What is Elden Ring Attack Rating (AR)?
The Elden Ring Attack Rating (AR), often referred to as Attack Power, is a crucial numerical value displayed on your weapon's status screen that represents its raw damage potential. It is the sum of your weapon's base damage and the bonus damage it receives from your character's stats through scaling. Understanding your weapon's AR is fundamental to optimizing your build, choosing the right weapon for a given situation, and maximizing your damage output against the myriad foes in the Lands Between.
Who should use this calculator? Anyone playing Elden Ring who wants to:
- Understand how their stats affect weapon damage.
- Compare the potential damage of different weapons or affinities.
- Plan stat allocation for a new build.
- Optimize their current character for higher damage.
- Grasp the underlying mechanics of weapon scaling.
Common misunderstandings about AR:
- AR is not final damage: While AR represents raw power, actual damage dealt in combat is further modified by enemy defenses, resistances, attack type (standard, piercing, slashing, striking), counter-hits, buffs, debuffs, and critical hits.
- Scaling is complex: The letter grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) are approximations. The actual scaling bonus depends on the weapon, its upgrade level, and specific stat breakpoints. Our calculator provides a simplified model for practical estimation.
- Units are relative: Elden Ring AR values are unitless "points." There's no conversion to real-world units like joules or pounds of force. Higher numbers simply mean more damage potential within the game's system.
Elden Ring Attack Rating Formula and Explanation
At its core, the Elden Ring Attack Rating is calculated by combining a weapon's inherent base damage with the additional damage it gains from your character's attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane) through a process called "scaling."
The simplified formula used by this calculator is:
Total AR = (Base Physical AR + Base Magic AR + Base Fire AR + Base Lightning AR + Base Holy AR) + (Scaling AR from STR + Scaling AR from DEX + Scaling AR from INT + Scaling AR from FAI + Scaling AR from ARC)
Where:
- Base Damage (e.g., Base Physical AR): This is the weapon's innate damage value for a specific type (Physical, Magic, Fire, Lightning, Holy) at its current upgrade level, *before* any stat scaling is applied. You can find this number on your weapon's status screen (it's the first number before the '+').
- Scaling AR from STAT: This is the bonus damage your weapon receives due to your character's corresponding stat (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane) and the weapon's scaling grade for that stat.
For this calculator, the "Scaling AR from STAT" is approximated using the following formula:
Scaling AR from STAT = (Your Stat Value - 10) * Scaling Grade Multiplier
The value of '10' is used as a baseline, as most characters start with foundational stats around this level. The "Scaling Grade Multiplier" is an estimated value for each letter grade, as detailed in the table below. Please note that these multipliers are approximations for a generic understanding and not exact game values, which vary per weapon and upgrade level.
Variable Explanations and Units
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength (STR) | Character's Strength attribute | Points | 1 - 99 |
| Dexterity (DEX) | Character's Dexterity attribute | Points | 1 - 99 |
| Intelligence (INT) | Character's Intelligence attribute | Points | 1 - 99 |
| Faith (FAI) | Character's Faith attribute | Points | 1 - 99 |
| Arcane (ARC) | Character's Arcane attribute | Points | 1 - 99 |
| Base Physical AR | Weapon's base physical Attack Rating (post-upgrade) | Points | 0 - 1000 |
| Base Magic AR | Weapon's base magic Attack Rating (post-upgrade) | Points | 0 - 1000 |
| Base Fire AR | Weapon's base fire Attack Rating (post-upgrade) | Points | 0 - 1000 |
| Base Lightning AR | Weapon's base lightning Attack Rating (post-upgrade) | Points | 0 - 1000 |
| Base Holy AR | Weapon's base holy Attack Rating (post-upgrade) | Points | 0 - 1000 |
| Scaling Grade (S, A, B, C, D, E, N/A) | Weapon's scaling efficiency for a given stat | Grade | S (highest) to E (lowest), N/A (none) |
| Scaling Grade | Approx. Multiplier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S | 3.0 | Exceptional scaling. |
| A | 2.5 | Excellent scaling. |
| B | 2.0 | Good scaling. |
| C | 1.5 | Moderate scaling. |
| D | 1.0 | Minor scaling. |
| E | 0.5 | Very weak scaling. |
| N/A | 0.0 | No scaling. |
Note: These multipliers are simplified approximations for demonstration purposes. Actual in-game scaling is more complex and depends on weapon type, upgrade level, and specific stat breakpoints.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Strength Build with a Heavy Greatsword
Let's calculate the AR for a classic Strength build using a Heavy Greatsword.
