Elden Ring Sword Lance Build Guide - Blood Lancer (Shadow of The Erdtree Build)

Jul. 26, 2024

Elden Ring Sword Lance Build Guide – Blood Lancer (Shadow of The Erdtree Build)

In thisShadow of the Erdtreebuild, I’m going to be showing you myBlood Lancerbuild. This is a build that uses one of the new weapons from the DLC, theSword Lance, which you get from defeatingCommander Gaiusand exchanging hisRemembranceat theRoundtable Hold. This is an absolutely fantastic weapon, so let’s get into this build.

In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you myBlood Lancerbuild. This is aShadow of the Erdtreebuild that takes place after level 160. A build that uses the Sword Lance to perform devastating heavy damage towards enemies.

We have over 120 Elden Ringbuilds. Each one is meticulously crafted to offer unique playstyles, strategies, and experiences, ensuring there’s something for every adventurer in the Lands Between. Whether you seek the raw power of heavy weapons, the finesse of spellcasting, or the versatility of hybrid builds, our collection has you covered. Explore the depths of the game’s mechanics and unleash your full potential with our diverse array of builds.

TheSword Lanceis unique because it’s technically a Heavy Thrusting Sword. ItsR1 attacksare typical of heavy thrusting swords, but itsR2 attacksmimic those of aLance. Therunning R2 attackis excellent for stacking multiple hits on enemies, closing the distance, and boosting attack power with appropriate talismans. If you’re playing ableed build, you’ll build uphemorrhagefaster. This attack also lets you duck under many enemy attacks.

The weapon has exceptionalHeavy scaling, and you can play it effectively in two main ways:Heavy AffinityorBlood Affinity. ForHeavy Affinity, you can use anAsh of WarlikeCragblade, focusing on high damage per attack, possibly pairing it with aGreatshieldfor a tankier playstyle.

ForBlood Affinity, which I’ve chosen here, the weapon stands out because it has the samebleed buildupas aColossal Sword, unlike other heavy thrusting swords that have lower bleed buildup with blood affinity. This weapon retains decentStrength scalingeven with blood affinity, so splitting stats betweenArcaneandStrengthallows for significant blood loss buildup and damage.

For this build, I’ve set the weapon toBlood Affinityand equipped it withBlood Tax.Blood Taxallows rapid hits, stacking damage with items likeRotten Winged Sword InsigniaorThorny Cracked Tear. It triggers blood loss easily due to the quick hits, dealing substantial damage. It also heals you with each hit, with the final hit healing the most.

I’ve paired this with theWinged Crystal Tear, which increases damage by 20% but drains health over time. During boss fights, this can be offset by usingBlood Taxto regain health, maintaining higher damage output. This setup works well in both boss fights and general exploration. If you take damage, you can heal withBlood Tax. Using theBlessed Dew Talismanto regenerate health lets you maintain maximum health indefinitely.

For armor, I’m usingCommander Gaius’s Armor Setfor cosplay purposes, as it complements the weapon. This armor provides good poise, exceeding 51, which allows you to useBlood Taxwithout being interrupted by most attacks. You can use any armor set with over 51 poise.

To maximize effectiveness, consider using theWhite Maskto boost attack power from the frequenthemorrhagetriggers in this build. While I went full cosplay, theWhite Maskwould be ideal for min-maxing. Another option isLeda’s Armor, which boosts dash attacks. Sincerunning R2attacks frequently with this weapon can increase the damage to Leda’s Armor. For min-maxing, you might use theHelmetandChest Armor, paired with heavy-dutylegsfor additional benefits, though it may not look cohesive.

Fortalismans, adjust your setup based on the situation. My staple setup for boss fights includesShard of Alexander, which increases the damage ofBlood Taxwith each hit.

Lord of Blood’s Exultationboosts attack power by 20% whenblood lossis triggered nearby.

Rotten Winged Sword Insigniaincreases attack power the more you hit rapidly, synergizing well withBlood Tax.

Another useful talisman for boss fights is theTwo-Headed Turtle Talisman, which enhances stamina recovery—important for spammingBlood Tax. However, you might swap it out depending on the fight.

