Elden Ring DLC: Pure Arcane Offhand Dagger & Great Katana Build

In today's guide, we're diving into an exciting Elden Ring DLC build that revolves around a pure Arcane setup with a killer combo of an offhand dagger and a mainhand Great Katana. This build is not only fun but also incredibly effective in PvP, thanks to the synergy between the bleed buildup from both weapons. To maximize your effectiveness, you might also look to buy Elden Ring Runes, which can help enhance your character's progression and make the most of this build. Whether you're invading or dueling, this strategy offers a lot of pressure and outplay potential. So, let’s break it down!

Why Use the Great Katana and Offhand Dagger Combo?

Massive Bleed Buildup

The main appeal of this build is the massive bleed buildup. Here's how it works:

· Great Katana: This weapon delivers a crushing attack combo that pairs beautifully with the dagger. It has 106 bleed buildup, which is substantial on its own.

· Offhand Dagger: The dagger has 96 blood loss buildup, which is no slouch. When combined with the Great Katana’s combo, you’re looking at an impressive 202 bleed buildup in just one sequence! The dagger can be spammed quickly for consistent pressure while the Katana’s reach and power do the heavy lifting.

Synergy Between the Weapons

This combo is brilliant because the weapons complement each other in different scenarios:

· Great Katana: Great for pressuring from a distance, especially when opponents try to run or outspace you. The range and poise damage help deal with enemies trying to keep their distance.

· Offhand Dagger: Super effective when enemies close the gap. Its fast attacks generate quick bleed buildup, making it perfect for roll-catch moments. If they roll towards you, the dagger delivers fast and brutal damage.

Crouch Attack Strategy

You can also use the crouch attack on the Great Katana to pressure opponents. The goal is to get the Panic roll from your enemy (making them dodge out of fear), and if they do, you land a free hit from the Katana followed by a dagger combo. This can quickly build up bleed, and once they’re hit, it’s only a matter of time before the status effect triggers.

The Build: Stats and Equipment

Stats Distribution

For this build, we're going pure Arcane. This maximizes the effectiveness of your bleed buildup and ensures you can stack Poison and Bleed easily with your weapons and incantations. The strength and dexterity are just enough to meet the requirements for the weapons.

Key stats:

· Arcane: Max out Arcane to enhance your bleed and poison effects.

· Strength: Minimal for Great Katana.

· Dexterity: Just enough to wield the weapons comfortably.

Armor Choice

For armor, we recommend choosing something that offers both fashion and poison absorption, which works well with the Great Katana's playstyle. The poison absorption is especially useful when fighting in scenarios with poison or bleed statuses, as it helps mitigate incoming damage while you keep the pressure up.

Talismans

Talismans are key to making this build shine in PvP:

1. Retaliatory Cross Tree: If you’re focusing on the crouch attack combo, this talisman boosts the coating attack by 12% in PvP, giving you that extra damage on your key combo.

2. Lord of Blood's Exaltation: If you’re triggering a lot of bleed procs, this talisman boosts your damage when blood loss is nearby, ensuring your attacks hit harder when you’re stacking bleed.

3. Kindred of Rod's Exaltation: This boosts poison or bleed damage when poison or bleed is in the area, perfect for adding extra pressure.

Other useful talismans:

· Shard of Alexander: A must-have for increasing your Ash of War damage, which is critical for burst damage in PvP.

· Ury's Favor and Bulgo Talisman: These add HP, stamina, and equip load, keeping you sturdy and able to maintain your offensive stance while avoiding getting overwhelmed.

Incantations: Poison Mist for Extra Pressure

In addition to your weapons, we recommend using Poison Mist with your build. Poison Mist instantly poisons enemies in its area of effect, applying constant damage over time and building pressure. It also keeps your enemies on the defensive, often causing them to panic or make mistakes. This is an excellent tool for roll-catching and giving you more control over the fight.

How to Play the Build in PvP

Invasions and Duels:

1. Opening Moves: Start with the Great Katana to apply pressure from a distance. This forces your enemy to either engage or keep running. If they’re too aggressive, that’s when you want to close the gap with the dagger.

2. Land the Combo: The core of your strategy is landing the crush attack from the Katana into the offhand dagger. This combo is devastating for building bleed and can pressure opponents into making poor decisions. If they try to roll out of range, follow up with a Katana swing.

3. Roll Catching: Use the dagger for quick rolls after they dodge your initial attack. The fast dagger swipes make it easy to land a quick bleed buildup and punish their roll attempts.

4. Outspacing: Use the Great Katana’s reach to pressure your enemy when they try to escape or keep their distance. The range on this weapon lets you punish their retreat and keep them on edge.

5. Buffing: If you’re up against multiple opponents or facing a tanky player, consider using buffs to enhance your damage output. Use poison and bleed talismans or buffs to increase your effectiveness.

6. Closing the Fight: Once the enemy is suffering from bleed or poison, you can go in for the kill with either a dagger poke or a well-timed Katana strike. Bleed is excellent at chipping down HP, so don’t be afraid to continue applying pressure.

Conclusion: A Powerful, Fun Build for Invasions and Duels

The Pure Arcane Offhand Dagger + Great Katana Build offers a high-pressure playstyle with bleed and poison effects, creating constant outplay opportunities in PvP. With the ability to quickly stack bleed, perform devastating combos, and pressure enemies from a distance or up close, this build has a ton of versatility. If you enjoy aggressive combat and status effect builds, this setup will suit you well. To further enhance your experience, consider visiting the best site to buy elden ring items, such as MMOEXP, where you can find valuable resources to support your journey. Be sure to experiment with different talismans and adjustments depending on your playstyle, and always keep the combo flowing for maximum pressure! Good luck out there, Tarnished, and enjoy the chaos of invasions!