Elden Ring Bloodhound's Fang Build - Stats, Weapons, Skills & More

The Bloodhound's Fang is one of the strongest weapons available early in Elden Ring and remains an excellent choice throughout the entire game. It combines high Physical damage, innate Blood Loss buildup, exceptionally strong jumping attacks, and one of the best mobility-focused Unique Skills available on a melee weapon.

Unlike many early-game weapons, Bloodhound's Fang doesn't need to be replaced later. It upgrades with Somber Smithing Stones, scales primarily with Dexterity alongside Strength, and can be obtained before defeating a single major boss.

Its defining feature is Bloodhound's Finesse, a two-part Unique Skill that combines damage, repositioning, and invulnerability.

The first input performs a powerful upward slash before launching you backward away from the enemy. Following it with a Heavy Attack causes you to rapidly dash forward with Bloodhound's Step before delivering another powerful slash.

This follow-up briefly provides invincibility frames, allowing experienced players to use Bloodhound's Finesse not only as an attack, but also to avoid incoming damage while immediately retaliating.

Bloodhound's Fang also has unusually powerful jumping attacks. Its jumping attacks have higher motion values than normal Curved Greatswords, making jump-heavy attacks one of the strongest regular attacks available to the build.

Finally, Bloodhound's Fang has one major advantage that most Somber weapons don't: it can still receive weapon buffs. This allows us to combine its innate Blood Loss with Bloodflame Blade, which adds Fire damage and additional Blood Loss buildup after every successful hit.

Bloodhound's Fang

Requirements: Strength - 18 / Dexterity - 17

Bloodhound's Fang is a Curved Greatsword dealing Physical damage with innate Blood Loss buildup.

At +10, it reaches B scaling in Dexterity and C scaling in Strength, making Dexterity our primary offensive attribute while Strength remains a valuable secondary investment later in the build.

The weapon's regular moveset already provides excellent reach and damage, but its jumping attacks are particularly noteworthy. Bloodhound's Fang has higher jumping attack motion values than standard Curved Greatswords, giving the build a natural reason to incorporate jump attacks even without relying on its Unique Skill.

Its innate Blood Loss also provides additional burst against vulnerable enemies, but this should be treated as a bonus rather than the entire identity of the build. Bloodhound's Fang remains extremely strong against enemies that cannot Bleed because its raw Physical damage is already excellent.

Location: Dropped by Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in southern Limgrave. Blaidd can also assist with the fight after progressing the relevant portion of his questline.

Pros

• Extremely powerful from early game through endgame.
• Can be obtained in Limgrave before fighting a major boss.
• Excellent Physical damage with strong Dexterity scaling.
• Innate 55 Blood Loss buildup.
• Exceptionally strong jumping attacks compared with other Curved Greatswords.
• Bloodhound's Finesse combines damage, mobility, and defensive utility.
• The second Bloodhound's Finesse attack provides invincibility frames.
• Can be buffed despite upgrading with Somber Smithing Stones.
• Excellent synergy with Bloodflame Blade.
• Doesn't require complicated stat investment or an elaborate setup to perform well.

Cons

• Bloodhound's Finesse cannot be replaced with another Ash of War.
• Primarily deals Slash damage, which isn't ideal against every enemy.
• Blood Loss provides little value against enemies that are immune to Bleed.
• Bloodhound's Finesse can reposition you somewhere dangerous if used carelessly.
• The Skill's full two-part combo consumes a reasonable amount of both FP and Stamina.
• Bloodflame Blade requires a small investment into Faith and Arcane.
• The weapon's Bleed buildup doesn't scale with Arcane, so investing heavily into Arcane provides very little benefit to the build.

Bloodhound's Fang scales with both Dexterity and Strength, but Dexterity provides the better primary investment. The build also benefits from high Vigor and enough Endurance to comfortably use jumping attacks, Bloodhound's Finesse, and repeated melee pressure.

We only need a small investment into Faith and Arcane to use Bloodflame Blade. Arcane should not be leveled beyond its requirement because Bloodhound's Fang itself has no Arcane scaling.

