Update Request for the Devs, Black Flame Blade

[Genestarwind]

Hello, I know some are going to tell me I need to learn to combo better but here I go with my request to the devs at Fromsoftware, I think the incantation Black Flame Blade could use a few more seconds on the buff, 7 just isn't much. I would think since the DoT doesn't stack but refreshes is a good thing, but perhaps up the time of the buff to about 14-15 seconds or lower it's FP cost to say 7-8 to help it be more FP efficient.

I'm NOT saying to do both of these, but rather 1 or the other. I understand how strong it can be, especially in NG+ where the main factor is the higher HP pools, but for the first run of the game it is pretty weak until you get most of the way through the game where bosses start having 15k-22k HP. And doing the math at 20+(20per1k HP) on say a 15k HP boss is 320 dmg, not certain from posted info if that is per second for 2 seconds or if it is total for the 2 second DoT, so either 320 or 640 dmg. Many of the other spells costing around the same FP can do that much or more easily, some hitting for 1k+ from a safe range.

I just think that as it is with the short 7 second duration and the 15 FP cost that it isn't appealing enough for people to build around it. I would think it would be good to adjust it so it's more in line with other buffs like Bloodflame Blade/Poison/Electrify/Order's Blade as these all currently outlast it by a lot of time giving you higher damage output overall in the fact that you can stack the hits up as well as Bloodflame and Poison both proccing their respective status affects to deal further damage.

It is powerful in NG+ where HP pools grow but many are already hitting harder at that point with base weapon damage due to levels, stats, and weapon upgrades. Just a bit of love for this incantation would be nice.

[Anthreris]

Even just two more seconds to bring it up from 7 to 9 seconds without Old Lord's Talisman would make it perfect. Then the talisman could increase it up to 11 seconds instead of 9.

Also it's not likely that the developers will do this because it probably isn't likely that they read these forums thoroughly. And because they nerfed both Black Flame and Destined Death in the Lands of Shadow, those bosses actually have specific resistances to Black Flame. Yes even the annoying Furnace Golems boast an actual immunity to it (really Fromsoft?), yet bleed remains untouched.

This is very annoying since it means my Black Flame Pryomancer struggled more against bosses than others especially the final boss, while everyone else simply shielded themselves with Fingerprint. I was nerfed because I like my pyro spells to actually do damage, and not be a pool noodle.

However a change like this would be much appreciated.

[Greywander]

I would love to see more black flame content. Loved it in DS3, was kind of disappointed with the implementation in ER.

BFB is designed for a very specific style of gameplay. I think that style of gameplay can be interesting and should still exist, but I would love to see a long duration or even permanent black flame weapon buff. For me, I just like the aesthetic.

I also think BFB is a little too expensive (it costs 15 FP, while Bloodflame Blade is 20 FP but lasts 60 seconds), and the damage of the DOT effect is too low, particularly against non-boss enemies. So here's what I think I'd do:

Black Flame Blade has its cost reduced to, say, 10 FP. Base damage for all black flame effects are reduced, but the DOT effect is increased (was originally 20 + 2%). Against bosses, it is 30 + 3%, against mini-bosses and special enemies it is 60 + 6%, and against regular enemies it is 90 + 9%.

I would also add a permanent or long duration black flame weapon buff where the DOT effect is only one third as strong (so 10 + 1% / 20 + 2% / 30+3% instead of 30 + 3% / 60 + 6% / 90 + 9%) and the DOT is over 3 seconds instead of 2 (remember, it does not stack, it only refreshes the duration).

I'd also like to see black flame versions of other spells added. We know a black flame version of Catch Flame or O Flame exists, as the black flame monks use it. DS3 had such a spell. But I'd like to see other fire spells get a black flame variant as well.

Anyway, this is all just wishful thinking, as it's unlikely anything new will be added to the game, or that such drastic changes would be made to any of the base game content that has already had more than 2 years to get patched.

Perhaps in the next game they will implement something like an infusion system for spells, so you can take any fire spell and infuse it with Dark to turn it into a black flame spell. I can also see black lightning being pretty cool looking.

[Ironwu]

Wasting your time and energy. Elden Ring is not a 'Live Service' game and they are not going to modify it like this just for a few disgruntled players. It is basically cooked and complete. They cannot even fix the game-breaking bugs. Why would they pay any attention to this?

[ArcKnight]

This is already pretty useful on bosses. I thought it was kind of garbage myself for a long time. But when I was fighting Mohg solo, it was hard for me for whatever reason with his odd attack timing. I toyed around with different things but after I put BFB on an Erdsteel Dagger, it was surprisingly effective. It casts so fast that it's almost always viable to slap on the weapon.

It's odd but it's not as bad as I thought. It killed Mohg with an underleveled weapon just fine, haha.