Sorceries in Dark Souls II are a type of Magic that inflicts elemental damage with its offensive spells. Most of the spells in Sorceries are offensive focused, others can also be used to manipulate sound and light. You can only cast Sorceries if you have a Catalyst equipped. Staves are the main catalyst for casting Sorceries. Sorceries can be cast by the player at any time and each requires a specific number of Attunement slots in order to equip. All Sorceries have a required amount of Intelligence that must be met in order to use. Magic damage can be improved by increasing the Intelligence stat. The soft cap for magic damage is 40 Int.
What are Sorceries in Dark Souls 2?
Sorceries have different offensive spells and can be used in different scenarios. A required amount of Intelligence is needed along with a Staff to cast sorceries. Most Sorceries take up only one Attunement slot, and most of these spells have high damage output. In equipping a catalyst, you would also need to consider the casting speed and scaling to maximize your damage output. Some Catalysts will release the spell at the tip of the weapon/staff, this can cause some spells to miss if the opponent is too close to your character, but works best at mid to long range.
It can also affect how your aim, you would most likely miss your shot when an opponent is in a downward slope position. Some catalysts will release it immediately at the character's hand, which is good if the opponent is close to you, as it will release the spell quicker.
Best Staves in Dark Souls 2
- Azal's Staff - This staff has the highest possible damage, requiring 35INT but with a penalty of only 4 Durability and a slow casting speed.
- Staff of Wisdom - This is a sorcercy exclusive staff with a requirement of 50INT, it also offers the highest magic damage without any drawbacks. This staff has medium casting speed.
- Witchtree Branch - This staff has the fastest casting speed in the game requiring only 16INT, making it easy to cast spells quickly without needing to equip casting speed equipment. Its damage output is lower compared to other catalysts but you can combine this staff with another catalyst to throw off your opponent's dodge timing.
- Staff of Amana - This staff is perfect if you would go for a build that mostly consists of sorcery spells as it has perfect S scaling, requiring 35INT. It has a special buff that boosts the damage of spells while you're in your human form. The penalty for using this staff is it has a slow casting speed.
- Sorcerer's Staff - This staff has the second fastest casting speed in the game while having a decent overall damage. It is a good starter staff as it only requires 10INT. It is a strong enough staff for starters and can help you fight your way until you get more specialized staves.
All Sorceries in Dark Souls 2
Quick Search of All Sorceries in Dark Souls 2
| Name | Uses |  |
 |
Description | Acquired From | Cost | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soul Arrow |
30-40 | 1 | 10 | The first sorcery learned by those embarking on the sorcerer's path. Fires a small soul arrow. | Merchant Hag Melentia, Carhillion of the Fold, Magerold of Lanafir. | 1,500 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Great Soul Arrow |
15-20 | 1 | 14 | A stronger spell than Soul Arrow, same casting time but fewer uses. | Carhillion of the Fold, Magerold of Lanafir, Forest of Fallen Giants. | 3,000 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Heavy Soul Arrow |
20-30 | 1 | 12 | Slower cast time than Soul Arrow and Great Soul Arrow, but deals more damage. | Carhillion of the Fold, Magerold of Lanafir. | 2,000 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Great Heavy Soul Arrow |
10-15 | 1 | 16 | A spell superior to Heavy Soul Arrow. Fires an even stronger soul arrow. | Carhillion of the Fold, Magerold of Lanafir, Central Earthen Peak. | 4,500 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Homing Soul Arrow |
10-20 | 1 | 25 | Fires soul arrows that follow their targets to the ends of the earth. | Straid of Olaphis, Weaponsmith Ornifex. | 6,500 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Heavy Homing Soul Arrow |
8-15 | 1 | 35 | A stronger spell than Homing Soul Arrow. Fires a thick, powerful soul arrow | Straid of Olaphis | 1500 Ruin Sentinel Soul |
Ranged Magic Attack |
 Homing Soul Mass |
4-8 | 1 | 24 | Soul orbs above your head, that home towards a target when one approaches. At 24 INT 3 orbs are cast, at 30 INT 4 and 40 INT 5. |
Weaponsmith Ornifex, Shaded Woods. | Close-Ranged Magic Attack | |
 Homing Crystal Soul Mass |
3-6 | 1 | 32 | Crystal soul orbs above your head, that home towards a target when one approaches. At 50 INT 5 are cast. Stronger than Homing Souls Mass |
Shrine of Amana after Rhoy's Resting Place bonfire, in the back on a body after the mages. | Close-Ranged Magic Attack | |
 Soul Spear |
2-5 | 1 | 40 | Sorcery that fires souls shaped into a spear. Pierces enemies, causing heavy damage. | Grave Warden Agdayne, Huntsman's Copse. | 12,000 | Ranged Magic Attack |
 Crystal Soul Spear |
