Best Madness Builds in Elden Ring: Nightreign After Patch 1.01.3

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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:

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Why it’s great: The only melee weapon with innate Madness buildup. Faith-scaling, good range, and excellent stagger potential.

  • Patch bonus: Now easier to farm thanks to improved drop rates.

2. Frenzied Flame Seal + Madness Spells

  • Top Incantations:

    • Frenzied Burst – Great for long-range pressure.

    • The Flame of Frenzy – AoE crowd control with fast Madness buildup.

  • Best Seal: Frenzied Flame Seal for maximum Madness scaling.

3. Madness-Infused Drops (New Potential)

  • 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

  • Faith (40+) – For Madness incantations and scaling

  • Dexterity (30+) – For faster weapon use and synergy with Vyke’s Spear

  • Mind (20–25) – For more FP to cast incantations

  • Endurance (20–25) – To manage stamina for spell + melee pressure

💍 Talismans & Relics for Madness Builds

  • Frenzied Flame Talisman – Boosts Madness buildup rate

  • Faithful Canvas Talisman – Improves incantation power

  • Equilibrious Beast’s Relic – Boosts Madness damage specifically against Libra

  • Clarifying Horn Charm – Reduces Madness buildup on yourself

🛡️ Gear Tips & Team Synergy

Helmet Pick: Black Dumpling Helm

  • Boosts attack power when inflicted with Madness—perfect for a kamikaze caster.

Manage Self-Inflicted Madness

  • Use Clarifying Boluses and Unalloyed Gold Needle to prevent your own buildup from spells.

Co-op Tactics

Pair up with:

  • Guardian – Soaks aggro while you stack Madness.

  • Ironeye – Can snipe enemies while they’re staggered by Madness stuns.

💡 Sample Build: “The Frenzied Executioner”

Slot                        Equipment
Main WeaponVyke’s War Spear
SealFrenzied Flame Seal
IncantationsFrenzied Burst, Flame of Frenzy
ArmorBlack Dumpling Helm + medium armor
TalismansFrenzied Flame, Faithful Canvas, Clarifying Horn
Stats40 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

  • Enemy Immunity – Many Nightlords resist Madness. Libra is the notable exception.

  • Self-Buildup – Frenzied Flame incantations can cause Madness to spike on you if misused.

  • Still Niche – Madness remains a specialized strategy—less universal than Bleed or Frost.

🔮 The Future of Madness Builds

  • Player Requests: More Madness weapons (daggers, bows, curved swords).

  • 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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