When exploring or engaging in general encounters, consider replacing theTurtle Talismanwith theCrusade Insignia. This talisman boosts attack power when you kill enemies, maintaining high damage output as you move from foe to foe.

If you’re fighting on horseback, the weapon excels with its charged heavy attack. In this case, consider theLance TalismanorAxe Talisman, both of which further boost damage while mounted.

TheTwo-Handed Sword Talismanincreases damage for most attacks but does not enhance damage while on horseback. If you’re frequently usingBlood Tax, which heals and triggers bleed, theTwo-Handed Sword Talismanmay be less effective.

Againstbleed-immuneenemies, replaceLord of Blood’s Exultationwith either theSpear TalismanorTwo-Handed Sword Talisman. TheSpear Talismanenhances counter damage with thrust or pierce attacks, effective against enemies attacking you.

Although this build focuses on bleed, it remains effective against bleed-immune enemies due to rapid attacks and the healing effect of Blood Tax. Alternatively, use thePoison Infusionon the weapon. ReplaceLord of Blood’s ExultationwithKindred of Rot’s Exultationto boost poison damage. Also, consider usingExalted Fleshto temporarily increase physical damage, especially useful for boss fights or their second phases.

For this build, the attribute distribution is as follows: 55Vigor, 25Mind, 35Endurance, 46Strength, 12Dexterity, 16Intelligence, 7Faith, and 50Arcaneat level 167.

Dexterityonly needs to be 11, whileIntelligenceandFaithare not required, as they are leftover from the Astrologer class. Ignore those points.

Vigoris set at 55 because the build involves trading damage, andBlood Taxhealing scales with maximum health. A higherVigormeans more healing from Blood Tax. Aim to increaseVigorto 60 eventually.

Mindis at 25, providing enough FP to use Blood Tax frequently. With theBlessed Blue Dews Talismanfor FP recovery, you might manage with 20Mind, but 25 is a safer choice.

Enduranceis at 35 to maintain a medium equip load and ensure adequate stamina for usingBlood Tax, which is stamina-intensive.

Strengthis at 46, andArcaneis at 50.Strengthis crucial for increasing damage, as it scales better thanArcane. You could reduce Arcane to 40 and allocate the points toStrengthfor higher damage output. Although higherArcanedoes increaseBlood Lossbuildup, it doesn’t provide a substantial boost. At 50Arcane, Blood Loss buildup is 161, while at 80Arcane, it only increases to 167. Thus, prioritizingStrengthwill yield better results.

You can use ashieldorgreatshieldwith this build if desired, provided you have the Strength for it. The main limitation isequip loaddue to the heavy armor set. Switching to lighter armor would allow the use of a great shield for defense and blocking. However, this build is designed for aggressive play, so a shield may not be necessary.

For theFlask of Wondrous Physick, use theBloodsucking Cracked Tearto increase damage by 20%, though it will drain your HP.Blood Taxhelps mitigate this health loss, making it a valuable choice.

Greenburst Crystal Tearis beneficial for stamina recovery, which is crucial since stamina can deplete quickly during some boss fights. If you’re not using theTwo-Headed Turtle Talisman, consider using this tear.

TheThorny Crystal Tearincreases damage with successive hits, making it great for boss fights. Alternatively, theWinged Crystal Tearlets you light roll even with heavy armor, which can make dodging easier against bosses. TheOpaline Hardtearprovides additional damage reduction, which is another option to consider.

ForGreat Runes, several options work well for this build.Morgott’s Great Runeboosts maximum health, improving healing fromBlood Taxand providing more durability.Malenia’s Great Runerestores health when you attack after taking damage, which can be useful if you’re trading hits aggressively.Radahn’s Great Runeincreases health, FP (forBlood Tax), and stamina, making it a versatile choice. Experiment with these to find the best fit for your playstyle.

This concludes theBlood Lancerbuild overview. It’s a powerful and straightforward build that effectively utilizes the uniqueSword Lance. I hope you find it enjoyable. 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.