Recommended Starting Class: Vagabond

The Vagabond is an excellent starting class because it begins with high Vigor and Strength while already being relatively close to Bloodhound's Fang's 18 Strength and 17 Dexterity requirements.

Early on, your first priority is simply meeting those requirements. Bloodhound's Fang can be obtained immediately from Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, so there is no reason to delay building around the weapon.

After meeting the requirements, begin prioritizing Vigor and Dexterity.

By around level 50, aim for approximately 28 Vigor and 25 Dexterity, alongside enough Endurance to comfortably use the weapon. At this point, reaching 12 Faith and 10 Arcane also gives you access to Bloodflame Blade.

At level 100, 40 Vigor and 45 Dexterity provide a strong combination of survivability and damage. Strength can begin receiving additional investment once your core Dexterity and Vigor are established.

At level 150, aim for approximately 60 Vigor, 60 Dexterity, and 40 Strength. This creates a strong endgame Quality-leaning setup while keeping Dexterity as the primary offensive attribute.

Why Dexterity First?

Bloodhound's Fang eventually reaches better Dexterity scaling than Strength, so Dexterity should receive the majority of your offensive investment during progression.

Strength is still valuable, particularly once Dexterity is already well developed, but splitting points evenly between both stats early on delays your damage progression unnecessarily.

Your general priority should therefore be:

Weapon Requirements → Vigor → Dexterity → Endurance → Strength

By endgame, Bloodhound's Fang benefits considerably from having both Strength and Dexterity, but Dexterity should get there first.

Bloodflame Blade Requirements

Bloodflame Blade requires:

• Faith - 12
• Arcane - 10

This is an extremely small investment for the additional utility it provides, making it worthwhile for practically any dedicated Bloodhound's Fang build.

However, stop Arcane at 10.

Bloodhound's Fang doesn't have Arcane scaling, so additional Arcane will not improve its innate Blood Loss buildup. If you want more Bleed pressure, Bloodflame Blade provides it without requiring us to transform the character into an Arcane build.

Faith can similarly remain at 12 unless you specifically want access to additional buffs or Incantations.

Strength and Two-Handing

Bloodhound's Fang requires 18 Strength, but two-handing increases your effective Strength by 50%.

This means the weapon can technically be two-handed with only 12 Strength, which can allow some starting classes to equip it earlier.

For this build, however, reaching the full 18 Strength requirement early is worthwhile because it allows you to freely switch between one-handed and two-handed use.

Later Strength investment also continues increasing Bloodhound's Fang's Physical damage.

Mind and Endurance

Bloodhound's Fang isn't particularly FP-hungry, so Mind should remain relatively low.

Bloodhound's Finesse is powerful, but it shouldn't replace your regular attacks. Around 15 Mind at higher levels is more than enough for frequent Skill usage without wasting levels that could improve Vigor or damage.

Endurance is more important.

Jumping attacks, Bloodhound's Finesse, sprinting, dodging, and normal Curved Greatsword attacks all consume Stamina. Around 20-25 Endurance gives the build enough room to remain aggressive while maintaining Medium Equip Load.

Attribute Priority

For most of the game:

• 18 STR / 17 DEX → 12 FAI / 10 ARC → Vigor + Dexterity → Endurance → additional Strength

A strong level 150 target is:

• 60 Vigor / 25 Endurance / 40 Strength / 60 Dexterity / 12 Faith / 10 Arcane

Beyond level 150, continue increasing Dexterity and Strength toward their higher damage breakpoints, or add additional Endurance if you want heavier armor.

Bloodhound's Fang doesn't need a complicated attribute spread to perform well. Meet the small Bloodflame Blade requirements, prioritize Dexterity, and gradually develop Strength once your survivability and primary damage stat are established.

Bloodhound's Fang has an unusual advantage over most unique Somber weapons: it can still be buffed with weapon-enhancing Incantations and consumables. This gives the build several easy ways to increase its damage without changing the weapon itself.

Bloodflame Blade — Best Overall Weapon Buff

Requirements: Faith - 12 / Arcane - 10

Bloodflame Blade is the most natural buff for Bloodhound's Fang.

