Elden Ring Aberrant Sorceries Build Guide - Sanguine Spellblade

May. 7, 2024

Elden Ring Aberrant Sorceries Build Guide – Sanguine Spellblade

In this Elden Ring Aberrant Sorceries Build Guide, I’m going to show you my Sanguine Spellblade build, designed for New Game Plus. This build focuses on Aberrant Sorceries—spells that can inflict the bleeding status effect. Many players have requested a build that revolves around these unique spells, so I created a hybrid melee-caster setup that leverages both magic and melee combat. I’ll explain how this approach works and why it’s effective in this guide.

An Arcane/Intelligence Build that focuses on the use of Thorn Sorceries to make enemies bleed at range.

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First, let’s focus on theAlbinauric Staff. It primarily scales withArcane, with a smaller scaling for Intelligence. While its sorcery scaling is decent at 80Arcaneand 80Intelligence, comparable to theCarian Regal Scepter, what sets this staff apart is its unique ability to enhanceBleedbuildup when castingAberrant Sorceries. This is due to itsArcanescaling, which makes it the only staff that boosts theBleedeffect in this way. If you want to maximize thebloodbuildup fromAberrant Sorceries, theAlbinauric Staffis a must-have.

However, this focus onBleedbuildup with theAlbinauric Staffcomes with a trade-off. You sacrifice the higher base damage you’d get from using theCarian Regal Scepter, which has superior sorcery scaling, in exchange for moreBleedbuildup. The benefit of this staff is that because you’re heavily investing inArcane, you can applySeppukuto your melee weapon, granting substantial bleed buildup to complement your sorcery. This adds versatility to your build, allowing you to use both spells and melee weapons with significant bleeding potential.

If you’re using theDragon Communion Sealin your offhand, it will enhance the status effect buildup of any spells or incantations you cast. This seal also offers decent damage if you add damaging incantations to your build, providing flexibility to include both sorceries and incantations with effective status effect buildup and solid scaling.

Another option for this build is theStaff of the Guilty. However, I don’t recommend casting with this staff. Instead, keep it in your offhand to benefit from its 20% damage boost for specific sorceries, like the Aberrant Sorceries. You don’t need to cast with it to get this bonus; just having it equipped is enough. Though I don’t frequently use this staff in my build, it can be helpful in specific situations where that extra damage boost makes a significant difference.

One of the major issues withBriars of SinandBriars of Punishmentis their long casting times, making them challenging to use against aggressive enemies or bosses. To useBriars of Punishmenteffectively, you need distance, while castingBriars of Sinrequires some time, which can be risky when enemies are up close. If you haven’t progressed far enough into the spell’s animation, you can be staggered out of it. Though there is hyper armor later in the casting sequence, you may not always have the luxury of time to get there.

That’s why I made this aspellbladebuild. By integrating melee combat with spellcasting, you gain a solution for those close-range encounters where casting spells becomes risky. A melee weapon, especially one infused withSeppukuto leverage your highArcane, provides a versatile option for close combat. This way, you can still deal significant damage through bleeding when spells are impractical due to proximity.

The specific weapon you choose for melee isn’t crucial for this Aberrant Sorceries build. I’m usingRogier’s Rapierbecause I grew to like it during myCrimson Duelisttesting, but you can use any weapon that suits your playstyle, provided it meets the stat requirements and can be infused withSeppuku. This opens up a range of weapon choices, so pick the one that you find most effective and enjoyable.

If you have theAlbinauric Staffin your left hand and theStaff of the Guiltyin your right hand, switching to a melee weapon and buffing withSeppukucan be awkward in the middle of combat, especially if you’re surrounded by enemies or a boss is right on top of you. That’s why I prefer to keep my melee weapon in my right hand, buff it withSeppuku, triggeringLord of Blood’s Exultationand theWhite Mask’sattack boost if you have it equipped, and then start casting spells. WhileAberrant SorcerieslikeBriars of SinandBriars of Punishmentcan triggerhemorrhageand activateLord of Blood’s Exultation, they require close proximity to the target to do so, which isn’t always ideal.

