Okay, let's talk about the Finger Seal. If you're diving into faith builds in Elden Ring, this little catalyst is probably your first stop. I remember my first playthrough – stumbled upon it by accident near that grumpy Santa-lookin' dude at Roundtable Hold. "What's this weird knuckle ring?" I thought. Turns out, it's way more important than it looks.
What Exactly Is the Finger Seal?
Simply put? It's your ticket to casting incantations. Think of it like a holy glove that channels magic through prayer. Unlike sorcery staffs that need intelligence, the Finger Seal scales with faith. Found mine early and stuck with it for 30 hours before realizing other seals existed (facepalm moment).
Why bother? Because incantations give you healing, fireballs, lightning strikes, and buffs that'll save your hide against bosses. Without a seal, those fancy dragon spells are just pretty icons in your inventory.
Key Specs at Base Level (Requires Faith 10):
- Damage Type: Strike (bonus against crystal enemies)
- Weight: 0.0 (yes, zero!)
- Scaling: D in Faith
- Passive: Boosts Two Fingers incantations by 10%
Where to Find This Thing
Good news: You don't need to fight any bosses. Head to Roundtable Hold – that safe zone you reach after meeting Melina. From the Site of Grace:
- Walk straight toward the double doors (ignore the creepy whispering)
- Turn right into the room with Twin Maiden Husks
- Look left. See that grumpy guy leaning against the wall? That's Brother Corhyn.
- Exhaust his dialogue (choose "Learn more about the Two Fingers")
- Boom! He hands you the Finger Seal. Free!
Weird he just gives it away, right? Almost suspicious. But hey, free gear.
Early Alternatives? Not Really...
Let's be real: before Stormveil Castle, your only other option is the Clawmark Seal (requires killing a boss in Bestial Sanctum). So for new faith builds, the Finger Seal is your mandatory starting point.
Making It Stronger: Upgrade Path
Upgrades matter more than you think. At +0, its faith scaling sucks. Like, "why bother?" bad. But pump it to +25 with Smithing Stones? That D-scaling jumps to S-tier!
| Upgrade Level | Faith Scaling | Incant Scaling | Stones Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| +0 (Base) | D | 60 | - |
| +10 | C | 140 | Somber [1-4] |
| +25 (Max) | S | 321 | Ancient Dragon |
Personal tip: Stop at +24 unless you've got spare Ancient Dragon Stones. The jump to +25 isn't huge unless you're level 150+.
Builds That Actually Work
Pure faith? Hybrid? Here's what's viable:
Pure Faith Caster
- Faith: 80 (soft cap)
- Mind: 30-40 for FP
- Seal: Finger Seal +25
- Spells: Lightning Spear, Black Flame, Golden Vow
Pros: Hilarious lightning sniping
Cons: Paper-thin defense
Paladin Hybrid
- Faith: 50
- Strength: 40
- Weapon: Blasphemous Blade (fire scales with faith)
- Spells: Flame Grant Me Strength, Barrier of Gold
My personal favorite. Buff up, then smash face. Feels heroic until you get pancaked by a giant crab.
How It Stacks Against Other Seals
Later game? The Finger Seal gets outclassed. Here's the brutal truth:
| Seal | Faith Requirement | Max Scaling | Specialty | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finger Seal | 10 | S (321) | Two Fingers incantations | Best starter |
| Godslayer Seal | 27 | S (327) | Godslayer spells (20% boost) | Late-game upgrade |
| Erdtree Seal | 40 | S (353) | Pure faith scaling | Min-max king |
| Dragon Communion | 10 FAI / 13 ARC | S (318) | Dragon spells (15% boost) | For arcane hybrids |
Yeah, the Erdtree Seal hits harder at high faith. But it requires 40 faith just to equip! For 90% of your playthrough? Stick with your trusty Finger Seal.
Spells That Shine With This Thing
Not all incantations are equal. These pair beautifully with the Finger Seal:
- Catch Flame - Spammable fire punch. Melts early bosses.
- Lightning Spear - Your bread-and-butter ranged attack. Found in Liurnia.
- Bestial Sling - Fast rock throw. Breaks enemy stances.
- Flame Cleanse Me - Cures rot. Lifesaver in Caelid.
Pro tip: Two Fingers incantations like Lord's Heal get 10% bonus damage. Not game-breaking, but nice.
Newbie Mistakes to Avoid
Here's where I screwed up so you won't:
Don't:
- Waste stones upgrading multiple seals early (pick ONE)
- Ignore your melee weapon (sometimes bonking is faster)
- Cast slow spells in close combat (you'll get interrupted)
- Forget seal scaling only affects damage spells (buffs don't improve)
Questions Players Actually Ask
Let's crush some FAQs:
Is Finger Seal better than Clawmark Seal?
Depends. Clawmark scales with strength – great for hybrid builds. Pure faith? Finger Seal wins long-term.
Can I dual-wield Finger Seals?
Technically yes, but pointless. Power-stancing seals doesn't boost spells. Equip a different seal in off-hand for stacking buffs though!
Why does my incantation damage suck?
Either low faith stat (aim for 50+) or unupgraded seal. Also, some enemies resist holy/fire. Try lightning!
Should I replace it later?
At 60+ faith? Probably. Godslayer or Erdtree Seal outperform it. But sentimental value counts, right?
Final Thoughts From a Faith Veteran
Look, the Finger Seal isn't flashy. It won't melt Malenia in 10 seconds. But it's reliable, lightweight, and available immediately. For new players experimenting with incantations? Absolutely essential.
I still keep mine in inventory during NG+ runs. Nostalgia for that first time I zapped Godrick with lightning, maybe. Or just backup when I get cursed and need urgent healing.
Whatever you do? Don't sleep on upgrading it. That S-scaling at +25 makes early-game trash seal into late-game monster. Now go fry some bosses, Tarnished.
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