- Inputs:
- STR: 50, DEX: 12, INT: 9, FAI: 9, ARC: 9
- Physical Base AR: 200
- Magic/Fire/Lightning/Holy Base AR: 0
- Scaling STR: A, Scaling DEX: E, Scaling INT: N/A, Scaling FAI: N/A, Scaling ARC: N/A
- Calculation (using calculator's simplified logic):
- Total Base AR = 200
- STR Scaling = (50 - 10) * 2.5 (for A) = 40 * 2.5 = 100
- DEX Scaling = (12 - 10) * 0.5 (for E) = 2 * 0.5 = 1
- INT/FAI/ARC Scaling = 0
- Total Scaling AR = 100 + 1 = 101
- Result: Total AR = 200 + 101 = 301 AR
- Interpretation: This build gets a significant boost from Strength, as expected, with a minor contribution from Dexterity.
Example 2: Faith Build with a Sacred Coded Sword
Now, consider a Faith build wielding a Sacred Coded Sword, which has pure Holy damage and scales primarily with Faith.
- Inputs:
- STR: 10, DEX: 10, INT: 9, FAI: 60, ARC: 9
- Physical Base AR: 0, Magic Base AR: 0, Fire Base AR: 0, Lightning Base AR: 0
- Holy Base AR: 180
- Scaling STR: N/A, Scaling DEX: N/A, Scaling INT: N/A, Scaling FAI: S, Scaling ARC: N/A
- Calculation (using calculator's simplified logic):
- Total Base AR = 180
- FAI Scaling = (60 - 10) * 3.0 (for S) = 50 * 3.0 = 150
- Other Stat Scaling = 0
- Total Scaling AR = 150
- Result: Total AR = 180 + 150 = 330 AR
- Interpretation: A high Faith stat with S-scaling weapon yields substantial Holy damage.
How to Use This Elden Ring Attack Rating Calculator
Using the Elden Ring Attack Rating Calculator is straightforward, designed to give you quick insights into your weapon's potential damage.
- Input Your Character Stats: Begin by entering your current or planned Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane stats into the respective fields. Ensure these are accurate for the build you're testing. The valid range for each stat is 1 to 99.
- Enter Weapon Base Attack Rating: Look at your *upgraded* weapon's status screen in Elden Ring. You'll see damage values like "Physical 150 + 60". The "150" is the base AR. Enter these base values for Physical, Magic, Fire, Lightning, and Holy damage types into the calculator. If your weapon doesn't have a certain damage type (e.g., no Magic damage), leave it as 0.
- Select Weapon Scaling Grades: On the same weapon status screen, you'll find letter grades (S, A, B, C, D, E, -) next to each stat. Select the corresponding grade for Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane in the dropdown menus. Choose "N/A" if there is no scaling for a particular stat.
- View Results: The calculator updates in real-time as you adjust inputs. The "Total Attack Rating (AR)" will be prominently displayed. Below that, you'll see a breakdown of the Total Base AR, Total Scaling AR, and the individual scaling contributions from each of your stats.
- Interpret Results: The Total AR is an estimate of your weapon's raw damage output. Use the intermediate values to understand which stats are contributing most to your damage. The accompanying chart provides a visual representation of your base versus scaling damage.
- Copy Results: Use the "Copy Results" button to quickly save your calculation details for sharing or record-keeping.
- Reset Calculator: The "Reset" button will restore all fields to their intelligent default values, allowing you to start a new calculation easily.
Remember that the calculator uses simplified scaling multipliers. While highly useful for comparative analysis and build planning, actual in-game damage can be influenced by many other factors.
Key Factors That Affect Elden Ring Attack Rating
Optimizing your Elden Ring Attack Rating involves understanding several interconnected factors. Mastering these elements will allow you to craft powerful builds and overcome challenging encounters.
- Character Stats (STR, DEX, INT, FAI, ARC): These are the primary drivers of your scaling damage. Investing points into the stats that your chosen weapon scales with will directly increase its AR. Soft caps exist for each stat (e.g., 20/50/80 for many stats), where returns diminish, making strategic allocation important. You can learn more about Elden Ring Stat Soft Caps here.
- Weapon Base Damage: Every weapon has an inherent base damage that increases with upgrade level. This is the foundation upon which all scaling damage is added. A weapon with high base damage will perform well even with minimal scaling.
- Weapon Upgrade Level: Upgrading your weapon at a smithing table significantly increases its base damage and often improves its scaling grades. This is one of the most impactful ways to boost your AR. Check out our Elden Ring Weapon Upgrade Guide for more details.
