As a seasoned Dark Souls 3 player with over 100 hours of experience optimizing pyromancer builds, I‘m thrilled to share my deep insights into mastering flame-based destruction magic.
Let‘s ignite our passion by discovering the top 16 pyromancy spells that will empower your character with fiery supremacy!
Why Choose a Pyromancy Build?
Before jumping into the spells, I want to cover the unique benefits of pyromancy builds that make them stand out:
- Scales with both Int & Faith: This enables diverse customization based on your preference of sorceries vs miracles. Pyromancies have great flexibility compared to pure caster builds.
- Inflicts strong fire & dark damage: Devastating against enemies weak to these damage types. Pyros scale well into late game.
- Lightning fast casting: Near-instant cast times for ultra aggressive play. Spam spells quicker than any other magic class.
- Low stat investment: Only requires minimum Int/Faith to wield advanced spells. Remain agile and put leftover points into other stats.
If you enjoy obliterating PvE bosses with fiery chaos spells or outplaying opponents with unpredictable free-aimed projectiles, then I highly recommend trying a dedicated pyromancy character!
Evaluating the Top 16 Pyromancy Spells
Below I analyze the 16 best pyromancy spells in Dark Souls 3 based on PvE/PvP viability, FP efficiency, damage output and more. I‘ve categorized them into tiers from S (highest) to D (lowest).
I‘ll be referencing spell buff scaling formulas to quantify damage, so here‘s a quick overview:
- Pyromancy Flame +10 has Spell Buff of 230
- Base Spell Damage = Spell Buff * Motion Value (listed on spell)
- Motion Values range from 1.0 to 1.4 (higher = more powerful)
- Counter Attack = Backstab/Riposte = Spell Buff Motion Value 2.4
Let‘s crack open the codex of fiery knowledge!
S-Tier Spells
These pyromancies are top-tier powerhouses that excel in both PvE and PvP, offering high damage for FP efficiency:
Black Flame
FP Cost: 25
Requirements: 15 Intelligence, 15 Faith
Damage Type: Melee Fire
Motion Value: 1.3
Analysis:
- Deals 50% extra damage on counter attacks after parrying or backstabbing.
- With Spell Buff of 230, Base Damage is 230 * 1.3 = 299.
- Counter Attack is a massive 230 1.3 2.4 = 718 damage!
- Shreds bosses and tough enemies by bursting damage at point blank range. Risky but very high reward.
- Small AoE lets you catch rollers in PvP.
- 9.96 FP per 100 damage. Very efficient if used properly.
Verdict: Essential spell for any pyromancer.
Chaos Bed Vestiges
FP Cost: 35
Requirements: 20 Intelligence, 10 Faith
Damage Type: Ranged Fire
Motion Value: 1.4
Analysis:
- Hurls a long range swirling wave of chaos flames, hitting very hard over a wide area.
- Leaves lingering lava pool for 5 seconds. Enemies inside take 130 damage per second!
- 22.7 FP per 100 damage means it‘s expensive but extremely powerful.
- True combo into Black Flame when free aimed.
- Roll catch in PvP by aiming properly. Be mindful of latency.
Verdict: Top tier damage and range make it the best pyro projectile.
Based on my experience mastering both in actual gameplay, Black Flame and Chaos Bed Vestiges clearly rise above the rest. They should be cemented as your main damage sources.
Now let‘s cover the remaining elite spells that fill other strategic niches:
A-Tier Spells
Situational but destructive spells providing unique tactical advantages:
Sacred Flame
FP Cost: 25
Requirements: 8 Intelligence, 8 Faith
Damage Type: Grab Attack Fire
Motion Value: 1.65
Analysis:
- Carefully timed grab attack that deals colossal damage, often one-shotting enemies.
- Risky due to slow casting time. Best after parrying bosses.
- With Spell Buff of 230, inflicts 379 damage!
- On counter attacks the explosion hits for 929 damage. Delete bosses instantly.
- 16.12 FP per 100 damage. Very efficient if landed.
Verdict: Difficult to use, but melts bosses instantly.
Profaned Flame
FP Cost: 30
Requirements: 25 Intelligence
Damage Type: Ranged Fire
Motion Value: 1.1
Analysis:
- Delayed fireball enables creative mix-ups and roll catching.
- Knocks down enemies in PvP, interrupting attacks.
- Solid 253 base damage. Better options for PvE damage though.
- Mostly seen as a zoning tool, the knockback and stun gives it disruptive potential.
Verdict: Decent ranged option for mobility and pressure.
Boulder Heave
FP Cost: 17
Requirements: 18 Intelligence, 12 Faith
Damage Type: Ranged Physical
Motion Value: 1.8
Analysis:
- Giant boulder projectile that deals purely physical damage.
- Allows shield poking and magic damage negation, a unique strength.
- 414 base damage and high poise shred through blocks.
- Smashes foes against walls for even more pain.
- Knocks down most enemies for a devastating plunge riposte.
- Can whiff at close-medium range as boulder rolls over them. Needs spacing.
Verdict: Essential utility for blocking/turtling enemies.
This elite trio fills specialized roles. Sacred Flame brutally punishes bosses, Profaned Flame catches rollers, and Boulder Heave wrecks turtles.
While not the flashiest, their unique strengths cement them as A-tier picks.
B-Tier Spells
Well-rounded bread and butter spells offering reliable ranged damage:
Great Chaos Fire Orb
FP Cost: 32
Requirements: 10 Intelligence, 10 Faith
Damage Type: Ranged Fire AOE
Motion Value: 1.35
Analysis:
- Top tier FP efficiency combined with high damage makes this the best fire orb.
