Wilmington Maternal Group

In Elden Ring, character builds are deeply influenced by how different stats scale with weapons, spells, and equipment. Among the most popular and intriguing are Faith and Arcane builds. Both offer unique playstyles and item synergies, but their scaling mechanics affect how you should approach combat, gear choices, and progression.

Having played through the game with both a high Faith character and a bleed-focused Arcane build, I discovered some crucial differences that impact the way Elden Ring items perform under each stat. Whether you're theorycrafting your next build or want to better understand what separates these two powerful paths, here's a breakdown of five key differences in item scaling.

1. Elemental Scaling vs Status Effect Scaling

Faith builds primarily enhance Holy damage and Incantation potency, especially through weapons and seals that scale with Faith. Arcane, on the other hand, affects status build-up like Bleed, Poison, and Madness, as well as the effectiveness of certain Arcane-scaling weapons.

My experience: With my Faith build, I relied heavily on the Erdtree Seal and Golden Order Greatsword, which scaled efficiently with my Faith stat. Meanwhile, my Arcane character thrived on fast-attacking weapons like Rivers of Blood and Morgott’s Cursed Sword to maximize Bleed build-up.

2. Weapon Availability and Diversity

Faith builds benefit from a wide variety of Holy-infused weapons and Greatswords that scale with Faith when paired with the proper Ashes of War. Arcane builds have fewer options overall, but those few are exceptionally strong, especially for Bleed-focused strategies.

My experience: The Faith build gave me more flexibility, allowing me to switch between damage-dealing and healing/support weapons. With Arcane, I felt more limited but also more focused. Once I obtained Eleonora’s Poleblade, it became my core weapon through the rest of the game.

3. Scaling with Seals vs Scaling with Ashes of War

In Faith builds, the scaling of Sacred Seals is essential. Most damage and utility comes from Incantations, so upgrading and selecting the right seal (e.g., Erdtree Seal for high Faith scaling or Dragon Communion Seal for Arcane scaling) is critical.

Arcane scaling often ties directly to weapons and Ashes of War, especially those with innate status effects. Arcane also boosts certain sorceries and incantations like Dragon Communion spells.

My experience: In my Arcane build, using the Dragon Communion Seal helped me finally feel like the spells were scaling properly with my stats. Without it, my Arcane Incantations felt underwhelming. On the Faith side, using the Erdtree Seal amplified my healing and offensive spells well into the endgame.

4. PvP and PvE Effectiveness

Faith builds shine in sustained PvE encounters with strong healing, buffs, and versatile offensive tools like Lightning Spear or Black Flame. Arcane builds are more aggressive, excelling in PvP thanks to fast-acting bleed weapons and unpredictable status builds.

My experience: In co-op and boss fights, Faith was a great asset due to healing and defensive buffs. However, in PvP, my Arcane build with Rivers of Blood was more lethal, often finishing fights in just a few exchanges thanks to rapid bleed procs.

5. Scaling Progression and Optimization

Faith scales more linearly with specific weapons and Incantations, rewarding consistent stat investment. Arcane scaling can be more nuanced—it affects only specific weapons or abilities, and often feels weaker early on unless you acquire the right tools.

My experience: My Faith build felt powerful early and remained viable throughout. With Arcane, it took some time to collect the right Elden Ring items that benefited from the stat. Once I did, though, the power spike was intense. Timing and build planning are more critical with Arcane scaling.

Bonus Tip: Where to Buy Elden Ring Items for Sale

Whether you're running a Faith or Arcane build, acquiring key gear can take time. If you’re looking to experiment or skip the grind, you can buy Elden Ring items for sale from trusted sources like U4GM. I’ve personally used U4GM to test both builds quickly. Their delivery was secure and efficient, helping me fine-tune my character without replaying hours of content.

Faith and Arcane offer drastically different experiences in Elden Ring, each with their own item scaling mechanics and strategic approaches. Faith rewards balanced play with healing, buffs, and holy damage, while Arcane caters to aggressive, status-based combat. In my journey, both were incredibly rewarding—but knowing how Elden Ring items scale with your chosen stat is key to building something truly powerful.

Whether you're blessing allies with golden light or drowning enemies in blood, there’s a path for you. And if you want to jumpstart your build, don’t forget you can always buy Elden Ring items for sale to experiment faster and more effectively.

Tip of the Day: Bloodhound Knight Darriwil – Elden Ring Guide