Is Bleed a viable option for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

Elden Ring's upcoming DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, is admittedly quite massive, perhaps on the same scale as the base game itself, barring a few side dungeons, of course. Many of the systems from the base game make a return in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, like the level-based progression, guard counter, Ashes of War, and Spirit Summons.

However, several new things have been added to the expansion to make it feel fresh. As such, some players may wonder whether the strategies and weapon combinations that worked in the base game would work for the DLC.

One such incredibly potent strategy/affinity is Bleed, which, if used right, can effectively make quick work of even the toughest end-game bosses Elden Ring has to offer. But with all the new weapon types and changes, will Bleed really be as viable in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, or should players look for a new alternative? This guide explains more on that.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.

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Should you still invest in Bleed (Arcane) in preparation for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

Bleed has always been a fantastic choice for melee users in Elden Ring. The best aspect that sets it apart from other elemental affinities in the game is that it can induce HP loss quickly, which is something as powerful as even the Scarlet Rot lacks. Additionally, Bleed weaves itself quite easily into certain meta builds, making it very newcomer-friendly.

Godfrey Icon, alongside Lord of Blood's Exultation, is a great choice for Bleed builds in Elden Ring (Image via FromSoftware)

Bleed was also present in FromSoftware's previous titles, but it was nowhere near as effective as it is in Elden Ring. What made it a mainstream choice for most players is some of the weapons that it comes imbued with. By default, every serrated weapon or Katana comes with Bleed build-up.

There are also weapons like the Rivers of Blood Katana that imbue Bleed into its weapon art, making it one of the most powerful weapons in the entire game. Bleed is so powerful that with the right weapon (Rivers of Blood) and a proper set of Talismans (Lord of Blood's Exultation), you can defeat Malenia without breaking a sweat.

However, over the last few years of updates, weapons like Rivers of Blood and Moonveil, which used to be the go-to options for most Bleed-focused builds, have been nerfed hard, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Both weapons are still good, but they're nowhere near as powerful as they used to be.

As such, you might feel a bit discouraged about investing in Bleed or the Arcane stat that increases the efficiency at which a weapon inflicts the former. Thankfully, if you still want to go for a Bleed-focused build, you can do so without hesitation. Bleed is still very viable if you can center your build around it, with the right set of Talismans.

You can always swap to a Strength-Faith build if you want a good alternative to Bleed builds (Image via FromSoftware)

Although the weapons that were best associated with Bleed status aren't as powerful as they used to be, the affinity itself is still quite powerful. As a personal suggestion to anyone who is looking forward to creating a Bleed build for Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, I highly recommend using Nagakiba, which you get from completing Yura's questline.