Elden Ring: What A Larval Tear Is (& Why You Want Them)

Summary Larval Tears are rare key items in Elden Ring that can be used to respec attribute points.

Using Larval Tears to respec is only possible after a certain point in the game, requiring players to complete the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

There is a limited number of Larval Tears in a single Elden Ring playthrough, so they should be used sparingly.

Larval Tears are valuable items to have in Elden Ring, and using them wisely can make any playthrough much easier. They can also have a notable impact on New Game Plus playthroughs in particular. However, given that Larval Tears are also quite rare items that are easily missed in Elden Ring, knowing how and when it is best to use them is also very important.

Resources are scarce in the Lands Between, and the Tarnished’s journey towards becoming Elden Lord also means constantly managing and rationing limited supplies. For some of the rarer and more potent items in the game, such as Larval Tears, this generally means conserving them whenever possible. But on the other hand, taking this approach too far can then lead to the paradoxical scenario of reaching one of Elden Ring’s endings without ever using these incredibly useful objects. As such, it is important to maintain a balance between conservation and use in order to make the most of them.

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Using Larval Tears Allows The Tarnished To Respec In Elden Ring

Reset Attribute Points

Simply put, Larval Tears are important items because using them allows a Tarnished to respec. Of course, this is not immediately available at the start of the game; as with many things in Elden Ring, it is something that must be earned. In order to unlock this feature, the Tarnished must first defeat Rennala at the Academy of Raya Lucaria. After this fight, the Carian Queen will offer the Tarnished to undergo Rebirth whenever they wish, which in practical terms means redistributing any and all attribute points that were previously allocated in exchange for a Larval Tear.

If players feel that they made a mistake with their previous choices, or want to alter their build in order to better wield a new weapon, then this is a far quicker alternative to leveling up. Similarly, Rebirth can be used twice to accomplish one specific task before restoring a Tarnished’s original build. For example, one point in Brother Corhyn’s questline requires casting Law of Regression, which in turn requires 37 Intelligence points. While various Stat-boosting items can help with this, a Tarnished who favors melee combat may find it easier to temporarily respec in order to continue the questline.

In terms of the lore behind Larval Tears, it is interesting to note that they are the core of Silver Tears, and perhaps responsible for their shape-shifting abilities. This mimicry is described as the enemies constantly being “reborn,” with the similarities presumably being what makes them so suitable for Rennala’s own Rebirth system. Larval Tears are used as fuel for the strange amber egg carried by Rennala in conjunction with the Great Rune of the Unborn earned by defeating the queen. This apparently perfects her otherwise flawed process, so that Rennala can see the Tarnished safely through their Rebirth.

Respeccing In Elden Ring Can Give A Valuable Edge In Boss Fights

Change Stats To Exploit Boss Weaknesses

Close

Resetting stats in Elden Ring can offer an incredible advantage at various points throughout the game, most notably boss fights. As bosses can have wildly different resistances and combat styles when compared to each other, defeating them can likewise require different strategies. However, growing an Elden Ring build to fight bosses with new levels can be difficult, particularly in later stages of the game when grinding becomes time-consuming. Using a Larval Tear is a far easier method of achieving the same goal, assuming that the Tarnished has already leveled up attributes that are unneeded for their next battle.

In more general terms, Larval Tears and Rebirth allow people to experiment with their builds, which can lead to some discovering a playstyle more suited for them after initially committing to a different path. For example, a player who initially engages primarily in melee combat may develop a greater appreciation for ranged attack options like Sorceries if they find maintaining distance in a battle makes them a more successful fighter. In such a situation, Rebirth once again allows the Tarnished to lean into this new specialization without needing to spend extra time on grinding.

Of course, Larval Tears are also immensely useful to have in a New Game Plus. An endgame Tarnished will have stocked enough attribute points for most, if not all, major build archetypes to be viable through Rebirth. Moreover, having completed the game at least once already, people are more likely to want to try playing through the game with a different play style; doing so will provide a fresh new challenge for any number of subsequent runs.

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Larval Tears Are Valuable Key Items In Short Supply

Larval Tears Are Not Farmable

As befitting their incredible potential to affect gameplay, Larval Tears are categorized in the Inventory as Key Items. As such, they can be found alongside other items which unlock or activate various gameplay features. More specifically, they are found in the same inventory sub-section as Dragon Hearts and Celestial Dews. However, it is crucial to note that there is a limited number of Larval Tears available in any one playthrough of Elden Ring. In total, there are only 18 Larval Tears to be found in the Lands Between, although any spares can be carried over into a New Game Plus.

Larval Tears can be looted from enemies, scavenged from the environment, and bought from merchants. Although their numbers are highly limited, careful use should see a Tarnished maintain flexibility in their build without exhausting their supply. Unfortunately, Larval Tears are not clearly indicated as being so limited in number in-game, and so those unaware may run out of them without meaning to. As such, it is important to keep in mind that it isn’t worth spending a Larval Tear to correct a single regretted attribute point allocation, no matter how tempting doing so may be.

Larval Tears are one of the many resources that are carried over into a New Game Plus, so a stockpile can be slowly built up to allow for more specialized and experimental builds to be tested by those more familiar with the game as a whole.

As long as somebody chooses to bring their Tarnished into consecutive New Game Pluses instead of starting a new game entirely, their character will continue to level up and become more powerful. As a result, Larval Tears will likely become all but unnecessary beyond a certain point as attributes begin to approach their caps. Until that time, however, Larval Tears are among the more valuable items to collect in Elden Ring, offering an alternative to grinding that can become highly appreciated in the later stages of the game, as well as allowing people to experiment more broadly with their builds.