It adds Fire damage to the weapon while also applying additional Blood Loss buildup over a short duration after each hit. Combined with Bloodhound's Fang's innate Bleed, this makes triggering Blood Loss noticeably easier against vulnerable enemies.

The delayed buildup is particularly useful because consecutive hits can continue adding Blood Loss pressure even after the initial attacks connect.

Bloodflame Blade also fits the build extremely efficiently, requiring only 12 Faith and 10 Arcane.

Use it before boss fights and stronger enemies where the additional Bleed buildup has enough time to provide meaningful value.

Location: Dropped by a Teardrop Scarab northwest of the Rose Church in Liurnia of the Lakes.

Electrify Armament — Best Elemental Alternative

Requirements: Faith - 15

Electrify Armament adds Lightning damage to your weapon.

It provides a useful alternative against enemies where Bleed is ineffective or where Lightning damage is particularly strong. Since Bloodhound's Fang can receive weapon buffs, you can simply switch your buff depending on the encounter.

It does require slightly more Faith than our standard progression, so only invest the additional three levels if you actually intend to use it regularly.

Location: Purchased from Brother Corhyn or Miriel after giving them the Dragon Cult Prayerbook.

Order's Blade — Best Holy Alternative

Requirements: Intelligence - 13 / Faith - 13

Order's Blade adds Holy damage and is particularly useful against certain undead enemies.

However, the Intelligence requirement doesn't naturally fit our Bloodhound's Fang progression, making this a much more situational option than Bloodflame Blade.

Don't invest into Intelligence purely for this buff unless you specifically want access to it. Consumables or your regular Physical damage are usually sufficient.

Location: Purchased from D, Hunter of the Dead.

Weapon Greases — Best No-Investment Alternative

Bloodhound's Fang can also use Greases, allowing you to change its additional damage or status effect without spending levels on spell requirements.

Fire, Lightning, Magic, Holy, Poison, Rot, and other Greases can all provide situational advantages depending on the enemy you're fighting.

This is especially useful during early progression before obtaining Bloodflame Blade or when fighting something where another damage type is more effective.

Remember that weapon buffs don't stack with each other. You must choose between Bloodflame Blade, another weapon Incantation, or Grease.

Which Buff Should You Use?

For most encounters:

• Bloodflame Blade

Against Bleed-resistant enemies:

• Appropriate elemental buff or Grease

Against enemies particularly vulnerable to Lightning:

• Electrify Armament or Lightning Grease

Bloodflame Blade should remain the default because it complements Bloodhound's Fang's innate Blood Loss without requiring significant attribute investment. However, the ability to change buffs based on the encounter is one of Bloodhound's Fang's biggest advantages, so don't feel obligated to use Bloodflame against everything.

Bloodhound's Fang rewards an aggressive and mobile playstyle, so extremely heavy armor isn't necessary. The build frequently uses jumping attacks and Bloodhound's Finesse to move in and out of danger, making Medium Equip Load the ideal target.

Unlike many weapon builds, Bloodhound's Fang also has a particularly strong reason to use equipment that improves jumping attacks.

Raptor's Black Feathers — Best Overall Chest Armor

Raptor's Black Feathers is the standout armor piece for Bloodhound's Fang because it increases jump attack damage by 10%.

Bloodhound's Fang already has unusually strong jumping attacks compared with other Curved Greatswords, so increasing them further creates one of the strongest regular attacks available to the build.

The chest piece also works perfectly with the Claw Talisman, allowing both bonuses to stack and creating a simple but extremely effective jump-attack setup.

Because only the chest piece provides the bonus, the remaining armor slots can be filled with whatever provides the best combination of defense and weight.

Location: Found inside Sage's Cave in Altus Plateau, behind an illusory wall.

Rakshasa Set — Best DLC Offensive Option

The Rakshasa Set provides a general damage increase with each equipped piece, making it an excellent offensive alternative in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Unlike Raptor's Black Feathers, its bonus isn't limited to jumping attacks. It improves your regular attacks, Bloodhound's Finesse, and other sources of direct weapon damage.

