A deepwoken mantra modifier can honestly make or break your entire progression, especially when you're staring down a Voidwalker who clearly knows their way around a campfire. If you've spent any time in the Etrean Woods or the depths of the Burning Sands, you've probably picked up a bunch of random stones and wondered if they're actually worth the inventory space. The short answer is: yes, they absolutely are. Modifying your mantras isn't just some optional side-mechanic; it's the core of how you turn a basic, predictable spell into something that catches people off-guard and wins you fights.
The beauty of the system is how much it lets you mess with the "feel" of your character. You aren't stuck with the base version of a move just because that's how the game handed it to you. You can take a slow, heavy-hitting move and make it fly across the screen, or take a tiny projectile and turn it into a massive wall of elemental energy. But before you start dumping all your hard-earned ingredients into a single spell, it's worth understanding how these modifiers interact with your build.
The Basics of Tinkering at the Campfire
To start using a deepwoken mantra modifier, you just need to find a campfire. It's one of the few places in the game where you can actually catch your breath. When you sit down, you get the option to "Modify Mantras," which opens up a UI that shows your currently equipped moves and your inventory of modifiers. It's a pretty intuitive system, but don't let the simplicity fool you. Each stone you add uses up a "modification slot" on that specific mantra. Most mantras have a limit, so you can't just keep stacking stuff forever. You have to be smart about what you're prioritizing.
If you're just starting out, don't feel like you need to save every single stone for the "perfect" endgame build. Ingredients like Stratus Stones and Cloudstones are common enough that you can afford to experiment. If a move feels like it's missing its mark too often, toss a modifier on it and see how it changes the dynamic of your combat.
The Big Three: Size, Range, and Speed
When people talk about the "meta" for modifiers, they usually start with the ones that change the physical properties of the spell. These are your bread and butter.
First off, we have the Cloudstone. This is probably the most used deepwoken mantra modifier because it increases the size of your mantra. It sounds simple, but in a game where parrying is everything, making a move physically larger makes it much harder for your opponent to dodge or out-space you. If you're using something like Fire Blade or any large AoE (Area of Effect) move, adding a few Cloudstones makes the hitbox absolutely massive. It's oppressive, and that's exactly why people love it.
Then you've got the Stratus Stone. This one increases the range. If you find yourself constantly falling short when you're trying to poke an opponent, the Stratus Stone is your best friend. It's particularly lethal on projectile-based mantras. Turning a mid-range spell into a long-range sniper shot can really change how you approach a neutral reset in a duel.
Finally, there's the Latcher Stone. These are a bit more niche but still incredibly useful for mobility-based mantras. They generally increase the distance or "leap" of a move. If you're using something like Shadow Travel or Spark Swap, Latcher Stones give you that extra bit of reach that can be the difference between escaping a bad situation and getting caught in a combo.
Going Nuclear with Crystal Lenses and Eternal Logstones
Once you move past the basic stat boosters, you start getting into the modifiers that really change the behavior of the spell. The Crystal Lens is a big one. It increases the projectile speed and also adds a bit of range. In high-level PvP, speed is king. If a mantra comes out too slowly, a halfway decent player is going to parry it every single time. Crystal Lenses make your moves snappy. They turn "telegraphed" attacks into "react-or-die" moments.
But if you really want to make someone's life miserable, you look at Eternal Logstones. These increase the duration of a mantra's effect. This is huge for moves that create lingering hitboxes or status effects. Imagine a fire move that stays on the ground for twice as long, or a wind move that keeps pushing an opponent back for several extra seconds. It's all about area denial. You're essentially telling the other player, "You can't stand here," and in a fast-paced game like Deepwoken, controlling the space is how you dictate the flow of the fight.
Vibrants and Glass Stones: The Utility Play
Not every deepwoken mantra modifier is about making things bigger or faster. Sometimes, you just need utility. Vibrant Gems are the go-to for anyone who feels like they're constantly running out of Ether. They reduce the Ether cost of a mantra. While it might not seem as flashy as a giant explosion, being able to cast your spells more frequently often outweighs the benefit of a single high-damage move. If your build is mantra-heavy, you're going to want at least a few of these scattered across your kit.
Then there's the Glass Stone. This one is a bit of a double-edged sword. It increases the damage of a mantra but also increases the Ether cost. It's the definition of a "glass cannon" modifier. If you're confident that you can land your hits, the extra damage is fantastic. But if you're missing your shots, you'll find yourself out of Ether and defenseless pretty quickly. It's all about balance.
Why Some Modifiers Just Aren't Worth the Space
I'll be honest with you—not every stone you find in a chest is a winner. You'll occasionally pick up stuff like Magnet Stones. While they have their uses—like making projectiles slightly "home in" on a target—they often feel underwhelming compared to just making the move bigger with a Cloudstone. The tracking usually isn't strong enough to justify the slot unless you're building something very specific.
The same goes for over-modding a single move. It's tempting to put five modifiers on your favorite spell, but remember that Deepwoken is a game of variety. If you put all your eggs in one basket, and your opponent figures out the timing for that one "super-move," you're in trouble. It's often better to have three or four well-modified mantras than one god-tier move and four basic ones.
Practical Tips for Your Next Session
If you're looking to optimize your character right now, here's my advice: focus on your "opener" and your "finisher." Your opener—the move you use to start a fight—should probably have some Crystal Lenses or Stratus Stones to make it fast and long-range. You want to catch them before they're ready.
Your finisher, or your main damage dealer, is where you dump the Cloudstones and maybe a Glass Stone. You want that move to be unavoidable and devastating. And for the love of the gods, don't forget to use your Drift Stones if you're using any movement mantras. The extra control you get over your character's positioning is honestly underrated.
At the end of the day, the deepwoken mantra modifier system is there for you to express your playstyle. Don't be afraid to try weird combinations. Sometimes the weirdest builds—the ones that shouldn't work on paper—are the ones that end up becoming the next big meta because nobody knows how to fight against them. So, grab your stones, find a fire, and start breaking some mantras. It's the only way to truly survive out there.