Talisman slots are scarce, so every one should earn its place. This guide picks the ten best talismans in Elden Ring for most builds, explains exactly what each one does in numbers, and shows where to get it, so you know which ones to chase first and which to swap in for specific fights.
| Best all-rounder | Erdtree’s Favor (+3% HP, +7% stamina, +5% equip load) |
| Best defence | Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (-20% physical damage taken) |
| Best for skills | Shard of Alexander (+15% skill attack power) |
| Best for bleed | Lord of Blood’s Exultation (+20% attack for 20 s when blood loss happens nearby) |
| Best early pick | Green Turtle Talisman, Summonwater Village, Limgrave |
| Slots | 1 at the start, up to 4 with Talisman Pouches |
| Rule | Talismans of the same family (for example Radagon’s Soreseal and Scarseal) cannot be worn together |
What are the best talismans in Elden Ring?
Our picks favour talismans that help almost any build in a late-game boss fight. Damage boosters that need a specific playstyle are marked so you can skip them if they do not fit you.
| Rank | Talisman | Effect | Weight | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erdtree’s Favor | +3% HP, +7% stamina, +5% equip load | 1.5 | Altar in Fringefolk Hero’s Grave, Limgrave (2 Stonesword Keys) |
| 2 | Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman | -20% physical damage taken (5% in PvP) | 0.8 | Chest inside the church roof area east of the Drainage Channel grace, Elphael |
| 3 | Shard of Alexander | +15% skill attack power | 0.9 | Iron Fist Alexander after his questline ends in Crumbling Farum Azula |
| 4 | Rotten Winged Sword Insignia | +6% / +8% / +13% attack on successive hits | 1.4 | Millicent, after you help her against her sisters in Elphael |
| 5 | Godfrey Icon | +15% to charged spells and charged skills | 0.8 | Godefroy the Grafted, Golden Lineage Evergaol, Altus Plateau |
| 6 | Lord of Blood’s Exultation | +20% attack for 20 s when blood loss occurs near you | 0.9 | Esgar, Priest of Blood, Leyndell Catacombs |
| 7 | Ritual Sword Talisman | +10% attack while HP is full | 0.9 | Chest in the Lux Ruins cellar after Demi-Human Queen Gilika |
| 8 | Radagon’s Soreseal | +5 Vigor, Endurance, Strength and Dexterity; you take 15% more damage | 0.8 | Corpse among the rats inside Fort Faroth, Dragonbarrow |
| 9 | Green Turtle Talisman | +8 stamina recovery per second (about +17.7%) | 0.7 | Chest in the Summonwater Village cellar, Limgrave (1 Stonesword Key) |
| 10 | Claw Talisman | +15% jump attack damage (7.5% in PvP) | 0.7 | Corpse on a watchtower in Stormveil Castle, reached from the Rampart Tower grace |
Why each talisman makes the list
- Erdtree’s Favor: small gains in three stats at once, useful for every build from start to finish. Stronger +1 and +2 versions exist later, but only one version can be worn.
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: a flat 20% cut to physical damage is one of the biggest defensive boosts you can wear, and it helps against every physical hit.
- Shard of Alexander: the go-to pick for any build that leans on Ashes of War or weapon skills, such as Moonveil or Rivers of Blood.
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: rewards fast weapons and long combos; it does not stack with the normal Winged Sword Insignia.
- Godfrey Icon: ideal for skills and spells you hold to charge; uncharged casts get nothing.
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation: a bleed build triggers it constantly, and it also boosts sorceries and incantations.
- Ritual Sword Talisman: free damage for players who rarely get hit, and it works for casters too.
- Radagon’s Soreseal: 20 stat points for a 0.8 weight talisman, which is great early or for meeting weapon requirements, at the cost of higher damage taken.
- Green Turtle Talisman: faster stamina recovery means more rolls, blocks and attacks, and you can get it in the first hours.
- Claw Talisman: jump attacks are among the best moves with heavy weapons, so strength builds get a lot out of it.
How to get Erdtree’s Favor
- Rest at the Stranded Graveyard grace, the room where the game starts.
- Use two Stonesword Keys on the imp statue next to it to open Fringefolk Hero’s Grave.
- Cross the poison pond and avoid the chariot on the ramp by stepping into the side alcoves.
- Shoot or hit the pillar at the end of the hallway to stop the fire trap.
- Cross the bridge in the large room; two Grafted Scions drop from the ceiling. The talisman is on the altar beyond them.
How to get the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
- Reach Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree; our how to get to the Haligtree guide covers the medallion and route.
- From the Drainage Channel grace, head east across the roots and branches to the roof of the large church.
- Drop through the hole in the roof onto the rafters and raise your shield, as the room is full of Pests.
- Follow the rafters to the raised platform and open the chest.
Best talismans by build
- Bleed / Arcane: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Shard of Alexander, Erdtree’s Favor. See our Bleed Arcane build.
- Strength / colossal weapons: Claw Talisman, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, Erdtree’s Favor, Godfrey Icon for charged skills.
- Casters: Godfrey Icon, Ritual Sword Talisman, Shard of Alexander for spell-like skills, Erdtree’s Favor.
- Early game: Green Turtle Talisman, Erdtree’s Favor and Radagon’s Soreseal, all reachable before the late game.
Related: Talisman Pouch locations to unlock all four slots, the Iron Fist Alexander questline for the Shard, the Millicent questline for the Insignia, the best Spirit Ashes to pair with them, and the best weapons in Elden Ring for each build.
FAQ
What is the best talisman in Elden Ring?
For most builds, Erdtree’s Favor, because it raises HP, stamina and equip load at the same time. For pure survival, the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman is stronger.
What is the best early-game talisman?
Erdtree’s Favor from Fringefolk Hero’s Grave and the Green Turtle Talisman from Summonwater Village. Both are in Limgrave and only need Stonesword Keys.
Can I miss the Shard of Alexander?
Yes. If you kill Alexander before his questline ends you get the Warrior Jar Shard instead, and the two cannot be worn together anyway.
Does Radagon’s Soreseal make you take more damage?
Yes, you take 15% more damage while wearing it. Swap it out once your stats are high enough.
Source: every effect, weight and location checked against Fextralife’s Elden Ring wiki and the Elden Ring wiki.gg. The ranking is our own.
Further reading: Talismans on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.