Elden Ring Ansbach Scythe: A Comprehensive Guide

Elden Ring, the latest installment in the Soulsborne series, has captured the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Among its vast arsenal of weaponry, the Ansbach Scythe stands out as a formidable and unique choice.

Scything Through the Lands Between: A Closer Look at the Ansbach Scythe

The Ansbach Scythe is a colossal scythe wielded by the banished knight, Ansbach. It boasts an imposing length of 140 cm and weighs a hefty 12.5 kg. Its curved blade, akin to a grim reaper's sickle, is forged from a blackened metal that exudes an ominous aura. The scythe's handle, wrapped in weathered leather, provides a firm grip despite its considerable weight.

Lore and Significance: Unveiling the Scythe's History

The Ansbach Scythe is steeped in a rich lore that adds depth to its formidable presence. Ansbach, its original wielder, was a knight of the Crucible Knights, an elite order renowned for their unyielding devotion to the Golden Order. However, Ansbach's unwavering faith was shattered when he witnessed the Order's descent into corruption and tyranny. Driven by a profound sense of betrayal, he cast aside his allegiance and vowed to oppose the Golden Order's oppressive reign.

It was during this solitary rebellion that Ansbach discovered the Ansbach Scythe. The weapon, once a symbol of the Crucible Knights' authority, became a conduit for his newfound purpose. With each swing of the scythe, he sought to purge the lands of the Golden Order's influence, seeking solace and redemption in his self-imposed exile.

Attributes and Scaling: Unlocking the Scythe's Potential

The Ansbach Scythe excels in both physical and magical damage. Its base physical damage of 120 is complemented by a respectable magical damage of 100. This dual damage output makes it a versatile weapon capable of adapting to various enemy types.

The scythe scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity, with a C scaling in both attributes. This scaling allows players to tailor their builds to maximize the scythe's damage potential. For a balanced approach, investing equally in Strength and Dexterity is recommended. However, players who prefer a more aggressive playstyle can prioritize Strength, while those seeking finesse can focus on Dexterity.

Ash of War: Death Ritual Spear

The Ansbach Scythe comes equipped with the unique Ash of War known as "Death Ritual Spear." This powerful skill allows the wielder to impale an enemy with the scythe's blade, creating a spectral spear that remains stationary in the ground. After a short delay, the spear explodes, releasing a devastating wave of dark energy that deals massive damage to nearby enemies.

Death Ritual Spear consumes a moderate amount of FP, making it suitable for strategic use during boss fights or against groups of enemies. Its area-of-effect damage and ability to pierce through defenses make it a formidable tool for crowd control and breaking enemy stances.

Synergies and Build Options: Enhancing the Scythe's Prowess

The Ansbach Scythe synergizes well with various playstyles and builds. Its versatile damage output complements both melee-focused and hybrid builds that incorporate sorcery or incantations.

Bleed Build: The scythe's inherent ability to inflict bleed buildup makes it a potent choice for bleed-oriented builds. Pairing it with talismans that enhance bleed damage, such as the Lord of Blood's Exultation, can significantly increase its effectiveness against bosses and enemies vulnerable to bleeding.

Faith Hybrid Build: The scythe's magical damage scaling allows for effective integration into faith hybrid builds. Combining it with incantations such as Flame, Grant Me Strength and Golden Vow can bolster its damage output and provide additional utility.

Spellblade Build: The Ansbach Scythe can also serve as a potent melee complement to spellblade builds. Utilizing sorceries such as Glintstone Pebble or Carian Greatsword alongside the scythe's physical attacks creates a versatile and unpredictable playstyle that keeps enemies on their toes.

Alternatives and Comparisons: Exploring Similar Weapons

While the Ansbach Scythe stands out as a formidable weapon, other scythes in Elden Ring offer distinct advantages and playstyles.

Halo Scythe: The Halo Scythe boasts a higher base damage than the Ansbach Scythe and excels in crowd control. Its unique Ash of War, "Halo Scythe," creates a ring of light around the wielder, damaging nearby enemies and inflicting holy damage.

Winged Scythe: The Winged Scythe is a versatile weapon that combines physical and holy damage. Its Ash of War, "Winged Scythe," grants temporary flight, allowing for aerial attacks and quick repositioning.

Grave Scythe: The Grave Scythe is a heavy-hitting scythe with a unique moveset. Its Ash of War, "Impaling Thrust," propels the wielder forward, impaling an enemy and causing significant damage.

Crafting and Acquisition: Obtaining the Ansbach Scythe

To acquire the Ansbach Scythe, players must defeat Ansbach, the banished knight. He can be found within Redmane Castle, accessible during the Radahn Festival. After defeating Ansbach, players will receive the scythe as a reward.

Table 1: Attributes and Scaling of the Ansbach Scythe

Table 2: Synergistic Talismans and Buffs for the Ansbach Scythe

Table 3: Comparison of Similar Scythes in Elden Ring

Table 4: Drops and Location of the Ansbach Scythe

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the optimum level range for using the Ansbach Scythe effectively?
A1: The Ansbach Scythe is recommended for players between levels 50-70.

Q2: Does the Ansbach Scythe have any hidden attributes or special effects?
A2: No, the Ansbach Scythe does not have any hidden attributes or special effects beyond its base stats and Ash of War.

Q3: Can the Ansbach Scythe be infused with Ashes of War?
A3: No, the Ansbach Scythe cannot be infused with Ashes of War. It comes with the unique Death Ritual Spear Ash of War, which cannot be replaced.

Q4: Is the Ansbach Scythe suitable for both PvE and PvP?
A4: Yes, the Ansbach Scythe is a versatile weapon that performs well in both PvE and PvP. Its high damage output and crowd control capabilities make it effective against bosses and groups of enemies, while its range and reach provide an advantage in PvP combat.

Q5: What is the key to maximizing the damage potential of the Ansbach Scythe?
A5: To maximize the damage potential of the Ansbach Scythe, consider investing in Strength and Dexterity equally, as it scales with both attributes. Additionally, utilizing synergistic talismans and buffs, such as Lord of Blood's Exultation and Golden Vow, can further enhance its damage output.

Q6: Is the Ansbach Scythe considered a rare or unique weapon in Elden Ring?
A6: While the Ansbach Scythe is not as common as some other scythes in the game, it is not considered particularly rare or unique. It can be consistently obtained by defeating Ansbach, the banished knight, within Redmane Castle during the Radahn Festival.

Q7: Are there any specific enemies or bosses in Elden Ring that the Ansbach Scythe is particularly effective against?
A7: The Ansbach Scythe's versatile damage output makes it effective against various enemies and bosses. However, it excels against bosses vulnerable to bleeding, such as Mohg, Lord of Blood, and bosses with large hitboxes or groups of enemies, where its wide swings and Death Ritual Spear Ash of War can deal significant damage.

Q8: What are some creative ways to utilize the Ansbach Scythe in different playstyles?
A8: The Ansbach Scythe can be incorporated into various playstyles with its unique damage output and reach. Consider a faith hybrid build that combines the scythe's physical attacks with incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength, or a spellblade build that utilizes sorceries alongside the scythe's melee capabilities.