Elden Ring’s Spinning Strikes Ash of War has recently gained attention for its ability to deflect projectiles, a feature many players were previously unaware of. While not a hidden mechanic, the realization struck some members of the community only recently.
This was highlighted by a player who discovered that Spinning Strikes could counter Margit’s dagger throws. The player accidentally found this while executing the technique mid-animation, resulting in a surprising moment when all daggers were nullified.
Spinning Strikes is an easily obtainable Ash of War, accessible shortly after reaching Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula. However, those who usually refrain from attacking non-hostile NPCs may miss out on acquiring it until they reach the Liurnia of the Lakes region.
This Ash of War allows players, or Tarnished, to perform a spinning attack with compatible weapons like polearms, making it an efficient means of dealing area damage at a low FP cost. Reddit user Fail1ure showcased this newfound application of Spinning Strikes, posting a video that quickly garnered over 7,000 upvotes within a day.
This indicates that a significant portion of the player base was unaware of the ability to deflect projectiles until now. Although Margit’s daggers are not the most threatening attack—dealing minimal damage and easily avoidable—it underscores the potential of Spinning Strikes against other thrown projectiles from more challenging bosses.
In addition to Margit’s daggers, the Spinning Strikes skill is confirmed to counter thrown items in PvP scenarios. Although some players might not have been familiar with this aspect, the game does mention the trait in the Ash of War’s description, highlighting its capacity to “nullify projectiles such as arrows while spinning.”
Other Ashes of War and spells, like the Zamor Ice Storm Sorcery, offer similar projectile-deflecting capabilities.