Mastering the Strength Arcane Poison & Bleed Build in Elden Ring: A Tactical Guide

Feb-06-2025 PST Category: Elden Ring
Hello everyone, I'm back with an Elden Ring DLC build guide! Today we're going to be diving into a very unique and effective Strength and Arcane build that focuses on poison and bleed to maximize burst damage and buff ourselves in the process. To enhance our effectiveness, we also need to strategically manage our Elden Ring Runes, as they will play a crucial role in upgrading our weapons and equipping the right armor for this build. This guide will outline the key weapons and buffs that work in harmony to produce insane damage output. Let's get started!

Weapons: Powerhouse Combo for Maximum Damage

We’re kicking things off with the Stone Club, one of the most satisfying weapons to use for this setup. It boasts a three-hit true combo when paired with Barbaric Roar. This is particularly potent for Strength-based builds, but the real magic happens when you add poison buffs. With these buffs in place, you can amplify the damage output significantly. Not only that, the Stone Club also has blood loss buildup, making it an excellent all-around weapon for both poison and bleed.

But this setup isn't without its complexity. You'll need to self-buff with Deadly Poison Spray to avoid poisoning your enemies before equipping the Highland Axe to benefit from the Barbaric Roar. This combination strengthens your attacks even further. However, we’re not just about one weapon—let’s talk about the Greatsword, the true hero of this build.

The Greatsword is perfect for when you don't want to self-poison, as it automatically sets up poison through its Crush Poke roll. This allows for an easy follow-up into Poison Mist, ensuring that your enemies are slowly poisoned, and adding the blood loss buildup with the Greatsword’s 159 blood loss buildup. This combination can quickly lead to one-shotting phantoms, making the Greatsword a staple in this setup.

Lastly, don’t forget about Sacred Bloody Flesh, a key component for Arcane builds. It grants +10 Arcane, enhancing both your poison and bleed damage and improving the scaling on your weapons that rely on Strength and Arcane.

Armor: Buffs and Utility

For armor, you’ll want to focus on two essential pieces: the Leadus Armor and the Mushroom Crown. The Leadus Armor is vital for enhancing your Crouch Poke attacks with the Greatsword. The Mushroom Crown is an excellent choice to boost your damage when enemies are poisoned in the area. Fashion might not be the focus here, but these armor pieces provide crucial buffs to take your poison-bleed combo to the next level.

Talisman Setup: Maximize Damage

Your talisman choice can change depending on which weapon you’re using. For the Greatsword, consider starting with Kindred Rod's Exaltation to increase your damage output. Once you get a poison proc, you can switch to Retaliatory Cross to further enhance the Crouch Poke combo.

If you're using any other weapon that doesn't rely on Crouch Poke, you can stick with Kindred Rod's Exaltation to maintain consistent damage. These talismans provide valuable buffs, and the flexibility allows you to switch based on your weapon and preferred playstyle.

Gameplay Strategy: Poison and Bleed Tactics

When it comes to invasions, you’ll want to be tactical. Make use of choke points to minimize being surrounded by enemies. With your poison buildup, you can keep enemies at bay, forcing them to play defensively while you prepare for that devastating combo.

· Self-Poisoning: A huge aspect of this build is self-poisoning, which you can do with Deadly Poison Spray to enhance your damage before heading into a fight. This applies to the Stone Club’s Barbaric Roar combo and the Greatsword's Crouch Poke into Poison Mist.

· Quick Damage Burst: Use Crouch Poke into Ash of War for massive burst damage. This is your bread and butter for quickly breaking through an opponent's defenses and delivering that one-two punch.

· Surprise Factor: Switching between poison buffs and weapon swaps like the Highland Axe keeps your opponents guessing, giving you an edge in battle. Always be ready to adapt to your opponent’s playstyle and weapon choice.

Invasion Highlights: Tactical Invasion Battles

During invasions, I’ve found that choke points can often be the key to success. You can take advantage of tight areas to isolate your targets, forcing a 1v1 situation. This is especially important when dealing with teams of multiple players, as they can easily overwhelm you if you're not careful.

In some of my invasion footage, I had to contend with spells and AoE damage from powerful casters, which led me to switch tactics—getting in close with the Greatsword or Stone Club after buffing myself. For example, while fighting a demon, I used poison mist and Crouch Poke to apply both poison and bleed damage, rapidly taking them down.

For those tricky encounters with multiple enemies, use your poison buffs to keep foes on edge. Poison acts as a deterrent, forcing enemies to be more cautious and giving you the opportunity to pick them off one by one.

Key Tips to Remember

1. Buff Wisely: Self-poisoning can greatly enhance your damage, so don’t hesitate to use Deadly Poison Spray before heading into battle.

2. Weapon Swap: Don’t be afraid to switch weapons to maximize damage. The Highland Axe helps with the Barbaric Roar combo, while the Greatsword excels with the Crouch Poke.

3. Be Tactical in Your Approach: Use tight spaces to your advantage and isolate enemies with your poison and bleed effects.

4. Adapt Your Playstyle: Depending on the enemies you face, adjust your talismans and weapon choices to counter their strengths.

Conclusion: Why This Build is So Fun

The Strength Arcane Poison & Bleed Build in Elden Ring is a blast to play, offering both depth and versatility. The combination of poison buffs, bleed buildup, and Strength scaling creates a formidable force in the game. Whether you’re using the Greatsword, Stone Club, or Highland Axe, your attacks pack a serious punch. This build is ideal for those who enjoy tactical gameplay and want to maximize their damage potential through a mix of powerful weapon combos and strategic buffs. If you’re looking to enhance your experience further, consider checking out the best site to buy elden ring items, such as MMOEXP, to obtain the resources you need. I hope this guide helps you take your invasions to the next level!