The Lion's Claw Ash of War remains one of the most effective physical weapon skills in Elden Ring. Known for its exceptional posture damage and innate poise during execution, this skill allows players to perform a devastating forward somersault attack. Whether you are facing tough field bosses or clearing legacy dungeons, understanding how to locate and optimize this skill is essential for melee enthusiasts.
Where to Find the Lion's Claw Ash of War
Acquiring the Lion's Claw Ash of War requires a journey to the red, rot-infested region of Caelid. Players must head to Fort Gael, located in the western portion of Caelid near the border of Limgrave. Upon infiltrating the courtyard of Fort Gael, you will encounter a formidable Lion Guardian miniboss. Defeating this creature immediately rewards you with the Ash of War: Lion's Claw.
For players who prefer an early option without traveling to Caelid, the skill comes natively equipped on the Claymore Greatsword. This iconic weapon can be looted from a chest inside Castle Morne located in the Weeping Peninsula. Obtaining the standalone Ash of War, however, lets you apply the skill to a much wider variety of weapons.
Mechanics and Weapon Compatibility
Lion's Claw costs 20 FP per activation and grants the Heavy affinity to your weapon by default. The skill is compatible with swords, axes, and hammers, excluding small armaments and thrusting weapons. One of its key strengths is its massive stance damage, which scales significantly higher when equipped on Colossal Weapons or Great Hammers. Furthermore, the initial animation provides hyper armor, preventing enemies from interrupting your strike.
Best Builds to Maximize Lion's Claw
The most popular setup for Lion's Claw is the Pure Strength Colossal Build. Pairing this skill with heavy weapons like the Greatsword or the Giant-Crusher allows players to break boss poise in just two to three hits. High Vigor and Endurance are recommended so you can trade hits safely while wearing heavy armor sets.
Another effective setup combines physical damage with utility incantations. Buffing your character with Flame, Grant Me Strength and Golden Vow prior to combat significantly boosts physical output. Equipping talismans that boost skill damage or reduce FP consumption ensures you can continuously slam down foes throughout prolonged encounters.
Final Takeaway for Players
Lion's Claw is a versatile combat skill that simplifies challenging boss encounters through heavy stance damage. Its accessibility early in the game makes it a reliable asset for both new Tarnished and experienced players alike. Investing stats into Strength and utilizing heavy armaments will yield the highest returns when using this iconic move.