- Just 5.44 FP per 100 damage means this hard hitting spell is very spammable.
- Lingers for 5 seconds dealing 130 damage per second to enemies stuck inside.
- Easy to aim, short cast time, wide arc – an all around abyssal nuke spell.
Verdict: The #1 FP efficient nuke spell.
Black Fire Orb
FP Cost: 22
Requirements: 20 Intelligence, 20 Faith
Damage Type: Ranged Dark
Motion Value: 1.45
Analysis:
- Hits extremely hard at long range but easier to dodge than standard fireballs.
- 333 base damage, 480 on counter attacks. Those numbers hurt badly.
- 19.1 FP per 100 damage means it‘s costly, so use sparingly.
- Inflicts extra damage against foes weak to dark.
- Combining range, damage and dark properties give this extra lethality.
Verdict: Hard hitting dark orb with weight behind it.
Carthus Beacon
FP Cost: 35
Requirements: 12 Intelligence, 12 Faith
Effect: Damage Buff
Analysis:
- Boosts all physical damage by 10% for 30 seconds as long as you continually attack enemies.
- Applies to both spells and weapons. Each hit refreshes the duration so keep wailing!
- Especially powerful on rapid weapons/combos that can stack the damage buff multiplier.
- Pyromancy Flame damage also shoots up dramatically. Combo with Black Flame!
Verdict: Rewards ultra aggressive playstyles.
This middle tier provides big damaging spells that compete for top DPS options. I rely on Great Chaos Fire Orb to rapidly slay groups with its excellent speed, range and damage.
C-Tier Spells
Situational spells with disruptive potential:
Rapport
FP Cost: 30
Requirements: 15 Intelligence
Effect: Mind Control Enemies
Analysis:
- Brainwash up to 3 non-boss enemies to fight for you for 30 seconds, enabling creative strategies.
- Consume fewer health and FP resources since foes murder each other.
- Doesn‘t work on crystal lizards, ghosts, mushrooms, corpse grubs and more niche enemies.
- Highly effective against multiple melee attackers like dogs and Ghru leaping onto you.
Verdict: Game-changer against gank squads.
Seething Chaos
FP Cost: 28
Requirements: 18 Intelligence, 18 Faith
Damage Type: Ranged Fire Explosion
Motion Value: 1.3
Analysis:
- Generate bubbles on environment that explode after 4 seconds when enemies approach it.
- Up to 2 bubbles can exist at a time. Creative trap and corner setups work nicely.
- 299 base damage and 717 damage on counters make it hit respectably hard.
- Requires very thoughtful positioning to maximise damage. Enemies won‘t blindly chase you onto traps.
Verdict: Traps add battlefield control and diplomatic finesse.
When used cleverly Rapport and Seething Chaos can completely flip scenarios where you‘re overwhelmed and buy time to recover. Their unconventional effects cement them as potent options.
D-Tier Spells
These offer minor strategic benefits but low damage scaling:
Toxic Mist
FP Cost: 10
Requires: 10 Intelligence, 15 Faith
Effect: Poison Cloud
Analysis:
- Create poison cloud lasting 45 seconds that inflicts toxic buildup, dealing steady poison damage that pierces shields.
- Low 130 DPS won‘t kill enemies quickly but pressures them to reposition.
- Obscures enemy vision allowing safer Estus chugging or spell casts.
- Against PvE mobs the accumulated poison damage can whittle down groups over time together with other spells.
- Mostly seen as area denial in PvP. Dodge and avoid the mist!
Verdict: Niche harassment tool.
Flash Sweat
FP Cost: 20
Requirements: 6 Intelligence, 6 Faith
Effect: Reduce Fire Damage Taken
Analysis:
- Gain 15% fire damage reduction and 45% lava damage reduction for 30 seconds.
- Buff your fire defense right before encountering fiery enemies or entering zones with floor lava.
- Stacks with appropriate fire resisting equipment for boosted survivability!
- Won‘t make a huge difference in most areas, but provides that extra padding against melted flesh.
Verdict: Appreciate small blessings.
Spells Tier List Summary
Just to recap, here‘s a high level tier list from S to D ranking all 16 pyromancies:
S-Tier: Black Flame, Chaos Bed Vestiges
A-Tier: Sacred Flame, Profaned Flame, Boulder Heave
B-Tier: Great Chaos Fire Orb, Black Fire Orb, Carthus Beacon
C-Tier: Rapport, Seething Chaos
D-Tier: Toxic Mist, Flash Sweat
Top Pyromancy Build Stats
Once you‘ve selected your preferred pyromancies, let‘s optimize stats to use advanced spells while staying nimble:
- 27 Vigor: 1900 HP means less shots will one hit kill you.
- 30 Attunement: 5 slots for a diverse mix of pyromancies.
- 18 Strength: Wield basic melee weapons as needed.
- 18 Dexterity: Boost cast speed up to 45 Dex for near instant spells.
- 30 Intelligence: Requirement to cast all spells. Keep scaling damage.
- 30 Faith: Requirement to cast all spells. Keep scaling damage.
- Remaining points into Vitality, Endurance and Vigor.
Stay at SL 125-135 to match with meta PvP ranges for abundant multiplayer action!
Conclusion
And that concludes my grand guide covering the best pyromancy spells in Dark Souls 3! I hope these radioactive insights help you craft the ultimate fire-slinging destruction machine.
May the flames guide thee, ashen one. Whoosh! \ [T] /
