Scholar is not designed to be a frontline damage dealer or a tank. Instead, the Scholar is a tactical Nightfarer who excels at battlefield control through consumables, status ailments, and team buffs. Their passive ability, Bagcraft, increases consumable capacity and permanently enhances those items through repeated use, allowing the Scholar to scale in power over time.
1. How to Play Scholar
The Scholar is a support-utility Nightfarer who thrives when you let your allies control enemy aggression, giving you the space to analyze targets, apply status effects, and deploy consumables safely.
Specialize in Thrusting Swords (Rapiers) and focus on Arcane-scaling weapons, using Arcane as your primary stat to maximize status buildup and consumable effectiveness. Invest secondarily in HP, FP, and Stamina to improve survivability and skill uptime. Avoid heavy or raw physical weapons, as your Strength scaling is poor and they perform inefficiently.
Use fast weapons that inflict status effects and equip consumable-focused relics to convert preparation into reliable control and damage. Use Analyse (Scholar Skill) to weaken priority targets or enable coordinated burst windows rather than spamming it mid-fight. Golden Vow is your core skill, giving a consistent offensive and defensive boost that improves both your performance and your team’s efficiency.
2. Best Weapons For Scholar Build
Ripple Blade Weapon
Scholar benefits most from weapons that apply status effects rapidly and synergize with high Arcane scaling. These weapons amplify both passive scaling and consumable-based pressure.
- Antspur Rapier: Inflicts Blood Loss buildup and works very well with throwing pots and status synergy; great for rapid pokes.
- Frozen Needle: Inflicts Frostbite and grants consistent status application with its thrust attacks.
- Eleonora’s Poleblade: Excellent scaling with ARC/DEX/STR and rapid Blood Loss buildup via Bloodblade Dance skill.
- Reduvia: Fast dagger with strong Bleed application and ranged projectile attacks.
- Rivers of Blood: Powerful katana for Bleed buildup that procs often due to rapid hits.
- Nagakiba/Moonveil/Hand of Malenia: Alternative katanas with strong reach and status application if you want variety.
Power Stance combinations such as Dual Antspur Rapiers or Antspur + Frozen Needle can maximize status effect uptime.
3. Best Scholar Stats & Goals
Scholar Boss Fight Gameplay
Scholar’s primary stat is Arcane, which directly scales status buildup and consumable potency. Maintain enough survivability and FP to support long engagements.
The starting weapon for this Nightfarer does not scale with Arcane, so obtain an Arcane-scaling weapon early (such as Antspur Rapier). Invest your Secondary Stats options in Intelligence and Endurance to support buffing, stamina, and item usage.
Also, level Vigor and Mind for longevity in boss fights. Seals and Arcane-scaling items further enhance effectiveness.
Key Stat Scaling
The Scholar stat profile starts with high Arcane (50), supported by solid Vigor and Endurance. These core attributes define how Scholar functions in combat and directly support Scholar’s role as a status-focused support Nightfarer.
- Arcane – S: Main driver for status effect potency and consumable scaling.
- Intelligence – B: Bolsters utility spells and synergizes with support play.
- Vigor: B — Provides necessary survivability when positioned mid-range.
- Mind: Mid-tier for FP sustainability.
- Endurance: B — Important for stamina and item usage.
- Strength/Dexterity/Faith: Lower priority, but can be adjusted if using specific weapons.
4. Bagcraft (Passive Ability)
Bagcraft Scholar
Bagcraft is Scholar’s defining passive and shapes the entire build. Use Bagcraft to increase the maximum number of consumables per category and permanently upgrade consumables through repeated use during a run. Consumables gain power simply by being used and do not need to hit enemies to gain experience.
Prioritize frequent use of the following items to scale Bagcraft efficiently:
- Throwing Pots
- Boluses
- Throwable Knives
Using these consistently transforms consumables into reliable sources of damage, debuffs, and survivability throughout a run.
5. Analyse (Character Skill)
Analyse Skill Scholar
Analyse (Character Skill) applies buffs or debuffs by targeting enemies or allies within a visible radius. When Analyse is activated, Scholar lowers the weapon and becomes vulnerable while a large targeting circle or crosshair appears on the screen. The strength of Analyse scales with channel duration, meaning longer Analyse results in stronger buffs or debuffs applied to all targets caught within the radius.
Enemy Analyse (L2):
- Level 1 reduces enemy attack power
- Level 3 causes the analyzed enemy to take bonus damage on their next hit
Ally Analyse (R2):
- Level 1 increases stamina
- Level 3 grants a protective barrier that releases shockwaves when struck
Distance affects channeling time — closer targets are analyzed faster. Getting a large group in the circle can shift the tide of battle by debuffing a pack or buffing your entire team.
6. Communion (Ultimate Art)
Communion Ultimate Art Scholar
Use Scholar’s Ultimate Art Communion when multiple targets or allies are clustered together. When activated, Communion links enemies and allies so that:
- Damage dealt to one linked enemy is displayed among all linked enemies
- Healing items used within the effect heal all linked allies
This makes Communion especially powerful in group fights or co-op due to both shared damage and shared healing benefits. Strategically, it’s ideal against groups of foes or when supporting allies in extended boss phases.
7. Best Relics For Scholar Build
Scholar Relics
Relics in Nightreign are picked up during runs via boss rewards, elite encounters, and exploration. Use Relics that enhance consumables, improve Character Skill performance, and support team utility. Prefer the Pot-related Relics to take advantage of your passive skill Bagcraft to increase your damage.
- Cleansing Tear: Continuous damage inflicted on targets threaded by Ultimate Art. Defeating enemies fills more of the Art gauge. Improved Affinity Damage Negation.