2-5 | 2 | 53 | Sorcery that fires souls shaped into a crystallized spear. Pierces enemies, causing heavy damage. Stronger than Soul Spear. |
Straid of Olaphis | 10,000 Old Paledrake Soul (NG+) |
Ranged Magic Attack |
 Shockwave |
3-6 | 1 | 13 | Does not inflict damage, but unleashes a large shock wave, toppling opponents. | Carhillion of the Fold | 1,800 | Frontal AoE |
 Soul Spear Barrage |
3-6 | 1 | 17 | Fires many low damage Soul Spears in a cone shaped area in front of the player. | Carhillion of the Fold | 2,600 | Ranged Spread Magic Attack |
 Soul Shower |
4-12 | 1 | 22 | Fires a large mass of souls in the air and explodes to rain over the area in front of the caster. Useful against larger enemies. |
Straid of Olaphis | 1.500 Scorpion Najka Soul |
Ranged Magic Area Attack |
 Soul Greatsword |
3-6 | 1 | 27 | Swings a Greatsword made of souls in front of the caster from left to right, damaging enemies. Good against groups of enemies. |
Drangleic Castle | Frontal AoE Melee Magic Attack | |
 Soul Vortex |
4-8 | 1 | 37 | Fires a giant soul mass that moves slowly, shooting out many smaller homing soul masses. | Grave Warden Agdayne, The Pit, Brightstone Cove Tseldora | 10,400 | Ranged Magic AoE Attack |
 Soul Bolt |
2-6 | 1 | 45 | Fires a beam of energy that hits the ground then travels forward. Very slow cast time, and only hits directly in front of caster. (Similar to DS1 White Dragon Breath) |
Drangleic Castle | Frontal AoE Magic Attack | |
 Soul Geyser |
1-3 | 1 | 64 | Fires mass of souls that immediately start homing toward a target. Upon hitting the target they break into smaller souls and hit multiple times. |
Aldia's Keep | Ranged AoE Magic Attack | |
 Magic Weapon |
8-15 | 1 | 10 | Adds 50 magic damage to the weapon, overall magic damage is increased by 15% for 90 seconds. (Must have Staff in left hand to apply to right hand weapon) |
Carhillion of the Fold | 2,000 | Weapon Buff |
 Great Magic Weapon |
3-6 | 1 | 18 | Adds 50 magic damage to the weapon, overall magic damage is increased by 20% for 60 seconds. (Must have Staff in left hand to apply to right hand weapon) |
Company of Champions Rank 1 reward, Royal Sorcerer Navlaan, Black Gulch | Weapon Buff | |
 Crystal Magic Weapon |
1-3 | 1 | 28 | Adds 50 magic damage to the weapon, overall magic damage done is increased by 30% for 90 seconds. (Must have Staff in left hand to apply to right hand weapon) |
Dragon Shrine | Weapon Buff | |
 Strong Magic Shield |
4-8 | 1 | 19 | Raises shield resistance to physical, elemental and status effects to 100%, and 10% increase to shield stability for 30 seconds. (Must have Staff in right hand to apply to left hand shield) |
Royal Sorcerer Navlaan, Drangleic Castle, Straid of Olaphis | 6,300 | Shield Buff |
 Yearn |
4-8 | 1 | 19 | Creates a slow moving, sound producing soul mass that attracts enemies. | Carhillion of the Fold | 3,000 | AoE Lure |
 Hush |
10-20 | 1 | 15 | Masks the caster's movement noise for 90 seconds. | Way of the Blue Rank 2 reward, Lost Bastille (Ruin Sentinel Boss room illusory wall) | Self Buff | |
 Fall Control |
10-20 | 1 | 15 | Will not take damage from falls, but does not protect you from falls that would kill you anyway. | Weaponsmith Ornifex, Magerold of Lanafir | 4,800 | Self Buff |
 Hidden Weapon |
10-20 | 1 | 14 | Causes your weapon to turn invisible for 90 seconds | Bell Keeper Covenant Rank 2 reward | Weapon Buff | |
 Repair |
2-4 | 1 | 15 | Restores 20 durability to weapons, 30 to armor, and 10 to rings, but cannot be used on broken equipment. |
Shrine of Winter SOFS: Shaded Ruins |
Self Buff | |
 Cast Light |
4-15 | 1 | 14 | Casts a light that illuminates the area for 50 seconds. | Darkdiver Grandahl, Straid of Olaphis | 3,000 | AoE Buff |
 Chameleon |
10-20 | 1 | 14 | Transforms the caster into an inanimate object suiting their environment. Any action other than walking/running/blocking will break the spell. |
Harvest Valley | Self Buff | |
 Unleash Magic |
1-3 | 3 | 58 | Increase magic attack by 20% and reduces your HP by 30% for 60 seconds. | Royal Sorcerer Navlaan | Self Buff |
Dark Souls II DLC Sorceries
The Crown of the Old Iron King DLC added no new sorceries.
| Name | Uses | |
|
Description | Acquired From | Cost | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2-5 | 2 | 60 | An ancient sorcery of Shulva, the Sanctum City. Fires a focused beam of souls. Catalyst: Staff |
Added with DLC | Crown of the Sunken King Where the dragon is shooting fireballs. Don't go to the bridge but go past the urns next to it, following the border on the right side. |
- | Attack |
|
2 | 1 | 28 | "One of the ancient sorceries that were lost when Eleum Loyce froze over. Rapidly fire a barrage of small souls. Intended to protect its caster more than damage enemies." Catalyst: Staff |
DLC Crown of Ivory King | - | Attack/Support/Buff |
Sorcery Showcase
AnonymousI love killing an invader npc for 2 hours to get rank 2 in a covenant for 1 spell truly a thank you dark souls moment
- Anonymous
So there's only Strong Magic Shield, no normal Magic Shield spell? Disappointing.