Briars of Punishment’sstrength lies in its range; it can hit targets from a good distance, allowing you to avoid close combat.Briars of Sin, however, is harder to use in tight quarters, often requiring you to be quite close to enemies, which might not be the safest option. It is generally better to use melee attacks withSeppukuwhen a boss is near rather than rely on casting spells. In most cases, using a melee weapon withSeppukuwill yield better results than trying to triggerBleedwithBriars of Sin, especially if the boss is aggressive.

The best use case for theStaff of the Guiltyis in a co-op setting, where you can stay at a distance, spammingBriars of Punishmentwhile others engage the boss in melee. This way, you don’t need to constantly rebuff withSeppuku, allowing you to maintain a consistent 20% bonus to spell damage. Another scenario where it’s useful is when enemies are spread out across the landscape, and you don’t needSeppukufor melee attacks. This flexibility in various situations makes theStaff of the Guiltya useful addition to this build, but remember that if you switch to your melee weapon without buffing it withSeppuku, your Bleed buildup will be significantly reduced.

For this build, I’m usingAlberich’s Robe,Alberich’s Pointed hat, andAlberich’s bracers. Each of these pieces boosts your Thorn Sorcery damage by 5%, adding up to a total of 15%. The leg armor from the same set doesn’t add to the bonus, so you can skip it. Instead, I’m wearing theMalformed Dragon Greaves, which not only match the style but also provide better protection while keeping my equip load within the medium range. This way, you get a balance of fashion and functionality without compromising on armor.

Another good armor choice is theWhite Mask, which increases attack power by 10% whenever you triggerhemorrhageon an enemy or on yourself. This can be useful if you’re triggeringBleedfrequently, either throughSeppukuor other means. While theWhite Maskmight not be the best stylistic choice, it can be swapped in when you need that extra boost in damage, particularly during challenging encounters whereBleedis a factor.

For talismans in this Elden Ring Aberrant Sorceries build, I use five: theGraven-Mass Talisman,Lord of Blood’s Exultation,Magic Scorpion Charm,Taker’s Cameo, andDragoncrest Greatshield Talisman. The first three are constants, while the last two are flexible depending on the situation.

TheGraven-Mass Talismanboosts your spell damage, crucial for enhancing your output withBriars of PunishmentandBriars of Sin.

Lord of Blood’s Exultationincreases attack power when you causeBleeding, whether throughSeppukuor attacking enemies with melee orAberrant Sorceries. This boosts both your spell and attack damage.

TheMagic Scorpion Charmraises damage for magic-based spells, fitting well with the magic nature of Aberrant Sorceries.

Taker’s Cameois useful for restoring health when you defeat an enemy, which can compensate for the health cost ofSeppuku. This is especially useful when taking out multiple enemies withBriars of Punishment. However, in boss fights with no enemies to defeat for health restoration, I switchTaker’s Cameofor theDragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, which provides increased protection and reduced incoming damage. This swap helps improve survivability during challenging boss encounters.

Next, let’s focus on the spells.Briars of Punishmenthas a long range. It sends out a ground tremor that pops up in the air, with decent tracking to hit charging enemies. The area of effect (AoE) is small, so it’s best for single targets or tightly packed groups. It has a fast follow-up cast, so you should spam it from a distance for maximum damage. Spamming multiple times can help build bleed quickly, especially when combined withSeppukufor melee follow-up.

Briars of Sinhas a shorter range but better AoE, with each successive cast expanding the area of effect. It’s useful against larger enemies or those with more open space to move around, but it requires a moment to cast. If enemies get too close, using melee withSeppukuis often safer and more effective than trying to castBriars of Sin. This spell works best against big bosses or when you can control the distance, but it might not be ideal in chaotic situations or against aggressive enemies.

