Man, I remember the first time I stumbled upon the Sword of Night and Flame in Elden Ring. I was just poking around Caria Manor, completely unprepared for how this weapon would change my entire playthrough. This legendary straight sword isn't just another piece of loot - it's a game-changer that dominated the meta before getting nerfed.
Where to Find This Beast of a Sword
Getting your hands on the Sword of Night and Flame isn't super complicated, but you'll need to reach Liurnia first. Remember that feeling when you finally escape Stormveil Castle? Yeah, head northwest from there.
Here's the step-by-step even my sleep-deprived brain could follow at 2 AM:
- Make your way to the Road to the Manor site of grace
- Spot that crumbling tower northeast? That's your target
- Scale the rooftops (watch out for those creepy hand monsters!)
- Drop down through the damaged section of the roof
- Loot the corpse slumped against the wall - bam! Sword acquired
No boss fight required, just some basic platforming. Though honestly, those roof jumps gave me more trouble than some bosses.
| Location Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Region | Liurnia of the Lakes |
| Nearest Grace | Road to the Manor |
| Coordinates | NE of Manor, rooftop access |
| Recommended Level | 40+ (unless you're running past everything) |
| Key Threats | Fingercreepers, magic traps |
Why Everyone Went Nuts Over This Sword
Pre-nerf, the Sword of Night and Flame was downright broken. I mean melting bosses in seconds kind of broken. Even after adjustments, its dual-sorcery-and-pyromancy weapon art makes it unique.
The magic happens with its special skill: Night-and-Flame Stance. Hold L2 and you get two options:
- R1: Comet Azur Lite - Channels a devastating magic beam
- R2: Fire Sweep - Unleashes wide flaming arc
I've wiped out entire groups with that fire sweep in narrow corridors. Felt like cheating sometimes.
Damage Scaling Explained
Here's where it gets interesting - the Sword of Night and Flame scales with FOUR stats (yeah, four!):
| Stat | Damage Scaling | Effect on Weapon Art |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | C | Minor physical boost |
| Dexterity | C | Minor physical boost |
| Intelligence | B | Massive boost to magic beam |
| Faith | B | Massive boost to fire sweep |
This dual-scaling creates wild build opportunities. You're not just a melee fighter - you're a walking magical artillery.
Making the Sword Shine: Build Guide
After wasting five larval tears respeccing, here's what actually works in current patch 1.10:
The Hybrid Caster (My Personal Favorite)
This turns you into a versatile spellsword:
- Stats: Vigor 40, Mind 30, Int 24, Fai 24 (minimum), Dex 12, Str 12
- Talismans: Carian Filigreed Crest (FP cost reduction), Fire Scorpion Charm (fire boost), Shard of Alexander (skill damage)
- Buff Routine: Flask with Magic-Shrouding + Flame-Shrouding tears, Golden Vow incantation
I used this setup to cheese Malenia. The beam staggers her during Waterfowl Dance startup.
Pure Faith Pyromancer
Focus entirely on that glorious fire sweep:
- Stats: Vigor 50, Fai 50+, Str 12, Dex 12
- Key Gear: Fire Scorpion Charm, Flock's Canvas Talisman
- Pro Tip: Combine with Flame Grant Me Strength for +20% damage
Watching groups explode never gets old. Just watch your FP like a hawk.
Reality Check: After the nerf, the Sword of Night and Flame isn't OP anymore. You need smart builds to make it viable in late-game. My first post-nerf attempt against Radagon was... embarrassing.
Upgrading Costs and Materials
Bring your mining gear. Fully upgrading this beauty requires rare materials:
| Upgrade Level | Smithing Stones | Somber Stones | Rune Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| +0 to +3 | 12x Smithing Stone [1] | N/A | 1,800 |
| +4 to +6 | 12x Smithing Stone [2] | 3x Somber [1] | 4,500 |
| +7 to +9 | 12x Smithing Stone [3] | 3x Somber [2] | 12,000 |
| +10 | 1x Ancient Stone | 1x Somber [7] | 25,000 |
Farm those Somber Stones in Caelid tunnels. Worth the headache though - at +10 that beam vaporizes regular mobs.
How It Compares to Other Legendary Weapons
Is Sword of Night and Flame still top-tier? Let's be real:
| Weapon | Skill | FP Cost | Best For | My Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonveil Katana | Transient Moonlight | 15 FP | Speedrunners | Faster but less versatile |
| Blasphemous Blade | Taker's Flames | 30 FP | Sustain builds | Healing is OP in dungeons |
| Sword of N&F | Night-and-Flame Stance | 26 FP | Hybrid casters | More tactical options |
Against end-game bosses? Blasphemous Blade probably wins for survivability. But for pure style points? Give me that golden beam any day.
Advanced Combat Tricks Most Players Miss
After 200+ hours with this sword, here's what the tooltips don't tell you:
- Beam Snipe: The magic beam has insane range. You can tag dragons from outside aggro range
- Fire Cancel: Roll immediately after casting fire sweep to avoid recovery frames
- Poise Break: Charged beam (hold R1) breaks poise faster than Colossal weapons
- Terrain Abuse: Beam penetrates thin walls. Great for cheesing invaders
Seriously, that wall-piercing trick saved me against an annoying Taunter's Tongue invader in Leyndell.
Your Burning Questions Answered
These keep popping up in forums:
Is the Sword of Night and Flame still viable after nerfs?
Yes, but differently. Pre-nerf it was brainless spam. Now you need stat investment and timing. The beam does 30% less damage but still annihilates when buffed.
Can I dual-wield these swords effectively?
Technically yes, practically no. The 48 stat requirement (24 INT/24 FAI) kills your build flexibility. Better to pair with a cold-infused weapon.
Why does my beam sometimes whiff point-blank?
Ah, the classic mistake! The beam originates slightly ahead of your character. Against crawling bosses like Astel, position at mid-range. Took me three deaths to figure that out.
What's better - magic or fire version?
Depends! Beam for single targets (demigods), fire for groups (dungeons). Against Radahn? Beam all day. In catacombs? Clear rooms with fire sweep.
Final Reality Check
Look, is the Sword of Night and Flame the undisputed king anymore? No. But does it provide the most visually spectacular and versatile moveset in the game? Absolutely.
That moment when you vaporize a Crucible Knight with a perfectly timed beam? Pure dopamine. Just don't expect to faceroll Malenia with it anymore - I learned that the hard way while streaming. Five hours of attempts. Five. Hours.
At the end of the day, this weapon embodies what makes Elden Ring great: flashy, adaptable tools that reward creativity. Not the meta pick, but damn if it isn't the coolest straight sword in the Lands Between.