The Antspur Rapier in Elden Ring is a deadly thrusting weapon, uniquely known for its ability to inflict Scarlet Rot buildup on enemies. With its fast attack speed and status effect potential, this rapier is a favorite among Dexterity and Arcane-focused builds. However, to unlock its full power, choosing the best Ash of War for the Antspur Rapier is essential. The right Ash of War can transform this already dangerous weapon into a devastating force on the battlefield, capable of handling both PvE and PvP encounters with precision and control.
What Makes the Antspur Rapier Special?
Scarlet Rot Infliction
The standout feature of the Antspur Rapier is its innate Scarlet Rot buildup. This makes it one of the few thrusting weapons capable of applying a powerful damage-over-time debuff. Scarlet Rot is particularly effective in long battles or against bosses with large health pools, as it chips away at their HP while you continue to dodge and strike.
Fast Thrusting Attacks
As a rapier, the Antspur delivers rapid thrusts that are difficult for enemies to parry or evade. Its quick moveset allows players to stay mobile, land consistent hits, and apply pressure during duels or enemy combos. This speed makes it ideal for coating enemies with status effects, especially when paired with other elemental infusions or Ashes of War.
Choosing the Best Ash of War for Antspur Rapier
Criteria to Consider
When selecting the best Ash of War for the Antspur Rapier, consider these key elements:
- Compatibility with the thrusting playstyle
- Scaling synergy with Dexterity, Arcane, or hybrid builds
- Ability to enhance Scarlet Rot application or supplement it with other effects
- Utility in both PvE and PvP combat
Let’s explore the top Ashes of War that suit the Antspur Rapier and why they elevate its effectiveness.
Top Ashes of War for Antspur Rapier
Ash of War: Seppuku
Seppuku is one of the most powerful and popular Ashes of War for status effect builds. When used, your character stabs themselves with the weapon, coating it with blood and increasing bleed buildup. Though it deals a bit of self-damage, the tradeoff is well worth it.
- Grants bonus bleed buildup on each hit
- Stacks with Scarlet Rot for dual status pressure
- Excellent in PvP for forcing opponents to react defensively
While the Antspur Rapier doesn’t have inherent bleed, applying Seppuku lets you stack both Bleed and Scarlet Rot on enemies simultaneously, making this combo a nightmare for invaders or tough bosses. It is best paired with a blood infusion to maximize bleed potential.
Ash of War: Flaming Strike
Flaming Strike adds fire damage to your weapon and grants a buff that boosts flame attack power. The fire infusion can be especially deadly against enemies weak to fire or those with low fire resistance.
- Applies fire damage with each swing
- Increases total attack power after activation
- Effective in PvE against beast-type or tree enemies
With Flaming Strike, the Antspur Rapier becomes a status-inflicting machine with added elemental power. If combined with a Flame Art infusion, this weapon can scale with Faith, offering versatility for hybrid builds.
Ash of War: Poison Moth Flight
This Ash of War is perfect for players looking to lean fully into status effect builds. Poison Moth Flight delivers a quick slash that applies poison and enhances damage to poisoned targets.
- Stacks poison with Scarlet Rot for dual DoT strategy
- Boosts critical hits or follow-up attacks
- Complements Arcane-heavy builds
The Antspur Rapier can be infused with a poison element to make this combination even more deadly. The slow but inevitable damage from both poison and Scarlet Rot is punishing over time, especially in PvP battles where opponents might not carry enough curatives.
Ash of War: Blood Tax
Blood Tax is a highly aggressive Ash of War that delivers multiple rapid thrusts and restores a portion of HP with each hit. While not commonly seen, it synergizes wonderfully with fast weapons like the Antspur Rapier.
- Fast, relentless strikes perfect for rapier combat
- Restores health with every successful hit
- Works great with Arcane scaling
Using Blood Tax, you can overwhelm enemies while healing yourself, giving you an edge in drawn-out fights. It’s also particularly satisfying against humanoid enemies or duel scenarios, where quick regen can keep you in the battle longer.
Ash of War: Impaling Thrust
Impaling Thrust is a simple but effective Ash of War that drives the rapier forward in a strong, armor-piercing lunge. It deals significant posture damage and can break enemy guards or poise easily.
- Excellent for staggering shielded enemies
- Perfect for precision builds focused on timing and spacing
- Scales well with Dexterity
If you’re running a pure Dexterity build with the Antspur Rapier, Impaling Thrust gives you the ability to punish slow or defensive enemies. It also has a good reach, allowing you to poke from safety and deliver strong finishers.
Best Infusions for Antspur Rapier Ashes
The infusion you choose will determine how effective your Ash of War is. Here are some of the best options based on synergy:
- Blood Infusion Ideal with Seppuku or Blood Tax for status stacking and bleed scaling
- Poison Infusion Great with Poison Moth Flight to apply two damage-over-time effects
- Flame Art Infusion Works well with Flaming Strike and Faith-based builds
- Keen Infusion Best for Dexterity scaling if you prefer raw damage and speed
- Occult Infusion Effective for Arcane builds stacking multiple statuses
Each infusion has its strengths, and your choice should align with your overall build strategy and the enemies you plan to face.
Tips for Using Antspur Rapier Effectively
- Combine with a status-afflicting off-hand weapon to double up on effects (e.g., a bleed dagger or poison sword)
- Use talismans that boost status buildup like Kindred of Rot’s Exultation
- Keep pressure on opponents with fast combos and dodging
- Time your Ash of War use carefully to catch opponents off-guard
The Antspur Rapier excels in aggressive builds that favor mobility and status application. With the right Ash of War and infusion, it becomes one of the most versatile and dangerous weapons in Elden Ring.
The best Ash of War for the Antspur Rapier ultimately depends on your playstyle, build, and intended encounters. For raw status effect stacking, Seppuku remains the top-tier choice, while Poison Moth Flight and Flaming Strike offer excellent alternatives for elemental or hybrid builds. Whether you’re carving your way through bosses or dominating PvP duels, optimizing your Ash of War selection can turn the Antspur Rapier into a legendary weapon in your arsenal.