After using the Dragonburnt Ruins teleporter trap to get to the Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Elden Ring, players eventually make their way back to the surface and find themselves in an ominous, red hellscape. It's not flames that taint the land of Caelid, though – it's the Scarlet Rot.
Elden Ring's Scarlet Rot is the birthright (and birth curse) of the demigod Malenia, and in her battle against General Radahn she laid waste to the land of Caelid with this curse. Needless to say, it's powerful stuff, and with the right build players can bend this curse to their own will and lay waste to PvP opponents and endgame bosses alike.
Recommended Stat Allocation for Scarlet Rot Builds
The most important stat for Scarlet Rot builds is Faith, as this is the primary stat that determines Incantation strength and thus the effectiveness of your Rot spells. The chart below was created for a Level 150 character who started as a Wretch.
|
Vigor |
Mind |
Endurance |
Strength |
Dexterity |
Intelligence |
Faith |
Arcane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
45 |
28 |
12 |
10 |
22 |
22 |
80 |
10 |
A 45 in Vigor is just above standard for Level 150, and a 28 in Mind means getting more spells out with every use of the Cerulean Flask. 12 in Endurance gives you some wiggle room for armor and weapons. 10 in Strength and 22 in both Dexterity and Intelligence exceeds the minimum requirements for the Rotten Crystal Spear. A high 80 in Faith reaches the soft cap for this stat, while Arcane only has 10 because it does not affect Scarlet Rot buildup like it does Bleed, Poison, and Madness buildup.
Seals and Armaments for Scarlet Rot Builds
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There are two choices when it comes to Scarlet Rot seals: the regular, standard Finger Seal, or the Dragon Communion Seal. There isn't a Scarlet Rot-specific Seal in Elden Ring, but these two options work just fine. The Finger Seal is basic but has good scaling across the board, and the Dragon Communion Seal boosts Dragon Incantations, which includes Rotten Breath.
There are a few choices for Armaments with a Scarlet Rot build, but the best is arguably the Rotten Crystal Spear. It pokes fast, its skill Charge Forth can close the gap between you and a spellcaster PvP opponent, and it builds Scarlet Rot with every hit. Weave attacks with this weapon in your Incantation cycle to throw off enemies. Consider picking up a Bow to use Rotbone Arrows, which can help to continually build the enemy's Scarlet Rot without being in close quarters. Arrows come out fast, and nobody expects a spellcaster to whip out a Shortbow.
Scarlet Rot Incantations In Elden Ring
There are three major Scarlet Rot incantations: Rotten Breath, Ezykes's Decay, and Scarlet Aeonia. Rotten Breath unleashes a cloud of Scarlet Rot over the battlefield and rapidly builds up the affliction in targets. Ezykes's Decay does the same thing, but stronger and from above where it's harder to be staggered. These two spells will be your bread and butter until getting Scarlet Aeonia.
Scarlet Aeonia was once considered a trash-tier Incantation, but after buffs to spells across the board it's very viable now. Scarlet Aeonia is the spell Malenia, Goddess of Rot casts at the beginning of her second phase. In the player's hands it gives both Scarlet Rot build up in an AoE area and a highly damaging explosion after impact, though it does cost a fair bit of FP.
Talismans for Scarlet Rot Builds
The best Talisman for a Scarlet Rot build is undoubtedly the Kindred of Rot's Exultation. This Talisman increases the player's attack power whenever Scarlet Rot damage occurs in the nearby area. This means that whenever you get the ailment to proc on an enemy not only do they take damage over time, you also deal more damage to them for the duration of the effect.
Other useful Talismans for this build include the Radagon Icon, which reduces casting speed, the Primal Glintstone Blade, which reduces the FP cost of spells, and the Faithful's Canvas Talisman, which makes all Incantations stronger across the board. Pair these Talismans with the Mushroom Crown, which has the same effect as the Kindred of Rot's Exultation, and the Scarlet Rot damage output and ailment buildup skyrockets.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.