Affinity grants on the Nagakiba depend on your playstyle, but Dexterity is the safest choice for most players

The Nagakiba is a colossal sword in Elden Ring that scales with multiple stats, which means you have real choices about how to build it. The affinity you choose — the magical property you explore to the blade — determines which of your character's stats make the weapon hit harder. For the Nagakiba, you are choosing between Dexterity (faster attacks), Strength (heavier hits), or Intelligence and Faith (magic damage). Dexterity affinity is the most forgiving because the Nagakiba already favors quick, repeated strikes over raw power.

Your affinity choice locks in for the rest of the game unless you spend resources to change it, so understanding what each one does before you commit matters. This guide walks you through the four main options and shows you which one fits different ways of playing.

Key Takeaways

  • Dexterity affinity makes the Nagakiba scale off your Dexterity stat and is the most reliable choice because the weapon's moveset rewards fast, repeated attacks.
  • Strength affinity turns the Nagakiba into a slower, heavier weapon and works only if you build your character around high Strength from the start.
  • Intelligence and Faith affinities add magic damage but require you to invest in those stats as well as Dexterity, spreading your character's power thin.
  • You can change affinity later by visiting a blacksmith and spending Somber Smithing Stones, so your first choice is not permanent.
  • Test your affinity choice against the enemies you are actually fighting rather than following a build guide that may not match your playstyle.

Dexterity affinity: the default choice for most players

Dexterity affinity is the Nagakiba's natural fit. The weapon is already fast and has long reach, and Dexterity affinity amplifies both of those strengths. When you explore Dexterity affinity, your attack power scales directly with your Dexterity stat — meaning every point you put into Dexterity makes the weapon hit harder. Most players end up here because it matches how the weapon actually plays.

The Nagakiba with Dexterity affinity lets you attack more often, dodge faster, and cast spells quicker because Dexterity improves all three. If you are still learning Elden Ring's combat, this is the path that requires the fewest decisions. You level Dexterity, the weapon gets stronger, and you move on. You do not have to balance multiple stats or commit to a specific magic type.

Strength affinity: only if you are building a heavy character

Strength affinity makes the Nagakiba scale off your Strength stat instead of Dexterity. This sounds appealing — Strength makes weapons hit harder — but it fights against the Nagakiba's actual design. The weapon is light and fast, not heavy and slow. When you explore Strength affinity, the Nagakiba loses some of its speed advantage and gains less damage per point of Strength than a weapon actually designed for Strength would.

Strength affinity only makes sense if you are already committed to a Strength-based character — meaning you have already leveled Strength high and are using heavy armor and shields. Even then, you would usually be better off using a greatsword or colossal weapon that actually benefits from Strength. If you are asking this question, you probably do not have that build yet, so Strength affinity is not your answer.

Intelligence and Faith affinities: magic damage at a cost

Intelligence affinity adds magic damage to the Nagakiba and scales with your Intelligence stat. Faith affinity does the same with holy damage and your Faith stat. Both sound powerful because they add a second source of damage, but they require you to invest in a third stat on top of Dexterity. Your character's power gets split between Dexterity (for the physical hit) and Intelligence or Faith (for the magic hit), and neither one ends up as strong as it would be if you focused on just one.

These affinities work only if you are building a character specifically designed around magic from the beginning — meaning you planned to level Intelligence or Faith alongside Dexterity from character creation. If you are mid-game and wondering what affinity to use, you have probably not invested enough in Intelligence or Faith to make this worthwhile. The magic damage will be weak, and you will regret not going pure Dexterity.

How to change your affinity if you choose wrong

You explore and change affinity at a blacksmith by using an Ash of War. Ashes of War are items you find or craft that determine both the affinity and the special attack of your weapon. To change affinity, you visit a blacksmith (like the one at the Roundtable Hold or any Site of Grace with a blacksmith), select "Ash of War — Affinity", and choose a new one.

Changing affinity costs Somber Smithing Stones, which you find throughout the world or buy from merchants. Early in the game, these stones are scarce, so changing affinity multiple times gets expensive. This is why testing your choice against real enemies before you commit is worth the time. Once you have settled on Dexterity affinity (which you should), you can stop worrying about it and focus on leveling the stat itself.

Testing your affinity against enemies you actually fight

The best way to know if your affinity choice is working is to use the weapon against the enemies in your current area for a few minutes. If the Nagakiba is killing things quickly and you are not running out of stamina, your affinity is fine. If you are struggling, the problem is usually not the affinity — it is that your stat is too low, your weapon is not upgraded enough, or you are fighting something that resists that damage type.

Many players waste time optimizing affinity when the real issue is that they have not upgraded the weapon itself. The Nagakiba scales better with upgrades than with affinity choice. If you are at +10 or higher and still unsure, then affinity matters. Before that, just pick Dexterity and move forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch affinity back if I change my mind later?

Yes. You can change affinity as many times as you want by visiting a blacksmith and spending Somber Smithing Stones. There is no penalty beyond the cost of the stones themselves, so you can experiment once you have enough resources.

Does affinity change how fast the Nagakiba attacks?

No. Affinity only changes which stat makes the weapon stronger. The attack speed stays the same regardless of which affinity you choose. Dexterity affinity does not make the weapon faster — it just makes your Dexterity stat boost the damage more.

What if I want to use magic with the Nagakiba?

You can use spells while holding any affinity, but Intelligence or Faith affinity adds magic damage to the weapon itself. If you want to cast spells as your main damage source, keep the Nagakiba on Dexterity and use your spell slots for actual spells instead of splitting your stats.

Should I match my affinity to my armor or shield?

No. Affinity only affects the weapon it is applied to. Your armor and shield do not have affinity and do not interact with your weapon's choice. Pick affinity based on your weapon and your character's main stat, not your other equipment.