- Anonymous
What's the icon for the intelligence stat supposed to mean? Looks a bit like a mask with bunny ears, Donnie Darko style, or am is my perception totally warped?
- Anonymous
What slightly annoyed me is the existence of homing soul arrow & its heavy counterpart. Shouldn't homing spell's hexes/dark spell speciality.
- Anonymous
I recently picked up this game, and after hearing for years from everyone that "Magic was the strongest in DS2, and DS3 magic is garbage", I thought I'd give it a try. I have to say though, magic is disappointing in DS2. You have range and probably won't even need heals if you do things right - which is good - but the spell use mechanic is awful. You're severely underpowered in the early game and most likely run out of spell uses beforel you reach the boss. Of course you can also rush through enemies, but I always liked clearing my path before. Your choices are basically to level attunement so you can carry more of your peashooter spells, or to level intelligence and run out extremely early. OFc since you sunk all your souls into these + the essential HP and stamina, you have absolutely no room left for str-dex, and the starter stats for sorcerers are probably the most horrible in all of the Dark Souls trilogy, disabling you from carrying a normal backup weapon and not just a little butter knife.. DS3 was much better balanced around magic. I'd gladly trade my estus for something that restores uses in DS2 too. And by something I mean something better than the amber herb. Even with 3 attunement slots and rushing through enemies, I couldn't take down the Ruin Sentinels with spells and had to finish the fight scratching Alessia's armor with a dagger for about 6 minutes. DS3 magic was underpowered in PvP, but at least it carried you in PVE.
- Anonymous
Sorcery is pretty good in DS2 , altho you do need a specific load-out ( For PvP mainly ). And for PvE its pretty nasty i mean it's Dark Souls... But in DS3 i find Sorcery & Pyromancy extremely nasty due to the expanded Load Builds ( Like Weapon Buffs , Rings , Boss Weapons , More Spells and specialy DLC stuff ). Compared to DS2 i'd say DS3 is deadlier... It's funny cuz i never played Sorcery Builds in DS Games ( Only in Demon's Souls and DS3 , while in DS and DS2 i went with the usual Quality & Melee builds ).
- Anonymous
people just think it’s overpowered because they have low int ;)
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Why are the spells much more stat requiring than ds1? Crystal souls spear needed 44 int. Now it need 53
- Anonymous
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Three of the most important spells for a pure sorcery class is Yearn, Fall Control and a Magic Weapon Buff. Everything else is pick and choose but these three will make life SO much easier!
- Anonymous
Magic is good but if you want to have a good melee weapon it is trash
- Anonymous
so fun thing i found is that you can in fact headshot with magic giving a 1.5x increase of dmg. all though difficult to pull off since you can't aim the shot.
- Anonymous
Got all sorceries on DK Scholar of the first sin but no achievement. This happened with Darksiders Abyssal Amor too. Not impressed.
- Anonymous
Sorcery and Pyromancy is awful in all souls games. Dark hits like a train though.
i like to create a new character for every type of magic, and get the achievement learning a new play style. you know, for miracles achievement, i create a clerig, for sorceries, a sorcerer. i dont like to get it all with a character that wont use them
- Anonymous
Magic rapier +10
Magic staff of Wisdom +5
Crystal Magic Weapon
50+ INt
Old Leo Ring
=
Easy Mode
- Anonymous
Oh boy can’t wait to get this achievement
Requires rank 3 Bell Keepers Covenant
Oh nvm
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
On the DS3 wiki we got people complaining that sorcery sucks and was better in DS2. On this wiki, people are still complaining. The irony!
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Is it just me, or are the Sorceries for Dark Souls II significantly weaker than those from the first game?
- Anonymous
full havels and great magic barrier polish my spear wizard cowards
- Anonymous
what is the Chameleon spell does? as for the description yep, it transform the caster into an object suiting the environment. does that mean... you can't move at all and your just steady?
sorry new here
#NEW
- Anonymous
does picking up another player's sorcery count towards achievement? or am i forced to do pvp
- Anonymous
waaah waah magic is op
if you can't press space you deserve to die to spells, but your r1 UGS spamming left you braindead so it's not surprising
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
The omission of Hidden Body is a really interesting design choice. IMO it probably contributes to a lot of the hate for this game, since it removes a tool you could otherwise use to circumvent the frustrating enemy placement in many areas, and it especially impacts sorcerers, which are the obvious choice for a lot of less experienced players looking for an "easy" class.
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