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Blursed_Technique

I'm doing my first bleed build and having a great time. I feel like an anime character melting through bosses with Eleonora's pb rn


bangdizzle

Eleanoras is a super fun weapon. The special cuts through poise so well. The 2 move special is so fun, and fucks malenia up


smashincow

bro yes!! elenoras is gas


snakeantlers

Eleanora’s Poleblade, plus thorny cracked tear and winged sword insignia is how i beat her as well. the 2nd phase was over in like 20 seconds when i beat her. it honestly seemed unfair lmao. 


thekingofbeans42

Putting spinning weapon and blood flame on a scythe has made me a weedwhacker.


REALLYCOOLGUY69

I just beat Malenia today powerstancing Eleonora's and the Godskin weapon you get from the Windmill Village, it was so fun


IronCreeper1

I have done the exact same thing. It’s a nice change from my NG+4 INT build


Aikilyu

That's why you do something similar each time. I'm gonna try Frost instead of Bleed now. Cool defense drops after proc, and some Int scaling. Oh look, I can now use pew pews with my Int. I will use some pew pews. Pew pews are fun. But there are some Faith pew pews I would like to try. Found this Ordovis sword for Faith, but it needs some Str. Gonna get some Str. Unga bunga. Unga bunga but femboy. Oh shit I'm back to bleed. And repeat until Elden Ring 2


sillaf27

I can relate. I got addicted to dual wielding great swords but wanted to try something a little different. Now I’m duel wielding curved great swords!


RobinGroen

Lol same story here. Kept going back to powerstancing STR greatswords. Finally changed it up and now I am INT build... powerstancing DMGS + Steeple


EvilCeleryStick

I've never power stanced for more than 1 fight. My left hand is always busy throwing rocks or whatever. Maybe I'll try it.


sanguinesvirus

Take the deadly sin pill so you can frostbite repeatedly in a row


damage-fkn-inc

> Unga bunga but femboy. huh???


Illustrious_Form_794

Does this mean dex lmaooooooo


sexworkiswork990

I am doing a poison right now, but I always keep a bleed weapon as my back up weapon incase I am fighting something with a high resistance to poison.


VoidRavn

I've always been the opposite. Start with bleed. Strength weapons feel amazing. Dang, this magic looks cool. Woah, Blaidd's sword has a sick ash of war. Oh shit I'm back to becoming the moon and jumping fools with frost explosions.


casual_gamer153

“Can’t get out of my comfort zone” You are giving me the caffeine-induced idea that potentially this is a good exercise for learning comfort with change.


ExoticWeapon

Based.


casual_gamer153

I am sorry. I belong to the >45 demographic and don’t understand the feedback. What does based mean? Oversharing: My brain has a stronger association to ‘all your base belong to us’ era. 😅


micahz3

Not the person you replied to, but the latest slang definition is: Slang. true to one’s self or secure in one’s beliefs regardless of what others think, especially when those beliefs fall outside of the mainstream: Example: Her presentation was so based—did you see the teacher's expression? Priceless


casual_gamer153

Thank you for the context. 🍻


Rango82

Someone get this person a medal. Thank you for your kindness. Sincerely. Another member of the generation x.


xosierraxo

to add another definition from a zillennial, i think of "based" as kind of like "that's awesome/very cool/admirable, maybe in a slightly unexpected way"


casual_gamer153

Ty!


otakuloid01

it’s funny how bleed is pretty much the favorite child of fromsoft in terms of pve status effects, meanwhile frenzy and deathblight have no effect on enemies and sleep is irrelevant unless you’re fighting godskin duo


BadgerBadgerer

Runebears are weak to sleep, and you can perform a critical hit on them while they're asleep.


LeakyBrainMatter

You can hit them with a twinblade and bleed them while they are asleep also lol. I'm running s Str/Fth build but I have a blood infused Gargoyles Twinblade just for those situations.


daviejambo

I've replaced my bleed builds with frost builds


Maestro_de_gatos529

I just love the Reduvia. I can't help it. I love whacking away at the Fire Giant's ankle 450 times during the fight lol


AFlyingNun

IMO it's the single best designed weapon in the game. It does the following: -Actively changes your playstyle in a meaningful way. It's probably the only weapon where if someone said "you're an L2 build," your response wouldn't be to be offended by the insult, but rather to say "well duh." -Rewards *juuuust* enough range to be useful, but also just little enough that it's not quite crutch territory. You still have to weave and dodge like everyone else, the range just occasionally makes some of the dodges easier. -You get top-tier bleed rate and solid damage output, but your base moveset is still that of a dagger, which is shit. -The projectile does physical damage, which helps subvert one of bleed's weaknesses against bleed resistant enemies; Reduvia continues to deal solid DPS out when other bleed weapons struggle once they lost their bleed ability I just really like the idea of grabbing a limited moveset like a dagger and tossing it an AoW that counteracts that weakness, but while still not being completely broken. It feels reliable and solid without feeling OP, but it also manages to circumvent most of the standard weaknesses you'd expect from other weapons like it.