I useGolden VowbecauseBriars of SinandPunishmentrequireFaith, and with one extra point beyond the highest requirement, you can boost both damage and defense.Blessing’s Boonis a good health recovery option, especially in boss fights where you can’t rely onTaker’s Cameo. I try to keep buffing minimal, which is why I useTaker’s Cameoto avoid needing multiple buffs likeGolden VoworBlessing’s Boonevery time.

Terra Magicais another buff to increase magic damage at the start of boss fights, but I don’t use it often on the landscape.Unseen Formis fun to use with this build, allowing you to remain hidden while casting long-rangeBriars of Punishment, keeping enemies confused about what’s happening.

Typically, when running around the landscape, I buff withSeppuku, then start casting from a distance. If enemies get close, I use melee to re-triggerLord of Blood’s ExultationorWhite Maskif equipped. This 20-second buff can be re-triggered by killing an enemy with melee, which helps maintain higher damage output for your spells. This combination of ranged casting and melee flexibility is why I made this aSpellbladebuild instead of a pure mage build.

The attribute distribution for this Aberrant Sorceries build is 50Vigor, 30Mind, 9Endurance, 8Strength, 17Dexterity, 26Intelligence, 25Faith, and 80Arcane. You don’t need any points inStrengthorEndurancefor this build.

WhileEndurancecould be helpful for more stamina and equip load, there aren’t enough attribute points to spare. The 50Vigorensures you won’t get one-shot, providing a safety net, but you should consider increasing this to 60 in New Game Plus to further enhance survivability, especially when usingDragoncrest GreatshieldTalismanandGolden Vowfor added resistances.

Mindat 30 allows for more FP, but you might want to increase it to 35 or 40 as you progress through New Game Plus.Faithis set at 25 because the highest requirement forAberrant Sorceriesis 24, with one additional point allowing you to castGolden Vow,which is a valuable buff.Dragon Communion Sealalso scales withFaith, enhancing your incantations if you choose to use them.

17Dexteritymeets the requirement forRogier’s Rapier, which you can use if you like, but it’s not mandatory for this build. You could choose other weapons that work withSeppuku, and that might require adjustingDexterity.

Arcaneat 80 is critical because it boosts the sorcery scaling of your staff, increases bleed buildup, and provides a solid damage output forAberrant Sorceries. I tested different distributions ofIntelligenceandArcane, and while you can gain slightly more damage by loweringArcaneand increasingIntelligence, the difference is minimal, with only a slight increase in sorcery scaling. Having 80Arcaneoffers a better balance for both spell damage and bleed buildup.

With this build, focus on takingVigorup to 60,Mindup to 40, and then further invest in Intelligence for additional damage. This approach offers a strong combination of high damage output, bleed buildup, and survivability, making it versatile for various challenges in the game.

A couple of final tips for this Elden Ring Aberrant Sorceries build. If you’re using theFlask of Wondrous Physick, I suggest using theMagic-Shrouded Cracked Tear, as the spells in this build deal magic damage, providing a significant damage boost. If you encounter a boss that’s immune toBleedand has high resistance to magic damage, you can swap in other spells. This build has flexibility and can accommodate a wide range of spells, even though the focus here is on blood sorceries.

ForGreat Runes, I recommend usingGodrick’s Great Rune. This rune increases all attributes by five, which is beneficial since this build requires several different stats. It gives you more flexibility to balance your attribute points. For example, you could reduceFaithandDexterityby five points each and reallocate those to Intelligence or Arcane for more damage or bleed buildup.

That wraps up theSanguine Spellbladebuild guide. TheseAberrant Sorceriesare challenging to use, butBriars of Punishmentprovides excellent range. Combining them with a reliable melee weapon can be effective, as there will be times when casting spells is too risky due to their long cast times and vulnerability to interruption.

That’s it for our Sanguine Spellblade build, As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.

Castielle

Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.