How To Get The Spirit Calling Bell In Elden Ring

TL;DR

  • Spirit Calling Bell enables summoning spectral allies to assist in combat
  • Requires meeting Melina first, then returning to Church of Elleh at night
  • Must answer ‘yes’ when Renna asks about spectral steed ability
  • Missed encounters can be remedied at Roundtable Hold later
  • Strategic summoning can dramatically reduce boss fight difficulty

This essential item unlocks one of Elden Ring’s most powerful combat mechanics that many players overlook in their initial playthrough. Spirit Ashes provide tactical advantages that can completely change your approach to challenging encounters.

While Elden Ring offers numerous combat options including weapon enhancements and cooperative multiplayer, Spirit Ashes represent a distinct strategic layer. These spectral companions offer unique battlefield support with specialized strengths and weaknesses. Each spirit type serves different tactical purposes—some excel at drawing enemy aggression while others provide ranged support or area denial. Understanding how to acquire and utilize the Spirit Calling Bell early significantly impacts your ability to manage difficult boss fights and exploration challenges. The bell’s acquisition is time-sensitive but fortunately follows a predictable pattern that we’ll detail comprehensively.

With Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree now available, having access to spirit summons becomes even more valuable for tackling the expansion’s notoriously difficult content. For broader strategic guidance, consult our Complete Guide to understand core gameplay systems that complement spirit summoning strategies.

Church of Elleh

Church of Elleh – Where your nighttime encounter occurs

Successfully obtaining the Spirit Calling Bell requires precise sequence completion and timing awareness. The process begins with establishing basic game progression milestones before triggering the specific encounter.

To initiate the event chain for acquiring the Spirit Calling Bell, you must first complete the prerequisite of meeting Melina at your third Site of Grace location. This critical story progression moment occurs when she provides Torrent, your spectral steed mount, and unlocks character leveling capabilities. After achieving this milestone, you’ll need to return specifically to the Church of Elleh during nighttime hours to encounter the NPC Renna who distributes the bell.

  • Begin your journey by emerging into Limgrave and immediately resting at the initial Site of Grace positioned directly ahead of your starting location.
  • Progress northward from this point until discovering the stone ruins of Church of Elleh. This location houses a merchant offering valuable early-game items, and will serve as our return destination for the bell acquisition event.
  • Continue traveling north (with slight eastern deviation) through wooded terrain until reaching Gateside Ruins, a substantial enemy encampment. Activate the Site of Grace adjacent to the large gate structure and rest there to trigger your meeting with Melina, securing Torrent and leveling capabilities.
  • After successfully meeting Melina, utilize the Site of Grace resting function to advance time until nightfall conditions prevail.
  • Fast travel directly to Church of Elleh where the witch Renna will be waiting to initiate conversation. Engage with her dialogue tree and affirmatively respond when she inquires about your spectral steed summoning ability. This correct response triggers her reward of both the Spirit Summoning Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes summon.
  • Should you fail to interact with Renna during the appropriate early-game window, she eventually ceases appearing at Church of Elleh. Fortunately, this doesn’t permanently lock you out—once you reach Roundtable Hold later in your progression, the Twin Husks merchant will offer the Spirit Calling Bell for purchase.

Many players inadvertently miss this crucial item due to several predictable errors in their early-game approach. Understanding these common pitfalls ensures you secure the bell during the optimal acquisition window.

The most frequent mistake involves progressing too far in the main storyline before returning to Church of Elleh. Renna only appears during a specific progression window—typically before defeating Margit, the Fell Omen. If you’ve advanced beyond this point without encountering her, you’ll need to utilize the backup acquisition method at Roundtable Hold.

Another common error involves incorrect time management. The encounter specifically requires nighttime conditions, which many players overlook by not utilizing the ‘Pass Time’ function at Sites of Grace. Remember that simply waiting in real-time doesn’t advance the game’s day/night cycle—you must actively select the time advancement option.

If you’ve missed the initial encounter, don’t panic. Once you reach Roundtable Hold (typically triggered by either defeating Margit or resting at specific Sites of Grace), visit the Twin Husks merchant located near the main hall. They sell the Spirit Calling Bell for a modest amount of runes, ensuring you can still access spirit summoning capabilities. For complementary gameplay systems that enhance your spirit summoning effectiveness, explore our Class Guide to optimize your character build.

Mastering spirit summoning extends beyond simply acquiring the bell—optimal usage requires understanding game mechanics and resource management. Spirit summons consume FP (Focus Points) and can only be activated in specific areas marked by a tombstone icon on your HUD.

Different spirit ashes suit various combat scenarios. The Lone Wolf Ashes provided initially excel at overwhelming single targets with pack tactics, while later acquisitions like the Skeletal Militiamen offer resurrection capabilities that prolong their battlefield presence.

Strategic summoning timing dramatically impacts encounter difficulty. Deploy spirits at the beginning of boss fights to draw aggression while you position strategically. Against area bosses with multiple phases, conserve summoning for the most challenging phase transitions.

FP management proves crucial for consistent spirit usage. Invest in Mind attribute points to increase your FP pool, or utilize Cerulean Tears in your Flask of Wondrous Physick to reduce FP consumption. For comprehensive equipment optimization to complement your summoning strategy, reference our Weapons Unlock guide for optimal loadout combinations.

Advanced players should note that spirit summons scale with specific attributes—most commonly reinforcing their power through weapon upgrade levels rather than character stats. This makes weapon enhancement equally important for both your direct combat effectiveness and summoning capabilities.

Action Checklist

  • Rest at third Site of Grace to meet Melina and receive Torrent
  • Return to Church of Elleh and use ‘Pass Time’ to reach nighttime
  • Speak with Renna and answer ‘yes’ about spectral steed
  • Receive Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes
  • If missed, purchase from Twin Husks at Roundtable Hold later

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