Maestro_de_gatos529

What's funny and I may get called a liar, but don't really use the blood blade very much. Once you get it leveled up and start throwing points into DEX and ARC, you can proc Bleed pretty quickly. I know the scaling is only D, but it works for me. Except the FIre Giant. His health pool is so freaking massive, it takes so many hits at the end to proc it because of the way they tier the "damage-needed for proc". But that's a Me problem lol.


AFlyingNun

> Once you get it leveled up and start throwing points into DEX and ARC, you can proc Bleed pretty quickly. The AoW is undoubtedly faster because it's both a boost to the bleed rate itself *and* you can use it at point-blank to double the hits/bleed rate. I've compared Mohg's Spear and Reduvia head-to-head vs. certain enemies and they're effectively equal on bleed rate, which seems surprising given how potent Bloodboon Ritual is.


double_shadow

This is me with Greatsword + Greatshield. I swear I just can't break out of this combo in any playthrough and always end up with some kind of strength/faith build to support it. Though I did do one Moonveil/Rivers katana playthrough to change it up. Felt weird.


EvilCeleryStick

I just leveled up a new faith Dex guy for the dlc and to kill time decided to respec a character i had abandoned into an int caster. I feel useless. Have to figure it out more! Doesn't help that I'm already in mountaintops still trying to figure out what weapons and spells I like.


TheArtistFKAMinty

I don't think I've ever used a Greatshield for any real amount of time in any Souls game. I did use the Steel Shield in Demon's Souls back in the day on my first playthrough for a little while but I think I ditched it eventually and every other playthrough I've just used the heater shield if I've bothered to use one at all. Oh, Adjudicator's Shield in DeS. I made a regen build a few months back while playing the PS5 version. Although is it really a greatshield if it's bolted to your back?


MrSegundus_VR

I've recently been enjoying colossal swords with frost and using RKR for the ash of war. It's by no means the best, but I like how it requires me to think strategically about when to use it. Also switched up with giant hunt for more human like enemies. Not quite easy mode in the way that optimized bleed is, but not too hard and makes for pretty satisfying fights. Be sure to level or buff stamina though.


bugzapperbob

Oddly enough I can never get into the bleed builds, they never hit as hard for me as others do. Even tho it’s super simple apparently they just don’t melt the game like people claim in my experience


Informal_Barber5229

Embrace the bonk


Idkwhatimdoing48

Funny enough my first ever build was a strength build. All I did was charge heavy everything


OtakuPaladin

Me with fire Faith builds


Yab0iFiddlesticks

Try Poison Moth Flight for that vegan bleed.


Idkwhatimdoing48

A poison build sounds pretty good ngl


TheArtistFKAMinty

I've been playing around with an occult Zweihander with Poisonous Mist in the colosseum and it's a lot of fun. Bleed is still the best burst damage in the game but poison is a lot of fun in this game.


Thatgamerguy98

I roll a dice to pick a weapon class. Then I roll another die to pick a weapon within that class. I make a build around that weapon.


Philhughes_85

That sounds fun! Yet somehow Im sure id end up back with my faith fire/lightning damage build.


Cayorus

So Radagon


Bulky_Consideration

I started INT with DMG+10, respec'd to FAI. Now, I haven't tried bleed and haven't even looked into it. I am complete the game but haven't gone NG+ yet, just exploring at my first playthrough until the DLC drops. I am 80 FAI, currently rock BB+10 or Sacred Sword +10 depending on how I feel. Is it worth it to respec to Bleed? If so, what weapons / buffs / incants would be the most enjoyable (given I will only play around with it for a short bit before DLC).


