Madness builds have always been a high-risk, high-reward playstyle in Elden Ring, and with Patch 1.01.3 for Nightreign, FromSoftware just gave them a subtle—but meaningful—boost. Thanks to a drop rate increase and a boss specifically weak to Madness, it’s the perfect time to go frenzied.
In this updated guide, we break down the best Madness builds post-patch, how to make them viable against endgame bosses like Libra, and which weapons, stats, and gear you need to maximize chaos.
🔥 What Changed in Patch 1.01.3?
Patch 1.01.3 includes a notable buff to Madness playstyles:
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Higher Madness Weapon Drop Rates – You’ll now have a better chance of acquiring weapons with Madness status effects, especially from “madness-infused” enemy camps and hidden chests.
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Libra’s Vulnerability to Madness – The Nightlord Libra, one of the DLC’s most challenging bosses, is especially weak to Madness, giving you a strategic edge in that fight.
💬 Community Reaction:
“Mostly bug fixes and one balance change: increased chance of Madness weapons appearing.” – r/Nightreign
“Madness weapons/incantations deal fire damage, so they matter more than people think.” – Fextralife user
⚔️ Best Madness Weapons & Incantations
1. Vyke’s War Spear
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Why it’s great: The only melee weapon with innate Madness buildup. Faith-scaling, good range, and excellent stagger potential.
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Patch bonus: Now easier to farm thanks to improved drop rates.
2. Frenzied Flame Seal + Madness Spells
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Top Incantations:
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Frenzied Burst – Great for long-range pressure.
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The Flame of Frenzy – AoE crowd control with fast Madness buildup.
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Best Seal: Frenzied Flame Seal for maximum Madness scaling.
3. Madness-Infused Drops (New Potential)
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Players are reporting more common drops of random weapons (daggers, swords, halberds) with Madness modifiers from frenzied mobs. These may soon become part of meta builds.
🧠 Recommended Stat Distribution
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Faith (40+) – For Madness incantations and scaling
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Dexterity (30+) – For faster weapon use and synergy with Vyke’s Spear
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Mind (20–25) – For more FP to cast incantations
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Endurance (20–25) – To manage stamina for spell + melee pressure
💍 Talismans & Relics for Madness Builds
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Frenzied Flame Talisman – Boosts Madness buildup rate
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Faithful Canvas Talisman – Improves incantation power
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Equilibrious Beast’s Relic – Boosts Madness damage specifically against Libra
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Clarifying Horn Charm – Reduces Madness buildup on yourself
🛡️ Gear Tips & Team Synergy
Helmet Pick: Black Dumpling Helm
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Boosts attack power when inflicted with Madness—perfect for a kamikaze caster.
Manage Self-Inflicted Madness
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Use Clarifying Boluses and Unalloyed Gold Needle to prevent your own buildup from spells.
Co-op Tactics
Pair up with:
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Guardian – Soaks aggro while you stack Madness.
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Ironeye – Can snipe enemies while they’re staggered by Madness stuns.
💡 Sample Build: “The Frenzied Executioner”
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Main Weapon | Vyke’s War Spear |
| Seal | Frenzied Flame Seal |
| Incantations | Frenzied Burst, Flame of Frenzy |
| Armor | Black Dumpling Helm + medium armor |
| Talismans | Frenzied Flame, Faithful Canvas, Clarifying Horn |
| Stats | 40 Faith / 30 Dex / 25 Mind / 20 Endurance |
Tactics: Start fights with Frenzied Burst, then close in with spear combos. Use Flame of Frenzy when enemies group up or to punish aggressive bosses.
❗ Limitations of Madness Builds
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Enemy Immunity – Many Nightlords resist Madness. Libra is the notable exception.
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Self-Buildup – Frenzied Flame incantations can cause Madness to spike on you if misused.
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Still Niche – Madness remains a specialized strategy—less universal than Bleed or Frost.
🔮 The Future of Madness Builds
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Player Requests: More Madness weapons (daggers, bows, curved swords).
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Upcoming Content: FromSoftware teased “enhanced Nightlord variants”—possibly more bosses weak to Madness.
🎯 Final Verdict
Madness is finally getting the attention it deserves. Patch 1.01.3 doesn’t transform the playstyle into top-tier meta, but it removes its biggest barrier: access to viable gear. Combined with a boss like Libra being weak to it, now’s the time to experiment with a frenzied build—especially if you like calculated chaos and disrupting your enemies’ minds (and bodies).
🔗 More Elden Ring Nightreign Guides
What’s your favorite Madness weapon? Share your build ideas in the comments below!
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