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Out of all the different status effects, Madding is one of the least talked about inElden Ring. It hasn’t gotten much love over the years, with only a couple of sorceries and three weapons that cause the build up. It does have a dedicated sacred seal, but there weren’t many options for Frenzied Flame worshippers with a melee tendency until the DLC.
With three new Madness buildup weapons, a whole new area dedicated to the frenzied flame alongside an optional boss, the yellow flame lovers are eating well inShadow of the Erdtree. One of the weapons is theMadding Hand, which grants a decent passive buff, and is very powerful in PvP.
Madding Hand: Overview & Stats
Maddening Skill for PvP
The Madding Hand is aFist type weaponinElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It deals53 Physical and 63 Fire damagewhen not upgraded, and can be brought to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones. At max stats, itscales as a D with STR, DEX, INT, and FAI, but it is most affected by yourSTRstat. Most mportantly, having the Madding Hand equipped, even if you double-hand a different weapon, will give the players a7.5% buff when there is madness in the vicinity.
The Madding Hand’s weapon skill, Madding Spear-Hand Strike, causes305 Madness buildupand consumes13 FP. It is not chargeable, and cannot be followed up with another attack. It’s a great skill for PvP, but doesn’t deal enough damage in PvE to be worth it.
TheMadding Handscales primarily with Strength, but has some scaling from DEX, INT, and FAI as well. The weapon skill’s ability to cause damage is the main concern with this build, so the exact stats don’t matter too much. You should optimize them as you need, according to the main weapon you use to deal damage.Having high Endurance is useful,as you will need to wield a second weapon that deals damage to enemies that you paralyze with madness.
40
16
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70
10
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33
Best Talismans to Optimize Damage with Madding Hand
If you’re using the Madding Hand as a buffing option, you can switch out theAged One’s Exultationwith a different talisman after you proc madness on yourself. The effect persists even after the talisman is removed for 30 seconds.
Wondrous Physik Mixture for the Madding Hand
Since the Ash of War deals fire damage, theFlame-Shrouding Cracked Tearis a good option to buff its offensive power. However, since you’ll mostly be using it for its madness proc rather than damage dealing capability, you canswitch it out for a different crystal tearbased on the damage dealing weapon you’ll use in your build. You can use theBlood-Sucking Cracked Tearin the second slot if you want to maximize damage, but something like the Opaline Hardtear or theGreenspill Crystal Tearare good options if you want to be a bit more defensive and well-rounded.
General Gameplay with Madding Hand in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
The Madding Hand is not a viable weapon for PvE except as a passive buffing side arm, because Madness cannot be inflicted on most enemies in the game. However, it shines in PvP combat because of itspowerful Ash of War, Maddening Spear-Hand Strike.
The ash of war is easy to dodge and has a fairly large windup window, so you’ll want to time it properly. As soon as you see an opening, use the AoW. This will cause 305 Madness buildup, usually resulting in the Madness status effect in most players. Then, immediately switch to yourmain damage dealing weapon, and use a strong attack, or a weapon skill to kill the enemy outright.
For PvE, you’ll want to use it alongside otherMadness buffing items, like theBlack Dumpling. Keep it in your off-hand, andinflict madness on yourselfwith the necessary items equipped. If you time it right, you will have a solid 37.5% buff on all attacks for 30 seconds. Add it to your buffing routine alongsideGolden Vow,Howl of Shabriri,Ash of War: Seppuku,Red-Feathered Branchsword, andAged One’s Exultation, and you have a boss deleting routine set up and ready to go.