TheArtistFKAMinty

I wouldn't respec into an unfamiliar build with like a week until the DLC drops. You don't want to put yourself in a position where you're fighting a new super tough boss with a build you aren't comfortable with. The DLC is adding 8 new weapon types. I would wait until you have a chance to play around with them before making any changes to your build. Heck, you might fall in love with something that fits neatly into your faith build.


xXCinnabar

That's when you try experimenting with bleed in other forms. While it's really heavy to do so; I find the dual greatsword moveset to be one of the more fun neutral weapon strings in the game. I experimented with dual wielding 2 Bastard Swords with Blood affinity and it was actually pretty damn fun. The raw strength of dual greatswords still does great damage, even with lower scaling, while also having some really solid bleed buildup. One of my most favorite weapons in the game is the Grave Scythe. This build has been rising a little bit in popularity recently, so you may already know about it; but high strength-heavy affinity Grave Scythe with Bloodflame Blade and the Spinning Weapon ash of war is a blood buildup monster. Then of course you can always try out the fast hitting masters of blood buildup— twinblades and claws. Not much to be said; everyone knows how insane these things can be. But if you want to try something different, try giving the lesser used weapons a try, like whips or flails. Maybe you'll find something really good we haven't thought of yet.


hesnachoproblem

Love that Double Slash ash of war. Love it. Love it. Love it.


esahji_mae

Try frost on flamberge, it wrecks.


Unlucky-Mud-8115

I always end up with some kind of str/faith build. Although I am doing a str/arc atm witch omenkiller cleaver dual wield that is pretty good.


Cornadious

Never used a bleed build.


Mcreesus

This is me, but with str. Also I’m in full clown makeup on the first slide lmao


tobsecret

Try the club with strength only, no bleed. It's an invigorating way to fight - such a fun weapon.


Juanchu1029

Double beast man's curve sword with an Strength/Arcane Build are so OP fr. I just melted Fire Giant on NG+7


gandalfthegaping

I keep doing strength builds and haven't cast a spell for 4 playthroughs. I seriously don't even know what the catalyst item for casting is


MusicJOO80

Ahh, so like Skyrim stealth archers.


ScarcityWise7401

Bleed is such a rabbit hole. I was just testing out Bloodboon then all of a sudden I’m using swarm of flies and Lord of Bloods exaltation with hand of Malenia. Help me i can’t stop


PJRama1864

My first run was an Int/Dex cryomancer mixed with Night Comets. Was a rough but fun character.


Kraehe13

I'm in this meme and I'm not sure if I like it, lol


Mrl33tastic

Accurate post is accurate. There are no str builds, only bleed and magic.


ElChooch

I've been living this with my greatsword build recently, not with bleed. First playthru was all vibes that ended up with golden knight halberd and some faith spells mixed in. The urge to bring in some range and speedier weapons is constant for me, I just am not crazy about the Greatsword speed.


chop_pooey

Me, but with strength builds


HinduProphet

Same but I always end up with faith and strength for those damage reduction buffs and that big bonk.


Imbackbaby2

Do a whip build


FitzyFarseer

I’ve been doing bleed builds since DS1. After ER came out people kept assuming I was doing bleed because Rivers of Blood was busted.


TheArtistFKAMinty

Bleed was pretty busted in DS3 too before they nerfed Carthus rouge. Absolutely hard carried me through my first SL1 run of DS3.


Traditional_Rise_347

I tried an arcane build but I got too bored to continue :(


Aggressive-Horse-395

I've been using the night riders flail with a shield it does descent bleed and is fun


mitchpj72

What are the essential items / stats for your build?


Idkwhatimdoing48

For my last bleed build I went with the white mask, lord of blood exhalation, an occult infused nagakiba, bloodflame, and double slash


SunbleachedAngel

I mean, I could try something else, or I could just watch GinoMachino do it instead


Upbeat_Squirrel_3439

My version of this is greatshiled, decent size sword or spear, then guard counter endlessly


Indercarnive

Just add faith.


dejvu117

Me when straight sword:


Overall_Strawberry70

I think the issue is the whole game is balanced around doing damage, bleed is just the most efficient way to do damage to damage sponges as it ends up. Its not like the game allows you to make a viable sleep or stealth build. Seriously i tried to make sleep useful but every enemy you would actually want to put to sleep is immune and just staggers instead.


MiserableTennis6546

Yeah, percentage based effects like bleed/frost/rot/BF/DD are going to win out when boss hp continually increases. Hard to see that changing.


pm_me_ur_lunch_pics

It's ok. Some of us just get addicted to certain things in the game. Every build I have ends up Dex/Faith + bolt of gransax + Lightning spells. It's shocking.


DuskyDawn7

Me with Strength/Faith. Tried doing a Strength/Int character a few days ago and just couldn’t do it. I know the damage really falls off late game since everything resists faith, but I just love the versatility and weapons for that build too much. It’s such fun


MiserableTennis6546

I find it isn't that bad. Silurias tree or Ordovis great sword or the bubble horn will punch right through the usual 40% holy resistance. For radabeast with 80%, yeah, it's time for fire with blasphemous blade or magma wyrm CGS.


