In Elden Ring, your choice of catalyst—be it a staff for sorcery or a sacred seal for incantations—can make or break your build. With so many options scattered across the Lands Between, it’s crucial to understand which tools of magic deliver the most power, utility, and synergy with specific playstyles.
Whether you're a dedicated astrologer raining down Comets or a flame-wielding prophet casting Wrath of Gold, this guide ranks the best Elden Ring catalysts to help you maximize your damage output and casting efficiency.
What Are Catalysts in Elden Ring?
In Elden Ring, catalysts refer to staves and sacred seals—the magical implements that enable casting sorceries and incantations, respectively. Each comes with unique scaling, bonuses, and sometimes even passive effects that enhance particular spell types.
To help you pick the right tool, we’ve divided this ranking into two sections: top staves for sorcerers and best seals for incantation users.
Top 5 Staves Ranked for Sorcery Builds
1. Lusat’s Glintstone Staff
Best for: Pure damage builds
This staff offers the highest raw sorcery scaling in the game, especially at high Intelligence levels. The tradeoff? It consumes more FP per cast. If you’re running a glass cannon or boss-melting build, this is your go-to Elden Ring catalyst.
2. Carian Regal Scepter
Best for: Balanced Intelligence builds
Not only does this staff scale well with Intelligence, but it also boosts full moon sorceries. It’s a solid, reliable choice for mid-to-late game casters.
3. Azur’s Glintstone Staff
Best for: Faster casting
This underrated staff reduces casting time at the cost of higher FP usage. Perfect for PvP scenarios or aggressive casting strategies.
4. Staff of Loss
Best for: Stealth and PvP
Boosts invisibility sorceries like Night Comet and Night Shard. When paired with another staff via dual-wielding, it becomes a deadly surprise weapon.
5. Academy Glintstone Staff
Best for: Early-game versatility
A strong all-rounder easily found early in the game, this staff serves well until better catalysts are unlocked.
Top 5 Sacred Seals Ranked for Faith Builds
1. Erdtree Seal
Best for: Pure Faith builds
With unmatched Faith scaling, this is the definitive sacred seal for late-game prophets and clerics focusing solely on incantation damage.
2. Dragon Communion Seal
Best for: Arcane + Faith hybrid builds
A must-have for builds using dragon incantations. It scales with Arcane, making it essential for blood, rot, and elemental dragon breath strategies.
3. Gravel Stone Seal
Best for: Lightning-focused builds
Grants a boost to dragon cult lightning incantations. If your build leans into storm or bolt-based damage, this seal is an excellent choice.
4. Godslayer’s Seal
Best for: Black Flame builds
Boosts Godslayer incantations and scales decently with Faith. Black Flame users will get significant benefit from this catalyst.
5. Clawmark Seal
Best for: Strength + Faith hybrid builds
Ideal for melee clerics, especially those using beast incantations like Beast Claw. It scales with Strength and Faith, making it perfect for hybrid tanky casters.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Catalyst for Your Build
When it comes to Elden Ring catalysts, there’s no one-size-fits-all. The best staff or seal depends heavily on your stat distribution, spell preferences, and even the type of encounters you face. Pure spellcasters might favor high-scaling options like Lusat’s Glintstone Staff or Erdtree Seal, while hybrids should explore seals like Clawmark or Dragon Communion for specialized benefits.
As always, experiment with different options. Some staves and seals shine brighter in specific situations—boss fights, invasions, or co-op play. The Lands Between are vast, and the true magic lies in discovering what works best for your Tarnished path.