Is the Venomous Fang Good? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s Poison Claw
Yes, the Venomous Fang is a good weapon in Elden Ring, particularly for players who enjoy a close-quarters, aggressive playstyle with a focus on poison damage. It’s not a game-breaker that will trivialize every encounter, but its unique combination of physical damage and poison buildup makes it a valuable tool in the arsenal of any Tarnished. It excels in the early to mid-game and remains useful for certain builds and strategies throughout the entire playthrough. The Venomous Fang falls under the Claw Weapon category, offering quick attacks and the potential to stunlock enemies, and is especially effective against foes vulnerable to poison. However, it’s crucial to understand its strengths, weaknesses, and optimal use cases to determine if it’s the right choice for your build.
Understanding the Venomous Fang
Core Mechanics
The Venomous Fang stands out due to its dual damage output: it deals direct physical damage and applies a poison status effect. This means that each successful attack chips away at enemy health immediately while also slowly draining their life with poison over time. The initial damage is decent, but it’s the consistent poison buildup (72 damage per hit) that sets this weapon apart, particularly against enemies that don’t have high poison resistance. Additionally, the physical damage (92 damage) is quite respectable for a weapon of this type and weight.
Scaling Attributes
The Venomous Fang primarily scales with Strength and Dexterity. This makes it ideal for builds that focus on a balance between these two attributes. While Arcane influences status buildup on weapons that use Arcane for damage scaling, it does not directly affect the poison buildup or damage of the Venomous Fang. You will want to invest in Strength and Dexterity to maximize the potential of this weapon. Therefore, focusing on these two attributes enhances both the physical damage and how quickly you inflict the poison effect.
Early Game Powerhouse
One of the primary reasons the Venomous Fang is regarded highly is that it’s available relatively early in the game. It can be found in a cave in the Caelid region, meaning you can access it after the early game areas. This early accessibility allows you to benefit from its poison effect from a very early stage, helping you to overcome challenging encounters.
Strengths
- Early Accessibility: Easily obtainable relatively early in the game.
- Combined Damage: Delivers a combination of physical and poison damage, maximizing DPS.
- Quick Attacks: The claw weapon moveset is swift, allowing for consistent hits and quick status buildup.
- Stunlock Potential: Rapid attacks can interrupt some enemy moves and stagger them, allowing for follow-up attacks.
- Poison Application: Consistent application of poison damage can be effective against many enemies.
Weaknesses
- Limited Range: Claw weapons have a very short range, making them ill-suited for combat against enemies with significant reach.
- Poison Resistance: Many enemies, particularly bosses, have high resistance to poison or even immunity, making the poison effect less impactful.
- Non-Arcane Scaling: Unlike some other status-effect weapons, the poison buildup is not affected by Arcane, limiting scaling.
- Damage Over Time Reliance: The poison effect relies on damage over time, making its utility significantly less versus some enemies who die quickly from the physical damage anyway.
- Not Optimized for Burst: This weapon does not excel in delivering quick bursts of damage; its strength is in sustained damage and the poison effect.
Is It Right For You?
Ultimately, the Venomous Fang’s suitability depends on your preferred playstyle and build. If you enjoy a fast-paced, in-your-face style and plan to invest in Strength and Dexterity, this weapon could be a great choice. Consider that its effectiveness dips against enemies highly resistant to poison. You can also pair it with other weapons and techniques to offset the weaknesses of the claw, particularly with builds that utilize status effects. The weapon is highly regarded, and it does deserve its reputation, but it is not the best option available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What category does the Venomous Fang belong to?
The Venomous Fang is a Claw Weapon.
2. Does Arcane increase the poison damage from the Venomous Fang?
No, Arcane does not directly increase the poison damage or build-up of the Venomous Fang. It primarily scales with Strength and Dexterity.
3. Where can I find the Venomous Fang?
The Venomous Fang is located in a cave in the Caelid region.
4. Is the Venomous Fang better than Bloodhound’s Fang?
These weapons serve different functions. Bloodhound’s Fang scales with strength and dexterity but its focus is solely on physical damage. The Venomous Fang has less physical damage but deals poison over time, which is useful in some situations. It’s best to test both and see which matches your preferred playstyle.
5. How much base damage does the Venomous Fang have?
The Venomous Fang has a base physical damage of 92.
6. How much poison buildup does the Venomous Fang inflict per hit?
The Venomous Fang applies 72 poison damage with each hit.
7. Is poison an effective status effect in Elden Ring?
Poison can be effective against enemies with low resistances, but its damage over time is generally not massive. The effectiveness is increased against bosses, but most are resistant or even immune, meaning bleed or rot might be better options.
8. Is the Venomous Fang the best poison weapon in Elden Ring?
Many players consider it one of the best, if not the best poison weapon, due to its high poison build-up and relatively quick attack speed, coupled with the fact that it has high base damage.
9. Does Scarlet Rot scale with Arcane?
No, Arcane does not scale Scarlet Rot damage, nor does it scale Frostbite or Death statuses.
10. Does poison damage stack with multiple hits from the Venomous Fang?
Yes, the poison effect stacks with repeated hits, which means each attack increases the poison buildup.
11. How does the Venomous Fang compare to other status effect weapons?
The Venomous Fang has a fast attack speed and decent buildup making it good for consistent poison damage, but other weapons might be better for certain situations. Consider using a status effect weapon that works best with your build.
12. Can I dual-wield the Venomous Fang?
Yes, you can dual-wield the Venomous Fang, which increases its damage output and poison application but you need to find a second Venomous Fang.
13. What are the best talismans for a Venomous Fang build?
Talismans that increase damage, especially for claw weapons, or those that boost status effects. Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Millicent’s Prosthesis, or the Claw Talisman can be beneficial.
14. Is the Venomous Fang viable against bosses?
The Venomous Fang can be viable against bosses, but many have high resistance to poison. It’s important to learn their attack patterns and know when to strike and retreat.
15. Can I infuse the Venomous Fang with Ashes of War?
No, the Venomous Fang cannot be infused with Ashes of War. Its base damage and poison application are the primary focus, so you will be relying on the innate effect of the claw rather than an Ash of War skill.