The trade-off is reduced effective defense compared with similarly heavy armor, so the set is best suited to players comfortable relying on Bloodhound's Finesse and dodging to avoid damage.

Individual Rakshasa pieces can also be combined with Raptor's Black Feathers for a more specialized offensive setup.

Location: Dropped by Rakshasa in the Eastern Nameless Mausoleum in Shadow of the Erdtree.

White Reed Set — Best Lightweight Option

The White Reed Set provides a lightweight alternative for players who want to emphasize mobility.

It doesn't directly increase Bloodhound's Fang damage, but its relatively low weight makes it easy to maintain Medium Equip Load while leaving plenty of room for the weapon and other equipment.

This works well with Bloodhound's Fang because the build benefits much more from quick repositioning and reliable dodge rolls than from attempting to trade attacks with extremely high Poise.

Location: Most of the set is found inside Spiritcaller's Cave in the Mountaintops of the Giants, while the Okina Mask is obtained separately from Bloody Finger Okina.

Mixed Medium Armor — Best General Setup

For most players, the best setup is simply:

Raptor's Black Feathers + your best available defensive armor in the remaining slots

The head, arms, and legs don't need to belong to the same set. Use those slots to gain as much Damage Negation and Poise as possible while remaining at Medium Equip Load.

This allows you to keep the jump attack bonus without sacrificing unnecessary amounts of survivability.

Choosing Your Armor

For a jump-attack-focused setup:

• Raptor's Black Feathers + defensive armor

For maximum general offense:

• Rakshasa Set

For maximum mobility:

• White Reed Set or other lightweight armor

For general progression:

• Use your strongest available armor while maintaining Medium Equip Load

You don't need to build around extremely high Poise. Bloodhound's Fang is at its best when you can jump into openings, reposition with Bloodhound's Finesse, and dodge when necessary, so mobility should remain the priority.

Bloodhound's Fang benefits from several different damage multipliers because its playstyle combines jumping attacks, two-handed melee attacks, and Bloodhound's Finesse. This gives the build more flexibility than simply stacking generic Dexterity bonuses.

Shard of Alexander — Best Bloodhound's Finesse Talisman

The Shard of Alexander increases the damage of weapon Skills by 15%, directly improving both attacks of Bloodhound's Finesse.

This is one of the strongest options for players who frequently use the Unique Skill to punish bosses. Since Bloodhound's Finesse already deals excellent damage while providing mobility, increasing its damage further makes each successful opening considerably more rewarding.

Location: Obtained at the end of Iron Fist Alexander's questline in Crumbling Farum Azula.

Claw Talisman — Best Jump Attack Talisman

The Claw Talisman increases jump attack damage by 15%.

Bloodhound's Fang has inherently stronger jumping attacks than standard Curved Greatswords, making this an especially natural choice for the weapon.

It also stacks with Raptor's Black Feathers, allowing a jump-heavy setup to gain a substantial damage increase without consuming FP.

Jumping Heavy Attacks also provide excellent stance damage, making them useful for creating Critical Hit opportunities against bosses.

Location: Found on a tower in Stormveil Castle.

Two-Handed Sword Talisman — Best Regular Attack Option

The Two-Handed Sword Talisman increases the damage of attacks made while wielding a weapon with two hands by 15%.

Bloodhound's Fang is an excellent weapon to use two-handed because the build doesn't require a shield or off-hand weapon to function. This makes the Talisman an extremely strong DLC option for improving your regular melee attacks.

The bonus does not apply to weapon Skills, so Bloodhound's Finesse is not increased by this Talisman. Shard of Alexander remains the better choice specifically for Skill damage.

Location: Found inside a chest in the Temple Town Ruins in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Lord of Blood's Exultation — Best Bleed Damage Option

The Lord of Blood's Exultation increases Attack Power by 20% for 20 seconds whenever Blood Loss occurs nearby.

Bloodhound's Fang already has innate Bleed, while Bloodflame Blade makes triggering Blood Loss considerably easier. Against enemies vulnerable to Bleed, this provides an excellent general damage increase once the first hemorrhage occurs.

