the stairs. Go even higher, and on the bridge, turn left, then right. Kill the small scorpions and jump through the debris on the right into the building where there are several flymen. You will reach the cross of Mikella. Exit the room, and you will find yourself on a balcony with a small chapel. The accessory is on a dead body inside.
In Shadow of the Erdtree, you can find not only talismans that enhance the hero's damage but also defensive accessories. One such talisman, which we highly recommend taking with you to the final boss battle, is called the Golden Scythe. The item provides a significant +22% buff to Holy damage defense, which will greatly increase your chances of survival in the final battle. However, obtaining the item is not easy — you will have to solve one of the most challenging puzzles in the expansion.
Head to the Shaman Village area. We have already described how to reach this area in a separate guide. The easiest way to get here is through the Sample Vault. Climb the stairs at the back and find the broken wall, then use the lift to descend to the boss arena. Next to this arena, you will see a small chapel on the right. Use the gesture «O Mother» in front of this statue to open the hidden passage to the Shaman Village. Once you do this, run along the path to the abandoned village and climb to the top. Here will be a dry tree with a statue inside. Pick up the only glowing item — this is the talisman.
Often during the passage of Elden Ring, you will encounter various types of damage, including fire damage. Messmer Colossajer and his knights in the Shadow Haven have a special fiery aura, so you will need powerful protection to counter it. In addition, in the open world, you will encounter furnace giants. In any case, the next amulet will be very useful for exploring the world, as the talisman is one of many that provide a significant fire damage defense modifier of 22% when worn.
The Fire Dragon Talisman +3 is hidden in the Fort of Condemnation, located in the southern Shadow Altus. We recommend skipping the passage of Ensys Castle, activating the Spirit Spring below it, and sneaking in from the other side. Go through the main entrance and run to the basement with the cages to reach the chest. The accessory will be inside.
We will skip other defensive talismans that you can find in Shadow of the Erdtree and immediately suggest finding the most versatile one. The Pearl Dragon Talisman +3 gives your character 11% protection against all types of elemental damage. Other talismans are better suited for specific bosses, but this one is ideal for exploring the world, for example, when you don't want to frequently change your gear while fighting enemies using various types of elemental damage.
The amulet can be found in the Sample Vault area in the Shadow Haven. To do this, reach the large stone statue with a glowing item in its beard. Reach the lever on the upper floors, which will change the position of the mannequins in the center of the Vault. Now find the «Fourth Floor» grace and approach the edge of the balcony. Below, there should be a giant's body hanging. Jump onto it and walk to the head, then jump down to the floor. In the beard, you will find the talisman.
If you need protection from poison or Scarlet Rot in Shadow of the Erdtree, this amulet is the best fit. The enhanced version of this talisman will increase the hero's immunity by up to +180 units. It works roughly as follows: the higher the hero's immunity, the slower the bar fills up when exposed to poison or Scarlet Rot.
Obtaining the talisman is not easy. To do this, reach the sewers of Belurat. Activate the «Belurat, Settlement by the Tower» grace and go to the fountain on the right. From there, keep to the right, and you will find another fountain near which shadows are praying. To the left, there will be a descent into the sewers, but the gates below will be locked. The key to them can be found in a small room under the roofs, guarded by a grave bird from the «Minor Private Altar» point.
Return to the locked door and descend into the sewers. Run along the only path to the poisonous swamp area. On the left, you will see an open space where some of the most unpleasant enemies in the expansion will appear — the Decay Tree Spirits. After defeating a large monster of this type, you will have a chance to obtain this amulet.
The Crimson Amber Medallion +3 is one of the most useful talismans in Shadow of the Erdtree. It does one very simple but extremely useful thing: it increases the main character's maximum health. This talisman is so useful that you will likely not take it off throughout the entire playthrough.
Strangely enough, obtaining the amulet is relatively simple. Move northwest from the Main Gate of Ensys Castle to the dead-end area with fog. Here is a small dungeon called the Misty Rift Catacombs. The enemies here are quite tough, and there are also some traps that can easily kill the hero. Study the route and descend to the lower level of the dungeon.
At the very end, you will encounter a boss — the Death Knight. As a reward for victory, you will receive the very accessory we talked about.
If you prefer playing as a sorcerer, you will definitely want to increase your magic points gauge. You can do this with the help of the next talisman. The Azure Amber Medallion +3 is an incredibly functional talisman that increases the main character's overall magic points.
Head to the Ruins of Rauha Haven and run north from the Temple City Ruins. To the northwest, you will find a river — run along it to the dungeon called the Scorpion River Catacombs. Descend to the lower levels of the dungeon and find another Death Knight. Defeating him will grant you this amulet.
The talismans described above can be considered some of the most useful you will find in Elden Ring. But there is one more that will surely be of interest to all fans of the series.
This talisman will only be useful for those players who travel with serious overload (Heavy or Very Heavy). It is best suited to one of the best sets in the game — the Green Copper Armor, which you can obtain closer to the end of the expansion. Before equipping it, of course, it is advisable to make sure that your endurance is at a sufficient level. Otherwise, your hero will lose mobility and even stop dodging in time. The trick is that when combining the armor and the talisman, you can also use a heavy shield. Such equipment will add an additional 20% protection.
This amulet is located in the Ruins of Rauha Haven. After defeating the optional boss Dancing Lion, head east and jump off the ledge. Ride to the waterfalls, where there will be a warrior in a bird helmet. Defeat him and turn into the temple under the canopy with columns. There is a large altar with the talisman.