Let me tell you about one of the coolest additions from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The Ash of War: Dryleaf Whirlwind. If you’ve ever wanted to ditch swords and shields and just straight-up kick your enemies into submission, this one’s for you.
About Dryleaf Whirlwind:
What Is Dryleaf Whirlwind?
This Ash of War is all about martial arts. When you use it, your character rises into the air with a series of spinning kicks, then crashes down with one final strike. It looks flashy as heck and hits hard.
Key stats to know
- FP Cost: 9 per use
- Stance Damage: 28 total (16 if you’re out of FP)
- Weapon Type: Hand-to-Hand weapons only
- Affinity: Standard, it doesn’t change your weapon’s affinity
One thing that makes this skill special? The kicks are imbued with energy, which increases their attack range. You can hit enemies from further away than you’d expect from a bare-kick move.
Where to Find It
Getting your hands on this Ash of War takes a bit of exploring, but it’s worth the trip. Here’s the path:
- Head to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh region in the Shadow Realm
- Find the Rauh Ancient Ruins, East Site of Grace
- From there, go northeast past a crumbled pillar
- Keep going until you see an area with large pillars – you’ll find the item on the edge near a cliffside
What Weapons Work With It?
This Ash of War is specifically for Hand-to-Hand weapons. These weapons are unique because when you two-hand them, your character equips a second copy in the off-hand. So you’re literally dual-wielding your fists. How cool is that?
Best Builds and Talismans
If you’re going to rock Dryleaf Whirlwind, you want to build around its multi-hit nature. Here are some top-tier talisman choices:
- Shattered Stone Talisman: Boosts the damage of your kicks
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Increases attack power with successive hits (perfect for those multi-kick combos)
- Shard of Alexander: Boosts all Ash of War damage
- Millicent’s Prosthesis: Another great multi-hit talisman
For stats, I recommend a Quality build, leveling Strength and Dexterity equally. Get both to around 40-45, with 50 Vigor and 30 Endurance for survivability.
