Elden Ring

Bleed Build Guide

The complete setup for max bleed damage from early game to NG+. Dual curved swords, Seppuku, and Lord of Blood - the exact stats, weapons, and talismans you need to melt every boss.

All Patches
Updated May 2026
Starting Class
Samurai
Primary Stat
Dex / Arcane
Top Weapon
Dual Curved Swords
Key AoW
Seppuku
Phase 1

Early Game Setup (Levels 1-50)

1
Starting Stats and Class
Lv 1-50

Pick Samurai - it starts with the Uchigatana (natural bleed weapon) and solid Dex base. Invest in this priority order:

Vigor
20+
Dexterity
20-30
Arcane
10-20
Endurance
15-18
Mind
15
Strength
Req only
Key decision: Go Dex/Arc hybrid from the start. Arcane boosts bleed buildup significantly mid-game and increases item discovery. Do not dump all points into Arcane early - Vigor and Dex come first for survival.
Early Weapons
  • Start
    Uchigatana
    Starting weapon (Samurai class)
    Solid early bleed katana. Apply Blood affinity and Bloody Slash AoW for safe ranged bleed application.
  • Early
    Reduvia Dagger
    Limgrave - near Bloodstain Site of Grace, dropped by Nerijus
    Excellent early bleed dagger with a ranged projectile AoW that stacks bleed from a safe distance.
  • Get ASAP
    Bloody Slash AoW
    Fort Haight (East Limgrave) - dropped by Godrick Knight
    Apply to your starting Uchigatana. Strong ranged bleed application that carries you through mid-game.
Phase 2

Endgame Build (Levels 80-150+)

2
Target Stats at Level 150
Lv 80-150+
Vigor
40-60
Arcane
45-50
Dexterity
40-60
Endurance
25-30
Mind
15-20
Strength
Req only
Best Weapons
  • Best
    Dual Scavenger's Curved Swords + Seppuku
    Mount Gelmir - near Grafted Scion
    Powerstance jump L1 and running L1 attacks proc bleed extremely fast. Apply Seppuku to both. Blood affinity. The fastest bleed stack in the game.
  • Alt
    Rivers of Blood
    Mountaintops of the Giants - Church of Repose (dropped by Bloody Finger Okina)
    Great unique AoW even post-nerf. Strong ranged bleed application. Good for bosses where you need distance.
  • Alt
    Eleonora's Poleblade
    Second Church of Marika (Altus Plateau) - dropped by Eleonora
    Fast twinblade with built-in bleed AoW. Strong multi-hit combo that stacks bleed quickly on stationary targets.
  • Early Alt
    Bloodhound's Fang
    Forlorn Hound Evergaol (Limgrave) - defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
    Strong early greatsword option with an excellent AoW. Carries you through mid-game before getting Scavenger's Curved Swords.
Core Synergy

Talismans

Lord of Blood's Exultation
Leyndell Catacombs
+20% attack power after nearby bleed proc. Core to the build - triggers constantly with dual swords.
Rotten Winged Sword Insignia
Millicent questline reward
Successive attack damage boost. Stacks rapidly during powerstance L1 spam.
Shard of Alexander
Alexander questline reward
+15% Ash of War damage. Boosts Seppuku and any AoW usage significantly.
Claw Talisman
Stormveil Castle ramparts
+15% jump attack damage. Powerstance jump L1 is your primary attack - this is nearly always BiS.
Armor and Buffs

Armor and Pre-Fight Buffs

Armor

White Mask (Mohgwyn Palace - three Sanguine Noble knights) - boosts attack power after any nearby bleed proc. Combines with Lord of Blood's Exultation for a massive attack burst.

Pair with a medium poise set (Ronin armor or Bull-Goat pieces for slots) to avoid being interrupted during jump attack chains. Aim for medium roll while maintaining poise threshold.

Pre-Fight Rotation

  • Use Seppuku on both weapons before entering the fight. Takes some HP but triggers Lord of Blood immediately and gives flat bleed bonus.
  • Cast Golden Vow incantation if you have the Faith - standard attack and defense boost for all encounters.
  • Wondrous Physick: Thorny Cracked Tear (successive attack bonus) + Leaden Hardtear (poise boost) is the standard setup.
  • If you have spare Faith: Bloodflame Blade on your main weapon for extra buildup stacking per hit.
Execution

Playstyle and Attack Pattern

Aggressive close-range: No shield. Close the gap fast, then spam powerstance jump L1 or running L1. These multi-hit attacks stack bleed in 2-3 hits on most enemies.

After the first bleed proc triggers, Lord of Blood's Exultation and White Mask both activate simultaneously - you deal significantly more damage on the next chain. Continue attacking immediately to capitalize on the window.

Bleed-immune bosses: Swap to a cold-infused or occult weapon kept in a second slot. Stone-skinned enemies (Ancient Dragons, some late Legacy Dungeon bosses) resist bleed - have a physical damage backup.

Decision Points

Key Choices

Early vs late Arcane investment: Invest enough Arcane for discovery and some buildup early (10-15), but push Vigor and Dex first. Full Arcane investment comes at Lv 100+.
Curved swords vs unique AoW weapons: Dual curved swords for fastest bleed stack and general use. Rivers of Blood or Bloodhound's Fang for specific boss fights or playstyle preference.
Rotten Winged Sword vs Millicent's Prosthesis: Both provide successive attack buffs. Millicent's also gives +5 Dex. Complete Millicent's full questline for the Prosthesis - otherwise take Rotten Winged.
NG+ planning: You can now farm duplicate weapons for true dual-wield (same weapon in both hands for maximum buildup). The difference is noticeable against NG+ health pools.
What to Avoid

Common Mistakes

  • xOver-investing Arcane too early. You die more and deal less damage than just stacking Vigor and Dex first.
  • xUsing slow weapons that cannot stack bleed before enemies punish your openings. Speed is the whole point.
  • xForgetting to use Seppuku before fights. It is your biggest single damage boost and most players skip it.
  • xLight rolling for dodge speed. Medium roll is fine and poise prevents getting staggered mid-attack chain.
  • xIgnoring upgrade materials. Somber and regular Smithing Stones are scarce early - prioritize upgrading your main bleed weapon first.
  • xNot powerstancing. Dual-wielding the same weapon family for powerstance L1 almost doubles your bleed buildup speed versus single weapon.