However, its value drops dramatically against enemies that cannot Bleed, so it should be replaced for those encounters.

Location: Dropped by Esgar, Priest of Blood in the Leyndell Catacombs.

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman — Best Defensive Option

The Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman provides a major increase to Physical Damage Negation in PvE.

Bloodhound's Fang encourages aggressive close-range combat, and Bloodhound's Finesse can occasionally leave you exposed if the Skill is poorly timed.

This makes Dragoncrest Greatshield an excellent flexible option when additional survivability is more valuable than another offensive multiplier.

Location: Found in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.

Green Turtle / Two-Headed Turtle Talisman — Best Stamina Option

The Green Turtle Talisman and its DLC upgrade, the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman, increase Stamina recovery speed.

Bloodhound's Fang consumes substantial Stamina through jumping attacks, sprinting, dodging, and Bloodhound's Finesse, so faster recovery can make the weapon feel significantly more comfortable during aggressive boss fights.

The Two-Headed Turtle Talisman is the stronger endgame option once you reach Shadow of the Erdtree.

Location: The Green Turtle Talisman is found in Summonwater Village, while the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman is found behind a waterfall in Gravesite Plain.

Choosing Your Talismans

For a balanced endgame setup:

• Shard of Alexander + Claw Talisman + Two-Handed Sword Talisman + flexible fourth slot

Use the final slot for:

• Lord of Blood's Exultation against enemies vulnerable to Bleed.
• Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman for additional survivability.
• Two-Headed Turtle Talisman for Stamina recovery.

For a build heavily focused on jumping attacks, Claw Talisman + Raptor's Black Feathers should remain equipped whenever possible.

For Bloodhound's Finesse-heavy gameplay, Shard of Alexander provides the most direct improvement.

The strongest setup ultimately depends on how you use Bloodhound's Fang. Jump attacks, regular two-handed attacks, and Bloodhound's Finesse each benefit from different Talismans, so adjust your equipment around the part of the weapon's moveset you use most.

Bloodhound's Fang is at its best when you combine jumping attacks, regular two-handed attacks, and Bloodhound's Finesse rather than relying exclusively on one part of its moveset. Its high raw damage means the build remains powerful even when Blood Loss isn't available.

Use the Full Bloodhound's Finesse Combo

Bloodhound's Finesse consists of two separate attacks.

The first activation performs a powerful slash before launching you backward, naturally creating distance from the enemy.

Afterward, press Heavy Attack to perform Bloodhound's Step, followed by a second powerful slash that quickly closes the distance again.

Don't forget about the follow-up. A large portion of the Skill's value comes from being able to disengage and then immediately return when the enemy gives you an opening.

Use the Follow-Up to Avoid Attacks

The Bloodhound's Step portion of the Heavy Attack follow-up provides invincibility frames.

With good timing, you can use the follow-up to move through an incoming attack before striking the enemy.

This turns Bloodhound's Finesse into both an offensive and defensive tool:

• Finesse → reposition backward → enemy attacks → Heavy follow-up through the attack → punish

Learning this timing is one of the biggest improvements you can make with Bloodhound's Fang.

You Don't Always Need the Follow-Up

Just because Bloodhound's Finesse has a second attack doesn't mean you need to use it every time.

The initial attack already deals strong damage while creating distance. If the enemy begins a long combo or moves into a dangerous position, stay back rather than forcing the follow-up.

You can decide whether to return after seeing what the enemy does.

Take Advantage of Jumping Attacks

Bloodhound's Fang has unusually powerful jumping attacks, making Jumping Heavy Attacks one of your strongest regular punish options.

They deal excellent damage and stance damage without consuming FP, making them ideal between uses of Bloodhound's Finesse.

With Raptor's Black Feathers and the Claw Talisman, jumping attacks become an even more important part of the build.

Jump Over Low Attacks

Jumping isn't only an offensive tool.

Many low sweeps and ground-based attacks can be jumped over, allowing you to avoid the attack while simultaneously landing a jumping strike.

Against enemies with predictable low attacks, this can create punish opportunities that would normally require you to dodge away.

