Elden Ring: Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed Build

In Elden Ring, few things are as satisfying as wielding a colossal weapon that can obliterate enemies with a single swing. The Bloodfiend's Arm is one such weapon that, when paired with the right build, turns you into a juggernaut capable of destroying everything in your path. This Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed build focuses on maximizing both Strength and Arcane to deal devastating bleed damage, making it a must-try for players looking for a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.

While this build received a slight nerf in a recent patch, the Bloodfiend's Arm remains one of the most powerful weapons in the game. With the right setup and strategy, you'll be able to tear through enemies, bosses, and even fellow Tarnished with the raw power of Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items that enhance your bleed potential.

Starting Class: Bandit

The Bandit class is an excellent choice for the Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed build due to its natural affinity with Arcane and its decent starting Strength. The Bandit comes equipped with a good set of initial stats for this build, allowing you to focus on your offensive capabilities right from the start. The Bandit class also provides you with solid agility, which helps in dodging enemy attacks while you're swinging your heavy weapon.

To optimize the Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed build, you'll need to heavily invest in Arcane for bleed buildup and Strength to ensure your colossal weapon hits like a truck. Endurance is another important stat to focus on, as it will help you manage the heavy weight of the Bloodfiend's Arm and allow for better stamina regeneration, keeping you in the fight longer.

Key Stats: Arcane 50, Strength 60, Endurance 50

For this build, the main stats you want to focus on are:

    Arcane (50): The Arcane stat is essential for maximizing the bleed buildup on enemies. The Bloodfiend's Arm scales heavily with Arcane, so the more you invest in this stat, the faster you can cause Hemorrhage, which will trigger devastating damage over time.

    Strength (60): Strength is the backbone of this build. A colossal weapon like the Bloodfiend's Arm requires a high Strength stat to deal massive damage with each hit. You'll want to reach at least 60 Strength to ensure you can swing the weapon effectively while maximizing its damage output.

    Endurance (50): Endurance is another key stat, as it boosts your stamina and allows you to carry heavy armor and weapons like the Bloodfiend's Arm without becoming sluggish. This stat also helps with your posture when you're taking hits, giving you the resilience you need to stay in the fight.

Essential Items for the Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed Build

The Bloodfiend's Arm is a fearsome weapon on its own, but pairing it with the right Elden Ring Items and armor can make this build truly unstoppable. Here are the key items you'll want to focus on to make the most of this bleed build.

1. Bloodfiend's Arm

The Bloodfiend's Arm is the central weapon for this build. This colossal weapon scales with both Strength and Arcane, making it a perfect match for your stats. The weapon is capable of dealing massive bleed damage, which is enhanced by your Arcane stat.

To obtain the Bloodfiend's Arm, head to the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace. From there, travel east and jump along the cliff edge, following the hollow gravestones until you reach the archway. Continue south until you reach Prospect Town, where you'll need to climb a broken tower and clear out multiple enemies. Note that the Bloodfiend's Arm isn't a guaranteed drop, so you may need to farm the area until you receive the weapon.

2. Rakshasa Armor Set

The Rakshasa Armor Set is perfect for this build, as it provides strong defense while allowing you to deal substantial damage. This armor set enhances your survivability without sacrificing too much mobility, which is important when you're wielding a slow, heavy weapon like the Bloodfiend's Arm. The Rakshasa Armor also boosts your overall damage, helping you get the most out of your Strength and Arcane scaling.

You can find the Rakshasa Armor Set in various locations, but it is often recommended to farm for it as part of your late-game gear progression. Check out guides on how to obtain the set in specific areas or from certain NPCs to improve your loadout.

3. White Mask

The White Mask is an essential Elden Ring Item for any bleed-based build. This helmet increases your damage output whenever blood loss occurs in combat. Given that your primary source of damage is the Hemorrhage effect from Impenetrable Thorns and the Bloodfiend's Arm, the White Mask will substantially boost your total damage output, especially during longer battles where bleed damage builds up over time.

4. Axe Talisman and Two-Handed Sword Talisman

To further increase your damage output, you'll want to equip the Axe Talisman and Two-Handed Sword Talisman. These Elden Ring Items increase the damage of your heavy weapons, making them an excellent pairing with the Bloodfiend's Arm.

    The Axe Talisman boosts the damage of your axe-type weapons (like the Bloodfiend's Arm) by a significant amount, while the Two-Handed Sword Talisman increases the damage of your two-handed weapon attacks. Combining both talismans will amplify the damage you're dealing with each swing, making your bleed buildup even more lethal.

Strategy and Playstyle

With the Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed build, the strategy revolves around managing your stamina, timing your attacks, and utilizing your powerful Elden Ring Items for maximum effect. Here's how you can dominate with this build:

    Manage Stamina: Given the heavy weight of the Bloodfiend's Arm, you'll need to make sure you manage your stamina effectively. Use the Endurance stat to help with stamina regeneration and make sure you're not caught out of position due to running out of stamina.

    Trigger Hemorrhage: Focus on landing successive hits on your enemies to build up Hemorrhage as quickly as possible. Once the bleed effect takes hold, the damage will be massive. The White Mask will ensure that you get the most out of each blood loss trigger.

    Analyze Attack Patterns: Like any heavy weapon build, you'll need to be mindful of your enemy's attack patterns. The Bloodfiend's Arm has a long wind-up time, so avoid overextending yourself. Use your Endurance to maintain mobility and avoid getting hit while attacking.

Conclusion

The Bloodfiend's Arm Bleed build in Elden Ring is all about overwhelming enemies with the raw power of Strength and Arcane scaling, combined with the deadly bleed effects of the Bloodfiend's Arm. With the right Elden Ring Runes, Elden Ring Items, and the correct setup, you can crush enemies and bosses alike with the unstoppable might of this build. Whether you're farming enemies or taking on endgame bosses, this build offers a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that rewards precision and patience.