Within a game as large as Elden Ring, there are tons of different ways for players to experience the gameplay, be it through a broad chain of quests or a singular hidden dungeon. Each playthrough can be an entirely unique experience for the player, making Elden Ring a fairly replayable game.
One big feature responsible for ever-changing gameplay is the game's combat, which can be tackled in many different ways. Some players will build their character into the beefiest tank possible, tanking hits and dishing them out from close range; other players will create a full glass cannon mage build, destroying enemies from range. Each build changes the flow of combat and leads to two players taking down enemies like Elden Ring's disturbing flame chariots in entirely different ways.
Thus, one of the biggest game-changing abilities in the game is the ability to swap between Ashes of War. Ashes of War, like Elden Ring's Golden Parry, are skills that can be swapped in and out of weapons to completely change the flow of combat. Each Ash of War offers a unique skill that can be equipped into weapons and then used for specific effects. For example, the Ash of War called War Cry causes a character to deal more damage as well as change how a weapon's heavy attacks work.
Reddit user Modfull_X showcased War Cry's effects in a post that captured the regular and enhanced heavy attacks of a straight sword. The original heavy attacks of the sword were fairly simple slashes; however, when War Cry was activated, the heavy attacks changed. The first attack executed a running overhead slam, and the second attack dragged the sword along the ground for an upward slice. While there are certainly better mobility options like Elden Ring's Bloodhound Step Ash of War, the mobility offered by War Cry, along with the damage increase, makes for an effective powerup.
The funny thing about Modfull_X's explanation of War Cry is the reason behind it. According to the comments, there was another Reddit user who claimed that War Cry had zero effect when they used it. Knowing full well that War Cry indeed had effects, Modfull_X tried to explain how to use the Ash of War. However, the user insisted that the Ash of War didn't work for them. Modfull_X admitted this frustrated them enough to create the above clip, and the rest is history.
Whether the user ever figured out how to use War Cry is unclear, but should they seek the truth, ModFull_X's showcase proves that War Cry does cause changes in the character. It is unfortunate that War Cry is outclassed by more effective Ashes like Elden Ring's Hoarfrost Stomp, but it is still a great early game option given that the player knows how to activate it.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Series X/S.