Glintblade Phalanx is a sorcery spell in Elden Ring known for its automatic magical sword projectiles that target enemies after a short delay. It’s especially popular among Intelligence builds due to its low FP cost and ability to apply pressure from a distance. However, some players notice that Glintblade Phalanx doesn’t seem to stagger enemies as effectively as expected. Understanding why Glintblade Phalanx is not staggering targets and how the stagger mechanics work in Elden Ring can help you make better use of this spell in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Let’s explore the factors behind this issue and how to adjust your strategy when relying on Glintblade Phalanx.
What Is Glintblade Phalanx?
Glintblade Phalanx is a sorcery that summons several magical blades that float above the caster and automatically fire at enemies after a brief delay. The spell can be used while moving, making it suitable for mobile casting in battle. It is commonly used to chip away at enemy health, force reaction rolls in PvP, or supplement melee combos in hybrid builds.
This spell is accessible relatively early in the game and is valued for its versatility and style. It can be cast using a staff and scales with Intelligence, like most sorceries. In terms of visual and functional design, it resembles the magic found in the Carian and Raya Lucaria schools.
How Staggering Works in Elden Ring
To understand why Glintblade Phalanx may not be staggering enemies, it’s essential to know how the stagger system operates. Elden Ring uses a hidden ‘poise’ and ‘stagger resistance’ system that varies by enemy type. When an enemy takes a certain amount of damage in a short timeframe, particularly from heavier or successive attacks, they may flinch or stagger, interrupting their actions and exposing them to critical hits or follow-ups.
Key Factors That Influence Staggering:
- Poise Damage: Every attack deals some poise damage. Enough of it can stagger an enemy.
- Enemy Poise Level: Stronger or larger enemies have more poise and resist stagger.
- Attack Type: Heavier weapons and spells usually deal more stagger potential.
- Time Interval: Poise damage resets after a short delay if not followed up.
Staggering isn’t purely about raw damage; the poise break threshold must be reached quickly. This is why single-hit light attacks and low-impact spells like Glintblade Phalanx may struggle to stagger tougher foes.
Why Glintblade Phalanx Is Not Staggering
There are several reasons why Glintblade Phalanx might not be staggering enemies as expected. While the spell looks impressive, its actual impact in terms of poise damage is relatively low compared to other sorceries or melee strikes.
1. Low Poise Damage
Each projectile from Glintblade Phalanx deals modest damage and applies only a small amount of poise damage. Against enemies with low poise, such as basic soldiers or small animals, the spell may cause a slight flinch. However, against knights, bosses, or heavily armored foes, it won’t be enough to interrupt their attacks.
2. Delayed Firing
Glintblade Phalanx blades don’t fire instantly; they launch one by one after a short delay. This staggered release reduces the chance of stacking poise damage fast enough to trigger a flinch. By the time the next blade hits, the enemy’s poise meter may have already begun regenerating.
3. Damage Type and Scaling
The spell is purely magic-based and doesn’t include any secondary effects like knockback or explosive impact. Its scaling favors Intelligence and spellpower rather than physical interruption. Even with high Intelligence, the spell focuses more on sustained pressure than raw impact.
4. PvP Stagger Resistance
In PvP, players often wear armor that boosts poise or use talismans that reduce stagger. Additionally, human opponents are likely to dodge or block incoming blades, minimizing their chance to flinch. Glintblade Phalanx may force movement or defensive reactions, but it rarely causes a true stagger unless multiple hits land in rapid succession.
5. Enemy-Specific Resistances
Certain enemies in Elden Ring are immune or resistant to stagger due to their design. Enemies like stone giants, crucible knights, or tree spirits may resist even heavy attacks. Glintblade Phalanx, with its light magic hits, is unlikely to phase them at all.
When Glintblade Phalanx Still Shines
Even though Glintblade Phalanx is not ideal for staggering, it remains a strong utility spell in the right circumstances. Rather than relying on it to interrupt enemy actions, consider these alternative benefits:
Area Denial and Pressure
The hovering blades create a visual threat that pressures enemies into avoiding direct engagement. In PvP, this can disrupt movement and bait out rolls or defensive reactions, creating openings for melee attacks or other spells.
Chip Damage and Finishers
Glintblade Phalanx can be a great way to deal chip damage to enemies, especially when they are retreating or focusing on another target. The blades will home in and apply consistent pressure over time.
Melee Support Tool
In hybrid builds that use both sorcery and melee weapons, casting Glintblade Phalanx before engaging allows the player to apply extra hits during a combo. While it won’t stagger on its own, it can tip the balance in close fights when used alongside quick melee strikes.
Alternatives for Staggering Enemies
If staggering is a priority in your build, consider these spells and tactics instead of relying on Glintblade Phalanx alone:
- Carian Greatsword: A sorcery that deals wide, heavy swings with high poise damage.
- Comet Azur: High burst magic that can interrupt many enemies due to sheer damage output.
- Rock Sling: A gravity spell that does excellent poise damage and often staggers humanoid enemies.
- Glintstone Pebble (spam): Fast casting speed allows rapid hits that may build up poise damage quickly on smaller foes.
Outside of sorcery, using heavier melee weapons, jumping attacks, or spirit summons with high poise damage can help balance out Glintblade Phalanx’s shortcomings.
Tips for Using Glintblade Phalanx Effectively
- Pre-cast before entering combat to have the blades ready as the fight begins.
- Use as a follow-up after dodging or staggering an enemy with melee strikes.
- Combine with spells that distract or stun to allow the blades to hit unopposed.
- Don’t rely on it alone for damage treat it as part of a combo or layered offensive.
Glintblade Phalanx may not stagger enemies effectively in Elden Ring, but that doesn’t mean it’s without value. Its low poise damage, delayed activation, and single-hit nature make it ill-suited for interrupting strong or aggressive enemies. However, it excels in providing pressure, chip damage, and support for melee-focused builds. Understanding the limitations of Glintblade Phalanx helps players use it more strategically rather than expecting it to behave like a heavy weapon or burst spell. With smart positioning and tactical use, Glintblade Phalanx can still play a vital role in your magic arsenal, even if it won’t send enemies reeling.