Erdtree Worship · Incantation
Golden Vow – Elden Ring Incantation
Golden Vow is an Incantation in Elden Ring that buffs the caster and nearby allies.
Golden Vow is an Erdtree Incantation found at Corpse-Stench Shack in Mt. Gelmir. It requires 25 Faith and 47 FP, increases damage dealt by 15%, and reduces damage taken by 10% in PvE for 80 seconds.
Looking for Golden Vow Ash of War?
Golden Vow also exists as an Ash of War and a Shadow of the Erdtree consumable; both have different stats from the Incantation.
Quick Stats
- Location
- Corpse-Stench Shack, Mt. Gelmir
- Faith
- 25
- FP Cost
- 47
- Duration
- 80 sec
- Damage Buff
- +15% PvE
- Damage Reduction
- 10% PvE
Golden Vow Location in Elden Ring
The Golden Vow Incantation is a fixed loot pickup on Mt. Gelmir, not a shop unlock.
Quick Answer
Location: Corpse-Stench Shack, Mt. Gelmir
Nearest grace: Road of Iniquity. Loot the spell inside the shack east of the broken stone bridge on the Road of Iniquity.
This is the Golden Vow Incantation pickup, not the early Limgrave Ash of War. The spell sits on the floor of the Corpse-Stench Shack on Mt. Gelmir, east of the broken stone bridge on the Road of Iniquity.
From the Road of Iniquity Site of Grace, stay on the main Gelmir path toward the broken bridge. Look east of the bridge gap for the lone shack in the fumes. The Incantation is free loot inside; you do not need a vendor, prayerbook, or quest step. Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater can invade at the same shack — you can grab the spell first and leave, or clear her if she blocks the doorway. If you are still low Faith, the Ash of War version is available much earlier in Limgrave and is a different item.
Region
Mt. Gelmir
Area
Corpse-Stench Shack
Nearest Grace
Road of Iniquity
Obtain
Loot on the shack floor (Anastasia invasion nearby)
Edition
Base Game
Map location
Golden Vow
Corpse-Stench Shack, Mt. Gelmir
How to Get Golden Vow
Step 1
Progress into Mt. Gelmir and rest at the Road of Iniquity Site of Grace if it is available on your route.
Step 2
Follow the Road of Iniquity to the broken stone bridge. Do not drop into the gap — look east of the bridge for the Corpse-Stench Shack in the smoke.
Step 3
Enter the shack and loot Golden Vow from the body on the floor. If Anastasia invades, you can still take the spell and leave, or defeat her first if she crowds the doorway.
Golden Vow Requirements and Stats
Faith requirement, FP cost, stamina cost, and memory slots for the Golden Vow Incantation.
| Faith Requirement | 25 |
|---|---|
| Intelligence | 0 |
| Arcane | 0 |
| FP Cost | 47 |
| Stamina Cost | 50 |
| Memory Slots | 1 |
| Spell Type | Incantation |
| Buff Type | Aura |
| School | Erdtree Worship |
| Effect | Increases attack and defense for self & allies |
Golden Vow Buff and Effects
Aura values for the Incantation version. Nearby allies within about 6 meters when you cast receive the same attack and defense boost.
| Effect | PvE | PvP |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | +15% | +7.5% |
| Damage Negation | +10% | +5% |
| Affects Allies | Yes | Yes |
Golden Vow grants its aura buff to the caster and nearby allies within approximately 6 meters when activated. Allies keep the buff after moving away.
Unless noted otherwise, the values shown here are for the Incantation version of Golden Vow.
The damage side raises attack power, so weapon hits and spell damage both benefit. It is not a weapon buff you smear onto a blade, so greases, weapon skills, and many body buffs can sit beside it.
The defense side is damage negation, not a flat absorb shield. PvP values are roughly halved versus PvE. It does not replace a dedicated elemental protection spell when you need a hard counter to one damage type.
How Long Does Golden Vow Last?
Golden Vow lasts 80 seconds by default. Old Lord's Talisman extends the Incantation to about 104 seconds.
| Setup | Duration |
|---|---|
| Golden Vow Incantation | 80 sec |
| + Old Lord's Talisman | 104 sec |
Looking for the Ash of War timer instead? See the comparison section for the skill version.
Old Lord's Talisman →Does Golden Vow Stack With Flame, Grant Me Strength?
Yes. Golden Vow stacks with Flame, Grant Me Strength. Cast both before a hard fight when you want the standard physical and fire burst setup.
| Buff Combination | Stack? |
|---|---|
| Golden Vow + Flame, Grant Me Strength | Yes — they multiply (aura + body) |
| Golden Vow + Howl of Shabriri | Yes — Howl is a body buff; do not pair Howl with Flame, Grant Me Strength |
| Golden Vow + Rallying Standard | No — both use the aura buff slot |
| Golden Vow + Uplifting Aromatic | Aura attack buffs do not stack; its separate one-hit protection still applies |
Golden Vow uses the aura buff slot. Flame, Grant Me Strength uses a body buff slot, so the game keeps both and the damage bonuses multiply instead of overwriting each other.
