Elden Ring, with its vast world and intricate combat system, offers players a multitude of build options. One particularly potent build revolves around Blood Affinity, leveraging the power of arcane and faith-based incantations. But how do you actually add Blood Affinity to your weapons and spells? It's not as straightforward as simply selecting an option; it requires a deeper understanding of the game's mechanics. This guide will walk you through the process.
Understanding Blood Affinity in Elden Ring
Blood Affinity is a scaling system that boosts damage based on your Arcane stat. Unlike other affinities, it isn't directly applied. Instead, you need specific items and techniques. This makes it a powerful but somewhat hidden mechanic. Higher Arcane means more damage with Blood Affinity weapons and spells.
Key Items for Blood Affinity
The cornerstone of Blood Affinity lies in two key items:
- Bloodflame Blade incantation: This is arguably the most important tool for imbuing your weapons with Blood Affinity. Acquired relatively early in the game, it's a crucial starting point for any blood build.
- Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear: This powerful weapon naturally scales with Arcane and deals significant Blood loss damage.
Other weapons may have innate Blood loss capabilities but those are different from Blood Affinity scaling. Blood Affinity is directly tied to Arcane Scaling.
Applying Blood Affinity: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Level up Arcane: The foundation of a Blood Affinity build is a high Arcane stat. Invest heavily in this attribute to maximize the damage output of your blood-infused weapons and incantations.
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Obtain Bloodflame Blade: Find this crucial incantation early in your playthrough. Its location is well documented in many Elden Ring guides online.
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Equip the Incantation: Once obtained, equip the Bloodflame Blade incantation to your quick-select slots.
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Apply the Incantation: During combat, select the Bloodflame Blade incantation and cast it on your chosen weapon. This will imbue the weapon with Blood Affinity for a set period. Remember to reapply it as the effect wears off.
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Use Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear (or other Blood Affinity weapons): Weapons with inherent Blood Affinity benefits will scale with your Arcane stat automatically. They don't require the Bloodflame Blade incantation.
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Consider Blood Loss Buildups: Many spells and weapons inflict Blood Loss buildup. This synergizes incredibly well with a Blood Affinity build, leading to significant damage amplification. Pair them together for devastating effects.
Optimizing Your Blood Affinity Build
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Arcane is King: Prioritize Arcane as your primary stat. Aim for at least 50 Arcane, and beyond for higher damage output.
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Faith as a Secondary Stat: Although Arcane is central, Faith can complement a Blood Affinity build nicely with certain incantations.
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Weapon Selection: Choose weapons that naturally scale with Arcane or have a high Blood Loss buildup.
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Talismans: Certain talismans can enhance Arcane scaling or Blood Loss buildup, further bolstering your damage potential.
Conclusion
Adding Blood Affinity in Elden Ring isn't a simple toggle; it's a strategic process requiring understanding of the game's mechanics and careful build planning. By following these steps and optimizing your build, you can unleash the devastating power of Blood Affinity and dominate your enemies in the Lands Between. Remember to experiment and find what works best for your playstyle!
