The Blue Dancer Charm in Elden Ring is a tantalizing prospect for players who favor nimble, light-equipped builds. The promise of increased attack power with lower equip load is inherently appealing, but the actual mechanics and effectiveness of this charm can feel somewhat opaque. While some sources offer insights into its functionality, contradictory information often leaves players wondering about the true extent of its benefits. To shed light on this, we conducted a detailed test to quantify exactly how equip load influences the damage boost provided by the Blue Dancer Charm, offering data-driven clarity for your Elden Ring builds.
Testing the Blue Dancer Charm: Methodology & Setup
To accurately assess the Blue Dancer Charm’s scaling, a controlled testing environment was crucial. Our methodology focused on isolating the charm’s effect by minimizing other variables. We chose the +25 Caestus as our weapon. The Caestus is ideal due to being one of the lightest weapons available that deals purely physical damage, ensuring that any damage fluctuations could be directly attributed to the charm and equip load, rather than weapon scaling or elemental damage types. Our test subject was a Godrick Soldier located at the Gatefront Ruins, a consistent and easily accessible enemy for repeatable testing. Damage values were meticulously recorded and plugged into a calculator to determine precise percentage increases.
The testing process began with a baseline damage measurement using only the Caestus. Subsequently, the Blue Dancer Charm was equipped, and damage was re-evaluated. The core of the test involved incrementally increasing equip load while diligently avoiding any other damage-modifying effects from armor, talismans, or buffs. By gradually adding weight and observing the corresponding damage changes, we aimed to map out the charm’s damage scaling curve across different equip load thresholds. Initial observations during testing quickly confirmed the existence of significant breakpoints at 8 and 16 equip load, points where the charm’s effectiveness visibly shifts.
Blue Dancer Charm Damage Scaling: The Data Revealed
The results of our testing clearly illustrate the relationship between equip load and the Blue Dancer Charm’s damage amplification. Below is a breakdown of the observed damage increase percentages at various equip loads:
- 2.4 Equip Load: 18% Damage Increase
- 5 Equip Load: 17.5% Damage Increase
- 8 Equip Load: 17% Damage Increase
- 9 Equip Load: 16.2% Damage Increase
- 10 Equip Load: 15.5% Damage Increase
- 11 Equip Load: 14.7% Damage Increase
- 12 Equip Load: 14% Damage Increase
- 13 Equip Load: 13.5% Damage Increase
- 14 Equip Load: 12.7% Damage Increase
- 15 Equip Load: 12% Damage Increase
- 16 Equip Load: 11.2% Damage Increase
- 17 Equip Load: 9.7% Damage Increase
- 18 Equip Load: 8% Damage Increase
Alt text: Elden Ring character in light armor wielding the Caestus weapon, ready for combat, demonstrating a light equip load build.
As the data indicates, the Blue Dancer Charm exhibits its strongest performance at extremely low equip loads. Remarkably, there’s minimal damage falloff when staying under 8 equip load. Between 8 and 16 equip load, the damage bonus gradually diminishes, decreasing by approximately 0.7-0.8% for each additional point of equip load. While still providing a noticeable boost in this range, the charm’s impact begins to lessen. Beyond 16 equip load, the effectiveness drops off sharply, making the charm significantly less impactful.
Analyzing the Effectiveness: Optimizing the Blue Dancer Charm
Interpreting these findings allows us to formulate practical advice for utilizing the Blue Dancer Charm effectively. To truly maximize its potential, Tarnished should strive to maintain an equip load below 10, and ideally even lower, under 8. Within this range, the charm delivers a substantial damage increase with minimal penalty from added weight, allowing for some flexibility in armor choices without severely compromising damage output. Feel free to don lighter armor pieces like pants or cloaks without significant damage reduction, as long as you remain within this light load threshold.
However, as equip load surpasses 12-15, the Blue Dancer Charm’s value proposition diminishes considerably. At these higher weights, the damage bonus becomes less substantial, and players might find more impactful benefits from alternative talismans that offer consistent damage boosts or other utility regardless of equip load. Once equip load exceeds 16, the charm’s effectiveness plummets to the point where it is no longer a worthwhile choice in most scenarios. In such cases, prioritizing survivability through heavier armor or selecting talismans that provide different offensive or defensive advantages would likely be more beneficial.
Alt text: Close-up view of the Blue Dancer Charm talisman in Elden Ring, highlighting its intricate design and magical properties.
A Note on Spell Damage (Preliminary)
While our primary focus was on physical damage, we briefly explored the Blue Dancer Charm’s potential influence on spell damage using Beast Spells with a Clawmark Seal and Cinquedea. Preliminary tests around 13 equip load suggested a potential damage increase of approximately 12% for spells. However, the inherent scaling complexities of seals and the Cinquedea’s passive bonuses made precise measurements challenging. This area warrants further investigation to definitively determine the charm’s impact on different spell types and incantations. Nonetheless, these initial observations hint that the Blue Dancer Charm might offer some degree of spell damage amplification at low equip loads, opening up intriguing possibilities for hybrid builds.
Conclusion: Embrace the Light Load for Maximum Charm Potential
In conclusion, the Blue Dancer Charm is a potent tool for Elden Ring players committed to light equip load builds. Its damage scaling is undeniably tied to weight, rewarding minimal encumbrance with significant attack power boosts. By meticulously managing equip load and staying within the optimal range, particularly below 10, you can effectively harness the Blue Dancer Charm to amplify your offensive capabilities. However, it’s crucial to recognize the diminishing returns as equip load increases and to reconsider its utility for heavier builds. For those embracing agility and swiftness, the Blue Dancer Charm remains a compelling talisman to unlock your Tarnished’s full potential.