Two-Hand Bloodhound's Fang

Unless you're using something important in your off-hand, Bloodhound's Fang should generally be two-handed.

Two-handing increases your effective Strength and works perfectly with the Two-Handed Sword Talisman, improving the damage of your regular weapon attacks.

You can still temporarily switch to your Sacred Seal when applying Bloodflame Blade, then return to two-handing Bloodhound's Fang.

Keep Bloodflame Blade Active

Against enemies vulnerable to Blood Loss, apply Bloodflame Blade before engaging.

The additional Fire damage and Blood Loss buildup complement Bloodhound's Fang without changing how you play the weapon.

During longer fights, look for safe opportunities to reapply the buff, such as phase transitions, stance breaks, or long recovery animations.

Don't take unnecessary damage simply because the buff expired.

Don't Chase Bleed Procs

Blood Loss is an excellent bonus, but Bloodhound's Fang isn't dependent on it.

Don't become overly aggressive simply because you think the next attack might trigger Bleed. Against bosses, greedily extending an attack sequence can easily result in taking significantly more damage than the proc was worth.

Let Blood Loss happen naturally while maintaining your normal attack rhythm.

Bleed-Immune Enemies Aren't a Problem

Unlike dedicated Arcane Bleed builds, Bloodhound's Fang still has excellent Physical damage when Blood Loss does nothing.

Against immune enemies, simply stop thinking about Bleed and focus on:

• Jumping Heavy Attacks → Bloodhound's Finesse → stance breaks → Critical Hits

You can also replace Bloodflame Blade with an appropriate elemental Grease or buff when useful.

Use Bloodhound's Finesse for Repositioning

The backward movement from Bloodhound's Finesse can help you escape dangerous close-range situations while still dealing damage.

This is especially useful against large bosses where a normal attack would leave you directly underneath them.

However, pay attention to your surroundings. Using Finesse near a cliff, wall, or environmental hazard can reposition you somewhere worse than where you started.

Don't Spam the Skill

Bloodhound's Finesse is extremely powerful, but it shouldn't replace the weapon's entire moveset.

Regular attacks and jumping attacks deal excellent damage without consuming FP. Save Finesse for situations where its damage, movement, or invincibility frames provide additional value.

This also prevents you from unnecessarily burning through your FP during longer fights.

Use Jump Attacks for Stance Pressure

Jumping Heavy Attacks deal strong stance damage and can be repeatedly used during larger openings.

Bloodhound's Finesse also contributes substantial pressure, allowing the build to create stance breaks without needing a dedicated stance-breaking weapon.

Once the enemy staggers, take the Critical Hit rather than automatically using another jumping attack.

Adjust Your Talismans to the Encounter

Your Talismans don't need to remain identical against every boss.

Against Bleed-vulnerable enemies:

• Lord of Blood's Exultation

For Finesse-heavy fights:

• Shard of Alexander

For jump-heavy fights:

• Claw Talisman

For dangerous Physical encounters:

• Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

Bloodhound's Fang is versatile enough that changing one Talisman can adapt the build without requiring an entirely different setup.

Use Your Mobility Aggressively

Bloodhound's Fang isn't a weapon that needs to stand directly in front of an enemy and trade attacks.

Jump into openings, use Finesse to create distance, dodge when necessary, and use the follow-up to quickly close the gap again.

The weapon is strongest when you're constantly moving between close and medium range while still maintaining offensive pressure.

Build Your Combat Around Different Openings

A useful way to approach Bloodhound's Fang is:

• Small opening → Light or running attack
• Medium opening → Jumping Heavy Attack
• Large opening → Bloodhound's Finesse combo
• Incoming attack during Finesse → time the Heavy follow-up through it
• Stance break → Critical Hit
• Unsafe situation → use Finesse to disengage or simply dodge

This prevents you from forcing slow attacks into openings where they don't fit.

Bloodhound's Fang rewards aggressive but controlled gameplay. Use jumping attacks for reliable damage and stance pressure, Bloodhound's Finesse to attack while repositioning, and Bloodflame Blade to enhance the weapon's natural Bleed without becoming dependent on it.