The Definitive Guide to Bleed Spears in Elden Ring: Finding the Best Blood Spear
If you’re looking to dominate the Lands Between with a bleed-focused build, the spear class offers a potent combination of reach, speed, and the ability to inflict rapid Blood Loss buildup. But with so many options available, which spear reigns supreme for a blood build?
The answer, while nuanced, leans heavily towards the Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear. While other spears can certainly inflict bleed, the Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear stands out due to its innate Blood Loss buildup, scaling with Arcane, and, most importantly, its unique and devastating Weapon Skill: Bloodboon Ritual. This skill unleashes a wide-reaching area-of-effect attack that coats enemies in bloodflame, inflicting Blood Loss and fire damage, making it exceptionally effective against groups and single targets alike.
Diving Deeper: Why Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear Excels
While the initial answer seems straightforward, let’s delve into the reasons that solidify Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear as the premier blood spear in Elden Ring:
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Innate Blood Loss Buildup: Right out of the box, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear comes with inherent Blood Loss buildup. This means you don’t need to rely on Ashes of War or infusions to get the bleed effect started.
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Arcane Scaling: The spear scales significantly with Arcane. This is crucial because Arcane directly impacts the speed at which Blood Loss accumulates on enemies. The higher your Arcane stat, the faster your opponents will succumb to Hemorrhage.
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Bloodboon Ritual: This unique Weapon Skill is the spear’s defining feature. It’s not just a powerful attack; it’s a bleed-inducing machine. The Bloodboon Ritual coats the surrounding area in bloodflame, inflicting damage and drastically increasing Blood Loss buildup. It’s particularly effective against bosses and large groups of enemies. The lingering effect of Bloodboon Ritual allows for sustained pressure, forcing enemies to either retreat or face continued Blood Loss.
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Reach and Moveset: Spears, in general, offer excellent reach, allowing you to maintain a safe distance while still dealing damage. Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear benefits from this inherent advantage, making it easier to proc Bleed without getting caught in enemy attacks. Its moveset is versatile, allowing for both aggressive and defensive playstyles.
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Synergy with Other Bleed Effects: Combine Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear with other bleed-inducing effects, such as the White Mask (increases attack power after Blood Loss is inflicted), the Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman (further boosts attack power upon inflicting Blood Loss), and the Seppuku Ash of War (if used on a secondary weapon), to create a truly devastating bleed build.
Considering the Alternatives
While Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear is the top choice, other spears can also be effective in a bleed build. Let’s examine some notable alternatives:
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Spiked Spear: This spear has innate Blood Loss buildup and can be further enhanced with Ashes of War. However, it lacks the unique power and range of Bloodboon Ritual. Its Strength and Dexterity scaling makes it less ideal than Mohgwyn’s for an Arcane-focused build.
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Treespear: While this spear has no innate bleed, it has holy damage, which is effective against undead enemies. It would not be a spear for a blood build.
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Other Spears with Blood Infusion: Almost any spear can be infused with a Blood Affinity using the Black Whetblade found in Nokron, the Eternal City, granting it Blood Loss buildup and scaling it with Arcane. However, even with a Blood infusion, these spears lack the sheer power and utility of Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear.
Building Around Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear
To maximize the effectiveness of Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, consider the following build tips:
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Prioritize Arcane: Level up your Arcane stat to at least 60, and ideally higher. This will significantly increase Blood Loss buildup.
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Invest in Strength and Dexterity: While Arcane is your primary focus, you’ll still need to meet the Strength and Dexterity requirements to wield the spear effectively.
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Utilize Talismans: The Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Millicent’s Prosthesis (boosts Dexterity and attack power with successive attacks), and the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (further enhances attack power with successive attacks) are all excellent choices for maximizing damage output.
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Consider Armor: The White Mask is almost essential for a bleed build, as it provides a significant attack power boost after Blood Loss is inflicted.
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Explore Incantations and Spells: Incantations like Swarm of Flies can be used to quickly inflict Blood Loss from a distance, complementing the Bloodboon Ritual.
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Don’t forget Flask of Wondrous Physick: The Cerulean Hidden Tear is a great asset to your build as it eliminates FP consumption, which will allow you to repeatedly use Bloodboon Ritual.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Blood Spears in Elden Ring
1. Is Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear still good after the nerf?
Yes, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear remains a top-tier weapon despite past nerfs. While the area of effect of Bloodboon Ritual may have been slightly reduced, its core functionality and damage output remain excellent.
2. What stats does Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear scale with?
Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear scales primarily with Strength, Dexterity, and Arcane. Arcane is the most important stat for maximizing Blood Loss buildup and overall damage.
3. Where do I find Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear?
You obtain Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear by defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood, in Mohgwyn Palace.
4. Can I put Ashes of War on Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear?
No, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear has a unique Weapon Skill and cannot be infused with Ashes of War.
5. What is the best Ash of War for a bleed build?
Seppuku is a powerful Ash of War that can be applied to other weapons to inflict Blood Loss. Bloody Slash is another effective option, especially early in the game.
6. What are some good talismans for a bleed build?
Key talismans include the Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Millicent’s Prosthesis, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, and the Green Turtle Talisman for stamina recovery.
7. What armor should I wear for a bleed build?
The White Mask is almost essential for its attack power boost after inflicting Blood Loss. Other armor choices depend on your preferred playstyle and weight tolerance.
8. How does Arcane affect Blood Loss buildup?
The higher your Arcane stat, the faster Blood Loss will accumulate on enemies.
9. Is bleed effective against all enemies in Elden Ring?
No, some enemies are resistant or immune to Blood Loss. However, most bosses and regular enemies are vulnerable to it.
10. What other weapons complement Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear in a bleed build?
Daggers with the Seppuku Ash of War, katanas like Rivers of Blood, and the Eleonora’s Poleblade can all complement Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear.
11. Is Rivers of Blood still a good weapon for a bleed build?
Yes, Rivers of Blood remains a strong choice for a bleed build, despite some nerfs since launch. Its Weapon Skill, Corpse Piler, inflicts rapid Blood Loss.
12. What level should I be to fight Mohg, Lord of Blood?
It’s recommended to be at least Level 95-100 before attempting to fight Mohg, Lord of Blood.
13. What is the Black Whetblade used for?
The Black Whetblade, found in Nokron, the Eternal City, allows you to infuse weapons with Blood, Poison, and other status effects.
14. Can Mohg be affected by Scarlet Rot?
Yes, Mohg is susceptible to both Bleed and Scarlet Rot.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and learning principles in video games?
You can explore the intersection of games and education by visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.