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Unveiling the Best Bleed Weapon in Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide

The Lands Between are rife with dangers, and to survive, a Tarnished must master the art of combat. For those who favor swift strikes and devastating status effects, bleed builds offer a powerful path to victory. But with so many weapons vying for attention, which reigns supreme as the best bleed weapon in Elden Ring? While the answer can be subjective and depend on your playstyle, the Rivers of Blood katana remains a top contender due to its ease of use, high bleed buildup, and powerful weapon skill, even after being nerfed. However, other weapons can compete depending on different playstyles and preferred weapon types, which we will explore in depth.

Diving Deep into the World of Bleed

Before we dissect individual weapons, it’s crucial to understand what makes a bleed weapon effective in Elden Ring. The Blood Loss status effect inflicts massive percentage-based damage upon triggering, making it incredibly potent against both regular enemies and bosses with high health pools. Several factors contribute to a weapon’s bleed potential:

Base Bleed Buildup: Some weapons inherently possess the Hemorrhage effect, with a specific value dictating how much bleed is applied per hit.
Arcane Scaling: Many bleed weapons scale with the Arcane stat. Increasing Arcane directly boosts the bleed buildup applied with each attack, leading to faster procs.
Weapon Skill: Certain weapon skills can rapidly apply bleed, overwhelming enemies with multiple hits in quick succession.
Weapon Type: The weapon type determines the speed of attacks and the potential for powerstancing (dual-wielding), both of which significantly impact bleed application.
Infusion: Many weapons, especially those that don’t inherently apply bleed, can be infused with the Blood Affinity using Ashes of War. This adds bleed buildup but often alters the weapon’s scaling.

Top Bleed Weapon Contenders

The Reigning Champion: Rivers of Blood

The Rivers of Blood katana is arguably the most popular and highly debated bleed weapon in Elden Ring. Its unique weapon skill, Corpse Piler, unleashes a flurry of slashes that inflict both physical and fire damage while rapidly building up bleed. Even after a nerf to its damage and range, it remains a formidable choice due to its speed and ease of use.

Pros: High bleed buildup, rapid attacks with Corpse Piler, fire damage for additional scaling.
Cons: Can become predictable in PvP, requires investment in both Dexterity and Arcane.

The Dual-Wield Dynamo: Scavenger’s Curved Swords

Dual-wielding Scavenger’s Curved Swords offers an aggressive and highly effective approach to bleed builds. These swords naturally possess bleed buildup, and their curved sword moveset allows for rapid attacks and jump attacks that can quickly trigger Blood Loss.

Pros: Excellent bleed buildup when dual-wielded, fast and versatile moveset, relatively easy to acquire.
Cons: Requires acquiring two copies of the weapon, relies on aggressive playstyle.

The Arcane Powerhouse: Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear stands out as a unique bleed weapon due to its exceptional Arcane scaling and powerful weapon skill, Bloodboon Ritual. This skill unleashes a wave of bloodflame that damages enemies and inflicts bleed, making it particularly effective against groups.

Pros: Exceptional Arcane scaling, powerful AoE weapon skill, can inflict both bleed and fire damage.
Cons: Requires defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood, heavier investment in Arcane.

The Agile Assassin: Hookclaws

For players who prefer a fast and nimble approach, the Hookclaws are an excellent choice. These weapons possess high bleed buildup and their claw moveset allows for extremely rapid attacks, overwhelming enemies with a flurry of strikes.

Pros: Fastest bleed buildup potential, highly mobile moveset, low stat requirements.
Cons: Short range, requires aggressive playstyle.

The Unexpected Threat: Hoslow’s Petal Whip and Thorned Whip

Whips are often overlooked in Elden Ring, but Hoslow’s Petal Whip and Thorned Whip can be surprisingly effective bleed weapons. Their long range, combined with their ability to inflict bleed, allows players to maintain a safe distance while rapidly building up Blood Loss.

Pros: Long range, fast strikes, safe playstyle.
Cons: Lower raw damage output compared to other bleed weapons, less effective against heavily armored opponents.

Honorable Mentions

Reduvia: A dagger with a unique ranged weapon skill that inflicts bleed. A great early-game option.
Bloodhound’s Fang: A curved greatsword with innate bleed and a strong weapon skill. Good for Strength/Dexterity builds.
Eleonora’s Poleblade: A twinblade with bleed and a unique weapon skill that deals both physical and fire damage.

Optimizing Your Bleed Build

Regardless of the weapon you choose, maximizing your bleed potential requires careful consideration of your stats, talismans, and armor.

