Elden Ring: Devastating Katana Build Guide for Unleashing the Bloodshed!

The Rivers of Blood katana is a formidable weapon in Elden Ring, largely thanks to its ability to cause blood loss and its Corpse Piler skill. With proper support from a well-constructed build, this weapon becomes even more devastating. This guide aims to offer recommendations on crafting a build around the Rivers of Blood in Elden Ring, enabling players to unleash the full potential of this exceptional katana.

How To Get Rivers of Blood

Content Last Updated on June 29, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: In Elden Ring, the weapon known as Rivers of Blood still holds its position as a top-tier choice, despite undergoing significant changes since the game's initial release. Players who wield Rivers of Blood in Elden Ring possess a distinctive style, and due to its excessive use in player versus player encounters, the weapon's effectiveness against other players has been slightly reduced. Nonetheless, it remains a formidable weapon, highly recommended for players to acquire a second copy. However, obtaining Rivers of Blood initially (or acquiring a second one) requires players to embark on a near-endgame journey, long after they have explored the entirety of the main continent known as the Lands Between. To worsen matters, players must confront a once-familiar companion, now transformed into the formidable invader named Mohg, who lurks in the treacherous Mountaintops of Giants.

Players catch a glimpse of the formidable Rivers of Blood in action before obtaining it themselves. This power-packed weapon is wielded by the phantom, Okina, in the intense showdown against General Radahn. However, acquiring the Rivers of Blood requires players to progress significantly further in the game and emerge victorious over Okina.

In the Mountaintops of Giants, there is a Church of Repose located on the cliffs not far from the entrance to the Fire Giant battle. Here, Okina, also known as Bloody Finger Okina, will invade the Tarnished. It is unclear whether he has always served Mohg, but players can end his service by defeating him and obtaining his legendary weapon. During the Okina boss fight, be cautious of the katana's long-ranged Bleed attacks, similar to those used by players who wield Rivers of Blood.

Acquiring the weapon Rivers of Blood is no simple task, as it is not easily obtained and only one can be earned in a single playthrough. However, players who explore New Game Plus in Elden Ring or find others willing to trade online can acquire two of these weapons, making it one of the most formidable dual-wield setups in the game, particularly for PvP gameplay.

Rivers of Blood Stat Requirements

Best Stats for Rivers of Blood

Rivers of Blood possesses rather demanding stat prerequisites, unless your character has invested in the Arcane attribute. Most builds tend to avoid Arcane due to its limited usefulness in terms of Item Discovery and specific spells. However, Rivers of Blood synergizes with Arcane, making it one of the few weapons in Elden Ring that scales with both Arcane and causes bleeding.

Arcane and Dexterity are the key stats to maximize damage output with the Rivers of Blood katana in Elden Ring. It is crucial for players to prioritize and invest in these stats. Additionally, players should ensure they have sufficient Vigor to endure powerful adversaries in the game and then focus on raising their Mind and Endurance stats. These stats are essential for effectively utilizing the resource-intensive Corpse Piler Ash of War, which is included with the Rivers of Blood katana.

For optimal efficiency, the above stat allocation is recommended for a Level 125 Samurai wielding twin Rivers of Blood katanas. If a second Rivers of Blood katana is not available yet, players can progress into NG+ to naturally obtain one or trade with another player. In the meantime, an alternative such as an Uchigatana or Wakizashi can be used. Dual-wielding katanas offers significant power and increases the frequency of bleed effects for players.

Rivers of Blood Offhand Armament and Ash of War

This suggestion is merely offered, as the allure of Elden Ring lies in its freedom to experiment according to one's own preferences. If you find yourself in need of additional FP, Health, or Stamina, or if you desire to combine Rivers of Blood with Sorceries or Incantations, there is no harm in a slight reallocation. Just ensure that your Arcane and Dexterity attributes remain high, and maintain sufficient Strength to effectively wield the weapon in powerstance.

To optimize gameplay, it is advisable for players to utilize the Rivers of Blood katana in conjunction with either the Uchigatana or Nagakiba. However, it is important to note that the latter choice necessitates an additional investment in Strength points.

Moreover, it is highly recommended for fans to utilize the Seppuku ability with their secondary weapon, regardless of the sword they ultimately choose for that particular slot. Undoubtedly, this configuration greatly enhances a character's ability to cause significant blood loss to their enemies, which is a crucial aspect of this particular strategy.

Uchigatana: Discoverable within the Deathtouched Catacombs situated in Limgrave.

Nagakiba: Acquired by completing Yura's questline in Elden Ring.

Seppuku Ash of War: Obtained by defeating an invisible scarab located to the east of the Site of Grace in the Mountaintops of the Giants.

Rivers of Blood Armor Sets and Talismans

For players wielding the Rivers of Blood katana, it is highly recommended to equip the White Mask as an essential armor piece. This helmet offers a 10% increase in attack power for a duration of 20 seconds after the player suffers blood loss. Additionally, fans who prefer jump attacks can enhance their abilities by equipping the Raptor's Black Feathers chest, granting a roughly 10% boost. As for the remaining two armor slots, players have the freedom to customize their loadout according to their preferences, but it is important to be mindful of not exceeding a heavy equip load.

White Mask: Can be acquired by defeating an intruder in the blood lake region of Elden Ring's Mohgwyn Palace. Unattainable upon the demise of Mohg, the Lord of Blood.

Raptor's Black Feathers: Concealed within a chest beyond a hidden wall within Sage's Cave in Altus Plateau.

When it comes to the Rivers of Blood talismans, there are three that are perfectly suited for the build, with an additional slot for customization. The Lord of Blood's Exultation is the critical talisman for this build as it provides a 20% attack boost when nearby enemies suffer from blood loss, and it stacks with the White Mask. To further enhance attack power, players should consider equipping the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia for bonus damage with successive hits, and the Carian Filigreed Crest to reduce the FP cost of skills (aka Corpse Piler) by 25%.

As for the fourth talisman slot, there are several suitable options. Erdtree's Favor +2 and Soreseal are both worth considering if a player desires a more generalized boost to their character, while the Claw Talisman may be preferable for those who enjoy jump attacks, and it also stacks with the Raptor's Black Feathers. Fans of healing effects may want to consider the Godskin Swaddling Cloth or Taker's Cameo, as they provide a small amount of healing to the build.

Lord of Blood's Exultation can be obtained by defeating Esgar, the Priest of Blood, who resides in the Leyndell Catacombs beneath the Royal Capital of Elden Ring.

The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia is a reward that can be earned by completing Millicent's questline in Elden Ring.

Carian Filigreed Crest: Sold by War Counselor Iji during Blaidd's questline in Elden Ring.

Erdtree's Favor +2: Found in the large courtyard in Leyndell after the city undergoes a major change.

Radagon's Soreseal: Looted from a corpse in Caelid's Fort Faroth.

Marika's Soreseal: On an altar past a Stonesword Key barrier at the bottom of Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.

Godskin Swaddling Cloth: Obtained by defeating the bosses in the Mountaintops of the Giants' Spiritcaller Cave.

Taker's Cameo: Awarded as part of the questline at Elden Ring's Volcano Manor.

Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.