- Weapon Scaling Grades: Represented by letters (S, A, B, C, D, E, -), these indicate how effectively a weapon converts your character's stats into bonus damage. An 'S' grade offers the highest scaling, while 'E' offers minimal. Choosing weapons with good scaling in your primary stats is crucial.
- Weapon Affinities (Ashes of War): Applying an Ash of War with a specific affinity (e.g., Heavy, Keen, Magic, Sacred, Occult) can drastically alter a weapon's base damage distribution and its scaling properties. For instance, a "Heavy" affinity typically boosts Strength scaling while often reducing Dexterity scaling.
- Talismans and Crystal Tears: Certain talismans (e.g., Marika's Soreseal, Radagon's Soreseal, Godfrey Icon for charged attacks) and Crystal Tears (e.g., Strength-knot Crystal Tear, Dexterity-knot Crystal Tear) can temporarily or permanently boost your stats or damage, indirectly affecting your AR or directly increasing damage dealt.
- Weapon Type and Moveset: While not directly affecting the numerical AR, the weapon type dictates its moveset, attack speed, and damage multipliers for different attack types (standard, piercing, slashing, striking), which significantly impacts the *effective* damage you deal in combat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Elden Ring Attack Rating
Q: Is a higher AR always better?
A: Generally, yes, a higher AR indicates more raw damage potential. However, it's not the only factor. A weapon with lower AR but a faster moveset, better status effects (Bleed, Frostbite, Poison), or a damage type strong against a specific enemy might be more effective. Poise damage, reach, and stamina consumption also play a role.
Q: How accurate is this calculator compared to in-game values?
A: This calculator provides a strong estimation based on commonly understood game mechanics and simplified scaling multipliers. While it might not match in-game values precisely due to hidden decimal values, specific weapon modifiers, or unique scaling curves not publicly available, it's highly accurate for comparative analysis and build planning. It serves as an excellent guide.
Q: What are "soft caps" and "hard caps" for stats?
A: "Soft caps" are points where investing further points into a stat yields diminishing returns in terms of AR gain. "Hard caps" are points where returns become extremely minimal or non-existent. For most damage-scaling stats, common soft caps are around 20, 50, and 80, but these can vary. Understanding these helps you allocate stats efficiently.
Q: Why do some weapons have multiple damage types (e.g., Physical and Magic)?
A: Many weapons, especially those with unique affinities or innate elemental properties, deal damage across multiple types. For example, a "Magic" affinity weapon will deal both Physical and Magic damage. The total AR is the sum of all these damage types.
Q: Does weapon upgrade level affect scaling grades?
A: Yes! Upgrading a weapon not only increases its base damage but often improves its scaling grades. For example, a weapon might start with 'D' scaling in Strength at +0 and eventually reach 'B' or 'A' at +25 (or +10 for Somber weapons).
Q: Can I use this calculator to compare different builds?
A: Absolutely! This is one of its primary uses. By changing your character stats and weapon details, you can quickly see how different stat allocations or weapon choices impact your potential Attack Rating, helping you decide on the best build path.
Q: What does "N/A" mean for scaling grade?
A: "N/A" (Not Applicable) means the weapon does not scale with that particular stat. Therefore, investing points into that stat will not increase the weapon's AR through scaling.
Q: Are there any units for AR values?
A: No, Attack Rating in Elden Ring is a unitless numerical value. It represents a relative measure of damage potential within the game's mechanics. Higher numbers indicate more potential damage.
Q: Why is my in-game AR different from the calculator's result?
A: Discrepancies can arise due to several factors:
- Exact Scaling Multipliers: The calculator uses simplified, averaged multipliers. Actual in-game multipliers are precise and often unique to each weapon and upgrade level.
- Stat Breakpoints: Scaling isn't always linear. There are specific stat breakpoints where scaling efficiency changes.
- Hidden Modifiers: Some weapons or talents have hidden damage modifiers not explicitly shown in the AR calculation.
- Affinities: Different affinities might have slightly different base damage distributions or scaling curves than assumed in a generic model.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Enhance your Elden Ring journey with these other helpful tools and guides:
- Elden Ring Build Planner: Craft your ultimate Tarnished with our comprehensive build planner.
- Elden Ring Stat Soft Caps Guide: Understand optimal stat allocation for efficiency.
- Elden Ring Weapon Upgrade Guide: Maximize your weapon's potential through upgrades.
- Elden Ring Affinity Explained: Dive deep into how Ashes of War change your weapon's properties.
- Elden Ring Talismans Guide: Discover the best talismans to complement your build.
- Elden Ring Armor Calculator: Optimize your defenses and equip load for survival.