How to change affinity in Elden Ring (explained)

Wondering how to change the properties of your weapons in Elden Ring? If yes, then you have just arrived at the right place. For those who don’t know, Affinity is a special elemental power that your weapon has. Proximity determines several weapon factors such as attribute scaling, attack power, defense boost, shielded damage prevention, and passive skills. Luckily, we can amplify these factors by changing weapon affinity. But how to make this work? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out this guide to learn how to change kinship in Elden Ring.

How to change weapon affinity in Elden Ring

In Elden Ring, you will unlock the ability to change kinship after obtaining a whetstone. This knife allows the player to increase proximity by applying Ashes of War to them. Different ashes of war endow weapons with different kinship. In addition, there are 5 different types of Whetstone knives with a matching Affinity set. Here’s everything you need to know about them:

• sharpening knife
  • Unlocks – the ability to improve proximity
  • Location – inside a chest found underground in the southeastern part of the ruins near the gate.
• Iron Sharpening Blade
  • Unlocks – the ability to increase the level of affinity to heavy, sharp and high-quality in Elden Ring.
  • Location – Collect the corpse in the huge armory located in Stormvale Castle.
• Brilliant Sharpening Blade
  • Unlocks – the ability to change the proximity to magic and cold.
  • Location – Search the corpse hanging on the fence of the office balcony in Rai Lukaria Academy.
• Molten Sharpening Blade
  • Unlocks – the ability to change the art of kinship with fire and flame.
  • Location – Head to the chamber outside Grace Square while the Radan Festival is not active. From there, turn right from the 3 flamethrowers and enter the tower behind them. Avoid the attacking Iron Maiden boss and enter the tower to get a Red-Hot Whetblade.
• Sanctified Sharpening Blade
  • Unlocks – the ability to change the proximity to lightning and sacred in Elden Ring.
  • Location – Teleport to the rampart of the Western Capital in Leindell. Now exit the room and go up the stairs leading down. Exit by turning left, after which you must jump down. Next, turn left and climb onto the wooden structure to your right. Enter the door behind the broken wall and then turn left. Walk a bit until you find a Sanctified Whetblade along the way.
• Black sharpening blade
  • Unlocks – the ability to change the affinity for poison, blood and the occult.
  • Location – Head to the Sacred Land of Night and pick it up next to the corpse in front of the altar.

This covers all how to change kinship in Elden Ring. While you’re here, be sure to check out our other Elden Ring guides.