Death Poker Build

S-Tier Intelligence Build • Elden Ring
Death Poker Build
  • Snow Witch Hat
    Helm
    Snow Witch Hat Boosts cold sorceries and frost incantations
  • Spellblade's Traveling Attire
    Chest Armor
    Spellblade's Traveling Attire Enhances Glintblade sorceries
  • Spellblade's Gloves
    Gloves
    Spellblade's Gloves Matching set piece for battle mage aesthetics
  • Spellblade's Trousers
    Legs
    Spellblade's Trousers Completes the Spellblade set
  • Death's Poker
    Right Hand (Primary)
    Death's Poker Unique greatsword. Weapon skill: Ghostflame Ignition - Thrust into ground for frost magic explosion
  • Prince of Death's Staff
    Left Hand (Catalyst)
    Prince of Death's Staff Scales with both Intelligence and Faith. Perfect for hybrid casters
  • Shard of Alexander
    Talisman
    Shard of Alexander Greatly boosts attack power of skills by 15%
  • Magic Scorpion Charm
    Talisman
    Magic Scorpion Charm Raises magic attack by 12% but increases physical damage taken by 10%
  • Graven-Mass Talisman
    Talisman
    Graven-Mass Talisman Raises potency of sorceries by 8%
  • Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
    Talisman
    Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman Enormously boosts physical damage negation by 20%
  • Flask of Crimson Tears 9
    Flask of Crimson Tears
    Restores HP. Balanced with FP needs for hybrid combat.
  • Flask of Cerulean Tears 6
    Flask of Cerulean Tears
    Restores FP for weapon skills and sorceries.
  • Flask of Wondrous Physick
    Flask of Wondrous Physick
    Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear + Cerulean Hidden Tear
    Effects
    Boosts magic attack power by 20%
    Eliminates FP consumption temporarily
  • Terra Magica
    Terra Magica
    Creates a zone that boosts magic damage. Perfect setup for Ghostflame Ignition.
  • Ancient Death Rancor
    Ancient Death Rancor
    Death sorcery that summons vengeful spirits. Excellent with Prince of Death's Staff.

Patch Viability

Still Viable (Patch 1.10)

Survived All Nerfs

Never nerfed. Underrated weapon that excels in both PvE and PvP.

Stat Distribution (Level 150)

  • Vigor: 55 (Strong HP pool for battle mage role)
  • Mind: 30 (Substantial FP for skills and spells)
  • Endurance: 25 (Moderate stamina for weapon usage)
  • Strength: 17 (Required for Death's Poker)
  • Dexterity: 14 (Minimum requirement)
  • Intelligence: 55 (Primary scaling stat)
  • Faith: 35 (Secondary scaling for hybrid weapons)
  • Arcane: 9 (Base stat)

How to Get Death's Poker

  • Defeat the Death Rite Bird at Caelid's Lenne's Rise
  • Location: Southern Caelid, near Lenne's Rise tower
  • Only spawns at night - rest at grace to change time
  • High-level enemy - recommended for mid-to-late game characters

Ghostflame Ignition Mastery

  • Animation: Thrust weapon into ground with brief startup
  • Damage Types: Initial stab + area explosion + frost buildup
  • Range: Large area of effect around impact point
  • Scaling: Weapon skill scales purely with Intelligence, not STR/DEX
  • Positioning: Best used when enemies are grouped or stationary

Key Sorceries

  • Ancient Death Rancor: Synergizes perfectly with Prince of Death's Staff
  • Explosive Ghostflame: Additional death sorcery option
  • Comet Azur: High damage beam for stationary targets
  • Terra Magica: Damage boost zone for setup plays
  • Night Comet: Invisible projectile for PvP advantage

Gameplay Strategy

  • Hybrid Combat: Switch between melee swings and ranged sorceries
  • Ghostflame Setup: Use Terra Magica for maximum skill damage
  • Frost Pressure: Build frostbite for damage boost and debuff
  • Range Control: Death's Poker has excellent reach for a greatsword
  • Buff Layering: Stack magic damage buffs for enormous burst potential
  • Versatility: Adapt between spell-focused and melee-focused combat

PvP Notes

  • Surprise Factor: Ghostflame Ignition has deceptive range and timing
  • Area Denial: Control space with large AoE weapon skill
  • Mixups: Alternate between regular attacks, spells, and weapon skill
  • Frost Advantage: Frostbite debuff reduces enemy damage and stamina
  • Mind Games: Threaten large damage zones to control movement
  • Vulnerability: Animation commitment requires good positioning

Alternative Equipment

  • Staff: Golden Order Seal for Golden Order incantations
  • Helm: Lazuli Glintstone Crown for extra Intelligence
  • Weapon: Sword of Night and Flame for different hybrid approach
  • Talisman: Godfrey Icon for charged spell enhancement
  • Seal: Erdtree Seal for pure Faith incantations

Advanced Techniques

  • Terra Magica Positioning: Pre-place damage zones for optimal skill usage
  • Animation Reading: Time Ghostflame Ignition during enemy recovery
  • Spell Weaving: Combine quick sorceries with melee pressure
  • Frost Management: Track frostbite buildup for optimal timing
  • Range Spacing: Use greatsword reach to maintain safe distance

Boss Strategy

  • Large Targets: Ghostflame Ignition excels against big bosses
  • Magic Resistance: Switch to melee when magic is less effective
  • Openings: Use long boss animations for Terra Magica setup
  • Frost Weakness: Prioritize bosses vulnerable to frostbite