TL;DR
- Carian Retaliation requires 17 Intelligence and transforms enemy spells into counter-attacking glintblades
- Access Seluvis’s Rise after clearing Caria Manor and initiating Ranni’s questline
- Complete Seluvis’s potion delivery quest or wait until post-Ranni quest completion
- Purchase for 9,000 runes or acquire via bell bearing after Seluvis’s death
- Strategic timing and positioning maximize this defensive sorcery’s effectiveness
As a dedicated Elden Ring spell collector, securing Carian Retaliation becomes essential for completing your magical arsenal. This unique defensive sorcery demands strategic acquisition through specific NPC interactions and quest completion.
Carian Retaliation functions as a specialized sorcery requiring 17 Intelligence for casting proficiency. Its core mechanic involves dispelling incoming enemy magical attacks and converting them into retaliatory glintblades that automatically target aggressors. While situational in application, mastering this spell provides sorcery-focused builds with exceptional defensive capabilities against magic-wielding opponents.
The official item description provides crucial lore context:
One of the sorceries of the Carian royal family. Swing your staff to dispel incoming sorceries and incantations, using their power to retaliate with glintblades. This was the Carian royal family’s secret means to prepare against the disloyalty of the academy. The moon and stars would one day go their separate ways.
Strategic Insight: This spell excels against enemy mages and incantation users, particularly in PvP scenarios where anticipating spell patterns becomes crucial for effective counter-play.
Securing Carian Retaliation necessitates tracking down the elusive Preceptor Seluvis, who operates from his tower in Liurnia of the Lakes. This acquisition process integrates with multiple questlines, offering players flexibility in approach.
Seluvis’s Rise
The primary acquisition method involves purchasing Carian Retaliation directly from Preceptor Seluvis at Seluvis’s Rise for 9,000 runes. Reaching this location requires progressing through Caria Manor in northern Liurnia, defeating the area boss, and exiting through the manor’s rear section.
Before gaining access to Seluvis’s merchant services, you must first encounter his spectral form at Ranni’s Rise—the westernmost tower behind Caria Manor. This spectral meeting initiates Ranni the Witch’s extensive questline. After this initial contact, Seluvis’s physical form becomes accessible at his personal tower situated south of Ranni’s Rise.
Seluvis presents players with a moral dilemma through his potion delivery quest targeting Nepheli Loux. You face three distinct choices: deliver the potion to Nepheli at Roundtable Hold, consult Gideon Ofnir about discarding it, or preserve it for potential use in the Dung Eater questline. Each decision path ultimately unlocks Seluvis’s shop, though consequences vary significantly.
Alternative Acquisition: Patient players can bypass the potion quest entirely by completing Ranni’s full questline, which results in Seluvis’s demise. Following his death, retrieve his bell bearing from Seluvis’s Rise and present it to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. This method grants permanent access to all his sorceries, including Carian Retaliation, without moral complications.
Mastering Carian Retaliation extends beyond mere acquisition—understanding its tactical implementation separates novice spellcasters from masters. This defensive sorcery demands precise timing and situational awareness to maximize effectiveness.
Timing Considerations: The spell’s activation window is brief, requiring anticipation of enemy spellcasting patterns. Practice against predictable spellcasters like Glintstone Sorcerers to develop timing proficiency before employing it in high-stakes combat situations.
Common mistakes include attempting retaliation against physical projectiles (ineffective), poor positioning that leaves you vulnerable after activation, and underestimating the intelligence requirement for consistent performance.
Optimization Tips: Pair Carian Retaliation with high magic resistance armor to survive mistimed activations. The spell works exceptionally well when combined with quick-casting sorceries that maintain pressure between defensive actions. For comprehensive character building, consult our Class Guide to ensure your build supports this specialized spell.
Advanced players should note that the retaliatory glintblades inherit scaling from your staff and benefit from magic damage buffs, making this more than just a defensive tool when optimized properly.
Strategic positioning remains crucial—maintain medium distance from spellcasters to ensure both reaction time and that retaliatory blades reach their targets effectively.
Action Checklist
- Reach Liurnia of the Lakes and clear Caria Manor to access the Three Sisters area
- Initiate Ranni’s questline at Ranni’s Rise and speak with Seluvis’s spectral form
- Visit Seluvis’s Rise and receive the potion delivery quest
- Choose potion resolution path (Nepheli, Gideon, or Dung Eater)
- Return to Seluvis to unlock his shop and purchase Carian Retaliation for 9,000 runes
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring: Where To Get Carian Retaliation Master Carian Retaliation: Complete guide to acquiring Elden Ring's defensive sorcery and strategic uses