Stats: Prioritize Dexterity and Arcane. Dexterity increases your attack speed and damage, while Arcane boosts bleed buildup.
Talismans: The Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman increases your attack power after Blood Loss is inflicted. The Marika’s Soreseal can boost Arcane, but increases damage taken.
Armor: The White Mask increases your attack power for a short time after inflicting Blood Loss.
Ashes of War: Applying the Blood Affinity to a weapon using an Ash of War can add or increase bleed buildup, but be mindful of stat scaling changes.
Incantations and Consumables: The Bloodflame Blade incantation adds fire damage and bleed buildup to your weapon. Blood Grease can temporarily increase bleed buildup.

Conclusion: The Path to Blood-Soaked Victory

Ultimately, the “best” bleed weapon in Elden Ring is the one that best suits your individual playstyle and preferences. While the Rivers of Blood remains a popular and effective choice, exploring other options like the Scavenger’s Curved Swords, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, and Hookclaws can lead to unique and rewarding builds. By understanding the mechanics of bleed, optimizing your stats and equipment, and experimenting with different weapons, you can unleash the full potential of Blood Loss and carve your own path to victory in the Lands Between. Remember to explore the vibrant community and resources available, such as the Games Learning Society, to further enhance your understanding of game mechanics and strategies. You can find more about them at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bleed Builds in Elden Ring

1. Is bleed still good in Elden Ring after the nerfs?

Yes! While some bleed weapons, like Rivers of Blood, have been nerfed, bleed builds remain incredibly powerful in Elden Ring. The percentage-based damage inflicted by Blood Loss is effective against a wide range of enemies and bosses, even in the late game.

2. Does Arcane increase bleed damage?

Arcane primarily increases bleed buildup, not the damage inflicted by Blood Loss itself. Higher Arcane means you apply more bleed with each hit, leading to faster and more frequent Blood Loss procs.

3. What’s the best starting class for a bleed build?

The Bandit and Samurai are both excellent starting classes for bleed builds. The Bandit starts with higher Arcane, while the Samurai begins with the Uchigatana and higher Dexterity.

4. How do I increase my bleed buildup speed?

Increase your Arcane stat, use weapons with high base bleed buildup, dual-wield weapons, and utilize weapon skills that rapidly apply bleed. Consumables like Blood Grease can also temporarily boost bleed buildup.

5. What are the best talismans for a bleed build?

Lord of Blood’s Exultation (increases attack power after Blood Loss), Marika’s Soreseal (increases Arcane, Mind, Intelligence and Faith, but increases damage taken), and talismans that boost attack power or Dexterity are all beneficial.

6. Is it better to dual-wield bleed weapons?

Dual-wielding bleed weapons significantly increases bleed buildup speed, as you’re applying bleed with both weapons simultaneously. This is particularly effective with curved swords like the Scavenger’s Curved Sword.

7. What’s the best Ash of War for a bleed build?

The Blood Affinity Ash of War allows you to add bleed buildup to weapons that don’t naturally have it. Seppuku is a popular choice that adds a significant amount of bleed buildup, but sacrifices HP.

8. What armor should I wear for a bleed build?

The White Mask is highly recommended, as it increases your attack power for a short time after inflicting Blood Loss.

9. Does bleed work on all bosses?

While bleed is effective against many bosses, some are highly resistant or immune to Blood Loss. Experimentation and adaptability are key.

10. What are the best weapons to pair with Rivers of Blood?

The Uchigatana and Nagakiba are popular choices for dual-wielding with Rivers of Blood. The Nagakiba requires more Strength investment.

11. Is Bleed better than Frostbite?

Both bleed and Frostbite are powerful status effects. Bleed inflicts a large burst of damage, while Frostbite reduces enemy defenses and inflicts damage. Which is better depends on the enemy and your build.

12. How much Arcane should I level for a bleed build?

Aim for at least 50-60 Arcane to significantly boost your bleed buildup. You can invest more if your weapon scales heavily with Arcane.

13. Can I add bleed to any weapon?

Many weapons can be infused with the Blood Affinity using Ashes of War, adding bleed buildup. However, some weapons cannot be infused.

14. Is poison viable in Elden Ring?

While it can be useful in certain situations, poison is generally less effective than bleed due to its lower damage output and slower application.

15. Where can I find more information about Elden Ring builds and strategies?

The Elden Ring community is vast and active. Websites like the Games Learning Society and various online forums and wikis offer valuable information, build guides, and strategies. The Games Learning Society can be found here: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

What’s the best bleed weapon in Elden Ring?