How to cast spells and use magic in Lords of the Fallen

While whacking enemies with all manner of weapons is a central part of the charm of Lords of the Fallen, magic is also very important. Being able to heal yourself or allies, cast damaging spells, or add buffs to weapons can all be very important for different builds. Knowing how to cast spells and use magic is key to progressing some of the many sidequests, as well.

How to cast spells and use magic in Lords of the Fallen

To cast spells and use magic in Lords of the Fallen, you need a Catalyst, the spell you wish to cast, and mana to power the spell. You also need the correct stats to cast the spells you wish to use. We will run through some individual nuance about each of these elements later, but for now, let’s assume you have what you need and go through the menu jumping you will need to do.

Up first, you will need to equip your Catalyst. To do this, open your menu and navigate to your Throwing Hand, which is two squares across from your main weapon. Select it, then select your Catalyst of choice.

Once you have a Catalyst equipped, the menu below will change to four spell boxes. Here, you can assign any spells you wish to cast to a maximum of four. What you assign will depend on what you have access to and what you wish to use. A defensive healing and a weapon buff are really valuable, so I would suggest one of each. Now that your Catalyst and spells are equipped, you are ready to actually cast some spells.

How to cast spells

To cast spells, you need to select your Catalyst. You can do this by hitting up on the D-Pad. You cannot have your Lantern and your Catalyst actively in use at the same time, so keep that in mind. You will just need to flick between them using up and down on the D-Pad should you need to. Once the Catalyst is selected, you will see your four spell choices, all with different prompts while you are holding the left trigger. Hit the button for the spell you wish to cast, and as long as you have mana, you shall cast it.

Radiant, Inferno, and Umbral Spells

There are three schools of magic in Lords of the Fallen, Radiant, Inferno, and Umbral. Radiant and Inferno have corresponding stats, and their spells need points in those stats for casting requirements. Umbral will require certain stat values in both of them, so if you plan on leaning into Umbral magic, keep in mind that you will need to double-dip a little.

How to get more mana in Lords of the Fallen

To get more mana, you will need to level up either your Radiant or Inferno stat or both. While leveling them will give you access to more powerful spells that you might find and increase the damage you do with magic in general, it will also give you more mana as well.

You can also use an item called Manastone Clusters to get mana back after you use it. If you need these, you can purchase them from Stomund at Skyrest. He will also sell you the Pilgrim’s Perch Key, if you need it.

How to get more spells

Getting spells is more complicated, as you need to find them out in the game’s many areas, or you can buy them from many of the NPCs you will meet as you play through the game. Characters like Exacter Dunmire, Molhu, and Stomund, who can all be found in Skyrest, will sell you spells if you have enough Vigor to afford them.