What is the Strongest Bleed Weapon in Elden Ring 2023?
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The question of the strongest bleed weapon in Elden Ring is a complex one, with no single definitive answer. However, considering the post-patch landscape of late 2023, a combination of factors points towards dual-wielded Scavenger’s Curved Swords infused with the Seppuku Ash of War as arguably the most devastating bleed build option available. While other weapons can certainly inflict high bleed damage, the sheer speed, versatility, and incredible bleed buildup potential of this setup puts it a step above the rest in many scenarios.
The Power of Dual Scavenger’s Curved Swords with Seppuku
Why Dual Wielding?
Dual-wielding curved swords in Elden Ring provides a substantial boost to damage and status buildup when performing a jumping L1 attack. This attack hits multiple times, rapidly applying bleed and staggering enemies. The Scavenger’s Curved Sword, with its naturally high bleed buildup, is a prime candidate for this playstyle.
Seppuku: The Bleed Catalyst
The Seppuku Ash of War inflicts a significant amount of self-damage to greatly enhance bleed buildup on the weapon. This effect, when applied to both Scavenger’s Curved Swords, creates a bleed-proc powerhouse that can rapidly deplete the health of even the toughest bosses.
Synergistic Arcane Scaling
A critical aspect of this build is the focus on Arcane, which directly increases the bleed buildup per hit. The higher the Arcane stat, the faster you will trigger the bleed status, causing massive chunks of damage with each proc. Additionally, several talismans further enhance the effectiveness of this build.
Outpacing the Competition
While the Rivers of Blood katana was once the king of bleed, it has seen adjustments that put it slightly below the dual-wielded Scavenger’s build. The Rivers of Blood is still incredibly powerful, but the raw, consistent bleed damage output of dual curved swords with Seppuku is hard to match in many combat situations, especially against fast-moving enemies and bosses.
Other Contenders in the Bleed Arena
Despite the dominance of the dual Scavenger’s Curved Swords setup, several other bleed weapons are worth considering.
Rivers of Blood: The Still-Formidable Option
The Rivers of Blood katana, even post-patch, is a very strong contender for best bleed weapon. Its unique weapon art, Corpse Piler, inflicts immense bleed damage in a flurry of attacks. While perhaps not as flexible as the dual-wielding curved swords, the Rivers of Blood remains a powerful option, especially for players who prefer katanas.
Eleonora’s Poleblade: Rapid and Reliable Bleed
Eleonora’s Poleblade is another solid choice. With its unique weapon skill, Bloodblade Dance, it’s known for its quick, multi-hitting attacks that consistently trigger bleed. It’s a versatile option, especially against smaller, more mobile enemies.
Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear: For Arcane Builds
The Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear is favored for its ability to deal fire and physical damage alongside bleed. Its unique weapon skill can be very effective in dealing with groups of enemies, and it fits perfectly into a high-Arcane bleed build.
The Bloodhound’s Fang: A Strong and Accessible Option
The Bloodhound’s Fang is a fantastic curved greatsword for those looking for a balance of bleed and consistent damage output. While it may not reach the raw bleed potential of other weapons, it offers a more accessible playstyle for those new to bleed builds.
Godskin Peeler: The Twinblade Bleed Champion
Dual-wielding Godskin Peelers with blood affinity is a powerhouse that can inflict an extreme amount of bleed build-up. The multi-hit nature of twinblades in conjunction with the bleed modifier on each hit is incredibly powerful for rapid bleed procs.
Building the Ultimate Bleed Character
Key Attributes
The core attributes for an effective bleed build are Arcane, Dexterity, and Vigor. Arcane is the most important, as it directly increases the bleed buildup. Dexterity boosts the attack speed and damage of most bleed-focused weapons. Vigor, as always, is crucial for survivability. Endurance is also important for those dual-wielding builds since they require a higher equip load to function efficiently.
Essential Talismans
Talisman choice can greatly enhance your bleed build. The Lord of Blood’s Exultation is critical, increasing attack power when blood loss occurs. The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia or Millicent’s Prosthesis further enhances damage with successive attacks. Consider using the Shard of Alexander to increase the power of unique weapon skills.
