Why Can’T I Use Electrify Armament

by

Electrify Armament is a popular Incantation in Elden Ring that allows players to temporarily imbue their melee weapons with lightning damage. This spell is particularly useful against enemies weak to lightning or when you want to enhance your damage output without switching weapons. However, many players find themselves asking the same question: why can’t I use Electrify Armament? If you’re encountering this issue, there could be multiple reasons behind it ranging from incorrect gear to attribute requirements or incompatible weapons. This guide breaks down all the common reasons why Electrify Armament might not be usable and explains how to fix them.

Understanding Electrify Armament

Electrify Armament is a Faith-based Incantation that belongs to the Dragon Cult school of magic. When cast, it coats your weapon in lightning, allowing you to deal extra elemental damage for a limited duration. It’s a favored buff for Faith builds and is especially helpful in PvE scenarios against specific boss types.

Basic Requirements

  • Faith Requirement: 15
  • Memory Slot: 1
  • FP Cost: 36
  • Cast Time: Moderate

You need to have at least one free Memory Slot and enough Faith to cast the spell. But having the spell in your inventory is just the beginning there are several conditions that need to be met for it to work properly.

Reasons Why You Can’t Use Electrify Armament

You Don’t Meet the Faith Requirement

One of the most common reasons players can’t use Electrify Armament is that they don’t meet the minimum Faith stat requirement. You need at least 15 Faith to cast this Incantation. If you try to equip it with less, the game will gray it out or prevent you from casting it entirely.

Check your character’s stats in the status menu. If your Faith is below 15, you won’t be able to use the spell until you level up or use stat-boosting gear like the Two Fingers Heirloom talisman, which grants +5 Faith.

You Don’t Have a Sacred Seal Equipped

To cast any Incantation, including Electrify Armament, you must have a Sacred Seal equipped in one of your hands. Sacred Seals are to Incantations what staves are to Sorceries. Without a Seal, your spell won’t cast regardless of your stats or setup.

  • Equip a Sacred Seal in your main or off-hand slot.
  • Make sure it is actively selected when casting.
  • Use a Seal that scales with Faith for maximum efficiency.

Examples include the Finger Seal (starter seal), Erdtree Seal, or Dragon Communion Seal.

The Weapon You’re Holding Is Incompatible

Electrify Armament can only be applied to weapons that can be buffed with magic. Some weapon types and many special weapons are immune to external buffs like resins or magic armaments. If your weapon is infused with a special effect (such as Blood, Poison, or already has elemental damage), Electrify Armament won’t apply.

Incompatible weapon examples:

  • Weapons with innate elemental damage (like the Dragonslayer’s Crescent Axe)
  • Weapons with special Ashes of War (such as Moonveil or Rivers of Blood)
  • Weapons with split damage types (e.g., physical + fire)

To test if a weapon can be buffed, try using Grease on it first. If the weapon doesn’t accept the Grease, Electrify Armament won’t work either.

Your Weapon Has an Ash of War With Elemental Infusion

If you’ve applied an Ash of War that gives your weapon an elemental infusion (e.g., Fire, Frost, or Sacred), this will prevent you from using Electrify Armament on it. Infused weapons already carry an element and cannot be enchanted with another.

To resolve this:

  • Use a Smithing Table to remove the elemental infusion.
  • Switch the weapon’s Ash of War to a neutral version, like Standard or Keen.
  • Equip a basic or non-infused weapon for temporary use with the spell.

You’re Out of FP or Stamina

Like all Incantations, Electrify Armament consumes FP (Focus Points). If you’re out of FP, the spell won’t activate even if everything else is set up correctly. Similarly, if you’re mid-combat and completely out of stamina, it may delay or cancel the casting animation.

Ensure you have enough FP in your blue bar and stamina to perform the cast, especially in fast-paced battles. Keep a few Cerulean Flasks on hand for quick regeneration.

You Haven’t Memorized the Spell

Buying Electrify Armament from a vendor or finding it in the world doesn’t make it instantly usable. You must memorize it at a Site of Grace using one of your available Memory Slots. Without this step, the spell won’t appear in your Incantation list, and you won’t be able to equip or cast it.

To do this:

  1. Rest at any Site of Grace.
  2. Select Memorize Spell.
  3. Assign Electrify Armament to an available Memory Slot.

If all slots are full, you’ll need to unassign another spell or find a Memory Stone to unlock more capacity.

How to Make Electrify Armament Work

If you’re determined to use Electrify Armament as part of your build, here’s a step-by-step checklist:

  • Ensure your Faith is at least 15.
  • Equip a Sacred Seal in one of your hands.
  • Use a compatible melee weapon (no elemental infusions).
  • Memorize the spell at a Site of Grace.
  • Ensure you have enough FP and stamina to cast it.

If all these are set correctly and you’re still having trouble, check if any status effects (like silence, madness, or debuffs) are preventing spell use temporarily.

Alternative Weapon Buffs

If Electrify Armament isn’t working with your current weapon or build, consider alternative weapon buffs that might be compatible:

  • Flame, Grant Me Strength: Boosts physical and fire attack power.
  • Magic Grease: Temporary magic enchantment without needing Faith.
  • Bloodflame Blade: Adds fire damage and causes bleeding buildup.

Each of these spells or items has its own set of requirements and restrictions but may offer similar benefits depending on your weapon and enemy type.

Electrify Armament is a powerful and flashy Incantation in Elden Ring, but using it requires more than just unlocking the spell. You need to meet the Faith stat requirement, equip a Sacred Seal, memorize the spell, and ensure your weapon can accept enchantments. Incompatible weapon infusions, missing equipment, or lack of FP are among the most common reasons why the spell won’t work. By following the guidelines above, you can troubleshoot the issue and make sure you’re taking full advantage of this potent lightning buff. With the right setup, Electrify Armament can significantly enhance your damage output and bring a new edge to your Faith-based builds.