Elden Ring Sorceries Tier List (2023)

Sorcery magic has less emphasis on Status Affect application compared to the Incantation magic of Elden Ring, focused more on controlling areas, managing incoming spells, FP efficiency, and using staffs as magical weapons. Most Sorceries are chargeable, benefiting from different cast speeds and potencies to offer an array of options for hybrid builds and master casters alike. Lusat's Glintstone staff can help with variety builds in Elden Ring given Sorceries have low FP cost. Otherwise, specialized builds can use staffs related to their school of Sorcery: Aberrant, Carian, Claymen, Cold, Crystalian, Full Moon, Glintstone, Gravity, Loretta’s, Magma, Night, or Primeval.

With the amount of Glintstone and Crystal school Sorceries that have only slight differences, Sorcery magic seems to be oriented around managing FP and casting speeds. Having a variety of projectiles, ranges, and target tracking behaviors makes Sorcery a strong option for PvP in Elden Ring. Support spells that do exist in Sorcery are more about dominating battlefield arenas rather than the wider variety of heals, buffs, and Status Effect cures offered by Incantations. But as with all things, certain options are better to consider than others.

S-Tier Sorceries

The S-Tier Sorceries in Elden Ring are all about dominating the battlefield with large area-of-effect attacks or long-range hits. With the right combination of these Sorceries, players can effectively keep enemies at a particular distance and punish them from beyond the reach of any melee weapons. Also, a special mention goes out to the spell-counter Sorceries of the S-Tier, which offer a method of parrying in Elden Ring that is effective against spells.

Ancient Death Rancor

Chargeable
Superior tracking

Adula's Moonblade

Moderate forward range
Combination of strike and projectile attacks
Can be chain cast

Ambush Shard

Low FP cost
Superior forward range
Superior tracking
Avoids Shields by striking from behind
Can be chain cast

Cannon of Haima

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Large area of effect

Carian Retaliation

Extremely low FP cost
Requires caster to parry spells

Comet Azur

Superior forward range
Can be cast continuously

Eternal Darkness

Expels all incoming spells
Outgoing spells are not affected

Fia's Mist

Superior Status Effect application
Projectile lingers in the air
Only works against Tarnished characters

Greatblade Phalanx

Moderate forward range
Projectiles linger around caster before firing
High chance to stagger enemies

Loretta's Mastery

Chargeable
High FP cost
Superior forward range

Ranni's Dark Moon

Superior forward range
Superior Status Effect application
Reduces targets' resistance to Magic damage
Superior tracking
Expels all Sorceries that touch the projectile

Roiling Magma

Superior forward range
Moderate radial range
Projectiles that land in the ground will soon explode and linger
Projectiles that strike a target are weaker

Rykard's Rancor

Superior forward range
Moderate tracking
Initial projectile leaves a lingering trail which layer explodes in segments

Terra Magica

Increases Magic damage for players inside radius by 35 percent
30-second base duration

A-Tier Sorceries

The A-Tier of Sorceries still pack a punch, yet don’t offer as much battlefield control as those in the S-Tier ranking. Most of them are even variations of S-Tier Sorceries that have slightly less potency, with a related decrease in FP cost. A prime example of the slight differences is Rennala’s Full Moon compared to Ranni’s Dark Moon, whereas the S-Tier Sorcery has an additional Frostbite Status Effect.

A lot of Sorceries related to using staffs as weapons are ranked as A-Tier due to their FP efficiency, speed, and power. Even though most of the staff-strike Sorceries have the shortest range, not needing to have a melee weapon equipped is a great way to keep players away from heavy equipment loads in Elden Ring. Having a light equip load allows players to make the most of being in the right spell range.

Briars of Punishment

Superior forward range
Extremely low FP cost
Can be chain cast
Wounds caster, can kill
Inflicts caster with slight Bleeding

Carian Greatsword

Low FP cost
Moderate radial range
Can be chain cast

Carian Phalanx

Moderate forward range
Projectiles linger around caster before firing

Carian Slicer

Poor forward range
Extremely low FP cost
Has all light melee attacks except Critical hits

Gelmir's Fury

Chargeable
Superior radial range
Low FP cost
Projectiles linger on the floor after cast

Great Oracular Bubble

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Moderate tracking

Loretta's Greatbow

Chargeable
Superior forward range

Magma Shot

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Projectile lingers on ground after cast

