Blood Grease and Greatswords in Elden Ring: A Crimson Combination
Blood Grease in Elden Ring, when applied to a greatsword, is a consumable item that coats the weapon, adding a significant amount of bleed buildup to its attacks. This allows a greatsword, typically known for its raw damage output, to inflict the Hemorrhage status effect, dealing a burst of damage when the bleed meter fills. Blood Grease provides a temporary but potent way to turn a colossal weapon into a surprisingly effective blood loss applicator, making it a valuable tool for players pursuing a bleed-focused build.
Blood Grease: The Basics
Understanding the Consumable
Blood Grease is a consumable item found or crafted in Elden Ring. It’s specifically designed to imbue a weapon with the power of blood loss. The item description notes that it is solidified grease made from blood-red materials. This simple description belies the strategic depth it adds to combat. When applied, Blood Grease temporarily buffs your weapon, enhancing its ability to inflict Hemorrhage.
How to Acquire Blood Grease
Blood Grease can be obtained in two primary ways: finding it in the world or crafting it. The ability to craft it is unlocked by obtaining the Nomadic Warrior’s Cookbook 6, which is looted from a corpse in Fort Haight in Limgrave. Crafting requires 1 Root Resin and 1 Bloodrose. This makes Blood Grease a relatively accessible item early in the game.
Applying Blood Grease to Your Greatsword
To apply Blood Grease, simply select it from your inventory and choose the greatsword you wish to buff. Keep in mind that not all weapons can be buffed. The weapon must be able to accept infusions. Weapons with innate elemental damage or those upgraded with Somber Stones are generally incompatible.
Blood Grease and Bleed Builds
Enhancing Your Greatsword’s Potential
Greatswords, known for their high damage per hit, can become formidable when combined with the Hemorrhage status effect. Blood Grease effectively amplifies this effect, causing enemies to bleed more quickly and suffer significant bursts of damage.
How Blood Grease Stacks with Other Effects
The amount of bleed buildup added by Blood Grease is a fixed value, adding 30 bleed, or 38 if using Drawstring Blood Grease. The crucial point here is that this added bleed buildup stacks with the weapon’s existing bleed stat. This can be further enhanced by equipping talismans that boost status effect buildup, creating a truly devastating combination.
Situational Advantages of Blood Grease
Blood Grease is particularly effective against enemies weak to Hemorrhage or those with large health pools, where the burst damage from the bleed effect is most noticeable. It offers a tactical advantage, allowing players to interrupt enemy attacks and stagger them more reliably.
Alternatives and Comparisons
Bloodflame Blade vs. Blood Grease
The article mentions that Bloodflame Blade is generally considered better than Blood Grease. Bloodflame Blade is an incantation that adds more bleed buildup, fire damage, and a damage-over-time effect. However, it requires faith and a sacred seal to cast, while Blood Grease is a simple consumable with no stat requirements. Therefore, depending on your build, Blood Grease can be more useful.
Seppuku Ash of War vs. Blood Grease
The Seppuku Ash of War is also mentioned, which allows players to inflict bleed on their weapon by damaging themselves. Seppuku offers a more significant bleed buildup, but it comes at the cost of health. Blood Grease provides a safer alternative, making it preferable for those seeking to avoid self-inflicted damage.
Other Grease Options
While Blood Grease focuses on Hemorrhage, other greases offer different effects. For example, Black Grease provides benefits related to lubrication and reducing friction, but it’s irrelevant to bleed builds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you craft Blood Grease?
Yes, Blood Grease can be crafted after obtaining the Nomadic Warrior’s Cookbook 6. The cookbook can be looted from a corpse in Fort Haight in Limgrave. It requires 1 Root Resin and 1 Bloodrose to craft.
2. How much bleed does Blood Grease add?
Blood Grease adds 30 bleed buildup to your weapon, while Drawstring Blood Grease adds 38.
3. Does Blood Grease stack with natural bleed buildup?
Yes, Blood Grease stacks with the weapon’s natural bleed buildup. This makes it particularly effective on weapons that already inflict Hemorrhage.
4. Can you stack Bloodflame Blade and Blood Grease?
Yes, Bloodflame Blade and Blood Grease can stack, but Bloodflame Blade is an incantation, while Blood Grease is a consumable. Only one type of each can be active at a time.
5. What is the best weapon to use Blood Grease on?
Blood Grease can be used on any buffable weapon, but it is most effective on weapons with innate bleed, such as the Uchigatana or Nagakiba. A greatsword can be a great addition for a bleed build also.
6. Does arcane affect Blood Grease?
Arcane only affects status buildup on weapons that use Arcane for damage scaling. If your weapon doesn’t scale with Arcane, putting points into Arcane won’t increase the bleed buildup from Blood Grease.
7. Why can’t I use Blood Grease?
You can’t use Blood Grease if your weapon has an elemental infusion (like fire or cold) or if it’s upgraded with Somber Stones. The weapon must be able to accept weapon buffs.
8. Is Blood Grease permanent?
No, the effect of Blood Grease is temporary. It lasts for a short time, so you’ll need to reapply it periodically during combat.
9. Is Bloodflame Blade better than Blood Grease?
Bloodflame Blade is generally considered better because it adds more bleed buildup, fire damage, and a damage-over-time effect. However, it requires faith and a sacred seal. Blood Grease is a simpler, requirement-free option.
10. What seal does Bloodflame Blade scale with?
The bleed from Bloodflame Blade scales with Arcane. You need a seal that scales with Arcane, such as the Bloodflame Seal or the Draconic Seal, to maximize its bleed buildup.
11. What is the best katana to dual wield with Rivers of Blood?
It is generally recommended to dual wield the Rivers of Blood katana with either the Uchigatana or Nagakiba, depending on your Strength stat investment.
12. What does Black Grease do?
Black Grease contains molybdenum disulfide and acts as an extreme pressure lubricant, particularly where there is sliding contact between lubricated surfaces. It is used to reduce friction and increase the lifespan of parts, and has nothing to do with the Hemorrhage.
13. Does Bloodflame Blade do fire damage?
Yes, Bloodflame Blade adds fire damage to your weapon and inflicts a damage-over-time effect.
14. How do you get Blackflame Blade?
You get Blackflame Blade by obtaining the Godskin Prayerbook in Stormveil Castle and giving it to an incantation teacher like Brother Corhyn or Miriel. You can then purchase it for 7,500 Runes.
15. Why does Bloodflame Blade not work?
Bloodflame Blade won’t work if you don’t have a sacred seal equipped, don’t meet its stat requirements, lack the required FP, or are using a weapon with an elemental infusion.
Understanding the strategic application of items like Blood Grease can greatly enhance your gameplay experience in Elden Ring. To learn more about the role of play and games in learning check out the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.