- Grand Drizzly Scene: HP restored when using medicinal boluses. Lightning Pots at the start of the expedition. Character Skill Cooldown Reduction +3.
- Note “My Dear Successor”: Allies targeted by Character Skill gain boosted attack. Prevent slowing of Character Skill progress. Character Skill Cooldown Reduction +3.
Alternate relics with “items confer effect to all nearby allies” are essential to sharing Scholar’s enhanced consumable effects with teammates.
8. Best Consumable Items
Consumables are central to Scholar’s playstyle. Thanks to Bagcraft, Throwing Pots, and item types like Boluses, their power scales up quickly when repeatedly used. Use these to both support allies and debuff enemies.
- Fire Pot: Fire damage for ranged pressure.
- Freezing Pot: Frostbite application and movement penalties.
- Holy Water Pot: Holy damage and stagger buildup.
- Lightning Pot: Lightning damage to exploit elemental weaknesses.
- Magic Pot: Magic damage for spell resistance penetration.
- Rot Pot: Scarlet Rot buildup for sustained damage.
Repeated use increases each consumable’s Item Handling Level, making them incredibly potent in boss fights or against large enemy groups.
9. Best Talisman
Talismans are found from Scarabs, Chests, or Merchants during a run and should be chosen to boost damage, status effects, stamina, or survivability. These Talismans synergize well with Scholar’s item-heavy playstyle.
- Companion Jar: Improves Throwing Pot damage (+20%).
- Kindred of Rot’s Exultation: Poison and Rot boost attack power (+20%).
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation: Blood Loss nearby increases attack power (+20%).
- Crimson Amber Medallion: Increases maximum HP (+12%).
- Green Turtle Talisman: Improves stamina recovery speed (+8%).
10. Best Skills/Spells for Scholar Build
Scholar Gameplay Expedition
Scholar gains the most benefit from buffs and area control spells that enhance his team or apply status effects. Use spells that support both offensive pressure and survivability. Choosing spells that enhance survivability and status buildup complements the Scholar’s utility role.
- Golden Vow: Increases attack and defense for Scholar and allies.
- Blessing of the Erdtree: Gradual HP recovery over time for nearby allies.
- Flame, Grant Me Strength: Boosts physical and fire damage.
- Chilling Mist: Applies frost buildup in a cone ahead of you.
11. Best Dormant Powers
Dormant Powers Scholar
Dormant Powers are passive bonuses earned by defeating bosses and major encounters during a run. They activate automatically to improve Scholar’s performance. Prioritize Dormant Powers that enhance consumables and survivability.
- Improved Throwing Pots: Raises the potency of throwing pots by +20%.
- Increased Rune Acquisition: Increases the number of runes obtained +10%.
- Wending Grace: Rise from defeat a single time.
- Poison & Rot Trigger Continuous HP Recovery: Poisoning or Scarlet Rot in the vicinity continuously restores HP. +7.
- Improved Physical Damage Negation: Boosts physical damage negation +12%/+15%/+18%.
- Improved Dodging: Longer invincibility windows during evasive maneuvers.
12. Best Status Ailments
Ailments in Elden Ring Nightreign DLC are the status effects like Poison, Scarlet Rot, Blood Loss, and Frostbite, plus the unique Madness. Scholar’s Arcane scaling allows rapid and reliable application of powerful status ailments.
- Frostbite: Frostbite deals an instance of damage when the buildup gauge fills and then debuffs the target, increasing all damage they take (typically ~20%) and slowing stamina recovery for a duration. This makes it one of the most potent status effects, offering both damage and utility.
- Scarlet Rot: Scarlet Rot inflicts continuous Damage‑Over‑Time (DoT) once the meter fills. It is similar to Poison but much stronger and harder to resist, making it especially effective against bosses and tough enemies.
- Poison: Poison deals continuous DoT as well, but its damage per tick is generally lower than Scarlet Rot. It’s still valuable for adding consistent pressure and synergizes with consumables and Arcane scaling
13. How To Play Scholar Build
Scholar Skins
Scholar is a strategic support and utility Nightfarer that excels at battlefield control through status effects, consumables, and team buffs. Unlike brute-force melee builds, Scholar’s effectiveness depends on tactical positioning, timing, and consumable management.
- Prioritize Key Stats: Focus on Arcane for maximum status application and consumable potency, Intelligence for utility spells and FP sustainability, and Endurance for balanced stamina and item usage.
- Level Up Consumables with Bagcraft: Use throwing pots, boluses, and other consumables repeatedly to upgrade their potency and secondary effects early in the run. Make full use of Bagcraft to turn consumables into high-impact tools.
- Apply Status Effects with Weapons: Use Scholar’s weapons that inflict Poison, Scarlet Rot, Blood Loss, or Frostbite. Combine attacks with consumables to build status quickly and control enemy behavior.
- Use Analyse Wisely: Activate Analyse to buff allies or debuff enemies. Target multiple enemies or teammates to maximize its effect. Stay safe while channeling, as Scholar is vulnerable during this skill.
- Save Communion for Optimal Moments: Use the Communion Ultimate Art during dense enemy clusters or team recovery windows. It reflects damage across linked enemies and distributes healing among allies, making it essential for high-impact team fights.
- Play Supportively: Scholar excels in team-based play rather than soloing. Position yourself behind frontline allies, maintain buffs and debuffs, and use consumables strategically to turn the tide of battle.
- Maintain Tactical Awareness: Keep track of status effect buildup, ally positioning, and enemy vulnerabilities. Rotate consumables and skills to maintain battlefield control without overexposing yourself.