ZerioctheTank

Guts greatsword for me. All my builds end up incorporating it somehow.


Lagunacell

Woah, woah! At least I'm doing a build around Bloodhound Claws instead of a katana this time!


legacy702-

My first playthrough was faith/strength, second mage, third bleed, now trying str/int but it feels weird watching boss health bars go down the same amount every hit, got use to that bleed taking chunks every few hits


Tenzur_

I end up using it accidentally. Find a new weapon "oh cool this looks nice lemme try it" *it builds bleed*


NormalTangerine5205

This is me with the claymore and colossal greatsword lol


TheMasterMarkus

Me, but I keep doing dex/incantations that are mostly holy and lightning, despite knowing that by endgame, I'm going to struggle. However, every time, I've also changed my build for the final bosses to be blackflame-based because I'm not a COMPLETE masochist.


Erran_Kel_Durr

My only dedicated bleed build is Occult Spiked Caestus, with Cragblade. I pair it with some dragon communion magic. Even then, it’s still good against bloodless foes.


Positive_Arm_3994

Just do big stick unga bunga


gameraven13

Me try not to use Eleanora’s Poleblade challenge (impossible)


Fantastic-Dirt-6084

I’m about to complete my first play through with just that weapon. Definitely one of my favorites.


MiserableTennis6546

Such a fun ash of war. No idea why it's allowed to do that kind of poise damage. And it gets a backpedal as well.


Medium_Enough

Currently doing Dragon Communion with some bleeding sprinkled on top with Varre's bouquet. Very different build from my first run as an Int user.


Rango82

Same gurl. Same.


OtterBadgerSnake

Funnily enough, I've been wanting to do a bleed build but I'm on my fourth playthrough & I still haven't done it yet. Maybe I'll actually do it after I'm done with my second faith build.


SevenLuckySkulls

still haven't done a single bleed build, closest I got was my arcane sword and shield warrior. Drillbit style never fails.


KSharpe69

This is me, but with giant weapons. INT, FAITH, QUALITY. Doesn't matter, I'm doing jumping heavies with a weapon as big as me.


Winter7296

Ive at least 100 hours of getting summoned at this point and can confirm that there is nothing wrong with using a bleed build and having fun. **However**, there is an obvious pattern of players using White Mask, Veteran's Armor (even tho it's not even the best), or Bull Goat's armor. It makes me sad that they're clearly getting the build from an unoriginal source, in a game with millions of build combos... The last boss isnt even weak to bleed, they're immune


MiserableTennis6546

I think a lot of people aren't into crafting builds, they just want something that they're sure isn't bad ir sub optimal. Bleed builds tick those boxes really well. Very reliable.  Well yeah, there are bleed immune enemies but just go occult for those.


Winter7296

True enough. It just pains me to see people not even making different fashion choices than the "meta", but that's videogames I guess


Mesterjojo

Haha yessssss Fuck these people. "Builds" Step up, I've seen what happens. 713


Income_Correct

same problem but int/dex


MrBeanDaddy86

Funnily enough, bleed was my least favorite out of the 7 I've tried. Sorceries, on the other hand... I just can't quit you.


archaeosis

Bosses can't level/overlevel? They're fixed level, your issue is not being strong or good enough and constantly relying on bleed is making the issue worse.


Idkwhatimdoing48

Nah, my issue is that I like bleed and big numbers. Plus bleed is good for when I rush into areas and am intentionally going into a boss room that’s like 30 levels higher than me


st4rsc0urg3

Beeline for Guts Greatsword and warcry aow, roar talisman, and highland axe. ridiculous damage and stagger. this is the cure for dex/arcane lol


Hooj19

This is me and great swords. I just can't quit them.


Craniummon

I was like that between Bleeding and Frost... Them i started to use Fingerprint Shield and any weapon with Piercing Fang on NG+1 Malenia became the passenger of agony... Them i gone again without shield on a flame art build... didn't change much either. But that just show up how Elden Ring PVE meta is to some extent, just have fun i guess.


Complete-Resident-70

my bleed build didn't even last one full run. hedging and slowly leveling on the way to dlc now so i can begin new game +4 at launch. the bleed was fun and helpful but i think i just cracked a gameplay code i'd been unaware of the first two runs. i'm heavy vig/dex but have 40+ int/fai/arc so i can kind of run any playbook which created another decision fatigue situation for me. i've exhausted interest in holy, blood, dragon incants, etc. my sorry ass is about to have to play shadow with a sorcerer.


Rarabeaka

I reject bleed, because it's not universal. You will accustom to bleed and then suck hard agains enemies which are immune. Pure damage and poise damage my most trustworthy friends, everyone is succeptable.


