Most people take one look at the Death's Poker and immediately vault it. I get it. Honestly, look at the thing. It looks like a charred, oversized fireplace tool that someone pulled out of a dumpster in Caelid. Its base scaling is kind of a mess, and it doesn't have the flashy, elegant glow of the Dark Moon Greatsword or the sleek "I’m a protagonist" energy of Moonveil.
But here is the truth: you're looking at a pocket nuke.
If you've been struggling with some of the beefier bosses in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC or getting flattened by Fire Knights, you’ve probably been sleeping on the most broken Ash of War in the game. It’s called Ghostflame Ignition. While the sword itself scales with Dexterity, the explosion it creates scales almost entirely with Intelligence.
It’s weird. It’s clunky. And it will absolutely melt an Ulcerated Erdtree in three seconds flat.
Where to Find Death's Poker (Without Losing Your Mind)
You don’t have to finish some 30-hour questline to get this. No Ranni errands required. You just have to kill a bird. A very, very angry bird.
Basically, you need to head to Southern Aeonia Swamp Bank in Caelid. Go southeast from the Site of Grace. Here is the catch: the boss, a Death Rite Bird, only shows up at nighttime. If you roll up at noon, you’ll just be standing in a swamp looking at empty space.
Tips for the Fight:
- Holy Damage: These birds hate anything holy. Throw some Holy Water Pots or use Sacred Blade.
- The Cheese: If you’re low level, you can actually lure it toward the cliff or pelt it from a distance. It’s a glass cannon.
- Don't get pecked: Its reach is deceptive. Stay under its "ribs" if you can, or just keep your distance and pray.
Why Ghostflame Ignition Is Actually Broken
The mistake everyone makes is thinking the Death's Poker is a "sword." It’s not. It’s a magic wand that happens to be heavy. When you press the skill button (L2/LT), you thrust the tip out and create a tiny ball of Ghostflame.
That ball does okay damage, but the follow-ups are where the magic happens.
If you press a Light Attack (R1/RB) after the thrust, you sweep the flame across the ground. This creates a "carpet" of Ghostflame. It looks cool, sure, but the damage is staggering because it ticks multiple times per second. Larger bosses like the Furnace Golems or Elden Beast just sit in it and lose thousands of HP. Plus, it builds up Frostbite faster than almost anything else in the Lands Between.
If you press a Heavy Attack (R2/RT), you slam the ball into a massive explosion. This is your "get off me" button. It has huge knockback and deals a massive chunk of burst damage.
I’ve seen people use this to stunlock NPCs and even smaller bosses into oblivion. It's kinda hilarious.
The Stats: What Most People Get Wrong
This is where it gets technical, but stick with me. The weapon's card says it has D or C scaling in Intelligence. That’s a lie. Well, it's not a lie for the physical swing, but it's a lie for the Ash of War.
The Ghostflame Ignition skill has its own hidden scaling. Even if your Intelligence is only 20 or 30, the damage is still respectable. But if you push to 50 or 80 Intelligence, the numbers become absurd.
A Practical Build Path:
- Vigor: 40-60. You're going to be standing still a lot to cast the Ash of War. You need the health.
- Intelligence: 50+. This is your primary damage stat for the flames.
- Dexterity: 20-30. This helps the physical swing damage, but it's secondary.
- Strength: 15. Just enough to hold it.
Honestly, ignore the Strength scaling. Unless you're doing a weird Quality build, it's a waste of points. You want to be a "Ghostmage."
Gear That Makes It Even Better
You want to stack everything that boosts Magic and Skills.
Wear the Spellblade Set (Rogier’s armor). Each piece gives a 2% boost to "magic-based skills." That includes the Poker. It adds up to about an 8% damage buff just for wearing some fancy clothes.
For talismans, Shard of Alexander is mandatory. It's not even a debate. It boosts skill damage by 15%. Pair that with the Magic Scorpion Charm and maybe the Carian Filigreed Crest to keep the FP costs down. If you're feeling brave, the Ritual Sword Talisman works wonders when you're at full health.
💡 You might also like: How to Play I Declare War Without Starting a Family Argument
The Verdict: Poker vs. Dark Moon Greatsword
The "Blue Moon Sword" is the fan favorite, and for good reason. It’s more efficient for long-term fighting because the buffed heavy attacks don’t cost FP.
However, in terms of raw DPS, the Death's Poker wins.
The Poker is more versatile. You get a trail of fire for crowds, an explosion for poise breaks, and a physical Greatsword moveset for everything else. Its unique R2 (a weird upward slash) is actually pretty fast and great for catching enemies coming out of a roll.
Your Next Steps in the Lands Between
If you’re tired of the same old "hit it with a big stick" gameplay, go to Caelid tonight. Kill that bird.
👉 See also: Suomi Build Girls Frontline 2: Why This Support Basically Breaks the Game
Upgrade the Poker to +10 using Somber Smithing Stones—you can find most of them in Iji’s shop or around Liurnia. Once it's upgraded, take it to an Underground Shunning-Grounds Omen or a Dragon. Drop the L2 + R1 fire carpet and just watch the health bar disappear.
The timing takes a second to learn. You have to be patient. But once you realize you can "paint" the floor with death, you'll never go back to regular swords again.