Surprised there isn't a "ashes are fine but Mimic Tear is too good" contingent

[Spacesuit Spiff]

This was my coworker's take. I'm a stubborn old fart who doesn't use em, but they honestly look like a lot of fun with all the variety. There's a Second Wind video suggesting that fromsoft is pushing the ashes to migrate toward something more like Monster Hunter coop (which relies on positioning and juggling aggro) instead of dogeroll dodgeroll dodgeroll, but we're all too stubborn for that. A hypothetical version of this game that nerfed the dodge but compensated with ashes could be neat, I might try fatroll with ashes next playthrough to see how it feels.

Interesting to think about.

[Konno Saeko]

I like using the spirit ashes just in general, if I'm struggling on my own I just throw out a summon to help with pulling attention away from me occasionally. Not saying it will make every fight easy, even the Mimic Tear can be dumb. But it does help when you find yourself unable to summon help and need the extra bit of dmg for the boss. Never anything wrong with a bit of help even if it's a small amount.

[Knavenformed]

I use +0 wolves until late game to deal with staggerable bosses or multi fights
Then switch to Mimic against bosses I just can't be arsed to solo anymore

Summons are in the game, and the bosses are much harder than the games before so I've started using them just because they are a tool.

[Mushroom]

I use Spirit Ashes almost exclusively to pull aggro. But the bosses in the DLC are so aggressive anyway that my summons won't be able to pull aggro that much in the first place. I remember fighting Rellana for the first time and realizing I did 60% of the damage before my Mimic Tear actually got a hit in.

[Archdeacon Monseigneur]

went out of my way not to use mimic tear for my entire playthrough this time around - that is, until i got to consort radahn... like jeez its almost like the game tries to force you to open the big bible of cheese strats just to have a chance against him, and that of course includes the use of the mimic tear.

i hate myself for it, but i had to cave for that 1 boss and whip it out.
everything else was doable either without spirit summons or some other (less powerful) variety of spirit summon that isn't broken like the mimic.

[Marukuso]

The power gap in ashes is too big and some just feel like filler, why would you ever use the wandering noble mage when you are given much better ashes right off the bat? I mean Luthel is practically right at the start of the game.
The new talisman that rewards you for sending them to die is neat but there are still plenty of spirit ashes that only summon 1 spirit and the bad ones that summon multiple just end up filling the same niche of being fodder.
It's a neat mechanic, but you can tell that not much thought went behind it outside of porting a DS3 mod over to Elden Ring.
Also no Lobster ash in the DLC so 0/10

[Spacesuit Spiff]

Originally posted by Marukuso:

The power gap in ashes is too big and some just feel like filler, why would you ever use the wandering noble mage when you are given much better ashes right off the bat? I mean Luthel is practically right at the start of the game.
The new talisman that rewards you for sending them to die is neat but there are still plenty of spirit ashes that only summon 1 spirit and the bad ones that summon multiple just end up filling the same niche of being fodder.
It's a neat mechanic, but you can tell that not much thought went behind it outside of porting a DS3 mod over to Elden Ring.
Also no Lobster ash in the DLC so 0/10

Nuzlocke with the ashes could be fun actually. But yeah most of them just exist for the 2 lines of flavor text.

[Silyon]

I'll be honest, I've never really understood the Mimic Tear. Every time I summon it, the poor thing does little more than get bullied into a corner because the poor thing doesn't understand how dodging works and face-tanks things it really shouldn't. Fortunately it has the health to afford it, being a summon. But I never depend on it for raw damage, it's there to be a distraction and take advantage of consumables I never actually use.

The most I ask for in a summon is two things: Can it hold aggro, and does it offer buffs on the side? To that end, my preferred summons tend to be lads like Kristoff or Stormhawk Dheena at lower levels. Mimic can do these things if my own build happens to offer them, but I really don't like sacrificing a red flask to summoning it and would prefer spending a blue one for anything else.

[zero]

well fromsoft is def not going the monhun way (and your explanation of monhun isn't even close to how the game expects you to play, its very little aggro management and a similar 'wait till a good time for bit attacks, poke until then, method')

i think people make mountains out of molehills, spirit ashes are just npc summons for the modern day, in an open world game where not nearly as many bosses will have the chance to have an npc summon like dark souls did.

use em or dont, but its silly to complain about any of them.

[Vinnolo]

mimic has already been nerfed, it was even stronger on release, it will always be strong because it copies all your stats and gear on cast, you can make your mimic tear a ranged faith support or a pure mage while you keep boss aggro (they even heal you with heal from afar if you have it set)

[Faust Wither]

some people like the feel of satisfaction to defeat the enemy by themself, and some people just "MIMIC, SMASH THEM!".

[scambammer]

if people think ashes are easy mode then become a Land squirt Summoner. First step after casting is trying to figure out where they are hiding. Next step gather the enemies and successfully kite them there...even if they dont want to go.

[Spacesuit Spiff]

Originally posted by Vinnolo:

mimic has already been nerfed, it was even stronger on release, it will always be strong because it copies all your stats and gear on cast, you can make your mimic tear a ranged faith support or a pure mage while you keep boss aggro (they even heal you with heal from afar if you have it set)

That's not even mentioning the "summon it and swap gear around" eg shabriri's woe. A meta where you have to ♥♥♥♥ around in menus before/during fights isn't a good thing imo.

[mbrism]

Some bosses like the Erdtree avatar (dont remember the exact name) is actually more difficult with a summon because they trigger AOE spamm by the boss.

[Spacesuit Spiff]

Originally posted by scambammer:

if people think ashes are easy mode then become a Land squirt Summoner. First step after casting is trying to figure out where they are hiding. Next step gather the enemies and successfully kite them there...even if they dont want to go.

This guy Squirts

[scambammer]

Originally posted by Spacesuit Spiff:

Originally posted by scambammer:

if people think ashes are easy mode then become a Land squirt Summoner. First step after casting is trying to figure out where they are hiding. Next step gather the enemies and successfully kite them there...even if they dont want to go.

This guy Squirts

what is the recommended gear for a Land Squirt Summoner anyhow?