Weapon Element Conversion in Arms of God: The Complete Guide (and a Critical Bug to Avoid)

Weapon element conversion in Arms of God is a powerful late-game mechanic that lets you alter a weapon's damage type to exploit enemy weaknesses. However, a critical and widely reported bug currently causes many damage-buffing Consumables and Blessings to apply to the weapon's original element, not the new one, potentially wasting your resources and crippling your build.

This system allows you to imbue standard physical weapons with Fire, Frost, Lightning, or Holy damage, fundamentally changing how they interact with the game's toughest foes. While it sounds like a straightforward upgrade, the combination of high material costs and the persistent buff bug makes it a strategic choice that can backfire spectacularly if you don't know exactly how it works. This guide breaks down the entire process, the materials you'll need, and the specifics of the bug so you can make an informed decision.

01

How Does Elemental Conversion Work?tag

At its core, elemental conversion is a permanent modification performed by a specific NPC. It takes a weapon that deals standard Physical damage and splits its output, converting a significant portion into the element of your choice. A converted weapon doesn't just add a little elemental damage on top; it fundamentally changes its profile. For example, a Greatsword converted to Fire will now deal a mix of Physical and Fire damage with every swing.

The primary purpose is to counter enemy defenses. Most enemies in Arms of God have distinct resistances and vulnerabilities. Heavily armored knights might be resistant to Physical damage but vulnerable to Lightning. Slimy abominations in the Sunken Mire might be weak to Fire. Converting your favorite weapon allows you to adapt it to the challenge at hand rather than being forced to find and upgrade an entirely new elemental weapon.

The key takeaway is that conversion is not a simple damage boost; it's a strategic shift in your weapon's identity. It re-contextualizes your entire arsenal, allowing a single trusted weapon to become a versatile tool for tackling the game's diverse bestiary. The damage calculation typically splits the base damage, meaning your raw physical power will decrease in exchange for the new elemental damage. This is a trade-off that pays dividends against the right enemies but can be a liability against foes who resist your chosen element.

02

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Changing a Weapon's Elementtag

The process is straightforward but requires you to have reached a specific point in the game and gathered some rare materials. You can't just decide to make your starting sword a Holy blade in the first hour.

Step 1: Locate the Ethereal Smithtag

The only character who can perform this ritual is the Ethereal Smith. This spectral artisan is not available in the main hub. You must first defeat the Silent Adjudicator, the primary boss of the Forsaken Chantry. After the boss is defeated, the Ethereal Smith will appear in a previously inaccessible alcove off the main boss arena. He is a permanent fixture once unlocked, allowing you to return anytime.

Step 2: Gather the Conversion Materialstag

Each conversion is costly and requires two specific types of materials:

• Corrupted Shards: These are the general catalyst for the conversion process. They are rare drops from the powerful, glowing purple spectral enemies found in late-game areas like the Ashen Crypt and the upper levels of the Spire of Whispers. You will typically need 5 Corrupted Shards for a single conversion.
• An Elemental Essence: This item determines the new element. There is one for each of the four elements, and they are found in specific, high-level zones or as drops from elemental-themed bosses.
  • Essence of Searing Flame (Fire): Often found in the Volcanic Crags.
  • Essence of Biting Frost (Frost): Dropped by the Frost-Bound Golem in the Glacial Prison.
  • Essence of Crackling Storm (Lightning): Found in chests within the Spire of Whispers.
  • Essence of Hallowed Light (Holy): A reward for completing the Saint's side quest.

Step 3: Perform the Conversion Ritualtag

With the materials in hand, return to the Ethereal Smith in the Forsaken Chantry. The interface is simple:

1. Speak with the Smith and select the "Alter Weapon's Essence" dialogue option.
2. You will be presented with a screen showing your inventory of eligible weapons. Select the weapon you wish to convert.
3. Choose which Elemental Essence you want to use. The menu will display the resulting changes to the weapon's damage stats before you commit.
4. Confirm the choice. Your 5 Corrupted Shards and 1 Elemental Essence will be consumed, and the weapon will be permanently altered.

Note that the weapon's attribute scaling (the letter grades for Strength, Dexterity, etc.) and its upgrade level do not change. A +7 Longsword that scales with Dexterity will become a +7 Lightning Longsword that still scales with Dexterity.

