Optimal level 150 bleed build

[SKIB]

So starting class either samurai or vagabond.
My stat spread for the sake of most utility and weapon versatility is as follows.

Vig/Mind/End/Str/Dex/Int/Fth/Arc

60/16/25/18/45/10/10/45

or

60/16/25/18/30/10/10/60

The bottom spread lacks the more complete weapon versatility compared to 45 dex 45 arcane. But 30 dex 60 arcane allows higher dps when you infuse occult. My question is what spread do you all think is better? Also would you all say sacrificing utility and versatility for a 80 arcane spread be better?

example

60/16/25/18/18/9/8/80

Trying to reach a general consensus on which spread is the best if all 3 were ranked together. My vote is for the 45/45 but it’s a tough call…

EDIT: I chose an answer to this topic to close the discussion but for final say read my last post on the thread. hope it helps!

[iriyap]

Messaggio originale di palacentes:

60 arcane is better for bleed. Weapon should be occult so high arcane scaling and raw dmg from arcane stat. Also good if it naturally has bleed, so high dmg + bleed. Its maybe 12% less bleed than the blood version? It will be close, and the base dmg will be very high. Occult will reduce innate dex and str stuff, bare min stats for the weapon and arcane approaching 80 might yield even better dmg.

Unless the weapon is a somber one, and you cant give it occult infusion. I bet the arcane would be like C or so, usually, and it needs str/ dex to help it.

I'd agree with this.

The main thing here is, are you going with Blood or Occult, because these affinities require different stats. Blood is split STR/DEX + ARC scaling, while Occult is pure ARC. Occult is much better, but works with fewer weapons (aka those with innate bleed).

As for PvE and enemies that don't bleed, there are tons of options. You can just make any weapon Occult, it will have high AR, just no buffs. Or you can use ARC scaling somber weapons like Regalia of Eochaid.

Personally I'd go with base STR/DEX and 70-80 ARC. Recommended weapons (all infused with Occult unless somber):
- Uchigatana (start as Samurai to have two)
- Scavenger's Curved Sword
- Bloodhound Claws
- Morning Star
- Star Fist
- Reduvia
- Regalia of Eochaid

DLC weapons:
- Beast Claw
- Great Katana
- Bloodfiend's Fork
- Flowerstone Gavel (it's all pierce damage just like the Rusted Anchor, so equip the Spear Talisman for a big boost in damage)

Occult weapons cannot be buffed, but Cragblade still works, it's really great with Morning Star and Star Fists in particular, these will be your main sources of bonk.

[Silyon]

Messaggio originale di Pooksters:

Or a somber weapon with natural arcane scaling could make up for lack of raw DPS when going against those immune to statuses? Idk how significant the 15 dex points between 30 and 45 are but I know status speed caps at 45 arc and anything past that is where occult infusions come in. I guess I’d like to ask in your experience does 30/60 occult infusion give more steady DPS than 45/45 blood infusion or keen infusion with blood flame blade buff? Also would putting occult infusion on certain weapons with natural arcane scaling still be good with the 45/45 spread? I’m still leaning towards 45/45 for fear of losing versatility but I don’t want to pigeon hold myself on optimal DPS.

To be fair, most weapons with native arcane scaling are somber weapons and can't take infusions to begin with. The list of exceptions is really short: Ripple Axe and Halberd in the base game (which don't have inherent status build up, so take a guess what your infusion should be) and the Bloodfiend's Fork and Arm from the DLC. Everything else is Somber, with unique ashes that have different demands to get the most out of them. And given more than half of them are DLC weapons most of the rest are from late-game encounters, you won't even be using whatever you settle on for half the game.

That's why I settle on Str or Dex for most of the early game, depending on what my endgoal looks like. Until you get the black whetblade from Nokron (post Radahn) you don't have much in the way of Ashes that give you arcane scaling at all, and what ashes you do get (Bloody Slash and Poison Mist) simply aren't the greatest. This means that early on points put into Arcane simply arn't doing anything and could be better spent anywhere else. And while Arcane Scaling itself is rare, there's a lot of STR or DEX weapons that happen to have bleed on them. Flamberge is a flexible one, my standard non-katana pick.

So far as Bloodflame blade goes, if you can cast it you should be casting it. It adds flat fire damage and status buildup on top of whatever your weapon does, and Fire is the king of elemental damage in Elden Ring. It does demand a bigger investment of Faith than what you have statted out, and while sure you could use a heirloom talisman to make up the difference the Talisman slots are WAY more valuable than 5 fth points diverted from somewhere else.

[SKIB]

okay for all future necro lurkers researching this topic for themselves i've come to my own conclusion thanks to some of everybody's advice and opinion.

for level 150, the best and most optimal dex/arcane build is 30/60

with this spread i readjusted it to look like 60.16.25,20,30,9,9,60

2 more into strength to hit that first soft cap at 20 for even more weapon versatility by having access to CGS and certain others by two handing. (moghs spear comes to mind)

less into faith because wearing talismans or cosmetics can still give you access to blood flame blade or certain spells which will scale off arcane with the dragon seal.

60 vig is standard minimum if you use online play.

16 mind is healthy bc there's blue chugs or equipment to make up for more FP intensive WA, especially with the new items added to the DLC.

25 endurance is healthy for wearing whatever and using whatever you want with maybe the extra needed push from utility equipment like talismans, cosmetics, etc... the new DLC viridian medallion +3 will add the equivalent of having another 20 points into stamina when you equip it'll be like having 45 points into endurance! really good

30 dex and 60 arcane is the hands down the best most optimal bleed build for level 150 when you want to also be able to swap to whatever variety of weapons, 45 arcane is the hard cap on bleed build up rate at 99% speed. 60 arcane boosts to 110% status build speed and stops there. but the increased AR on occult infuse is too sweet to ignore. You can always equip talismans or use knot tear to boost your dex to 35 or 40 to keep that weapon versatility.

you should always have lord of blood exultation and millicent's prosthesis talisman equipped the other two slots are interchangeable to whatever you require