Night Maiden's Mist

Moderate forward range
Moderate radial range
Projectile lingers to continuously damage targets
Caster can be damaged by lingering projectile
Can be chain cast

Rennala's Full Moon

Superior forward range
Reduces targets' resistance to Magic damage
Superior tracking
Expels all Sorceries that touch the projectile

Rock Sling

Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Moderate tracking
High chance to stagger enemies

Stars of Ruin

Chargeable
Moderate forward range
Superior tracking

Shard Spiral

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Projectile strikes targets multiple times

Zamor Ice Storm

Chargeable
Moderate radial range
Low FP cost
Superior Status Effect application

B-Tier Sorceries

Some of what could previously be considered the best Sorceries in Elden Ring appear in the B-Tier. After a few updates and weapon rebalancing, some Sorceries don’t have the tracking or range to compete with stronger offerings. Still more effective than most, the B-Tier Sorceries are typically victims of power-creep, especially since PvP damage values from almost every source have unique adjustments.

A number of tools from the Night school are generally around this rank as some of the most underrated Sorceries in Elden Ring. While the offensive Night school Sorceries aren’t the most powerful in terms of damage, they are the most consistent spells to hit evasive enemies. Support-based Night school Sorceries, on the other hand, are better used in PvP since NPCs will see right through their effects.

Crystal Torrent

Superior forward range
Slow cast speed
Can be continuously cast

Explosive Ghostflame

Superior radial range
Poor tracking, high chance of missing targets

Founding Rain of Stars

Moderate forward range
Poor tracking, high chance of missing targets
Projectiles continue to fire after casting

Gavel of Haima

Poor forward range
Poor radial range
Has a follow-up attack

Glintblade Phalanx

Moderate forward range
Projectiles linger around caster before firing

Glintstone Icecrag

Moderate forward range
Low FP cost
Can be chain cast

Magic Glintblade

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Moderate tracking
Low FP cost
Projectile lingers in air and fires after a delay

Meteorite of Astel

Superior forward range
Poor tracking, high chance of missing targets
Inaccurate at longer ranges
Can be continuously cast

Night Comet

Chargeable
Can be chain cast
Projectile pierces targets
NPCs won't dodge projectiles

Night Shard

Moderate forward range
Extremely low FP cost
Can be chain cast
NPCs won't dodge projectiles

Rancorcall

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Superior tracking

Thops's Barrier

Poor radial range
Extremely low FP cost
Expels all incoming spells

Unseen Blade

Turns affected weapon invisible
Ineffective against NPCs
Low FP cost

C-Tier Sorceries

The low FP cost of C-Tier Sorceries makes the better half of these spells great for starter Sorceries in the early game. Most Sorceries in this rank have higher potency variants that are more effective with not much of a trade-off besides an increase in FP cost. These Sorceries don’t offer much in terms of controlling the battlefield, yet they are still capable of dealing moderate damage in their own ranges.

Briars of Sin

Poor radial range
Extremely low FP cost
Can be chain cast, up to three times
Wounds caster, can kill
Inflicts caster with slight Bleeding

Carian Piercer

Chargeable
Low FP cost
Moderate forward range

Comet

Chargeable
Superior forward range

Crystal Barrage

Chargeable
Low FP cost
Superior forward range

Crystal Release

Moderate radial range
Poor tracking, high chance of missing targets

Freezing Mist

Moderate forward range
Superior status effect application
Does not directly damage enemies

Glintstone Cometshard

Chargeable
Superior forward range
Extremely low FP cost
Can be chain cast

Rock Blaster

Poor forward range
Poor radial range
Can be continuously cast
Moderate chance to stagger enemies

Scholar's Shield

Enhances guarding with affected shields
Enhances damage reduction on affected shields
Enhances Magic resistance on affected shields

Shattering Crystal

Chargeable
Moderate forward range
Poor tracking, high chance of missing targets

Star Shower

Chargeable
Moderate forward range
Superior tracking

Swift Glintstone Shard

Moderate forward range
Extremely low FP cost
Can be chain cast

Tibia's Summons

Superior forward range
Low FP cost
Only effective on large/stationary targets

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D-Tier Sorceries

The D-Tier Sorceries are the least efficient damage options, as well as the most underwhelming spell effects. The Gravity school Sorceries that displace targets fall in this rank. The displacement Gravity spells are more efficient as Ashes of War on weapons, where the range is more contextually appropriate.