A practical pre-buff order is Golden Vow first, then Flame, Grant Me Strength, then walk into the fog. Flame, Grant Me Strength expires sooner, so refresh that buff between attempts while Golden Vow is still running when you can.
Howl of Shabriri also stacks with Golden Vow, but Howl and Flame, Grant Me Strength compete for the same body-buff space — pick one body buff. A second aura will replace the first instead of stacking.
Uplifting Aromatic has both an aura attack buff and a separate unique one-hit protection effect. Golden Vow replaces its aura attack buff, but does not remove that protection.
Golden Vow Incantation vs Ash of War vs Consumable
Short comparison for players deciding between the Faith spell, weapon skill, and Shadow of the Erdtree consumable.
| Incantation | Ash of War | Consumable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Incantation | Ash of War / Skill | Consumable |
| Requirement | Faith 25 | No Faith requirement | None |
| FP Cost | 47 | 40 | 30 |
| PvE Damage | +15% | +11.5% | +12.7% |
| PvE Damage Negation | +10% | +7.5% | +8.8% |
| Duration | 80 sec | 45 sec | 45 sec |
| Location | Corpse-Stench Shack, Mt. Gelmir | Godrick Knight near Deathtouched Catacombs, Stormhill | Shadow of the Erdtree loot or crafting |
| Best For | Faith / co-op loadouts | Early or low-Faith kits | DLC players without a Faith investment |
Take the Ash of War when you are still in Limgrave, under Faith 25, or cannot reach Mt. Gelmir yet. It drops from the mounted Godrick Knight near Deathtouched Catacombs in Stormhill.
The Shadow of the Erdtree consumable is a separate item with its own 45-second aura. The Incantation remains the strongest and longest-lasting version once you can spare the Faith and a memory slot.
Which Golden Vow should you use?
The Golden Vow Ash of War is the early, low-Faith option from Stormhill, while the DLC consumable is a separate middle-ground option. For Faith builds, the Incantation is the strongest and longest-lasting version once you can cast it.
How to Use Golden Vow
Step 1
Memorize Golden Vow at a Site of Grace.
Step 2
Equip a Sacred Seal in an active hand.
Step 3
Meet the Faith 25 requirement (and any seal preference you want for casting comfort).
Step 4
Cast before combat so the aura is already up when the fight starts.
Step 5
Cast while allies are within about 6 meters if you want them to receive the same attack and defense boost.
Is Golden Vow Worth Using?
Golden Vow is one of the strongest general-purpose buffs in Elden Ring. The Incantation version lasts longer and hits harder than the Ash of War, while still covering nearby allies. Pair it with Flame, Grant Me Strength on physical or fire kits, or run it alone when you only have room for one buff. The Faith 25 requirement is real, so low-Faith or early-game characters may prefer the Ash of War until a respec. Once you can cast the spell, it belongs in almost every co-op and boss loadout that has a free memory slot.
Keep going
Golden Vow FAQ
Where is Golden Vow in Elden Ring?
The Golden Vow Incantation is inside the Corpse-Stench Shack on Mt. Gelmir, east of the broken stone bridge on the Road of Iniquity near the Road of Iniquity grace. Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater can invade at the same shack. The early Limgrave pickup is the Ash of War, not this spell.
How long does Golden Vow last?
The Incantation lasts 80 seconds. Old Lord's Talisman extends that to about 104 seconds. The Ash of War version lasts about 45 seconds — see the comparison section for the skill version.
What is the Faith requirement for Golden Vow?
Golden Vow requires 25 Faith, costs 47 FP, uses 1 memory slot, and costs 50 stamina to cast.
Does Golden Vow stack with Flame, Grant Me Strength?
Yes. Golden Vow is an aura buff and Flame, Grant Me Strength is a body buff, so they stack and multiply together. A common opener is Golden Vow, then Flame, Grant Me Strength, then enter the fight. Refresh Flame, Grant Me Strength more often because it expires first.
How much does Golden Vow buff damage?
In PvE the Incantation raises damage by about 15% and damage negation by about 10%. In PvP those values drop to roughly +7.5% damage and +5% negation. Nearby allies receive the same aura.
Does Golden Vow buff spells?
Yes. Golden Vow raises attack power for the caster and nearby allies, so weapon hits and spell damage both benefit while the aura is active. It is not limited to physical melee only.
Is Golden Vow Incantation better than the Ash of War?
Yes once you can meet Faith 25. The Incantation is the stronger, longer aura. The Ash of War is the better early or low-Faith option from Limgrave until you can cast the spell.
How do you use Golden Vow?
Memorize it, equip a Sacred Seal, meet Faith 25, and cast before combat. Allies within about 6 meters when you activate it receive the buff too. Pair with Flame, Grant Me Strength when you want the full physical and fire stack.