Thundercloud Form is one of the most visually striking and powerful Ashes of War inElden Ring, turning the player into a crackling storm before diving down with a devastating lightning-infused strike. It’s a unique skill found on a special weapon, the Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade, and is particularly favored by players building around Strength and Faith. However, many Tarnished are left wondering how exactly Thundercloud Form scales what stats influence its damage, and how can it be optimized for maximum efficiency in both PvE and PvP encounters.
Understanding Thundercloud Form
What Is Thundercloud Form?
Thundercloud Form is the unique weapon skill attached to the Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade. When activated, it causes the player to vanish into a stormy cloud and then descend rapidly with a plunging lightning attack that deals massive damage in a wide area. It not only looks flashy, but it hits extremely hard and scales impressively with the right stats and gear.
What makes Thundercloud Form special is its combination of lightning and physical damage. The attack benefits from weapon upgrades and certain character attributes, but understanding exactly how it scales is essential for optimizing its use.
Base Scaling of Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade
Weapon Stats
The Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade is a colossal weapon that features inherent lightning damage. This sets it apart from standard heavy weapons, as its unique scaling focuses not just on Strength but also on Faith. At base, the weapon typically offers:
- High base physical damage
- Moderate lightning damage
- Scaling with Strength and Faith
As you upgrade the Cragblade with Somber Smithing Stones, its scaling improves, with notable gains to both physical and lightning components. At max upgrade (+10), players can expect excellent scaling, making it one of the most effective weapons for hybrid builds focused on Faith and raw power.
Stat Scaling and Optimization
Strength Scaling
Thundercloud Form benefits greatly from Strength. As with many colossal weapons, a high Strength stat boosts the physical portion of the damage dealt by the skill. If you’re planning a melee-focused build that still leverages Thundercloud Form, Strength should be prioritized heavily ideally 40 or higher.
Faith Scaling
The lightning damage component of Thundercloud Form scales with Faith. The more Faith you have, the stronger the lightning aspect of the attack becomes. For this reason, hybrid builds that push both Strength and Faith are ideal.
- At 3040 Faith, players will begin to see strong returns on lightning damage.
- Faith scaling also allows synergy with buffs and talismans that boost lightning attacks.
Dexterity Scaling
While the weapon has minor Dexterity scaling, it plays a minimal role in Thundercloud Form’s damage. Dexterity may help with casting speed and fall damage reduction, but it’s not crucial for this specific build.
Gear and Buffs to Enhance Thundercloud Form
Talismans
Using the right talismans can significantly boost Thundercloud Form’s effectiveness. Consider the following:
- Lightning Scorpion Charm: Increases lightning attack power at the cost of defense perfect for boosting Thundercloud Form.
- Shard of Alexander: Greatly boosts the damage of skills, including Ashes of War like Thundercloud Form.
- Flock’s Canvas Talisman: If you’re running support spells, this can improve your Faith-based incantations, though it doesn’t directly affect Thundercloud.
Incantation Buffs
Since Thundercloud Form deals lightning damage, several incantations can enhance its output:
- Golden Vow: Boosts overall attack and defense, making it a staple in most Faith builds.
- Flame, Grant Me Strength: Despite its name, this buff affects both physical and fire attack power, and in some cases, it appears to slightly benefit physical damage from Thundercloud Form.
- Electrify Armament: Doesn’t directly enhance Thundercloud Form, but shows how lightning damage and Faith scale synergistically.
Armor Choices
Armor that boosts Strength or Faith, such as the Crucible Tree Set or pieces from the Veteran’s Set, can enhance survivability and effectiveness. While they don’t directly boost Thundercloud Form, staying alive during wind-up animations is key to using the skill successfully.
Playstyle and Combat Strategy
Using Thundercloud Form Effectively
The main drawback of Thundercloud Form is the slight delay before the attack lands. This makes it vulnerable in PvP if used recklessly. However, with proper timing, it can be devastating.
- Use Thundercloud Form against staggered or large enemies that cannot dodge easily.
- Try to time it after baiting enemy attacks or during openings.
- In PvE, bosses with long recovery animations are prime targets.
Mobility Advantage
One underrated aspect of Thundercloud Form is its ability to move through the air during activation. It grants brief invincibility frames, allowing players to bypass certain attacks or reposition. This makes it useful for both offense and defense if used wisely.
Faith + Strength Build Suggestions
Stat Allocation
- Vigor: 40 (to survive trades and casting delay)
- Endurance: 20+ (to manage the Cragblade’s weight and multiple rolls)
- Strength: 45 (main damage scaler for physical)
- Faith: 3040 (boost lightning damage)
- Mind: 15+ (to ensure enough FP for repeated use)
Recommended Loadout
- Main Weapon: Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade
- Seal: Erdtree Seal or Giant’s Seal (for buffs)
- Armor: Bull-Goat or Crucible Tree (high poise)
- Talismans: Lightning Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Radagon’s Scarseal, Green Turtle Talisman
Thundercloud Form in PvP
Pros and Cons
While Thundercloud Form can one-shot careless opponents, it is telegraphed and predictable in duels. Success depends on baiting reactions or comboing it after a guard break or stun.
However, in team fights or invasions, the large AoE and vertical range can surprise multiple enemies at once especially when dropped from above or behind cover.
Thundercloud Form Scaling
Thundercloud Form is a powerful, Faith-scaling Ash of War that delivers explosive lightning damage and crowd control potential. To get the most from it, players should invest heavily in both Strength and Faith while supporting the build with appropriate buffs, talismans, and playstyle adaptations. Although it has a wind-up and some predictability, its raw damage output and mobility make it one of the most satisfying skills inElden Ringwhen used correctly. With proper scaling and timing, Thundercloud Form can make you a storm to be feared in the Lands Between.