In Elden Ring, affinities are a key mechanic in the weapon infusion system that allows you to modify your weapons to scale with specific stats, elements, or status effects. Using affinities, you can tailor a weapon to suit your build by changing its damage scaling and properties. This Elden Ring 1.16 infusion tier list 2025 ranks all 13 affinities from worst to best, based on their utility, scaling, and synergy in PvE. 

Elden Ring 1.16 Best Affinity - Elden Ring Infusion Tier List 2025

Affinity system requires a corresponding Whetblade and works with regular smithing weapons. Each affinity serves a unique purpose, enabling builds for Strength (Heavy), Dexterity (Keen), hybrid stats (Quality), elemental damage (Fire, Lightning, etc.), or status effects (like Blood or Poison). While affinities like Heavy, Keen, and Quality allow for weapon buffs with spells or greases, others like Magic or Flame Art provide elemental scaling but cannot be buffed. Every infusion on this Elden Ring 1.16 infusion tier list thas its niche, but some stand out as the Elden Ring 1.16 best infusion options due to their damage potential, build versatility, and compatibility with Ashes of War. 

13. Poison

Poison infusion provides Strength/Dexterity scaling with minor Arcane scaling, but poison's low damage-over-time effect (6% over 90 seconds) pales compared to bleed's instant 10% proc. Poison infusion is outclassed by Occult infusion, which offers better damage scaling and poison synergy.

12. Standard

Standard infusion retains base weapon scaling and damage but lacks stat optimization as you level up. It's useful early game or for shields (since infusions lower guard boost), but other affinities outperform it in nearly every scenario at higher levels.

When to use: Early game or for shield builds, but switch to other infusions as your weapon upgrades.

11. Fire

Fire infusion adds split Fire damage with Strength scaling but is weaker than Heavy infusion, which also synergizes better with fire-based Ashes of War (e.g., Flame of the Redmanes). Fire is situational and loses out to Flame Art infusion for Faith builds.

When to use: Against enemies weak to Fire, but otherwise, Heavy or Flame Art offers more value.

10. Quality

Quality infusion evenly splits Strength/Dexterity scaling, making it viable only at very high levels (200+). It sacrifices too much base damage early on, and other scaling-focused infusions like Heavy or Keen are better for specialized builds.

When to use: High-level builds that want to use a variety of weapons without maximizing damage output.

9. Lightning

Lightning infusion adds split Lightning damage with Dexterity scaling but sacrifices the ability to buff. While it works well against enemies weak to Lightning, most Lightning-based Ashes of War scale better with Keen or Sacred affinities.

When to use: For Lightning-based critical builds or enemies weak to Lightning, but Keen or Sacred often outperform it.

8. Sacred

Sacred infusion adds Holy damage and Faith scaling but suffers because Holy is the weakest damage type in the base game, with many enemies being resistant. Flame Art is a better Faith-based alternative for most scenarios.

When to use: Against DLC enemies weak to Holy or as a backup infusion for Faith builds.

7. Magic

Why it's useful: Magic infusion adds split Magic damage and Intelligence scaling, making it great for pure Intelligence builds. However, it’s overshadowed by Cold infusion, which offers Frost buildup and better scaling versatility.

When to use: Pure Intelligence builds that want split Magic damage without status effects.

6. Blood

Blood infusion adds Arcane scaling and bleed buildup, making it viable for bleed-focused builds. However, Occult infusion often outperforms it by providing better Arcane scaling and maximizing other status effects like poison. Blood also can't be buffed, limiting its potential.

When to use: For weapons without innate bleed where you want to add bleed buildup easily.

5. Flame Art

Why it's great: Flame Art infusion adds Fire damage and Faith scaling, making it the best choice for Faith-based melee builds. It synergizes well with fire-based Ashes of War (e.g., Black Flame Tornado) and outshines Sacred infusion due to Fire's better damage type.

When to use: Faith builds focused on melee, especially with weapons like the Erdtree Greatsword or Fire Monk weapons.

4. Cold

Cold infusion combines Frost buildup with split Magic damage and scaling in Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity. Frost buildup is powerful, reducing enemy resistance by 20% for 30 seconds. It’s also the best Elden Ring 1.16 affinity to Magic or Quality infusions at high levels.

When to use: Hybrid Intelligence builds or when Frost buildup is desirable for damage and utility.

3. Keen

Keen infusion maximizes Dexterity scaling, making it the best Elden Ring 1.16 infusion for pure Dexterity builds. Many Dexterity weapons have innate bleed, and Keen allows for buffs like Bloodflame Blade, offering high damage and bleed synergy.

When to use: For pure Dexterity builds or weapons with passive bleed (e.g., Uchigatana).

2. Occult

Occult infusion adds Arcane scaling, maximizing status buildup (bleed, poison) while maintaining high damage. It works perfectly with weapons that have innate bleed or poison, and it synergizes with Arcane spells like Dragon Communion. Occult also outclasses Blood infusion in most cases.

When to use: Arcane builds focused on bleed, poison, or hybrid spellcasting.

1. Heavy

Heavy infusion maximizes Strength scaling and benefits from the 50% Strength bonus when two-handing. It offers the highest damage potential for Strength builds and works with some of the best weapons in the game (e.g., Greatswords, Colossal Weapons). Heavy also synergizes with fire-based Ashes of War for even more damage.

When to use: For pure Strength builds or two-handed playstyles.