Ash of War: Thops's Barrier is an Ash of War introduced in Elden Ring.

This Ash of War grants an armament the Magic affinity and the following skill:

"Thops's Barrier: Erect a magical forcefield while swinging the shield to deflect sorceries and incantations. Can also be used in the same way as a regular parry."

Usable on small and medium shields.

Ash of War: Thops's Barrier Main Information

  • This Ash of War provides your shield with Magic affinity and the Thops's Barrier skill.
  • It can be applied to Medium and Small Shields.

How to Get The Ash of War: Thops's Barrier

The Ash of War: Thops's Barrier can be found by killing a Teardrop Scarab in the Church of Irith just after Sorcerer Thops leaves there to visit the Raya Lucaria Academy. You can only do this by following his questline:

1. You'll meet Thops at the Church of Irith, in Liurnia of the Lakes, southwest of the Lake-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace, the first Site of Grace you encounter in Liurnia after defeating Godrick the Grafted.

Ash of War Thopss Location

As you enter the church, you'll encounter Thops. Exhaust his dialogue, donate him 10 Runes, and he'll open shop. He'll also let you know that he wants to return to Raya Lucaria Academy, and needs an Academy Glintstone Key to do so.

2. Now, you must enter Raya Lucaria Academy, and to do it, you also need an Academy Glintstone Key. It can be found behind a giant dragon to the west of the Academy. The exact location is marked on the map below.

Academy Glintstone Key 1

Also, if you offer this card to Thops, he'll decline it, claiming that you need it more than him.

3. As you collect the first Academy Glintstone Key, a second one becomes available inside the Academy. So, enter there and progress until you find and defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon. From the Debate Parlor Site of Grace, which unlocks after defeating the Red Wolf, progress through the northern hallway until you enter the main yard. Then, turn west and head towards a mound of dirt. Climb it up, then climb up the staircase at the top. Turn west at the top and jump over the handrail to land on a new zone of the Academy.

Climb up the staircase in front of you and turn south at the top to find a second balcony. Jump over the handrail to land on the rooftop section. Progress through the first building to find a ladder. Climb it up; you'll find a hallway at the top you must go across. As you reach the sorcerer in the end, kill it, then take a right over the ledge of the next building to reach the rooftop of a building below. As you land there, turn north and drop two times, so you reach a building with a second rooftop underneath. Drop there, and then to the zone below that one, so you are now on an L-shaped rooftop with many enemies.

Turn northeast where you landed and drop to the zone to the right, and go around the building to find a round-shaped rooftop. Head there, then explore the zone to find a broken window to enter the building. You'll be on the building's rafters; peep down and find a chandelier with an item over it; that item is the Glintstone Academy Key you are looking for.

4. The next step is to head back to Thops in the Church of Irith and give him the Glintstone Academy Key you just got. As a reward, you'll get the Erudition gesture, which will let you complete a couple of puzzles that have sorceries as their rewards.

5. Thops will move to a new location inside the Raya Lucaria Academy. First, you must find the Schoolhouse Classroom Site of Grace, and from there, head to the northwestern exit then go around the building by taking a right to find Thops, dead, sitting on a chair, marking the end of his questline. You'll find his bell bearing, an Academy Glintstone Staff, and Thops's Barrier Sorcery.

Now, you can return to the Church of Irith, Thops's first location, to find a Teadrop Scarab that, if you kill, will contain the Ash of War: Thops's Barrier, an Ash of War you can apply to shields.