03

The Critical Buff Bug: A Detailed Warningtag

This is the most important part of this guide. While the conversion system itself works, its interaction with other game mechanics is dangerously flawed. Numerous players have reported that many temporary weapon buffs from consumable items and certain Blessings do not work correctly on converted weapons.

Here's the problem: the buff often applies its elemental damage based on the weapon's original state (Physical), not its new converted state. This completely negates the purpose of using a buff to amplify your elemental damage.

Let's use a concrete example. You have a Claymore, a standard Physical weapon. You convert it to a Lightning Claymore to fight a dragon that is weak to Lightning. You then use a consumable item called "Searing Pine Resin," which is supposed to temporarily add Fire damage to your weapon. Instead of adding Fire damage alongside your new Lightning damage, the game gets confused. In many cases, the buff does nothing, or worse, it overrides your Lightning damage with a weak Fire effect that the dragon resists.

Which Buffs Are Affected?tag

The bug seems to primarily affect consumable items that apply a flat amount of elemental damage. This includes:

• Searing Pine Resin (Fire)
• Frozen Armament Oil (Frost)
• Charged Sheath Grease (Lightning)
• Blessed Varnish (Holy)

Blessings that imbue your weapon with an element, like the Paladin's "Divine Blade" spell, are also frequently reported to conflict with a weapon's inherent converted element. However, buffs that grant a percentage increase to all elemental damage (e.g., a ring that gives "+10% Elemental Damage") appear to work correctly. The bug is specific to buffs that add a new, temporary layer of elemental damage.

This makes builds that rely on stacking temporary buffs with a converted weapon highly unreliable. You are often better off using a standard Physical weapon with a resin than a converted weapon with the same resin.

04

So, Is Elemental Conversion Worth It Right Now?tag

Given the high cost and the significant bug, the answer is complex. It depends entirely on your build and playstyle.

• When It's Worth It: If your build focuses on high base stats and doesn't rely on consumable weapon buffs, conversion can be a massive advantage. You can permanently attune your favorite weapon to an element that targets the weaknesses of bosses or areas you struggle with. This is a pure, permanent upgrade for builds that get their power from stats, rings, and armor, not from temporary item buffs.

• When It's NOT Worth It: If your build is designed around buff-stacking—using resins, oils, and weapon-imbuing Blessings for massive burst damage—then you should avoid weapon conversion at all costs until this bug is patched. You will be investing rare materials into a system that actively conflicts with your core combat loop. In this scenario, it's far more efficient to keep your weapon Physical and apply the correct elemental resin for the situation.

Ultimately, the system is a high-risk, high-reward gamble in its current state. For the cautious player, sticking with a well-upgraded Physical weapon and a healthy supply of various elemental resins offers more flexibility and reliability without the risk of a bug nullifying your strategy.

05

Frequently Asked Questionstag

Can you reverse a weapon element conversion in Arms of God? No, you cannot simply undo a conversion to return the weapon to its original Physical state. However, you can convert it to a different element by spending another 5 Corrupted Shards and the new Elemental Essence. This makes your initial choice very important.

Does converting a weapon change its stat scaling? No. The weapon's attribute scaling (e.g., 'A' in Dexterity, 'C' in Strength) and its current upgrade level remain exactly the same after conversion. The only thing that changes is the damage type.

Which element is the best to convert to? There is no single "best" element; it's situational. Lightning is highly effective against heavily armored foes, Fire works well against beast-type and fleshy enemies, Frost can slow enemies down, and Holy is devastating against the undead and spectral creatures common in the late game.

Has the developer (Dark Jay Studio) acknowledged the buff bug? While there have been numerous community posts on Steam and Reddit, as of mid-2026, there has been no official patch or statement from the developers specifically addressing the elemental buff interaction. Players should assume the bug will persist for the foreseeable future.

06

The Final Verdicttag

Weapon element conversion is a tantalizing mechanic in Arms of God, offering the promise of ultimate build customization. The ability to permanently match your weapon's damage to an enemy's weakness is powerful on paper. But in practice, the system is hamstrung by a significant bug that punishes some of the most popular playstyles.

Our recommendation is to approach with caution. If you have the materials to spare and run a build that doesn't rely on consumable buffs, it can be a game-changer. For everyone else, the high cost of entry and the risk of crippling your damage output make it a feature best left untouched until a patch addresses its glaring flaws. For now, the humble Pine Resin remains your most reliable friend.