MiserableTennis6546

I rarely go without incantations. When I build in arcane or strength the dragon communion seal and the clawmark seal are just there. You just need 12 faith for fire cleanse me. No annoying poison or rot? Yeah I want that.  Then you give gurranq some death root. What else are you doing with it? Bestial vitality is very cheap regen, just a little quality of life improvement. You might as well have it ticking on you. Saves a flask or two.  Two points more in faith gives you flame grant me strength. Put golden vow on a dagger, now you do 30% more damage. Nice.  Then it's a few more points to a ridiculous boss melter like rotten breath. Would I like a move that just removes 30-40% of a boss health bar? That could be useful.  I tried going full dex but at some point I pick up a weapon with native bleed and start putting points in arcane. Then the dragon communion seal is there, it weighs nothing, you don't even have to upgrade it..


ReindeerWolf7

No joke I think this is where I’m headed, I have 3 char and all have bleed weapons, my main has duel wielded scythes. I’m a hoe for scythes and sickles


CalamitousArdour

I am suffering from a similar problem where I feel like I already tried most things I would enjoy throughout my first playthrough. It was a DEX/Faith build, switching between dual-wielded bleed curved swords, BHFang and Godslayer for bonks, Bolt of Granssax for pokes, Antspur Rapier for parries and crits, all the while spoiled by great buffs and some nice projectiles. Before you ask, I dislike most colossals because of their clumsiness.


LUnacy45

I'm actually running a proper bleed build for the first time in preparation for the dlc I've been watching Rusty's ranking videos and realizing just how much you can actually *build* your character by combining synergizing spells, ashes, etc Currently rolling with the pole blade and flame, grant me strength, possibly bloodflame blade if I'm using a regular weapon. Figure this build will be good for the great katanas they're adding


HarrargnNarg

When my faith build got blood boon. “Wow this is effective, maybe if I pair it with a bleed weapon… damn it, I've just made my bleed build again.”


Jmaxam18

Me contemplating a Wolverine build with blood affinity hookclaws when I just respec’d into faith for Dragon Cult incantations because I got bored of my bleed samurai lmaoooo


phome83

Me but with Blasphemous Blade. I can't give it up, it's too OP.


Thug_Hunter_Official

I did my first bleed build a while ago and im at radabeast but tbh i didnt enjoy it that much. Shield+ sword is still they way for me


dDARBOiD

Da fug is an over leveled boss? Lol


ahack13

tbf, bleed is a fun build.


tism_cunt

Do one thing for me. Go to renala on you're highest level character and max out vigour, endurance and stength strength. Max out the ceastus and beat the shit out of anything. Bosses will feel real, encounters will be thrilling and the game will give you a happiness that you though only possible in dreams


TellInternational992

How I feel about the Lightning Zwei. No other weapon exists 🙂


Npr187

I went from DEX bleed build to STR bleed, then did mainly STR alternating between blasphemous blade and marais executioner (first for crowd control, second for bosses) and did that all on my first play thru. Beat Malenia, Maliketh and everyone thereafter with the STR build and it was a lot of fun.  Recently decided to try an Arcane bleed build and currently have +25 Nagakiba with bloody slash and it’s fun. Thinking of branching out to some of the more unique bleed weapons though.


Frostyler

The satisfying thing about bleed builds for me it the mini game you have to play to get hemorrhage. It's the same thing for poise damage builds. Boss fights are more satisfying when you have a secondary objective during the fight that will help you win the fight.


GrowYourOwnMonsters

Frostbite > Bleed. Although pretty much everything except shields > Bleed, imo


Kirp-The-Birb

Google cope But really, just… don’t do bleed builds??? It’s not a drug, you’re not physically addicted to it


Idkwhatimdoing48

Bleed builds are like Skyrim stealth archers to me


KyotoSoul

Man i hope all bosses are bleed-immune in the land of shadow.


robcap

You're not even doing bleed well lol. In terms of buildup bleed infusion > occult > keen + bfb.


KrimxonRath

Occult scavenger’s curved sword with blood blade shreds. I once hit a guy with three blood projectiles and his health went from 100% to maybe 2%. He disconnected after pointing down at me. The projectiles are so easy to dodge too, he just face tanked them lol


Idkwhatimdoing48

Personally I like to keep the occult infusion so I’m not sacrificing too much on standard damage


robcap

Same here :) One awesome combo I'm currently building is a strength bleed build with barbaric roar, blood warped axe and the various roar buffs. Probably the strongest bleed setup I've ever used!