Optimal Playstyle
The key to mastering a bleed build is to aggressively attack and prioritize triggering the bleed status effect. Learning the timing for dodges and parries is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of your weapon’s attacks. Always focus on your Arcane stat and be aware of opportunities to use skills like Seppuku.
Conclusion
In 2023, the strongest bleed weapon isn’t simply one weapon, but rather a combination of dual-wielded Scavenger’s Curved Swords with Seppuku, powered by a high Arcane stat and synergistic talismans. While weapons like Rivers of Blood, Eleonora’s Poleblade, and Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear remain powerful options, the raw potential and adaptability of the dual curved swords make them the most dominant bleed option. Understanding the strengths of these weapons, and building an optimized character for bleed damage, will allow you to unleash the true destructive potential of bleed builds in Elden Ring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best starting class for a bleed build?
The Samurai class is an excellent starting point, as it begins with the Uchigatana, a good early-game bleed weapon. The Hero class also works, thanks to its high base strength for early weapons, but requires you to acquire a bleed weapon quickly.
2. Where can I get the Scavenger’s Curved Sword?
The Scavenger’s Curved Sword can be found in the Mt. Gelmir region, looted from a corpse in a cave near the Hermit Village.
3. How do I get the Seppuku Ash of War?
The Seppuku Ash of War can be obtained from a scarab beetle located in the Mountaintops of the Giants region, near the Freezing Lake Site of Grace.
4. Is the Rivers of Blood still good after the patch?
Yes, the Rivers of Blood remains a strong weapon post-patch, though it’s not as overwhelmingly dominant as it once was. It’s still a very viable choice for a bleed build.
5. How much Arcane do I need for a bleed build?
Aim for at least 60 Arcane to maximize bleed buildup potential. You may consider going higher if you are aiming for maximum potential.
6. What is the best talisman for a bleed build?
The Lord of Blood’s Exultation is the most important talisman for bleed builds, as it increases attack power when blood loss occurs in the area. The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and Millicent’s Prosthesis are excellent follow-ups for sustained damage.
7. Can you dual wield Rivers of Blood?
While you can dual wield Rivers of Blood, it isn’t the most optimal choice. Using a secondary weapon that allows you to apply a different damage type alongside it often yields more benefit in terms of strategic combat.
8. Is the Uchigatana a good early-game bleed weapon?
Yes, the Uchigatana is an excellent early-game bleed weapon, readily available as the Samurai’s starting weapon, and easily obtainable in Limgrave.
9. Does Arcane increase bleed buildup on Moonveil?
Yes, Arcane directly increases the bleed buildup of the Moonveil katana. However, Moonveil primarily scales with Intelligence, so the increase isn’t as significant as on pure bleed weapons.
10. Is the Bloodhound’s Fang a good bleed weapon?
Yes, the Bloodhound’s Fang is a strong curved greatsword that provides a good balance of damage and bleed buildup, especially for those new to bleed builds.
11. What’s the best way to maximize bleed damage against bosses?
Using Seppuku along with the Lord of Blood’s Exultation is a great way to maximize bleed damage. Combining this with consistent multi-hit attacks will quickly trigger the bleed status on bosses.
12. Is Blood Grease or Bloodflame Blade useful for bleed builds?
Yes, both Blood Grease and Bloodflame Blade can further enhance bleed buildup on weapons that may not come with bleed naturally. Bloodflame Blade will add additional fire damage as well.
13. Which weapon has the highest critical damage in Elden Ring?
The Misericorde dagger has the highest critical damage modifier of 140, making it ideal for critical attacks and backstabs.
14. Can I parry the Tree Sentinel?
Yes, you can parry many of the Tree Sentinel’s attacks. This is often seen as the preferred method by skilled players. Learning the parry timings will be very useful in defeating this boss early.
15. Is dual wielding Godskin Peelers effective?
Yes, dual-wielding Godskin Peelers with blood affinity is extremely effective for bleed builds. The multi-hit nature of twinblades, when combined with a high Arcane stat, is incredibly powerful for proccing bleed.